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
Street Corner
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sure you've seen it yourself
Standing on the corner is an alleged brother
Dressed in blue or green, red and black
And spouting the news that the revolution is coming
And you better get ready, sort of like (I feel you, son)
The end of the world is coming, unfortunately (I got you, though)
The world is just going to drag on and on (I know how it is)
For the brothers on the street corners
When the revolution come, you can see me on the front line
Firing my gun, standing right beside my son
If I go, it's understood that I stood for something
When my whole life, they told me, I was good for nothing
I was raised by the stray dogs, blazed off, laid off
Breaking laws, graveyard shifting everyday war
Focus now, notice how, things change, soldier
I remain the same, I'm older now, I embrace the pain
I blame the struggle, nearly drove me insane
Thought I lost my head 'til my brethren told me the same
No tears for the reaper, I've buried 'bout a thousand
In graffiti, "rest in peace" sprayed off throughout the housing
I tried to stay civilized, the hood's a prison inside
The only difference is the doors don't slide
Still we trapped in the animal cage 'cause we got animal ways
So we react with the animal rage
And my section's real, weapons peel, cheddar's the deal
Seen the depths of hell, now I stare death in the grill
From the slave ships to today's bricks, same shit
I'm awake to the wickedness and one with the pavement
The all-great mind stays divine, my hands remain deadly
We shine without the hung jewelry, produce light
That'll travel through mics now as the time riping
We took words that we nourishing, encouraging
A nation to awaken those who were sleeping
Can you conceive the thought? Transatlantic import
Slave and bought, secret relations between Blacks and Jews
Might set a fuse off in the head
Many dead, lynch hung, swung from trees
Brothers in the struggle together, eat from one pot
Hold each other down to the sneaker
Nothing come between us
Fast money and chicks, did it to the best of cliques
It's sickening
Ha
It's me and you, son, forever in the struggle
No doubt, we hustle, survival is the motto
The youth soon follow, a better tomorrow
Like to make a way for a better tomorrow
It's me and you, son, forever in the struggle
No doubt, we hustle, survival is the motto
The youth soon follow, a better tomorrow
Take care, build stairs for a better tomorrow
I catch a few flashbacks about going through the struggle
How we used to make dollars from all the snow we shoveled
In a broke neighborhood where the kids often dream
About a lavish life that is mostly seen in the screen
Where some dreams are quickly cut short due to gang violence
From loud guns that kept witnesses in deep silence
Was it bad timing? Jealousy from too much shining?
Or a setup from a girl that he wined, kept dining
It's a known fact, they will attack 'cause it's like that
And depending on the kind of impact that strike back
In a town where the talk is cheap and beef is brief
A mother sobs uncontrollably and exhibit the grief
Large holes in the front door of a housing tenement
Allows room to retaliate, so conflict is imminent
This hate in the brain destroys the cells like cancer
Even experts are stuck with more questions than answers
The lyrics to GZA/Genius's song "Street Corner" depict the realities and struggles faced by individuals living in inner-city neighborhoods, particularly those on street corners. The song sheds light on the experiences and perspectives of people who stand on street corners, offering their perspectives on revolution, societal issues, and personal struggles. The alleged brother mentioned refers to individuals who take it upon themselves to spread the message of revolution and social change, dressed in different colors symbolizing different ideologies. The lyrics highlight the cyclical nature of the world's problems, with the knowledge that things will continue to drag on.
The second verse delves deeper into the personal experiences and emotions of the singer. It portrays the journey of someone who has faced adversity, from being told they were good for nothing to standing for something and embracing the pain. The lyrics touch on themes of struggle, loss, survival, and the harsh realities of life in marginalized communities. The singer reflects on their experiences, recognizing the shared pain of others and acknowledging the collective experiences of their community. The lyrics highlight the cycle of violence, the impact of historical oppression, and the bonds formed through hardship.
