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
Killah Hills 10304
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes the good life, you know
What the fuck is that, hell's angels?
Ol' Dirty singing in the background*
(Ah Mr. Bobby Steels, Tony Starks on line one for Mr. Bobby Steels)
Steels over here, Steels over here
Peace, Starks what's going on baby?
Yeah everything is lovely over here.
Yeah the, the Maximillion is sure here
I'm over here with Noodles and I got Lucky Hands with me
You got soul, R&B, classics? All that shit right?
Yeah, Grey Ghost right in front of me right now
Grey Ghost standing right here.
Yeah he has a briefcase, oh, OK, OK I got you.
Aight thanks
Bobby Steels.
Huh?
Mr. Grey Ghost, good to see you good to see you good to see you.
A pleasure.
So is everything OK, is everything working as we planned?
Everything is working out, very nicely.
Do you have the cash, twenty-thousand dollars?
Be nice to have a little breeze.
Breeze on by fuck the cops.
Do we have the cash? We don't have to talk that, hey hey
Get the fuck outta here with that hell's angels bullshit!
We got the cash we know Cash Rules Everything Around this Motherfucker
Um, let me ask you,
The fuck outta here!
Do you have the full amount? Twenty thousand as we agreed upon?
Fucking hell's bastards.
Let me ask you a question Mr. Grey Ghost
Do you know a a Don Rodriguez?
I know no such person.
Don Rodriguez from the Bronx? Don Rodriguez?
I don't know who you're talking about.
I think you do know him 'cause your fuckin' friend Don
Is down at one-twenty precinct right now singing
His fuckin' ass like a fuckin' bird.
Life of a drug dealer
The fuckin' guys is comin'
Do you believe him?
Killah hills 10304
Restaurants on a stake-out
So order the food to take out
Chaos, outside a spark steakhouse
Maintain the power, I feel the deal's gone sour
Nigga Mr. Wedding, late a fuckin' half hour
And his man who bought land from Tony Starks
While he was contractin' bricklayin jobs in city parks
He's a loan shark, bitches raise a grand to a finger
In a garment that's stretched, got it sewn like Singer
'Cause all that talk blasphemy this kid after me
For the heist, in a Burlington Coat Factory
Fuck it, he turned snake so my nigga Cash stole his copilot
Who used to drive like sacks of blow on this remote
Area, we label Dead Man's Island
Two hundred miles South from Thailand
Right off the docks, I got the various custom made yachts
Burial plots, for my niggas hit with fatal shots
There's no need for us to spray up the scene
I use less men, more powerful shit for my team
Like my man Muhammad from Afghanistan
Grew up in Iran, the nigga runs a neighborhood newsstand
A wild Middle Eastern, bomb specialist
Initiated, at eleven to be a terrorist
He set bombs in bottles of champagne
And when niggas popped the cork, niggas lost half they brains
Like this ex-worker, tried to smuggle a half a key
In his left leg, even underwent surgery
They say his pirate limp gave him away
As the feds rushed him, comin' through U.S. Customs
Now look whose on the witness stand singin, a well known soprano
A smash hit from Sammy Gravano
Here's the plan minimum for the hit, two hundred grand
Half time at the game blastin' niggas out the stands
The sharp-shooters hit the prosecutor, judges are sent
Photographs of they wives takin' baths
Along with briefcase filled with one point five, that's the bribe
Take it or commit suicide
First rule, anyone who schemes on the gold in Syria
I want they small intestines ripped from the interior
I got a price for those jewels, ship em freight cargo
Don't forget to launder the cream through Wells Fargo
Reconstruct those processin' plants for the call of Costa Rica
Four hundred barrels of ether
Two hundred pounds of reefer
And fifty immigrants with fake Visas
Life of a drug dealer
Killah hills, 10304
The saga continues
The song "Killah Hills 10304" by GZA/Genius is a story of drug dealing and crime. The lyrics depict a conversation between two criminals (Bobby Steels and Grey Ghost) discussing the details of a drug deal. The dialogue includes references to various criminal activities such as loan sharking, smuggling, and bombing. Additionally, there are mentions of Don Rodriguez, a drug dealer who is reportedly providing information to the police. The song culminates in a plan to carry out a hit on a prosecutor, with a bribe of 1.5 million dollars.
The lyrics are emblematic of the hip-hop genre that emerged from the streets of New York City in the 1980s. They highlight the harsh realities of life in the inner city and the desperation that can lead individuals to engage in illegal activities. The song also exposes the corrupt nature of the criminal underworld and how it can bring about harmful consequences. Ultimately, the message of the song is that crime does not pay and that a life of corruption will only lead to ruin.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes the good life, you know
Acknowledging the life of luxury
What the fuck is that, hell's angels?
Questioning the presence of a biker gang
Steels over here, Steels over here
Responding to a phone call
Peace, Starks what's going on baby?
Greeting a friend
Yeah everything is lovely over here.
Expressing happiness with current situation
Sure the hills is where it's at?
Confirming location
I'm over here with Noodles and I got Lucky Hands with me
Listing the people present
You got soul, R&B, classics? All that shit right?
Asking for music preferences
Grey Ghost standing right here.
Identifying an individual
Aight thanks
Expressing gratitude
Do you have the cash, twenty-thousand dollars?
Asking for payment
Breeze on by fuck the cops.
Expressing disdain for law enforcement
We got the cash we know Cash Rules Everything Around this Motherfucker
Affirming the importance of money
Do you have the full amount? Twenty thousand as we agreed upon?
Requesting full payment amount
I know no such person.
Denying knowledge of an individual
The fuckin' guys is comin'
Referring to police
Do you believe him?
Questioning the truth
Restaurants on a stake-out
So order the food to take out
Chaos, outside a spark steakhouse
Maintain the power, I feel the deal's gone sour
Nigga Mr. Wedding, late a fuckin' half hour
Describing a tense situation outside a restaurant
And his man who bought land from Tony Starks
While he was contractin' bricklayin jobs in city parks
He's a loan shark, bitches raise a grand to a finger
In a garment that's stretched, got it sewn like Singer
Describing a corrupt businessman
'Cause all that talk blasphemy this kid after me
For the heist, in a Burlington Coat Factory
Fuck it, he turned snake so my nigga Cash stole his copilot
Who used to drive like sacks of blow on this remote
Area, we label Dead Man's Island
Two hundred miles South from Thailand
Describing a heist and consequential betrayal
Right off the docks, I got the various custom made yachts
Burial plots, for my niggas hit with fatal shots
There's no need for us to spray up the scene
I use less men, more powerful shit for my team
Describing his wealth and tactics
Like my man Muhammad from Afghanistan
Grew up in Iran, the nigga runs a neighborhood newsstand
A wild Middle Eastern, bomb specialist
Initiated, at eleven to be a terrorist
Describing an acquaintance's background
He set bombs in bottles of champagne
And when niggas popped the cork, niggas lost half they brains
Describing terrorism tactics
They say his pirate limp gave him away
As the feds rushed him, comin' through U.S. Customs
Now look whose on the witness stand singin, a well known soprano
A smash hit from Sammy Gravano
Describing arrest and betrayal
Here's the plan minimum for the hit, two hundred grand
Half time at the game blastin' niggas out the stands
The sharp-shooters hit the prosecutor, judges are sent
Photographs of they wives takin' baths
Along with briefcase filled with one point five, that's the bribe
Take it or commit suicide
Describing a planned assassination and bribery
First rule, anyone who schemes on the gold in Syria
I want they small intestines ripped from the interior
I got a price for those jewels, ship em freight cargo
Don't forget to launder the cream through Wells Fargo
Reconstruct those processin' plants for the call of Costa Rica
Four hundred barrels of ether
Two hundred pounds of reefer
And fifty immigrants with fake Visas
Listing various illegal activities
The saga continues
Ending the song on a foreboding note
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY E. GRICE, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind