Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.
Ghostface Killah was raised in the Stapleton housing projects in Staten Island, New York. In his autobiographical song "All That I Got Is You", Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father, who left him at the age of six. Apparently, his mother had nine children.
His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.
He was also a close friend of the three founding members of Wu-tang clan
Liquid Sword
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Now on with the mental plane to spark the brain with the building to be born
Yo RZA flip the track with the what to cut
Fake niggas get flipped
In mic fights I swing swords and cut clowns
Shit is too swift to bite you record and write it down
On some wild out shit, to insert a fiend
But it was your op the shop stolen art
Catch a swollen heart from not rolling smart
I put mad pressure, on phony wack rhymes that get hurt
Shit's played like zodiac signs on sweatshirt
That's minimum, and feminine like sandals
My minimum table stacks a verse on a gamble
Energy is felt once the cards are dealt
With the impact of roundhouse kicks from black belts
That attack, the mic-fones like cyclones or typhoon
I represent from midnight to high noon
I don't waste ink, nigga I think
I drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink
Cause rhyme thoughts travel at a tremendous speed
Clouds of smoke, of natural blends of weed
Only under one circumstance that's if I'm blunted
Turn that shit up, my clan in the front want it
When the MCs came to live out the name and to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Now on with the mental plane to spark the brain with the building to be born
Yo RZA flip the track with the what to cut
I'm on a mission that niggas say is impossible
But when I swing my swords they all choppable
I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper
Child educator, plus head amputator
Cause niggas styles are old like Mark 5 sneakers
Lyrics are weak like clock radio speakers
Don't even stop in my station and attack
While your plan failed, get derailed like Amtrak
What the fuck for? Down by law, I make law
I be justice, I sentence that ass two to four
Round the clock, that state pen time check it
With the pens I be sticking but you can't stick to crime
Came through with the Wu, slid off on the DL
I'm low-key like seashells, I rock these bells
Now come aboard, it's Medina bound
Enter the chamber, and it's a whole different sound
It's a wide entrance, small exit like a funnel
So deep it's picked up on radios in tunnels
Niggas are fascinated how the shit begin
Get vaccinated, my logo is branded in your skin
When the MCs came to live out the name and to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Now on with the mental plane to spark the brain with the building to be born
Yo RZA flip the track with the what to cut
In Ghostface Killah's song Liquid Sword, he talks about the art of MC-ing and the struggles that come with it. He describes the pressure of performing and how some MCs turn to drugs like cocaine to hype themselves up before going on stage. He also talks about the importance of creativity and staying sharp mentally, alluding to the idea that the mind is like a building waiting to be constructed. He emphasizes the power of his rhymes, likening himself to a surgeon wielding a syringe to inject a listener with the wild energy of his rap.
Ghostface Killah's lyrics also touch on the problem of fake rappers trying to make it big by mimicking styles that aren't their own. He sees himself as a warrior, slicing through the fake rappers with his sword-like rhymes, and crushing their weak lyrics like bugs. He thrives on the pressure and confrontation of mic fights, knowing that his style is too swift to be copied or duplicated. He sees his rhymes as natural and effortless, flowing like blood from a wound or smoke from a joint, with a power that can knock listeners out like a roundhouse kick.
Overall, the lyrics of Liquid Sword communicate the intense passion and competitiveness of MC-ing, and the drive to create something incredible and unique. It's a song about being true to oneself and refusing to conform to the expectations of the industry, while also acknowledging the challenges of staying sharp and focused in such a fast-paced world.
Line by Line Meaning
When the MCs came to live out the name and to perform
MCs arrived to show their skills and live up to their name
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Some MCs used cocaine to perform better before Pete's turn
Now on with the mental plane to spark the brain with the building to be born
Moving on to mental level to stimulate creativity and bring forth a masterpiece
Yo RZA flip the track with the what to cut
RZA change the beat with his mixing skills
Fake niggas get flipped
Inauthentic rappers get exposed
In mic fights I swing swords and cut clowns
In rap battles, I attack opponents and defeat them
Shit is too swift to bite you record and write it down
My rhymes are too fast to copy down in time
I flow like the blood on a murder scene, like a syringe
My flow is as smooth and deadly as blood in a crime scene
On some wild out shit, to insert a fiend
My rhymes are so intense they could even arouse a drug addict
But it was your op the shop stolen art
It was the victim's own fault for having valuable possessions stolen
Catch a swollen heart from not rolling smart
You suffer the consequences of not being careful
I put mad pressure, on phony wack rhymes that get hurt
I apply pressure on weak and unimpressive lyrics to expose them
Shit's played like zodiac signs on sweatshirt
These rhymes are overused and predictable like zodiac symbols on clothing
That's minimum, and feminine like sandals
These rhymes are weak and lack intensity
My minimum table stacks a verse on a gamble
Even my weakest rhymes are still better than others' best attempts
Energy is felt once the cards are dealt
The intensity of my rhymes is immediately noticeable
With the impact of roundhouse kicks from black belts
My rhymes hit hard like a martial arts expert's kicks
That attack, the mic-fones like cyclones or typhoon
My rhymes hit the microphone with such force it's like a natural disaster
I represent from midnight to high noon
I dominate the rap game no matter what time it is
I don't waste ink, nigga I think
I don't write down meaningless lyrics, I carefully craft my rhymes
I drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink
My rhymes are explosive and delivered at an astonishing speed
Cause rhyme thoughts travel at a tremendous speed
My creative ideas come at lightning speed
Clouds of smoke, of natural blends of weed
The air is filled with the aroma of weed smoke
Only under one circumstance that's if I'm blunted
I only slow down my rhymes if I'm high on weed
Turn that shit up, my clan in the front want it
Turn up the volume, my fans in the front row demand it
I'm on a mission that niggas say is impossible
I have a goal that others believe is unachievable
But when I swing my swords they all choppable
But when I unleash my rhymes, all obstacles can be overcome
I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper
My rhymes are lethal and can even cause death
Child educator, plus head amputator
I educate the youth with my rhymes but also 'decapitate' weak rappers
Cause niggas styles are old like Mark 5 sneakers
Other rappers' styles are outdated and irrelevant
Lyrics are weak like clock radio speakers
Others' rhymes are weak and lack substance
Don't even stop in my station and attack
Don't even attempt to battle me
While your plan failed, get derailed like Amtrak
Your attempt to defeat me failed and you suffer the consequences
What the fuck for? Down by law, I make law
Why try to compete with me? I am the law when it comes to rapping
I be justice, I sentence that ass two to four
I am the judge and I will punish weak rappers with a prison sentence
Round the clock, that state pen time check it
I am always working and never take a break
With the pens I be sticking but you can't stick to crime
I write rhymes with my pen, while others try to commit crimes
Came through with the Wu, slid off on the DL
I arrived with my Wu-Tang Clan and left discretely
I'm low-key like seashells, I rock these bells
I am low-profile but still make an impact in the rap game
Now come aboard, it's Medina bound
Join me on this journey to dominate the rap world
Enter the chamber, and it's a whole different sound
My rhymes are on another level and will blow your mind
It's a wide entrance, small exit like a funnel
Entering my chamber is easy, leaving will be considerably harder
So deep it's picked up on radios in tunnels
My rhymes are so powerful that they can even be heard in underground tunnels
Niggas are fascinated how the shit begin
Others are curious about my origins and how I became so successful
Get vaccinated, my logo is branded in your skin
Listen to my rhymes and become a fan for life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, GARY E. GRICE, JOSEF ZAWINUL, FELIX CAVALIERE, EDWARD J. BRIGATI JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind