gza
Gary Grice (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage name GZA ([ˈdʒ… Read Full Bio ↴Gary Grice (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage name GZA ([ˈdʒɪzʌ]), is an American hip hop artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career.
Born in Staten Island, Grice developed an interest in hip-hop by attending block parties as a child in the late '70's. He formed a three-man group with his cousins, who would later be known as RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The group, All in Together Now, saw the three rapping and DJing, switching off names and performing local shows; since they lived in different boroughs, RZA and Dirty would travel out to Staten Island to meet up with their cousin, after which the three would travel across NYC and challenge other MCs to battles. After some years of this, GZA was signed to Cold Chillin' Records as a solo artist under the name The Genius. He put together an album called Words from the Genius, produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, but after it failed to sell--and his rocky experience on tour--Grice became fed up and asked for release from the label[1].
After joining the Wu-Tang Clan, a group of nine which included himself, RZA and ODB, GZA boasted some high-profile appearances on the group's debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, including a solo track, "Clan in da Front." This was followed up in 1995 with GZA's sophomore solo effort, Liquid Swords, produced entirely by RZA; the album was met with critical and commercial acclaim, and is still considered one of the best albums to come out of the Wu-Tang camp[2]; in 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums of all time.
After appearing on the Wu-Tang Clan's second album, Wu-Tang Forever, GZA released Beneath the Surface in 1999. Reviews were mostly positive, though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords' acclaim or commercial success. Like the sophomore projects of many Clan members, critics decried the album's lack of RZA production, claiming the underground producers and Wu-Elements used did not live up to the producer's skill level. Grice put in appearances on The W, Iron Flag and some of his group members' solo projects, but did not release another of his own until 2002 with Legend of the Liquid Sword. The album was received well by critics, but did not achieve commercial success, failing to go gold as his previous release had. GZA spent 2004 touring, both solo and with the Clan, and made an appearance with RZA in Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee & Cigarettes, opposite Bill Murray.
In 2005, GZA and DJ Muggs (the producer for Cypress Hill) released the LP Grandmasters. Muggs provided all the beats for the album, which saw GZA using chess as a metaphor for the rap game,[3]. The album received very positive reviews[4] and modest commercial success. He then partook in the recording of groupmate Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, originally stating that he was heavily featured along with Inspectah Deck, though he was later unsure about his status on the project[5].
2007 saw GZA teaming up with his Wu-Tang Clan to record the group album 8 Diagrams, and in the ensuing controversy, defended both Raekwon and Ghostface Killah's rights to speak their mind, and RZA's production job on the album.[6] In the summer of 2008, he released the album Pro Tools which featured production from Black Milk and past collaborators Jay "Waxxx" Garfield, RZA, Mathematics and True Master. GZA also stated his wish to record another full album with RZA[7].
Born in Staten Island, Grice developed an interest in hip-hop by attending block parties as a child in the late '70's. He formed a three-man group with his cousins, who would later be known as RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The group, All in Together Now, saw the three rapping and DJing, switching off names and performing local shows; since they lived in different boroughs, RZA and Dirty would travel out to Staten Island to meet up with their cousin, after which the three would travel across NYC and challenge other MCs to battles. After some years of this, GZA was signed to Cold Chillin' Records as a solo artist under the name The Genius. He put together an album called Words from the Genius, produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, but after it failed to sell--and his rocky experience on tour--Grice became fed up and asked for release from the label[1].
After joining the Wu-Tang Clan, a group of nine which included himself, RZA and ODB, GZA boasted some high-profile appearances on the group's debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, including a solo track, "Clan in da Front." This was followed up in 1995 with GZA's sophomore solo effort, Liquid Swords, produced entirely by RZA; the album was met with critical and commercial acclaim, and is still considered one of the best albums to come out of the Wu-Tang camp[2]; in 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums of all time.
After appearing on the Wu-Tang Clan's second album, Wu-Tang Forever, GZA released Beneath the Surface in 1999. Reviews were mostly positive, though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords' acclaim or commercial success. Like the sophomore projects of many Clan members, critics decried the album's lack of RZA production, claiming the underground producers and Wu-Elements used did not live up to the producer's skill level. Grice put in appearances on The W, Iron Flag and some of his group members' solo projects, but did not release another of his own until 2002 with Legend of the Liquid Sword. The album was received well by critics, but did not achieve commercial success, failing to go gold as his previous release had. GZA spent 2004 touring, both solo and with the Clan, and made an appearance with RZA in Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee & Cigarettes, opposite Bill Murray.
In 2005, GZA and DJ Muggs (the producer for Cypress Hill) released the LP Grandmasters. Muggs provided all the beats for the album, which saw GZA using chess as a metaphor for the rap game,[3]. The album received very positive reviews[4] and modest commercial success. He then partook in the recording of groupmate Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, originally stating that he was heavily featured along with Inspectah Deck, though he was later unsure about his status on the project[5].
2007 saw GZA teaming up with his Wu-Tang Clan to record the group album 8 Diagrams, and in the ensuing controversy, defended both Raekwon and Ghostface Killah's rights to speak their mind, and RZA's production job on the album.[6] In the summer of 2008, he released the album Pro Tools which featured production from Black Milk and past collaborators Jay "Waxxx" Garfield, RZA, Mathematics and True Master. GZA also stated his wish to record another full album with RZA[7].
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GZA/Genius Lyrics
0% Finance GZA] Took her off the showroom floor, no money down Near the…
1112 [GZA] Bobby said, "Fuck spendin 50 on a whip, buy a…
4th Chamber /GZA Choose the sword, and you will join me Choose the ball,…
4th Chamber Feat. Ghostface Killah Killah Priest & RZA (Intro: LP version only, taken from the movie "Shogun Assass…
7 Pounds Speakin' of this art form this slang is dangerous MC's are…
Amplified Sample Verse one: The amplified sample, will trample, the leading …
Animal Planet [Incomprehensible] Welcome to the Jungle where the cat love…
Animal Planet ) [GZA] Welcome to the Jungle where the cat loves to scratch…
Auto Bio [GZA] I was born, with the mic in my hand Then I…
Auto Bio ) [GZA] I was born, with the mic in my hand Then I…
B.I.B.L.E Take a Bible page The basic instructions before leaving ear…
B.I.B.L.E. The Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (3X) Chorus: re…
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth Life is a test many quest the universe And through my…
Beneath The Surface Here I sit and watch the crowds go by Papa da…
big acts little acts Yeah, perverted monk representin' You know what I'm sayin'? …
Breaker Breaker Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line Can you read me?…
Breaker Breaker Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line Can you read me?…
Breaker Breaker ft. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa Breaker, breaker, one nine, clear the line Can you read me?…
Brooklyn Zoo I'm the one, I'm the one, I'm the one, I'm…
C.R.E.A.M What that nigga want God? Word up, look out for the…
C.R.E.A.M. What that nigga want God? Word up, look out for the…
Cinema There was a clubhouse, only kept special guests in Place mu…
Cold War Intro: (first three lines lp only) I had a bad dream Don…
Columbian Ties Chorus What goes around comes around in his only iniquit…
Come Do Me Here I am loungin' at a hype party Then I see…
Crash Your Crew [RZA] Eh yo... Turn my shit up son too Yo [GZA] You know ex…
Cross My Heart ) It's the visiting king supreme all heal kiss…
Did U Say That I keep your heart is PZA-pumping, the beat is GZA-jumping T…
Did Ya Say That ) I keep your heart is PZA-pumping, the beat is GZA-jumping Th…
Do U It was inevitable, I knew it well Whatever I had to…
Drama Talkin bout drama I met a young brother, how young about…
Dream in liberty [Jason] Now What You See Is Just An Old Fantasy It's The…
Duel of the Iron Mic Intro: Ohh mad one We see your trap You can never escap…
fam [RZA] Yo, yea check it...yo, yo yo yo Yo, if you think…
Fam ) [RZA] Yo, yea check it...yo, yo yo yo Yo, if you think…
Fame They was told not to ride in Patty's Hearse And stay…
Fame ) [Verse 1] They was told not to ride in Patty's +Hearse+ an…
Far Away From Here [Twin Spirit N. 32] I'm So Sad ! There's No Point In…
Feel Like An Enemy [Hell Razah] Yeah, yeah yo I'm like a whirlwind spinnin wi…
Feel the Pain I feel I'm a threat to high powered MC's Cause when…
General Principles Castle points you too You're black takes on C4 Then white co…
Genius Is Slammin' What I'm about to flow on is so dope The average…
Genius Is Slammin’ What I'm about to flow on is so dope The average…
Gold [Method Man] Hey yo, shorty, yo that's my word Oh, y'all sme…
Groundbreaking I'm in the schoolyard rhymin' with my brother Jamel and…
He Will Die [Storyteller] Time was running out. The Dream League Force T…
Hell's Wind Staff Life of a drug dealer Killah hills 10304 Restaurant's on…
Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 (The skill of Shaolin) Yeah, it's the good life, you know Fu…
High Price Small Reward I wiped the chrome off wit the dust cloth 'Fore I…
Highway Robbery [GZA] An MC stepped to me, lying about one Kid that rolled…
Hip Hop You crunchy chump crabs get crumbled up like crack rock Fuc…
Hip-Hop You crunchy chump crabs get crumbled up like crack rock Fuck…
I Gotcha Back I gotcha back, but you best to watch your front Cause…
I Gotcha' Back Yo, I gotcha back but you best to watch your…
Ice Cream Watch these rap niggas get all up in your guts French-vanil…
Interlude I've seen a kid one night out at a spot He…
Intro [GZAs son Young Justice] It was the summer of '77. New Y…
Killah Hills 10304 (The skill of Shaolin) Yes the good life, you know What…
Knock Knock I'm the out scene slang kicker with no parental sticker Ris…
legend of the liquid sword Who won the covenant role, based on a nationwide poll? For…
Legend Of The Liquid Swords Who won the covenant role, based on a nationwide poll? For…
Life is a movie I got scientist killas that'll jam your cell phone Send a…
Life of a Drug Dealer There's a rumor that an old lady heard a Kingpin…
Liquid Swords When I was little my father was famous He was the…
Liquid Swords ) Who won the covenant role, based on a nationwide poll? For…
Living Foul Such a shame, such a shame Critical... You're living foul,…
Luminal [Intro: GZA] This is a tale of a town with the…
Luminal ) [Intro: GZA] This is a tale of a town with the…
Method Man M-E-T, H-O-D, Man Hey you get off my cloud See me get…
Mic Trippin [Genius] Mic trippin, from rock skipping Off the local brook…
On The Eve Of War [vinnie paz] This is raw, all across the board, Liquid Sword…
One More to Go [Intro] 5...4...3...2...1...0 [explosion] [Inspectah Deck] …
Outro * this exception is permitted due to actual rap lyrics…
Pass the Bone Yo, this is the Gka-gka-genius And I got the brotha Prince…
Path Of Destruction He was raised in a house where he got scared…
Pencil [GZA] The echo chamber enhance the flow wit the block party …
Phony As Ya Wanna Be When I hold a mic in my hand, it's devotion Then…
Phony As You Wanna Be When I hold a mic in my hand, it's devotion Then…
Protect Ya Neck So what's up man? Cooling man" "Chilling chilling?" "Yo y…
Publicity Who be first to catch this Beat Down? My rap pages…
Rough Cut Uh, huh, GZA, uh, RZA, uh Listen, if y'all can spit,…
Rough Cut ) [Intro: Armel] Uh-huh, GZA, uh, RZA, uh [Armel] Listen,…
Rush Yo before the Greeks and the creeks It's a old Pete…
Shadowboxin I breaks it down to the bone gristle Ill speaking Scud…
Shadowboxin' Special technique, fuck that Special technique of shadowboxi…
Shimmy Shimmy Ya [Oh, fuck, you can't even sing] Hey, baby, I like it…
Short Race [GZA] He's running in a short race, shoelace untied Head dow…
silent Yeah, six o'clock in the morning That's right, we gotta get…
Silverbacks One, two, one, two, the High Chief Yeah, yo, so alone,…
Sparring Minds [GZA] Designer and most of man stands the front-end loade…
Sparring Minds ) [GZA] Designer and most of man stands the front-end loade…
Stay in Line [GZA] Throw down ya mic son, ya gauge is empty…
Stay In Line ) Throw down ya mic son, ya gauge is empty Plus…
Stay Out of Bars Yo, check this shit out Hangin out in bars can become…
Stop the Nonsense I see youngsters little teenagers Walking around with beepe…
Street Corner Looking on various street corners I'm sure you've seen it yo…
Stringplay Method Man Uh, and it goes like this Uh uh uh uh,…
Superfreak I hopped on the train and cold clocked a chick Who…
Swordsman When a motherfucker steps out his place And gets slapped in…
Swordsmen (feat. Killah Priest) [Chorus: GZA] When a motherfucker …
The Genius Is Slammin' What I'm about to flow on is so dope The average…
The Genius Is Slammin` What I'm about to flow on is so dope The average…
The Mexican Chico Fernandez Sleeping on his guns Shot rare coins for pr…
Those Were the Days Those were the days, back in Junior High For an 8th…
True Fresh M.C CHORUS: I rock the mic at any party And in the place…
True Fresh M.C. CHORUS: I rock the mic at any party And in the place…
Uncut Material What you know about I'm sayin' I know a lot Can you…
Uncut Material ) [Chorus: GZA] What you know about emceein? (I know a lot) …
Victim [Chorus:] Just another victim of the...victim of the ghetto …
What Are Silly Girls Made Of [Chorus] What are silly girls made of made of What are silly…
When The Fat Lady Sings Yeah.. Test, test, yeah Check test, yeah Wu-Banga strangler…
Who's Your Rhymin' Hero [Sample] Look up in the sky! [GZA] Who's your rhymin' hero …
Words From A Genius I get so anxious before a battle begins I just can't…
Wu Banga 101 Yo, too advanced, Digi' stance, made the CD enhanced I move…
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit Tiger style Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin ta Fuck Wit Wu-Tang C…