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
Luminal
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a tale of a town with the population
Of approximately two thousand people
They small close in their community with crime
And murder, we're virtually unheard of
With front doors, were always left unlocked
A place where mayhem only happens in your wildest dreams
Boy...
[GZA]
For some, the sun will never come out tomorrow
Like those in this heart pounding tale of random horror
Of a body count, after trashin' it, they done with it
Victims inflicted with passionate punishment
Specific offers of horrific torture
That left crime scenes, that retired law enforcers
This ruthlessness knew no bounds, as he beat him down
Shot him while gagged and bound, kept the whole town
Shocked, with they doors locked, fire arms cocked
Major roads blocked, no one knows when he knocks
As a kid he killed three pets of an attorney
So his child passion became a life long journey
Grew into a world of destruction, abduction
Left many body parts flowin' on the Hudson
Whether fountain or ditch, after the ride you hitched
Screams is high pitched from scars you can't stitch
Mutilated and decapitated, white collar chicks
Just from his involvement in local politics
His outfit stained with the blood of the slain
While his backyard full of skeletal remains
His goal in life, was preparation for death
An autopsy showed affixation, loss of breath
Was it his fascination, for strangulation
The lynchings in the '20's was his inspiration
Unspeakable acts that made front page
Motivated by an unexplainable rage
[Interlude: samples]
"A suspected killer plaguing this community
Has once again eluded police and detectives"
"We have no leads, no photos, no suspects"
"This nameless, faceless murderer
Has killed a couple, execution style, in their own home
Smashed a 12-year old Little League ball player skull, with a baseball bat"
"We have no leads, no photos, no suspects"
[GZA]
The State psychologist, forensic pathologist
Warned the detective to search beyond the obvious
They ruled out the possibility that the killa be
Physically fit with athletic ability
Talley and murder, on his agenda
There was no word, and it's code for "surrender"
So when the headlines had announced the arrest, the repercussion
Was his trial became a lightning rod for discussion
Compellin' evidence, statements from residents
Validated guilt as he maintained his innocence
From the hair to the fiber, broke the bondage wire
The stains on the carpet consisted with saliva
DNA directly linked to the psycho
Luminal made it glow, was test to Type 0
For many years, a lot of murders went unsolved
A lot of blood resolve as guns still revolve
The bullets had names that made the frames shatter
Most savage massacre that made the brains scatter
Detectives astounded by the scope of the crime
Made a hard discovery from one of many signs
While questionin' a man he picked up on a scanner
He reacted in a loud and agitated matter
And once they tried to read him his rights
He turned cold as ice
The song "Luminal" by GZA/Genius tells a chilling tale of a town with a population of approximately two thousand people who live with the small-town, close-knit community spirit. Crime and murder are practically unheard of in this place where front doors are always left unlocked, and mayhem only occurs in their wildest dreams until a notorious killer comes to town. The song describes the sociopathic tendencies and obsession with murder and torture of this nameless, faceless criminal, his heinous crimes, his love for strangulation, and how he mutilates and decapitates his victims who are mostly white collar women. He leaves many body parts flowing on the Hudson, fountain, or ditch after every ride. He gets away for several years until technological advances bring him to session. He is ultimately brought down by forensic evidence, statements from residents, and repeated murders that stun multiple detectives until enough evidence is obtained.
The narrative of "Luminal" is a cautionary tale that speaks to the destructive tendencies of unrestrained human desires and the terrible consequences of giving in to morbid fetishes. The story mirrors real-life incidents of serial killers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, who were known to be sociopathic, torturous, and ruthless in their killings.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a tale of a town with the population
The song tells a story about a small town with a population of around 2,000 people.
Of approximately two thousand people
The town has around 2,000 people living in it.
They small close in their community with crime
The people in the town are close-knit, but crime still exists within it.
And murder, we're virtually unheard of
Murder rarely happens in the town.
With front doors, were always left unlocked
The town is so safe that people leave their front doors unlocked.
A place where mayhem only happens in your wildest dreams
The town is so peaceful that the idea of mayhem only exists in people's fantasies.
For some, the sun will never come out tomorrow
Some people in the town will never have a better future.
Like those in this heart pounding tale of random horror
The story tells of the people who will not have a better future, and their experience of random horror.
Of a body count, after trashin' it, they done with it
The killer leaves a body count in his wake and doesn't care what happens after he has committed the crime.
Victims inflicted with passionate punishment
The killer's punishment towards his victims is passionate and intense.
Specific offers of horrific torture
The killer has specific methods of torture that are particularly horrific.
That left crime scenes, that retired law enforcers
The crime scenes that the killer leaves are so gruesome that even retired law enforcement officers are shocked.
This ruthlessness knew no bounds, as he beat him down
The killer's ruthlessness has no limits and he inflicts great damage on his victims.
Shot him while gagged and bound, kept the whole town
The killer shoots his victim while they are gagged and bound, creating fear throughout the whole town.
Shocked, with they doors locked, fire arms cocked
People in the town are fearful, locking their doors and preparing to defend themselves if needed.
Major roads blocked, no one knows when he knocks
The killer has the ability to block major roads in the town, making it hard for anyone to escape his wrath.
As a kid he killed three pets of an attorney
The killer started his violent behavior at a young age by killing three pets that belonged to an attorney.
So his child passion became a life long journey
The killer's passion for violence started in his childhood and continued into his adult life.
Grew into a world of destruction, abduction
The killer's passion for violence grew into a world of destruction and abduction.
Left many body parts flowin' on the Hudson
The killer left many body parts floating in the Hudson River.
Whether fountain or ditch, after the ride you hitched
The killer would sometimes dispose of his victims in a fountain or ditch and then dump them in the river.
Screams is high pitched from scars you can't stitch
The victims scream in a high pitched tone from the scars that cannot be stitched.
Mutilated and decapitated, white collar chicks
The killer mutilated and decapitated white collar women.
Just from his involvement in local politics
The killer was involved in local politics and some of his victims were targeted because of this.
His outfit stained with the blood of the slain
The killer's clothing has blood stains from his victims.
While his backyard full of skeletal remains
The killer has a backyard that is full of skeletal remains of his victims.
His goal in life, was preparation for death
The killer's only goal in life was to prepare for his own death.
An autopsy showed affixation, loss of breath
The killer died from affixation, the loss of breath caused by excessive pressure.
The lynchings in the '20's was his inspiration
The killer was inspired by the lynchings that occurred during the 1920s in America.
Unspeakable acts that made front page
The killer commits unspeakable acts that are so horrific that they make front page news.
Motivated by an unexplainable rage
The killer is motivated by a rage that cannot be explained.
The State psychologist, forensic pathologist
The state's psychologist and forensic pathologist are involved in the investigation.
Warned the detective to search beyond the obvious
The psychologist and forensic pathologist advise the detective to look beyond the obvious suspects.
They ruled out the possibility that the killa be
The psychologist and forensic pathologist rule out the possibility that the killer is physically fit and athletic.
Physically fit with athletic ability
The psychologist and forensic pathologist have ruled out the possibility that the killer is physically fit and athletic.
Talley and murder, on his agenda
The killer's agenda includes a count of his victims and committing murder.
There was no word, and it's code for 'surrender'
When the killer uses the phrase 'there was no word', it is code for 'surrender'.
So when the headlines had announced the arrest, the repercussion
When the killer was finally arrested, there were widespread repercussions.
Was his trial became a lightning rod for discussion
The killer's trial becomes a central topic of discussion.
Compellin' evidence, statements from residents
The evidence against the killer is very compelling, including statements from residents.
Validated guilt as he maintained his innocence
Despite maintaining his innocence, the evidence validates the killer's guilt.
From the hair to the fiber, broke the bondage wire
The evidence against the killer includes hair, fibers, and broken bondage wire.
The stains on the carpet consisted with saliva
The stains on the carpet match the killer's saliva.
DNA directly linked to the psycho
DNA evidence directly links the killer to the crime.
Luminal made it glow, was test to Type 0
Luminal, a chemical used to detect traces of blood, showed Type 0 blood which helped identify the killer.
For many years, a lot of murders went unsolved
Many murders went unsolved for years.
A lot of blood resolve as guns still revolve
Despite many unsolved murders, guns are still being used to commit violent crimes in the town.
The bullets had names that made the frames shatter
The bullets used in the violent crimes are so powerful that they name the frames of the guns to shatter.
Most savage massacre that made the brains scatter
The most savage massacre caused the victims' brains to scatter.
Detectives astounded by the scope of the crime
The detectives are astounded by the scale of the violent crimes committed in the town.
Made a hard discovery from one of many signs
The detectives make a difficult discovery from one of the many signs they investigate.
While questionin' a man he picked up on a scanner
While questioning a man, the detectives hear him on a scanner and realize he may know something about the crimes.
He reacted in a loud and agitated matter
The man becomes loud and agitated when questioned about the crimes.
And once they tried to read him his rights
When the detectives try to read the man his rights, he becomes unresponsive.
He turned cold as ice
The man becomes unresponsive and acts as if he does not feel any emotions towards his possible involvement in the crimes.
"A suspected killer plaguing this community
This interlude features news reports discussing the killer who is terrorizing the town.
Has once again eluded police and detectives"
The killer has avoided being captured by the police and detectives yet again.
"We have no leads, no photos, no suspects"
The law enforcement officials have no leads, photos, or suspects to identify the killer.
"This nameless, faceless murderer
The killer is referred to as 'this nameless, faceless murderer'.
Has killed a couple, execution style, in their own home
The killer murdered a couple in their home in a manner that resembles an execution.
"Smashed a 12-year old Little League ball player skull, with a baseball bat"
The killer used a baseball bat to smash the skull of a 12-year-old Little League player.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY E. GRICE, LARRY MUGGERUD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Burgoon
GZA is definitely in the top 10 lyricist of all time
Trent Yates
He in mines
DXOWNSNWO
Unequivocally and undebatedly #1
Travis Thomas
How many of his lyrics could become Hollywood scripts?
Harry The Boy
no doubt...gza is master number one ruler
Dee Mir
This shit here will send chills right up ur spinal cord to ur cerebellum. Tha Genius. Most underrated emcee ever.
Man O'Neal
The thing about GZA is that his rhymes are often very simple regarding pattern and the lack of multis, but his delivery, articulate nature and the concepts behind his words make the nigga ill.
MM B
Another great concept song. This has to be one of the best experimental albums in Hip Hop.
ARTriodicy
"A place where mayhem only happens in your wildest dreams".... The best story in the world happens after this..
Chris B
You have a knack for catching lyrics!