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
Hip Hop Fury
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fuck wit the Wu we bustin' ya whole snot box
Throw ya right ear to ya bitch up in a zip lock
Spazzola to ya fury form of hip hop
Load data for the disc drive, ghetto citywide
Leave 'em paralyzed, they stolen every word I provide
Without no clearance, I nurture this track like Amish parents
Got requests from retail stores, for my appearance
First we target it, then they market it, to kill ya artist wit
The hungry shark, contra hit, whoevers starting shit
Got as many rap soldiers, for how much this record ships
Fuck them niggaz you record with, I make them forfeit
Send a bomb rap in Fed Ex into ya office, son we build and deliver
Came to build with the Gza
[Incomprehensible] the chorus from the Rza, the real album spitta
Me and my street team be holding congress meetings
Audio visual video treatments internationally speaking
Got managers scared to shop you, ready to drop you
It's the coming of the newest hip hop Christ
Pop you, try the BDS and ya sound skins from war fans
Ya whole roster cant take on, one Sun of Man
Get ya street team, get ya sickest out, put ya posters up
Boost ya bucket up, still Razah gonna fuck it up
You crunchy chump crabs get crumbled up like crack rock
Fuck wit the Wu we bustin' ya whole snot box
Throw ya right ear to ya bitch up in a zip lock
Spazzola to ya fury form of hip hop
Industrialize niggaz change soon as ya get in
Throw 'em on a auction block, CEO's bidding
Highest price paid, for them wack rhymes made
It's over rated, cut off, never reinstated
I be fruitful and multiply with marvelous tales
Feed the hungry MCs and be starving as hell
I laid the first verse and quenched a dry ass niggaz thirst
Who drank my wisdom up like water, till his stomach burst
Full tank, with the premium quality raps
Mickey mouse niggaz get caught on the trap
Ya Cottonelle kids from Scottsdale cleanex
Looking like Rockwell wearing V necks
Ya learn from this earn from this
Niggaz getting tossed and turned for this, burned for this
Extort from a thousands degrees of live MCs
I melt ya niggaz down to the size of fleas
The microphonus, collect the bonus, aiyo, we on this
House niggaz verse the homeless
Ten to one, Tim's the one
Royal famous, the verbal painless
The dark gallery, million dollar pictures
Import from poor to riches, leanin' on doors
We move across the Brooklyn bridge doing 60
Illegal driving, from dusk to red dawn
The Gza, Genius, Wu tang we live long
True indeed, I hook tracks like my seed
Persona, wack MCs do me notta
King Solomon the great, came to evaporate the fake
Yeah you, you know your power U
Ya recognize the voice, it's that nigga from the Wu
Every dart I spit gets mastered and promoted
Ya just been demoted, 'cause ya sweet and sugar coated
Ya folded, ya style is half stale and molded, so mold it
You crunchy chump crabs get crumbled up like crack rock
Fuck wit the Wu we bustin' ya whole snot box
Throw ya right ear to ya bitch up in a zip lock
Spazzola to ya fury form of hip hop
In these lyrics, GZA/Genius asserts the dominance of Wu-Tang Clan over other rappers in the hip-hop industry. The crunchy chump crabs are inferior, and like crack rock, they crumble under the Wu-Tang Clan's power. The Wu is so powerful that they can throw your right ear to your bitch in a zip lock. He claims that his form of hip-hop is so powerful that it can frenzy and spazzola the competition.
The lyrics also contain many references to the music industry itself. GZA/Genius talks about how to advertise and market music, and how managers are scared to shop certain artists. He speaks about CEOs bidding on rappers like they're on an auction block and extorting from thousands of live MCs. He suggests that many rappers are just sugar-coated and weak, and that Wu-Tang Clan is the real deal--the newest hip-hop Christ that will pop others off.
Overall, these lyrics proclaim Wu-Tang Clan's dominion over other MCs and demonstrate a profound understanding of the music industry and the power dynamics that exist within it.
Line by Line Meaning
You crunchy chump crabs get crumbled up like crack rock
You weak rappers will be defeated easily like crumbling crack rocks
Fuck wit the Wu we bustin' ya whole snot box
If you mess with the Wu Tang Clan, we will punch you in the face
Throw ya right ear to ya bitch up in a zip lock
We'll cut off your ear and deliver it to your girlfriend in a baggie
Spazzola to ya fury form of hip hop
I'll attack your weak hip hop style with an intense anger
Here's something to advertise, promote it keep the fan satisfied
This song is something to promote and keep our fans happy
Load data for the disc drive, ghetto citywide
Record stores in the inner city are requesting my music on CDs
Leave 'em paralyzed, they stolen every word I provide
Other rappers copy my lyrics and can't come up with original ideas
Without no clearance, I nurture this track like Amish parents
I am working on this song with care even though I don't have all the permissions
Got requests from retail stores, for my appearance
Record stores are asking me to come perform live
First we target it, then they market it, to kill ya artist wit
They plan to target and promote this song to end other artists' careers
The hungry shark, contra hit, whoevers starting shit
I am like a hungry shark ready to attack anyone who wants trouble
Got as many rap soldiers, for how much this record ships
I have many loyal rap fans who will buy this album
Fuck them niggaz you record with, I make them forfeit
I will destroy other rappers on this track and make them lose their fans
Send a bomb rap in Fed Ex into ya office, son we build and deliver
I'll send a powerful rap to destroy your career and I'll do it quickly
Came to build with the Gza
We are here to create music together
[Incomprehensible] the chorus from the Rza, the real album spitta
RZA is singing the chorus and he is known for creating great albums
Me and my street team be holding congress meetings
My team and I are planning our strategy like a political group
Audio visual video treatments internationally speaking
We are promoting our music around the world through all media formats
Got managers scared to shop you, ready to drop you
Managers are afraid to sign other rappers because they might fail
It's the coming of the newest hip hop Christ
I am like the savior of hip hop music
Pop you, try the BDS and ya sound skins from war fans
We'll defeat you quickly and our fans will support us
Ya whole roster cant take on, one Sun of Man
My talent is too much for any group of other rappers
Get ya street team, get ya sickest out, put ya posters up
You should promote your music heavily with a strong team
Boost ya bucket up, still Razah gonna fuck it up
Even if you try to improve your music, we will still outperform you
Industrialize niggaz change soon as ya get in
Rappers change their style to fit into a commercialized industry
Throw 'em on a auction block, CEO's bidding
Corporate executives will compete for rappers like they're slaves at an auction
Highest price paid, for them wack rhymes made
The most money goes to rappers who make bad music
It's over rated, cut off, never reinstated
Bad rappers should be ignored and never allowed back again
I be fruitful and multiply with marvelous tales
I create great music with many stories and themes
Feed the hungry MCs and be starving as hell
I help other rappers with my music, but I am not getting paid as well as I should be
I laid the first verse and quenched a dry ass niggaz thirst
My first verse was so good that it satisfied other rappers who were thirsty for something new
Who drank my wisdom up like water, till his stomach burst
Other rappers absorbed my knowledge and talent like they were drinking water, but it was too much for them
Full tank, with the premium quality raps
I have a lot of amazing lyrics that are high quality
Mickey mouse niggaz get caught on the trap
Weak rappers who make silly music will fall into a trap of bad marketing and failure
Ya Cottonelle kids from Scottsdale cleanex
Soft suburban rappers from a clean area like Scottsdale are not tough enough for the rap game
Looking like Rockwell wearing V necks
They dress too nice and look like amateurs
Ya learn from this earn from this
You should learn from what I'm saying and make money from your music
Niggaz getting tossed and turned for this, burned for this
Rappers are struggling and failing in the music industry
Extort from a thousands degrees of live MCs
I am the best and I take advantage of other rappers
I melt ya niggaz down to the size of fleas
I am so powerful that I can destroy other rappers' careers easily
The microphonus, collect the bonus, aiyo, we on this
I am in charge of the microphone and we are making good music with it
House niggaz verse the homeless
Established, successful rappers compete against new, unknown ones
Ten to one, Tim's the one
I have a lot of great lyrics, more than anyone else
Royal famous, the verbal painless
I have a great reputation and my rapping is smooth and easy to listen to
The dark gallery, million dollar pictures
My music is sophisticated and valuable
Import from poor to riches, leanin' on doors
My music appeals to people from all backgrounds and I have opportunities because of it
We move across the Brooklyn bridge doing 60
We are making moves quickly and crossing to new territories to succeed in the music industry
Illegal driving, from dusk to red dawn
We are taking big risks to make success happen quickly
The Gza, Genius, Wu tang we live long
We are talented and will have a long, successful career in rap music
True indeed, I hook tracks like my seed
It's true that I have great talent and I can create amazing music easily
Persona, wack MCs do me notta
Bad rappers don't even matter to me
King Solomon the great, came to evaporate the fake
I am like a great and powerful king who is eliminating the phonies in rap music
Yeah you, you know your power U
You know that you have a lot of talent and potential
Ya recognize the voice, it's that nigga from the Wu
You know who I am, you've heard of the Wu Tang Clan
Every dart I spit gets mastered and promoted
Every line I write is polished and marketed well
Ya just been demoted, 'cause ya sweet and sugar coated
You have been replaced by me because you're too commercial and fake
Ya folded, ya style is half stale and molded, so mold it
Your rap style is weak and outdated, so you should change it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind