When it comes to thought provoking, street-bred raw lyricism, the Wu-Tang Clan's fountain of wisdom, GZA takes his job very seriously. The way he crafts his double-edged rhyme flow mirrors the skill and precise technique of one who works with fine ceramics. GZA's metaphoric and multi-layered lyrics are often touted by critics as his rap name implies; genius.
Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in every borough of New York City, The GZA's workmanship can be found three albums deep with classics dating back to 1991 including the albums Words From The Genius, the gold-selling Liquid Swords and Beneath The Surface. Before his days of microphone notoriety, GZA found himself, during the early ages of rap music, travelling throughout New York City sharpening his rap skills in scattered rhyme battles. "I've studied rap in every borough," the GZA says proudly. "I've been rhyming before a lot of these cats out here were born. We've [Wu Tang Clan] always drank, ate and slept hip-hop. I love it." On his latest blockbuster album Legend Of The Liquid Sword, The GZA makes reference to his hip- hop foundation on the reflective Fam (Members Only) "I grew up around B-Boys, DJs, MCs, through rap, never thinking in ways of TV," the Genius raps. "It was strictly all about magnificent rhyme clout."
During GZA's travels, he encountered other rap veterans that recognized his promise and helped to nurture his talent. "I watched a lot of people come up that are big now," Genius says earnestly. "I used to make demo tapes with cats that rocked with Russell Simmons and people like that. The history goes so far back; I've always been really focused on writing dope rhymes."
The GZA's dream of perfection has been realized once again on his fourth album to date. Legend Of The Liquid Sword not only regains the powerful momentum started by the last three releases, it adds to the Genius' verbal legacy with uncompromising integrity. Heat-seeking darts like the introspective, Auto Bio where GZA breaks down the elements of his life that created the man he is and the crime thriller Luminal.
What has always set The GZA apart from the ordinary is his ability to create complex images with simple context. In the same way it's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, Genius assembles his words to create thousands of vivid pictures. "I don't like to just be simple," he explains. "Even though some of my stuff can seem simple at times, I like to write in a way that when you listen to it over and over again, you hear something new and it requires you to think." Legend Of The Liquid Sword does just that. Whether the listener gets captured by the vocal acrobatics of Santi White (who has written songs for Res) on GZA's Stay In Line or the authentic old school soul production on the masterpiece Animal Planet, Genius weaves satisfying brain food through his lyrics. In his phenomenally cerebral use of metaphors, The Genius flawlessly equates human city dwellers to animals in the jungle onAnimal Planet , which was produced by rhythm doctor Bink (who has produced heavyweight joints for Fat Joe, Nate Dogg, Mr. Cheeks and Faith Evans). With beats by fellow Wu Tang brother RZA, Jaz-O (Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt album), DJ Muggs (who has produced for Cypress Hill, Mobb Deep), Wu producer Mathematics (Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Sunz of Man), Arabian Knight and other sonic masterminds, GZA's talents come across even heavier. On the adrenaline raising Hip Hop call to arms, Knock, Knock (the album's shining debut single), The GZA asks on the chorus, "knock, knock, who the f*** is banging at my door, is it abstract, commercial or hardcore?" In his signature way of ill rhyme construction, GZA further defines the parameters of whatrap music should be.
Don't call GZA's comeback just a comeback, it's a return of an entirely revolutionary thought process. "When we did Back In The Game on the Wu-Tang Iron Flag album, I did a verse about gambling," he explains solidly. "I didn't want to be 'back in the game' or 'back on the block,' that's typical. I made it all metaphorical." It's those same metaphors that makes the Genius' liquid sword a living legend in it's own time.
