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
Swordsmen
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus: GZA]
When a motherfucker steps out his place
And gets slapped in his motherfuckin face
Just because the motherfucker tried to base
The G.O.D., the G.O.D.
And while I see his whole click passes by
And for those niggaz want to try
The G.O.D., the G.O.D.
[Verse One: GZA]
Yo; I'm not caught up in politics
I'm no black activist on a so-called scholar's dick
I come through with the Wu and drop math
And versatile freestyles bombs and phonographs
And deliver, all things and other in weight
Searched to death, on how living things relate
Cause at a young age, I was molded in a religion
I relied on - and got caught up in superstition
Scared to split pole, duck black cats
Once in a while, threw salt over my back
But with knowledge of self from off the shelf
Made things seemed complicated now small like elves
So turn off the lights light a candle, and have a seance
Pull the lid off the Dean Martin scandal
Witches warlocks spooks and holy ghosts
RZA lets defraud the host
[Chorus]
[Verse Two: GZA]
We were on the same ship when the slaves were checked
I had to pull your card you was on the top deck
So I plotted my escape, I saw the Thin Line Between Love and Hate
And fast from the hog on the plate
I suffered brutal pains, from whips and chains
Punishments that were set to wash the brain
So look listen observe and also respect this jewel
Drawed up, di-tect and reflect this
Light I shine, that cause my power to be find
Through the truth, which manifest through eternal minds
Purified gases and masses the same elements
That helped spark civilization classes
I see brothers quote math plus degrees
Look at professor ass niggaz can't feed they own seeds
[Chorus x2]
The lyrics of "Swordsmen" by GZA/Genius featuring Killah Priest are a reflection of their experiences as black men in America. The chorus indicates that those who try to challenge their position of power will be met with violence. They assert their dominance as "the G.O.D." which stands for "the Greatest Of all Time” and warns others not to underestimate their abilities.
In the first verse, GZA makes it clear that he is not interested in getting involved in politics or being a part of any particular movement. He focuses on his lyrical skills and uses his music as a platform to spread knowledge and wisdom. He speaks about how he was raised with certain beliefs and superstitions, but through education and self-reflection, he was able to break free from these misguided ideas.
In the second verse, he delves deeper into the history of black people in America, referencing the transatlantic slave trade and the brutal treatment that they endured. He emphasizes the importance of knowledge and understanding, urging his audience to "look listen observe" and "respect this jewel" of knowledge. He also criticizes those who claim to have knowledge but don't apply it in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
When a motherfucker steps out his place
When someone oversteps their boundaries
And gets slapped in his motherfuckin face
And then gets physically punished for their actions
Just because the motherfucker tried to base
Simply because they tried to act more important than they are
The G.O.D., the G.O.D.
Referring to himself as the God (GZA/Genius)
And while I see his whole click passes by
As he sees the rest of that person's group go by him
Motherfuckers think they qualify
Those people think they have the right to act that way
And for those niggaz want to try
For those who want to test him
Yo; I'm not caught up in politics
He is not concerned with political matters
I'm no black activist on a so-called scholar's dick
He is not attempting to act as a black activist or impress any scholars
I come through with the Wu and drop math
He arrives with his group, the Wu-Tang Clan, and uses mathematical concepts in his lyrics
And versatile freestyles bombs and phonographs
He is capable of creating diverse freestyle raps using bombs and phonographs as inspiration
And deliver, all things and other in weight
He can express a wide range of topics and weighs everything equally
Searched to death, on how living things relate
He has been searching for answers on how lifeforms interact with each other
Cause at a young age, I was molded in a religion
He was indoctrinated into a particular religion when he was young
I relied on - and got caught up in superstition
He believed in superstitions and let them take control of him
Scared to split pole, duck black cats
He was afraid to participate in certain actions he believed might bring him bad luck, such as walking under ladders and avoiding black cats
Once in a while, threw salt over my back
He sometimes performed certain superstitious actions, like throwing salt over his shoulder
But with knowledge of self from off the shelf
As he gained knowledge of himself and his own identity
Made things seemed complicated now small like elves
Things that once seemed complex were now trivial
So turn off the lights light a candle, and have a seance
He suggests performing a seance
Pull the lid off the Dean Martin scandal
Exposing a scandal involving Dean Martin
Witches warlocks spooks and holy ghosts
Referring to supernatural occurrences
RZA lets defraud the host
RZA participates in exposing the scandal
We were on the same ship when the slaves were checked
Referring to the slave trade and how they were transported on ships
I had to pull your card you was on the top deck
He had to call out someone who was acting like they were above everyone else
So I plotted my escape, I saw the Thin Line Between Love and Hate
He made plans to escape and recognized how thin the line is between love and hate
And fast from the hog on the plate
He quickly avoided being captured, like escaping from the pig on the plate
I suffered brutal pains, from whips and chains
He experienced severe physical torture as a slave
Punishments that were set to wash the brain
The torture was intended to break his spirit and brainwash him into submission
So look listen observe and also respect this jewel
He advises others to listen and respect his wisdom
Drawed up, di-tect and reflect this
He further suggests taking action based on his advice and reflecting on it afterwards
Light I shine, that cause my power to be find
His wisdom and knowledge are potent and effective
Through the truth, which manifest through eternal minds
This power comes from the truth which exists beyond human thought
Purified gases and masses the same elements
Referring to the idea of how everything in the universe is comprised of the same particles, just rearranged differently
That helped spark civilization classes
These particles contributed to the development of society and social classes
I see brothers quote math plus degrees
He observes people citing their knowledge and academic achievements
Look at professor a** n****z can't feed they own seeds
However, he challenges the idea that simply having academic knowledge should make someone considered superior when they might not even be able to take care of their own family
Chorus x2
Repetition of the chorus
Contributed by Leo R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.