Liquid Swords
Genius & GZA Lyrics

When the MCs came to live out the name and to perform
When rappers first appeared to perform, they needed to live up to their stage name and entertain the audience.

Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Some rappers had to use drugs to get into a crazy state of mind before performing, while Pete played the music.

Now on with the mental plane to spark the brain with the building to be born
The focus is now on the creative process of producing music, using intellectual power to construct something new and innovative.

Yo RZA flip the track with the what to cut
RZA is asked to mix the sound and create a beat for the upcoming song.

Fake niggas get flipped
People who display false behavior and insincere intentions will get confronted and exposed for their lies and deceit.

In mic fights I swing swords and cut clowns
During a rap battle, GZA metaphorically uses the sword as his weapon, cutting down any mediocre competitors.

Shit is too swift to bite you record and write it down
GZA's flow and lyrics are so fast and complicated that people can barely comprehend them, let alone write them down.

I flow like the blood on a murder scene, like a syringe
GZA's rhymes flow effortlessly, like blood flowing out of a murder victim, or like a needle injecting drugs.

On some wild out shit, to insert a fiend
GZA uses his words to put people in a trance, like a drug addict or a fiend, to captivate their attention.

But it was your op the shop stolen art
The stolen artwork in the store was actually the operation (op) of the person who stole it.

Catch a swollen heart from not rolling smart
If you don't think things through and make smart decisions, you'll be left with a burden and a heavy heart.

I put mad pressure, on phony wack rhymes that get hurt
GZA puts immense pressure on rappers who produce weak and meaningless lyrics, exposing them for their shallowness and vulnerability.

Shit's played like zodiac signs on sweatshirt
Repetitive and stale lyrics are as common and overused as zodiac signs printed on clothing.

That's minimum, and feminine like sandals
The quality of those rhymes is inferior and weak, lacking any masculinity and strength, as fragile as a pair of sandals.

My minimum table stacks a verse on a gamble
GZA's least successful rap is still far superior to most others and represents a significant investment of his talent and creativity.

Energy is felt once the cards are dealt
There is a thrilling feeling of anticipation when fate and luck determine the outcome of a card game, and the same is true in the rap battle.

With the impact of roundhouse kicks from black belts
GZA's verbal attack is as powerful as a skilled martial artist's roundhouse kick, who has a black belt.

That attack, the mic-fones like cyclones or typhoon
GZA's rap style is like a fierce storm that overwhelms the microphone and the audience, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.

I represent from midnight to high noon
GZA is always on duty and available to rap, whether it is nighttime or daytime.

I don't waste ink, nigga I think
GZA puts significant thought into every rap he writes, rather than writing without consideration or depth.

I drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink
GZA's raps are explosive and hit hard, so fast that they're delivered before the listener realizes it.

Cause rhyme thoughts travel at a tremendous speed
GZA's rap ideas come to him quickly and spread like wildfire, moving too fast for most people to keep up.

Clouds of smoke, of natural blends of weed
The haze of smoke from smoking marijuana creates a relaxing and inspiring environment in which to write and create music.

Only under one circumstance that's if I'm blunted
GZA can only perform to his fullest when he's under the influence of marijuana and is high.

Turn that shit up, my clan in the front want it
GZA's rap group Wu-Tang Clan wants the music loud, and everyone in the front wants to hear the lyrics and beats clearly.

I'm on a mission that niggas say is impossible
GZA aims to achieve great things that others doubt or deem unattainable.

But when I swing my swords they all choppable
Despite the obstacles, GZA is confident in his ability to overcome them and achieve success through his rap skills.

I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper
GZA's raps are so fierce and powerful that they could potentially cause someone to die from a heart attack or intense shock.

Child educator, plus head amputator
GZA's rap style is both educational and violent, with the power to both enlighten and decapitate someone.

Cause niggas styles are old like Mark 5 sneakers
Other rappers' styles are outdated and irrelevant, as old as the Mark 5 sneakers that are no longer in fashion.

Lyrics are weak like clock radio speakers
Other rappers' lyrics are weak and uninspired, like the sound quality of a cheap clock radio.

Don't even stop in my station and attack
People who don't appreciate GZA's music should keep walking and not try to bring him down or discredit him.

While your plan failed, get derailed like Amtrak
Those who try to sabotage GZA's success will ultimately fail, with their plans getting derailed like a train wreck on Amtrak.

What the fuck for? Down by law, I make law
GZA doesn't understand why people would try to bring him down when he's operating within legal boundaries, and he creates his own rules.

I be justice, I sentence that ass two to four
GZA is the arbiter of justice, and he'll sentence someone to a prison term ranging from two to four years, depending on the severity of their crime.

Round the clock, that state pen time check it
People can come and see GZA's authority over the state penitentiary system and his power to jail anyone, twenty-four hours a day.

With the pens I be sticking but you can't stick to crime
GZA is sticking to the craft of rap and music, while others cannot stick to a life of crime.

Came through with the Wu, slid off on the DL
GZA and his rap group Wu-Tang Clan arrived quietly and discreetly, without drawing too much attention to themselves.

I'm low-key like seashells, I rock these bells
GZA keeps a low profile, unnoticed like seashells, while still being able to create great music and entertain the audience.

Now come aboard, it's Medina bound
GZA invites the listener to join him on his creative journey, which takes them to the mythical and spiritual city of Medina.

Enter the chamber, and it's a whole different sound
As soon as you enter GZA's world, you'll hear a distinctive and unique sound, unlike any other rap music out there.

It's a wide entrance, small exit like a funnel
GZA welcomes people into his creative space with generosity and warmth, but getting out is a lot harder, as if they're caught in a narrowing funnel.

So deep it's picked up on radios in tunnels
GZA's music is so powerful and meaningful that it can even penetrate radio waves through solid structures like tunnels.

Niggas are fascinated how the shit begin
People are fascinated by the origins of GZA's music, how he creates his rhymes and produces his beats.

Get vaccinated, my logo is branded in your skin
Listening to GZA's music becomes like a contagious disease that infects you and becomes a permanent part of who you are, just like a logo branded on your skin.