Name: GZA/Genius
Real Name: Gary Grice
Label: N/A
Web: N/A
Amplified Sample
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
That vacate your vessel
Guide this, strenuous as an arm wrestle
Then flight with insight
Everything i thought of, I saw it happen
Then I rose from the soil to sun blacken
Then came rao czars, left tracks and scarred
A pair of brightness of exploding stars
Gave me goods to taste
No ingredients to traced
And remained stuffed trying to figure the shape of space
No edge or boundary, released 2 rounds or 3
Intimidate my razor scrape, phony clown MC
The physical shatter from the blast
Pierclastic flow sets of a tower of ash
Through ignorance and misplaced trust your world's crushed
Too late to activate hyperspace of thrust
Even wearing camoflauge the analog at war
He seen his high beems
The father came in accompianed by deadly rain and when
Mentally indowed when lighting hit the crowd
The warm side crushed the barrier
The storm side destroyed your area
Repeat verse
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
That vacate your vessel
The amplified sample, the amplified sample, the amplified sample
Will trample
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
That vacate your vessel
The amplified, the amplified sample
The amplified sample, the amplified
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
The amplified
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
The amplified, the amplified
The amplified sample (fade out)
In "Amplified Sample" by GZA/Genius, the lyrics seem to be speaking to the power of music and sound. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the "amplified sample" being described as so powerful that it can "trample" the leading cancel, or overcome any obstacle. The use of the word "vacate" to describe what happens to the listener's vessel suggests that this sample is so strong, it can physically move or transport the listener.
The next lines suggest that the experience of listening to this sample is strenuous, like an arm-wrestle, yet also incredibly swift and enlightening. The singer describes seeing everything they thought of happen and rising from the "soil to sun blacken," perhaps referencing a spiritual awakening or transcendence. The mention of "rao czars" and "brightness of exploding stars" adds to the mystical nature of the lyrics, with the singer seemingly pulled into another realm.
The second half of the verse takes a turn towards aggression, with the singer using their newfound power to intimidate "phony clown MCs." The imagery becomes more violent, with talk of shattering blasts and towers of ash. The final lines suggest that people have been too slow to recognize the potential of sound and music, leaving them vulnerable to destruction. Overall, "Amplified Sample" seems to be a meditation on the transformative power of music and the need to use it with care and intention.
Line by Line Meaning
The amplified sample, will trample, the leading cancel
The powerful sample will destroy all competitors.
That vacate your vessel
Forcing you to vacate your place at the top.
Guide this, strenuous as an arm wrestle
Leading with great effort and struggle.
Move swift as light, a thousand years in one night
Moving quickly and covering great distances in a short amount of time.
Then flight with insight
Then take off with intelligence and knowledge.
Everything I thought of, I saw it happen
All my thoughts and ideas become reality.
Then I rose from the soil to sun blacken
I started from the bottom and rose to great heights.
Then came rao czars, left tracks and scarred
Then others arrived with a lasting impact.
A pair of brightness of exploding stars
Two luminous entities created something explosive.
Gave me goods to taste
Provided me with something to experience and learn from.
No ingredients to traced
No clear origin or source can be identified.
And remained stuffed trying to figure the shape of space
I was left curious and perplexed about the universe.
No edge or boundary, released 2 rounds or 3
There are no limitations or restrictions, and anything can be achieved.
Intimidate my razor scrape, phony clown MC
My skill and precision is superior to any fake rapper.
The physical shatter from the blast
The powerful sound causes physical damage.
Pierclastic flow sets of a tower of ash
The explosion creates a destructive flow of ash and debris.
Through ignorance and misplaced trust your world's crushed
Your world is destroyed due to a lack of knowledge and misplaced faith.
Too late to activate hyperspace of thrust
It's too late to try and escape or make changes.
Even wearing camoflauge the analog at war
Even trying to blend in, the traditional sound is still fighting for dominance.
He seen his high beems
He saw with clarity and vision.
The father came in accompianed by deadly rain and when
A powerful force arrived with destructive consequences.
Mentally indowed when lighting hit the crowd
Blessed with great intelligence when a powerful force arrived.
The warm side crushed the barrier
The welcoming, positive side broke through barriers.
The storm side destroyed your area
The violent, negative side caused destruction in the surrounding area.
The amplified sample, the amplified sample, the amplified sample
Repetition of the powerful sample, emphasizing its strength and dominance.
The amplified
Further emphasis on the sample's power.
The amplified sample (fade out)
The last lingering effect of the powerful sound.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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