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
B.I.B.L.E
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The basic instructions before leaving earth
The basic instructions before leaving earth
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Knowledge this wisdom, this goes back when I was twelve
I loved doing right but I was trapped in hell
Had mad ideas, sad eyes and tears
Years of fears, but yo my foes couldn't bear
I searched for the truth since my youth
And went to church since birth, but it wasn't worth the loot
That I was paying, plus the praying
I didn't like staying 'cuz of busy-bodies and dizzy hotties
That the preacher had souped up with lies
Had me cooped up lookin' at loot, butt, and thighs
Durin' the service, he swallowed up the poor
And after they heard this, they wallowed on the floor
But I ignored, and explored my history that was untold
And watched mysteries unfold
And dropped a jewel like Solomon, but never followed men
'Cuz if you do your brain is more hollow than
Space Oblivia, or The Abyss
With no trace of trivia, left with the hiss
Does it pay to be deaf, dumb and blind?
From a slave we was kept from the mind
And from the caves he crept from behind
And what he gave, was the sect of the swine
When the Bible, it condemned the pig
I don't mean to pull your hems or flip your wigs
But we used to wear a turban, but now we're in the urban
No more wearing beanies and dress like a Genie
No hocus pocus 'cuz I focus on the facts
And put it on the tracks and brought it through the wax
I speak on Jacob, it might take up some time
And too much knowledge, it might break up the rhyme
I did it anyway just to wake up the mind
Of those who kiss stones or prays on the carpet
Those who sit home, or sell books by the market
Need to chill and get their mind revived
For years religion did nothing but divide
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
I strolled through the books of job to unfold
And open Bibles, instead of hoping on revivals
Calling on His name and screaming hallelujah
When he hardly knew ya, that's how the devil's fooled ya
See look into my eyes brethren, that's the lies of a Reverend
Why should you die to go to Heaven?
The Earth is already in space, the Bible I embrace
A difficult task I had to take
I studied till my eyes was swollen, and only arose when
I found out that we were the chosen
I deal with the truth, and build with the youth
And teach my son as he kneels on the stoop
Son, life is a pool of sin, corrupted with foolish men
And women with wicked minds, who build picket signs
To legalize abortion, the evil eye distortion
I quiz Son with my wisdom
Before I converted, I was perverted, and knowledge was asserted
The study of wisdom, I preferred it
The understanding, it gave me mental freedom
I even learnt Caucasians were really the Tribe of Edam
The white image, of Christ, is really Cesare Borgia
And uhh, the second son of Pope Alexander
The Sixth of Rome, and once the picture was shown
That's how the devils tricked my dome
I prophesied to save a man, but no one gave a damn
For my nation, the seed of Abraham
Blessed with the tongue of Hebrew
Now we're strung on needles, and some are plungin' evils
So study and be wise in these days of darkness
Peace to my nephew Marcus
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leaving earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
In "B.I.B.L.E.", GZA/Genius/Killah Priest use a lyrical display built around the idea that the Bible is the “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” (B.I.B.L.E). The song connects the Old and New Testament to present an overarching narrative of humanity's relationship with God. GZA's lyrics express both the sorrow and the joy that comes with the spiritual journey. He references the cyclical nature of life and the understanding that the last will be first and the first will be last, emphasizing that one should focus on following the basic instructions in the Bible to succeed.
The lyrics portray GZA’s journey through life as a quest for wisdom and truth. He shares his struggles with religion and his search for a deeper understanding of his faith. The song also touches on the need to question authority, including religious leaders, in order to truly understand the teachings of the Bible. The final reflection in the song is on the value of passing on knowledge, as we see GZA teaching his son the important lessons he has learned.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a Bible page
Start reading the Bible
The basic instructions before leaving earth
The Bible contains the basic instructions for life on Earth
Life is a test many quest the universe
Life presents challenges and people seek answers to universal questions
And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
The artist has conducted research and experienced both positive and negative emotions
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The order of importance will be reversed
Knowledge this wisdom, this goes back when I was twelve
The singer has been seeking knowledge and wisdom since age twelve
I loved doing right but I was trapped in hell
The singer tried to do good but faced difficulties
Had mad ideas, sad eyes and tears
The artist had many ideas but felt unhappy
Years of fears, but yo my foes couldn't bear
The artist faced fears but overcame his enemies
I searched for the truth since my youth
The artist has been searching for truth since childhood
And went to church since birth, but it wasn't worth the loot
The singer went to church since birth but felt it wasn't worth the money
That I was paying, plus the praying
The artist was paying money and praying in church
I didn't like staying 'cuz of busy-bodies and dizzy hotties
The singer didn't enjoy staying because of busy people and attractive women
That the preacher had souped up with lies
The preacher lied and embellished stories
Had me cooped up lookin' at loot, butt, and thighs
The singer felt trapped and was distracted by material things and women
Durin' the service, he swallowed up the poor
The preacher took advantage of poor people during church service
And after they heard this, they wallowed on the floor
Poor people were affected emotionally by the preacher's message
But I ignored, and explored my history that was untold
The singer disregarded the preacher and researched untold history
And watched mysteries unfold
The singer discovered hidden truths
And dropped a jewel like Solomon, but never followed men
The artist shared wise knowledge but didn't follow anyone else
'Cuz if you do your brain is more hollow than
Following others will make you less intelligent
Space Oblivia, or The Abyss
The artist refers to a vast nothingness
With no trace of trivia, left with the hiss
The void contains no information and only static
Does it pay to be deaf, dumb and blind?
Is it beneficial to ignore the truth?
From a slave we was kept from the mind
Slaves were denied knowledge
And from the caves he crept from behind
The singer refers to the origin of humanity
And what he gave, was the sect of the swine
The singer refers to a group of people who follow evil desires
When the Bible, it condemned the pig
The Bible speaks against eating pork
I don't mean to pull your hems or flip your wigs
The artist doesn't intend to shock or surprise listeners
But we used to wear a turban, but now we're in the urban
The singer refers to a change in culture
No more wearing beanies and dress like a Genie
People don't wear traditional headwear anymore
No hocus pocus 'cuz I focus on the facts
The artist focuses on reality, not illusions
And put it on the tracks and brought it through the wax
The artist recorded his message on a vinyl record
I speak on Jacob, it might take up some time
The artist will talk about Jacob, which may be time-consuming
And too much knowledge, it might break up the rhyme
Too much information could disrupt the flow of the song
I did it anyway just to wake up the mind
The artist shares knowledge to awaken people
Of those who kiss stones or prays on the carpet
The singer refers to people who follow religions with different customs
Those who sit home, or sell books by the market
The singer refers to people who don't seek knowledge but sell things for profit
Need to chill and get their mind revived
People need to relax and reinvigorate their minds
For years religion did nothing but divide
Religion created division for many years
I strolled through the books of job to unfold
The artist read the book of Job to reveal hidden truths
And open Bibles, instead of hoping on revivals
The singer chooses to read the Bible instead of seeking revival through church
Calling on His name and screaming hallelujah
People shout God's name and sing His praises
When he hardly knew ya, that's how the devil's fooled ya
The devil tricks people into believing they have a close relationship with God
See look into my eyes brethren, that's the lies of a Reverend
The artist exposes the lies of a preacher to his listeners
Why should you die to go to Heaven?
The artist questions the logic of dying to go to Heaven
The Earth is already in space, the Bible I embrace
The singer values the Bible and recognizes the Earth is in space
A difficult task I had to take
The artist had a hard time discovering the truth
I studied till my eyes was swollen, and only arose when
The singer studied extensively and only stopped when he found what he was looking for
I found out that we were the chosen
The singer discovered that his people were chosen by God
I deal with the truth, and build with the youth
The singer values truth and shares it with the younger generation
And teach my son as he kneels on the stoop
The artist educates his son while he kneels outside their home
Son, life is a pool of sin, corrupted with foolish men
Life is full of sin and foolish people
And women with wicked minds, who build picket signs
The singer identifies women who have evil intentions and protest publicly
To legalize abortion, the evil eye distortion
Legalizing abortion distorts moral values
I quiz Son with my wisdom
The artist shares his wisdom with his son through questioning
Before I converted, I was perverted, and knowledge was asserted
The artist was immoral before and valued knowledge more afterwards
The study of wisdom, I preferred it
The artist valued the study of wisdom
The understanding, it gave me mental freedom
Understanding provided mental freedom for the singer
I even learnt Caucasians were really the Tribe of Edam
The artist discovered that Caucasians were from the Tribe of Edam
The white image, of Christ, is really Cesare Borgia
The commonly accepted image of a white Christ is actually a depiction of Cesare Borgia
And uhh, the second son of Pope Alexander
Cesare Borgia was the second son of Pope Alexander
The Sixth of Rome, and once the picture was shown
Cesare Borgia was the sixth ruler of Rome, and his picture was used to depict Christ
That's how the devils tricked my dome
Evil forces misled the artist's mind
I prophesied to save a man, but no one gave a damn
The artist tried to save a man from wrongdoing but nobody cared
For my nation, the seed of Abraham
The singer refers to his people as the descendants of Abraham
Blessed with the tongue of Hebrew
The singer's language is Hebrew
Now we're strung on needles, and some are plungin' evils
Currently, the artist's people are in a precarious situation and some are engaging in evil acts
So study and be wise in these days of darkness
The artist urges listeners to learn and be smart in difficult times
Peace to my nephew Marcus
The artist sends his regards to his nephew, Marcus
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIGGS, ROBERT F. / GRICE, GARY E.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind