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
Outro
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[la the darkman]
Yeah, killa, the gza, la
Live, yeah, what yo
My clan is like usa the way we conquer
Lay back, grow more chocolate than willy wonka
Stomp ya, till your head bleed, your mouth bleed
Triple darkness, wild like a killer from sparfit
Heartless, trained to hit movin targets
Profit, .357 cocked it
Killed you, leave you wit your money in your pocket
My logic, money bitches layin the lessons
Allah blesses, me wit automatic weapons
Scholastic, geographic, stay jurassic
Runnin through medina wit the glock blastin
Rotten fruit, black je-sus, I got juice
Darkman move swift as a mongoose
[timbo king]
Yo, niggas caught plaque from bitin off the platinum
Dumb mc's caught the gum disease, ask them
Who style they took, two wild rooks
Tried to take a page when I'm the author of the book
At twenty-seven years young, y'all some old timers
I write wit invisible ink, y'all use eye liners
Define rhymers, the question and the answer
The dj and the dancers, check
Outro by GZA/Genius features two of his fellow Wu-Tang Clan members, La the Darkman and Timbo King as guest rappers. The song is a traditional hip-hop outro with each rapper taking turns to showcase their lyrical abilities. The first verse by La the Darkman includes references to the Wu-Tang Clan's influence in the rap industry, likening them to the United States in how they conquered the scene. He also boasts of their prowess and ability to cause harm. The "triple darkness" reference is a nod to the Wu-Tang Clan's penchant for using this phrase in their lyrics.
Timbo King's verse is similarly boastful, with him claiming that other rappers steal his style and that he is the "author of the book" when it comes to hip-hop. He also makes reference to his age, stating that at 27, he is still a young rapper compared to others who have been in the game for longer. The line "I write wit invisible ink, y'all use eye liners" is a clever metaphor, implying that his lyrics are so powerful that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Overall, Outro is a typical rap song that shows off the lyrical prowess of the Wu-Tang Clan members. The references to violence and conquest are common themes in the genre, but the creative wordplay and metaphors used by La the Darkman and Timbo King set this song apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, killa, the gza, la
Introduction to the song by la the darkman, stating the presence of GZA/Genius and themselves
Live, yeah, what yo
Casual greeting, acknowledging the live performance
My clan is like usa the way we conquer
Comparing his music group, which is Wu-Tang Clan, to the country USA, both known for their conquests
Lay back, grow more chocolate than willy wonka
Taking it easy, getting rich, and making more money than Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory
Stomp ya, till your head bleed, your mouth bleed
Beating someone up until they bleed from their head and mouth
Runnin wit the heart of slave that's been freed
Having the energy and passion of a former slave who has just gained freedom
Triple darkness, wild like a killer from sparfit
Referring to himself and his group as being mysterious and powerful, like a skilled assassin
Heartless, trained to hit movin targets
Lacking emotion and skilled enough to hit targets that are moving
Profit, .357 cocked it
Making money and being armed with a .357 Magnum revolver
Killed you, leave you wit your money in your pocket
Killing someone and letting them keep their money, possibly highlighting the desire for power and not mere robbery
My logic, money bitches layin the lessons
Explaining how his mindset is focused on making money and using that as a way to gain respect and attention from women
Allah blesses, me wit automatic weapons
Claiming a divine blessing from Allah to be skilled with automatic weapons
Scholastic, geographic, stay jurassic
Being well-educated, well-traveled, and staying in a timeless, epic mode
Runnin through medina wit the glock blastin
Navigating through the Medina, an ancient city, while shooting a Glock handgun
Rotten fruit, black je-sus, I got juice
Describing himself as having authority despite being a controversial or disliked public figure, like black Jesus, and having plenty of power and resources
Darkman move swift as a mongoose
Moving quickly and skillfully, like a mongoose fighting a cobra
Yo, niggas caught plaque from bitin off the platinum
Other rappers resorting to copying his platinum-selling albums, causing embarrassment and shame (plaque) for them
Dumb mc's caught the gum disease, ask them
Stating that these copycats have also been caught suffering a metaphorical disease, also known as being plastic or fake
Who style they took, two wild rooks
Asking who's style the copycats took, and immediately declaring them inexperienced amateurs playing the game of chess
Tried to take a page when I'm the author of the book
Attempting to mimic his style when he is the actual creator of it
At twenty-seven years young, y'all some old timers
At 27 years old, he and his comrades are still young and relevant, compared to those who have stopped growing and evolving creatively as they've aged
I write wit invisible ink, y'all use eye liners
Implying that his lyrics are complex and hard to detect, much like invisible ink, while other rappers use cosmetics such as eyeliners to mask their lack of true substance or talent
Define rhymers, the question and the answer
Defining and exploring the meaning of true hip-hop; the query and response to what real lyricism truly entails
The dj and the dancers, check
Saluting the dj and the importance of the music's danceability
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VON M CARLISLE, DE SHAUN DUPREE HOLTON, RUFUS JOHNSON, RUFUS B JOHNSON, ONDRE C MOORE, LUIS RESTO, OBIE TRICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind