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
Victim
GZA/Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just another victim of the...victim of the ghetto
Just another victim, that's how it goes, ooh
Heavy foot traffic jam the hallway all day
Adolescence workin' for small pay
World so little, he could never leave his block
His home full of riddle, so he always need his glock
Young wasted minds, fiendin' on dimes, cokin'
Forgot kids quick to break rules, and known to make fools
Out of many, down the streets be more safe than school
There's no diploma, that can break him from the coma
A bloody war in the country, the youth hungry
On the corner, hyenas amongst me
Yabbin' 'bout the stories, they be hearin', always swearin'
Can't even spell the shit that he be wearin'
Caught up in the silk web of material
Superficial stains ya brain tissue, that's the issue
The young is lost at their own cost, dreamin'
Screamin' how we never hold positions, that's the meanin'
Brothers of murder victims share the same grief
The elderly shake their head in disbelief
And no relief came till I aimed
And blast one shot and left my name
The GZA...
[Chorus:]
My residence is a city where army veterans smoke rocks
On torn down blocks, drug spots set out their shops
And cops watch, innocent niggaz roam in flocks
Romanism in tops, papers and knots
Churches and liquor stores on every corner, plot to get money not
Some funny niggaz act like they could pop glocks and those who can't cop
Sisters givin' up ass a lot, brothers givin' up cash a lot
They be strugglin' to become someone because their parents not
Just another victim of the ghetto, where lost minds settle
When the devil uncivils society and die free
With double 'W' followed by J-D around the necks
And wrists the God is now a dog, the earth is called a bitch
And all my people wish to get rich in this wilderness
To push a Lexus, ice on everythin' from rings and bracelets to the necklaces
Children molested within these pest infested buildings
Thieves uneducated in these schools, paint on the ceilings
Peelin' off, but all I see is lost black babies callin'
"Please somebody save me, please somebody save me"
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
Just another...just another...victim of the ghetto
In GZA/Genius's song "Victim," the lyrics describe the harsh realities of living in the ghetto. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that the singer is "just another victim of the ghetto." The verses paint a picture of a community plagued by poverty, violence, and drug use. The first verse describes a young man who feels trapped in his own neighborhood, surrounded by violence and constantly feeling he needs to carry a gun. The second verse describes the singer's city, which is overrun by drug dealers and addicts, corrupt cops, and people struggling to make it out of poverty. The lyrics suggest that the ghetto is a place of lost dreams, lost opportunities, and lost lives.
Throughout the song, GZA/Genius's lyrics reveal a deep sense of frustration and despair. The singer's observations show that the cycle of poverty and violence in the ghetto is self-sustaining, and that the future looks bleak for the people who live there. The repeated lines of the chorus emphasize the idea that those who are born in the ghetto are predestined to become victims of their environment. The song is a powerful statement on the consequences of systemic inequality and the need for real change in impoverished communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy foot traffic jam the hallway all day
The hallway is congested throughout the day with a lot of people
Adolescence workin' for small pay
Teenagers are working for low wages
World so little, he could never leave his block
The person is limited to the area of his neighborhood and cannot explore outside of it
His home full of riddle, so he always needs his glock
His house is full of problems that he can only solve using his gun
He coast with his eye open, keep his metal smokin'
He moves carefully with his gun ready to be used
Young wasted minds, fiendin' on dimes, cokin'
Young people with drug addiction waste their time and money on drugs
Forgot kids quick to break rules, and known to make fools
The young people forget their discipline and become prone to making bad decisions
Out of many, down the streets be more safe than school
The street is viewed as a safer place than school for some people
There's no diploma, that can break him from the coma
Education may not always provide the solution for his problems
A bloody war in the country, the youth hungry
The country is at war and the youth is struggling to find food and resources
On the corner, hyenas amongst me
The people on the street corner are like aggressive animals
Yabbin' 'bout the stories, they be hearin', always swearin'
They talk about rumors and stories they have heard, always making it sound like truth
Can't even spell the shit that he be wearin'
The person doesn't even know how to spell the brand names of the clothes he wears
Caught up in the silk web of material
The person is trapped in the lure of material goods
Superficial stains ya brain tissue, that's the issue
Shallow desires corrupt the person's ability to think deeply, that's the real problem
The young is lost at their own cost, dreamin'
The young seem lost in their own aspirations and dreams
Screamin' how we never hold positions, that's the meanin'
People are complaining about never having a stable career or job position
Brothers of murder victims share the same grief
People who lose their brothers to murder are all sad and grieving
The elderly shake their head in disbelief
The older generation is shocked and frustrated with the state of things
And no relief came till I aimed
No relief from the situation came until I made a move
And blast one shot and left my name
I took one shot and became known for my actions
My residence is a city where army veterans smoke rocks
My city is a place where veterans have succumbed to drug addiction
On torn down blocks, drug spots set out their shops
Drug dealers operate their business in destroyed areas
And cops watch, innocent niggaz roam in flocks
While the police are watching, innocent people move around in groups
Romanism in tops, papers and knots
Religious symbols are often found in clothing and money in my city
Churches and liquor stores on every corner, plot to get money not
Churches and liquor stores are common, focused more on making money than helping people
Some funny niggaz act like they could pop glocks and those who can't cop
Some people pretend to be tough with guns while others can't afford one
Sisters givin' up ass a lot, brothers givin' up cash a lot
Women offer their bodies while men give up their money frequently
They be strugglin' to become someone because their parents not
People struggle to find their identity and purpose in life because their parents haven't paved the way
When the devil uncivils society and die free
In a society where evil prevails, one might as well die
With double 'W' followed by J-D around the necks
People wear expensive jewelry with brand logos and initials around their necks
And wrists the God is now a dog, the earth is called a bitch
Money, jewelry, and material goods are highly valued, more than God and the world itself
And all my people wish to get rich in this wilderness
Everyone wants to be rich in this harsh environment
To push a Lexus, ice on everythin' from rings and bracelets to the necklaces
They want to own a luxury vehicle and wear expensive jewelry
Children molested within these pest infested buildings
Children are being sexually abused in buildings with pest problems
Thieves uneducated in these schools, paint on the ceilings
Schools are unable to educate the students properly, and there is graffiti on the ceilings
Peelin' off, but all I see is lost black babies callin'
Trying to leave the area, but all I see is young, lost black children calling for help
"Please somebody save me, please somebody save me"
The children are pleading for assistance and rescue
[Chorus:]
Refrain of the song
Just another...just another...victim of the ghetto
The person is just another victim of the tough environment they grew up in
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLTON MCLEOD, MICHAEL JOHNSON, RAYMOND MCLEOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind