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
Feel Like An Enemy
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah yo
I'm like a whirlwind spinnin wit words of wisdom
In the ghetto only promised a hearse and system
Play your space, I get hungry off of treble and bass and beat breaks
Everyday be a court date recorded on tape
Hell Raizah grab the mic and send your show to a wake
Cut off a snakehead the same way I cut off dead weight
We negotiate wit .38's in a ?nor? face
GZA came wit the Liquid Swords killin you all
I'm the virus in the street that'll get in your paws
See me jumpin outta four-doors wit my road dogs
All you soldiers want wars when you don't know laws
You be a rap fraud, knock you off the top of Billboard
Besides keyboards, only thing I love is the Lord
G-G Maccabee, K-P-P rapidly
Aiyyo Prodical, niggas is charged wit blasphemy
Chorus [Hell Razah]
AND ALL THAT HARD ROCK SHIT (charged wit blasphemy)
AND IF YOU'RE FEELIN LIKE AN ENEMY (come after me)
[Killah Priest]
I heard the sweet words from sour tongues
Vent poison in the ears of the ?grown-z's? dead head for years
Shed a tear for the underwear under the stairs
Left naked in the shame from hunger and fear
Shots were fired in the darkest moments
Niggas missed they targets, hit the homeless when the chrome spit
Sacreligious, days of atonement
Sing a praise wit a peace pipe for niggas I zone wit
Priest I blow bread amongst twelve thugs
Drunk a cup of blood
We trained the same time Peter sprayed a slug
We all trapped in this dream scared to wake up
I seen a phantom whisper, grim shadows, shows a blurry picture
Streets are filled wit goons and bloody niggas
I seen my friend fall, clutchin holdin his stomach
Caught him off-guard, foldin his hundred
It's like a life never ends, never know when it's comin
[Trigga]
Vocal imbalance, a code of silence converses violent
Live from medalion, ?nometry? dealin equality
You could stop to see profiles of me
Mic styles of me, lifestyles of me
Parallel prophecy, three-sixty degree
Complete the formation, salute the salvation
A Wu nation, do the knowledge no hatin
No misbehavin, lyrical affiliation
Artist in occupation together maintainin
Brain stainin, metaphor mutilatin
This generation, a misleading calculation
No elevation, time wastin and live chasin
[Prodigal Sun]
A day and night crime scene, livin in the time machine
Blaze a lime green, six on the spleen over some green
Surrounded by crooks, a life wit jux and bloody heist
It's a deadly price but the gun fiend for ice price
In this hell puzzle filled wit bitches, money and trouble
Stitches, for dummy knuckles crummy fuckin up the hustle
It's a struggle, in jungle wit sin we fondle men
Plus a prison, ain't no division and no religion
And inner city chronicle, thugs get caught up astronomical
Cash phenomenal, blast at your abdominal
Niggas is comical, fuckin wit the abominal
Son, I promise you, you won't live to see tomorrow
Catch a slug in the back of your head at the Apollo
I'm a hard act to follow, rugged Smith like Rollo
(Let's mark that ass nigga)
Chorus 3x
The song "Feel Like an Enemy" by GZA/Genius featuring Hell Razah, Killah Priest, Trigga, and Prodigal Sun is a conversation between the rappers about life in the ghetto and the struggles they face. The verses describe the harsh realities of the streets, the violence, the corruption, and the poverty. The rappers reflect on their experiences, share their wisdom, and call out those who perpetuate negativity and violence in the community. The lyrics are dense and packed with metaphors and imagery, and the rappers' flow is sharp and intense.
Hell Razah's verse introduces the theme of the song, presenting himself as a whirlwind of knowledge and warning that the streets only lead to death and destruction. He boasts about his ability to make music out of the chaos, to feed off of the energy of the bass and beats. He also speaks of his readiness to defend himself with a gun, suggesting that the streets are a constant battlefield. Killah Priest's verse explores the pain and suffering of the people living in poverty, the way they are neglected, abused, and left to die. He shares his own experience of witnessing violence and death and the fear of waking up to the same reality every day. Trigga's verse is focused on the power of language and the importance of unity. He speaks of his lyrical prowess and how it can be used to spread positivity and knowledge, while also highlighting the need for collective action and solidarity. Prodigal Sun's verse is more aggressive and confrontational, warning his enemies of the price they will pay for crossing him. He describes the violent world he lives in, where he must be constantly on guard and ready to strike.
The song is a powerful commentary on the realities of life in the ghetto and the challenges faced by those who live there. It highlights the resilience and determination of the people who are forced to survive in these conditions and the importance of community and solidarity in overcoming these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like a whirlwind spinnin wit words of wisdom
I have the knowledge and wisdom to spin around like a whirlwind.
In the ghetto only promised a hearse and system
Living in the ghetto only brings you the promise of a funeral and a corrupt justice system.
We complete like the solar system
We work together in perfect harmony like the solar system.
Play your space, I get hungry off of treble and bass and beat breaks
I thrive off of the power and energy of music.
Everyday be a court date recorded on tape
Every day seems like a court date that's recorded for everyone to see.
Hell Raizah grab the mic and send your show to a wake
I'll take your mic and send your show to an early demise.
Cut off a snakehead the same way I cut off dead weight
I'll remove any negative influences from my life like cutting off the head of a snake.
We negotiate wit .38's in a ?nor? face
We make deals while holding guns to someone's head.
GZA came wit the Liquid Swords killin you all
GZA brought the powerful Liquid Swords album to kill all other rappers.
I'm the virus in the street that'll get in your paws
I'm the infectious force in the streets that will take hold of you.
See me jumpin outta four-doors wit my road dogs
You can see me and my friends jumping out of cars on the road.
All you soldiers want wars when you don't know laws
You want to go to war but you don't understand the implications and consequences.
You be a rap fraud, knock you off the top of Billboard
You're a fake rapper, and I'll take you down from the top of the Billboard charts.
Besides keyboards, only thing I love is the Lord
I only love music and religion besides my keyboard.
G-G Maccabee, K-P-P rapidly
G-G Maccabee and K-P-P are moving quickly and with purpose.
Aiyyo Prodical, niggas is charged wit blasphemy
Prodigal Sun and others are accused of blasphemy.
AND ALL THAT HARD ROCK SHIT (charged wit blasphemy)
All the hard rock music is considered blasphemy.
AND IF YOU'RE FEELIN LIKE AN ENEMY (come after me)
If you're feeling like an enemy, come after me.
I heard the sweet words from sour tongues
I heard kind words from deceitful people.
Vent poison in the ears of the ?grown-z's? dead head for years
Feeding people harmful information for a long time causes them to become lifeless.
Shed a tear for the underwear under the stairs
Feeling sadness for the forgotten and hidden things under the stairs.
Left naked in the shame from hunger and fear
Feeling exposed and ashamed due to hunger and fear.
Shots were fired in the darkest moments
Gunshots were fired at the worst possible time.
Niggas missed they targets, hit the homeless when the chrome spit
People missed their intended targets and hit homeless people with their gunshots.
Sacreligious, days of atonement
Days of atonement considered sacrilegious.
Sing a praise wit a peace pipe for niggas I zone wit
Praising with a peace pipe for those who understand my mindset.
Priest I blow bread amongst twelve thugs
I share my wealth with my crew of 12 thugs.
Drunk a cup of blood
I drank a cup of blood, possibly symbolizing something best left to interpretation.
We trained the same time Peter sprayed a slug
We trained at the same time that Peter used a gun to shoot someone.
We all trapped in this dream scared to wake up
We're all caught in this world and afraid to face reality.
I seen a phantom whisper, grim shadows, shows a blurry picture
I saw something that looked like a ghost whispering, causing distorted shadows and a blurry image.
Streets are filled wit goons and bloody niggas
The streets are full of dangerous and violent people.
I seen my friend fall, clutchin holdin his stomach
I saw my friend fall and hold his stomach in pain.
Caught him off-guard, foldin his hundred
I attacked him when he was off-guard and stole his money.
It's like a life never ends, never know when it's comin
Life feels like it never ends and you never know when it will end.
Vocal imbalance, a code of silence converses violent
Having an unequal exchange of words, resulting in a deadly agreement and secrecy.
Live from medalion, ?nometry? dealin equality
Giving everyone the same chance to prosper, in a public place like a medallion or through numerology.
You could stop to see profiles of me
You can take a closer look and get a better understanding of who I am.
Mic styles of me, lifestyles of me
My style on the mic and my way of life are both uniquely my own.
Parallel prophecy, three-sixty degree
Having two or more similar predictions coming from different sources, covering all angles of a situation.
Complete the formation, salute the salvation
Finishing what we started, and honoring the success and redemption that resulted.
A Wu nation, do the knowledge no hatin
We are all part of a Wu-Tang nation, where we share and gain knowledge, with no hate or negativity.
No misbehavin, lyrical affiliation
No negative behavior, only a positive connection through lyrics.
Artist in occupation together maintainin
As artists, we work together to maintain and build a successful career.
Brain stainin, metaphor mutilatin
Staining people's minds with strong metaphors that can provoke deep thought and reflection.
This generation, a misleading calculation
The current generation is a miscalculation or misjudgment of what the world should be like.
No elevation, time wastin and live chasin
No improvement or growth, instead just wasting time and chasing a meaningless life.
A day and night crime scene, livin in the time machine
Always surrounded by crime, living in a time period that feels like a machine.
Blaze a lime green, six on the spleen over some green
Smoke marijuana that is very potent, causing someone to get hit six times in the abdomen over money.
Surrounded by crooks, a life wit jux and bloody heist
Living amongst criminals who often steal a lot of money through violent means.
It's a deadly price but the gun fiend for ice price
The price of getting jewelry and other luxuries is very high and can be deadly to get those things.
In this hell puzzle filled wit bitches, money and trouble
Living in a world that's like a jigsaw puzzle filled with women, money, and issues.
Stitches, for dummy knuckles crummy fuckin up the hustle
Punishment that results from someone not knowing how to properly engage in profitable activities.
It's a struggle, in jungle wit sin we fondle men
Living in a difficult world where there is a lot of immorality and struggle.
Plus a prison, ain't no division and no religion
In prison, there's no separation of people or religion.
And inner city chronicle, thugs get caught up astronomical
The urban environment records the stories of criminals who get caught up in dangerously high levels of criminal activity.
Cash phenomenal, blast at your abdominal
Making a crazy amount of money and shooting someone in the abdomen with a gun.
Niggas is comical, fuckin wit the abominal
People are foolish to mess with something so offensive or disgusting.
Son, I promise you, you won't live to see tomorrow
I promise you that you won't survive until tomorrow.
Catch a slug in the back of your head at the Apollo
Getting shot in the back of your head while you're performing on stage at the Apollo Theater.
I'm a hard act to follow, rugged Smith like Rollo
I'm very difficult to follow, and I'm similar to guns (like a Smith & Wesson or a revolver).
(Let's mark that ass nigga)
A command to remember someone for punishment or revenge.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind