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
Do U
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever I had to do, Iโd do it well
It was you
I had to do you well
Stay in the light so I can see your face
Stay in the light
Stay in the light so I can see your face
I want to see you out there
In the light
I want to see you out there
In the light
I want to see you out there
In the light
I want to see you out there
In the light
It was inevitable, I knew it well
Whatever I had to do, Iโd do it well
It was true
I had to do you well
Stay in the light so I can see your face
Stay in the light
Stay in the light so I can see your face
Stay in the light
I want to see you out therะต
In the light
I want to see you out there
In thะต light
I want to see you out there
In the light
I want to see you out there
In the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
Stay in the light
The lyrics of GZA/Genius's song "Do U" carry a deep sense of determination and devotion. The repeated phrase "Stay in the light" serves as a metaphor for staying true to oneself and remaining in a positive state of mind. It conveys the idea of wanting to see someone's true essence and authenticity, urging them to embrace their own light and shine brightly.
The lines "It was inevitable, I knew it well / Whatever I had to do, I'd do it well / It was you / I had to do you well" express a sense of inevitability and purpose. The singer recognizes that they had a task at hand, and whatever it was, they were determined to execute it with excellence. The repetition of "I had to do you well" suggests a commitment to treating the other person with care and giving their all in their relationship or interaction.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a plea for honesty, openness, and authenticity in relationships. It encourages individuals to embrace their true selves, to stay in a positive mindset, and to bring out the best in each other.
Line by Line Meaning
It was inevitable, I knew it well
The outcome was bound to happen, and I had a clear understanding of it
Whatever I had to do, Iโd do it well
No matter what task I had to undertake, I would execute it with excellence
It was you
You were the one I had to focus on
I had to do you well
I had to ensure that I treated you in the best possible way
Stay in the light so I can see your face
Remain in a positive and open state so that I can clearly perceive your true nature
Stay in the light
Continue to be honest and transparent
I want to see you out there
I desire to witness your authentic self in the world
In the light
In a state of truth and clarity
Stay in the light
Maintain your genuine nature
It was true
The reality aligned with my understanding
I had to do you well
I had to treat you with respect and care
Stay in the light so I can see your face
Maintain your authenticity so that I can perceive your true essence
Stay in the light
Remain in a state of honesty and openness
I want to see you out there
I long to witness your genuine self in the world
In the light
In a state of truth and clarity
I want to see you out there
I desire to observe your authentic self in the world
In the light
In a state of honesty and transparency
I want to see you out there
I wish to witness your true nature in the world
In the light
In a state of authenticity and sincerity
Stay in the light
Continue to be honest and transparent
Stay in the light
Maintain your genuine nature
Stay in the light
Remain in a state of truth and clarity
Stay in the light
Continue to be honest and transparent
Stay in the light
Maintain your genuine nature
Stay in the light
Remain in a state of truth and clarity
Stay in the light
Continue to be honest and transparent
Stay in the light
Maintain your genuine nature
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickthekillerjo.7756
Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line
Can you read me? Extorted your rhymes
MC's should expect the worst
I stay alert and shoot first
This is not a test, it's difficulty
Picture closely, the ignorant mostly
Blind, deaf, dumb, your mind left numb
Lost soul who failed to hear the roll of the drum
In the bottom of your bomb shelter, still felt the
Heavy blast that blew off the masks of twelve welders
The math of an elder, praise the Lord, thank you Genius
Operation: Project English
Commander-n-chief of flight style, check the aircraft
Glide like the frisbee, Digi look Disney
To check fault in oneself is pure loveliness
You break the mirror that remind you of your ugliness
So when I bust, no one is untouched
Some returning with the mic clutched, like such
Who plan but never execute
He had the heat in his hand, but yo he didn't shoot
Therefore your mechanism of material better be sickly
Or let your lead spread incredibly quickly
I move bravely, travellin' on a horse
On the battlefield, surrounded by the lost
Of those who plotted with the brains of animals
My high molecular structure be intangible
The name ring a bell, killable two syllable
The Wu is comin' through, the outcome is critical
To be blunt, the beef was cooked up like coke goods
The rhyme first came to me in the oak woods
Up to no good, rap icon
"Milk" the industry like the Wall Street junk bond
You see the bright stone, I got your height sewn
Direct current, that move through the mic-phone
Key contributor, well known major factor
Rhyme distributor, the drive of a tractor
Who run ya down if you don't wanna move or wanna linger
Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line
Can you read me? Extorted your rhymes
MC's should expect the worst
I stay alert and shoot first
Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line
Can you read me? Extorted your rhymes
MC's should expect the worst
I stay alert and shoot first
The immortality of my fame is the measure of other's torture
Burnt offer, from a flamin' author
The falconer who flies enough birds for the chase
Strictly excel in what is excellence with grace
The significance was not the vulgar applause of interest
But the feelin' that exit, completion of a sentence
With age and experience, my reason ripens
I strike on you Vikings, slash like a hyphen
If you enter the house of fortune by the gate of pleasure
You will leave by sorrow, the flow measures
Everything fails with the unfortunate
Learned that recordin' it, so my mind broaden it
Track records, ranks us, with the exceptional
Extreme complex physics, high technical
The truth is usually seen and rarely heard
What's more dangerous than hatred, is the word
You wild cards, Jack of all trades
Those who parade their positions, show their Spades
A large flock of MC's, they figure to be taught
It ain't hard to see why I'm vigorously sought
Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line
Can you read me? Extorted your rhymes
MC's should expect the worst
I stay alert and shoot first
Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line
Can you read me? Extorted your rhymes
MC's should expect the worst
I stay alert and shoot first
Breaker, breaker, one nine
Breaker, breaker, one nine
You're welcome
@curtarmmar
The GZA's lyrical mastery is nearly impossible to challenge
@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson
The tracks Labels, Fame, and Publicity alone put him ahead of 95% of rappers. With the rest of his catalogue, heโs at 99.999%. There arenโt many that can hang with GZA. Kinda crazy to think homie is pushing 60 years old.
@markgillan3750
Nearly...
@a.k.a.theruggedmanchild9685
The GZA's body of work isn't considerable to be challenged
@michaelvoelkel1945
Brainstorm Materia!
@lilripTV
K rino would spank gza
@deejaybalance
"Those who parade their positions show their spades." This came out 20 years ago, and these bars still outshine most hip-hop albums.
@lawrenceofarabia5299
'Cleary brillance'
If it was one true depth soldier of signature pure aristocratic defiance & expertise it most certainly was GZA, we all could learn from him. Homeschool should've been a preceptor.
@michaelvarela8890
All you here today is mumble this mumble that aye aye ayyyyeeeee an that's basically rap today trash ass shit
@tefocus3538
Exactly!!