Overall, the song "Street Corner" offers a raw and introspective look into the lives of those on street corners, their perspectives on revolution and struggle, and the challenges they face in their daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking on various street corners
Observing different street corners
I'm sure you've seen it yourself
You have probably witnessed it firsthand
Standing on the corner is an alleged brother
There is someone claiming to represent the struggle on the corner
Dressed in blue or green, red and black
Wearing clothing symbolizing different ideologies and struggles
And spouting the news that the revolution is coming
Announcing that a revolution is on its way
And you better get ready, sort of like (I feel you, son)
Preparing oneself for what is to come
The end of the world is coming, unfortunately (I got you, though)
The world as we know it is coming to an end, sadly
The world is just going to drag on and on (I know how it is)
The world will continue to endure hardships
And we have a poem that we've written particularly (I said, I know how it is)
We have crafted a poem specifically for this situation
For the brothers on the street corners
To uplift and relate to those on the street corners
When the revolution come, you can see me on the front line
I will be at the forefront during the revolution
Firing my gun, standing right beside my son
Engaging in battle while protecting my child
If I go, it's understood that I stood for something
If I die, it is clear that I fought for a cause
When my whole life, they told me, I was good for nothing
Throughout my life, they made me believe I was worthless
I was raised by the stray dogs, blazed off, laid off
I grew up amidst chaos, indulging in vices and unemployed
Breaking laws, graveyard shifting everyday war
Engaging in illegal activities, constantly in a state of conflict
Focus now, notice how, things change, soldier
Pay attention, see how circumstances evolve, my fellow warrior
I remain the same, I'm older now, I embrace the pain
Despite aging, I remain steadfast, accepting the hardships
I blame the struggle, nearly drove me insane
The constant battle has almost pushed me to madness
Thought I lost my head 'til my brethren told me the same
I believed I had lost my mind until my comrades reassured me
No tears for the reaper, I've buried 'bout a thousand
I shed no tears for death, I have witnessed and mourned countless losses
In graffiti, 'rest in peace' sprayed off throughout the housing
The walls bear graffiti commemorating the deceased in the neighborhood
I tried to stay civilized, the hood's a prison inside
I attempted to maintain civility, but the neighborhood is a confinement
The only difference is the doors don't slide
The only distinction is that there are no sliding doors in this prison
Still we trapped in the animal cage 'cause we got animal ways
We are still confined like animals due to our brutish tendencies
So we react with the animal rage
Thus, we respond with primal fury
And my section's real, weapons peel, cheddar's the deal
My neighborhood is authentic, guns are fired, money is the motive
Seen the depths of hell, now I stare death in the grill
Having experienced terrible circumstances, I now face death fearlessly
From the slave ships to today's bricks, same shit
From the era of slavery to the present, we face similar struggles
I'm awake to the wickedness and one with the pavement
I am fully aware of the evil in the world and deeply connected to the streets
The all-great mind stays divine, my hands remain deadly
My intellect remains supreme, and I possess lethal skills
We shine without the hung jewelry, produce light
We radiate brilliance without relying on material possessions
That'll travel through mics now as the time riping
Our message will resonate through microphones now as the moment is ripe
We took words that we nourishing, encouraging
We utilized words that were uplifting and inspiring
A nation to awaken those who were sleeping
To rouse a nation and awaken those who were apathetic
Can you conceive the thought? Transatlantic import
Can you grasp the idea? It is an idea imported across the Atlantic
Slave and bought, secret relations between Blacks and Jews
Slavery and commerce, concealed connections between African Americans and Jews
Might set a fuse off in the head
This revelation might provoke anger or realization
Many dead, lynch hung, swung from trees
Numerous casualties, lynched and hanged from trees
Brothers in the struggle together, eat from one pot
Comrades in the fight, sharing meals from a communal pot
Hold each other down to the sneaker
We support and uplift one another, even through the most trivial matters
Nothing come between us
No external factors can divide us
Fast money and chicks, did it to the best of cliques
Quick wealth and relationships, accomplished by the most formidable groups
It's sickening
It is repulsive
Ha
Expression of amusement or acknowledgement
It's me and you, son, forever in the struggle
You and I, my child, will always be in this fight together
No doubt, we hustle, survival is the motto
Undoubtedly, we work hard, survival is our mantra
The youth soon follow, a better tomorrow
The younger generation will eventually join us, aspiring for a brighter future
Like to make a way for a better tomorrow
We aim to create a path towards a superior future
Take care, build stairs for a better tomorrow
Be cautious and construct steps towards a better future
I catch a few flashbacks about going through the struggle
Occasionally, I recall memories of enduring hardships
How we used to make dollars from all the snow we shoveled
How we used to earn money from illegal activities, specifically drug dealing
In a broke neighborhood where the kids often dream
In an impoverished community where children frequently have aspirations
About a lavish life that is mostly seen in the screen
Envisioning a luxurious lifestyle predominantly portrayed on screens
Where some dreams are quickly cut short due to gang violence
Where certain aspirations are abruptly ended due to gang-related conflicts
From loud guns that kept witnesses in deep silence
Caused by the sound of firearms that silenced potential witnesses
Was it bad timing? Jealousy from too much shining?
Was it unfortunate timing? Envy arising from excessive success?
Or a setup from a girl that he wined, kept dining
Or a conspiracy orchestrated by a woman he dated and treated well
It's a known fact, they will attack 'cause it's like that
It is a well-known truth that they will strike because that's how it is
And depending on the kind of impact that strike back
And the retaliation will depend on the nature of the response
In a town where the talk is cheap and beef is brief
In a place where words hold little value and conflicts are short-lived
A mother sobs uncontrollably and exhibit the grief
A mother cries inconsolably, displaying her anguish
Large holes in the front door of a housing tenement
Giant bullet holes on the entrance of an apartment building
Allows room to retaliate, so conflict is imminent
Creating an opportunity for revenge, thus ensuring imminent conflict
This hate in the brain destroys the cells like cancer
This deep-seated hatred erodes the mind, much like cancer
Even experts are stuck with more questions than answers
Even professionals struggle to find answers, facing numerous inquiries
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Bamz Killa, Elgin Evander Turner, Gary E Grice, Jason Hunter, Justin Dante Cross
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind