Liquid Swords

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Editorial reviews

Description
The acknowledged head of the Wu-Tang Clan, Genius (a.k.a. GZA) delivers the fifth Wu-banger with his sophomore solo album. Musically, LIQUID SWORDS is the Clan's strongest solo release to date, and lyrically, Genius comes correct with a style he describes as "too swift to bite".
LIQUID SWORDS iscomprised of two types of songs, all backed by the RZA's skilful production. On the one hand, Genius schools the Clan'sfollowers through songs that address serious problems experienced in every day inner-city life. "Cold World", which is backed by whirling wind sound, contains mini-stories that illustrate the misfortunes of gun-slinging in the hip-hop community. "Investigative Reports" goes even deeper in administering the blame, suggesting that drug-related crimes stem from a higher authority. On the other hand, there are the Clan's kung-fu metaphors, which show up on Genius' more Wu-styledsongs. On "Duel Of The Iron Mic", he's joined by a number of fellow Clansmen to reinstate the idea that no one can match them, despite numerous attempts to copy their image and concepts. Similarly, the production on songs like "4th Chamber" and "Shadowboxin'" closely relates them to ENTER THE 36 CHAMBERS, and helps make LIQUID SWORDS a complete Wu release.

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Customer reviews

review by: Badr date: 2008-08-17 rating:
Artistic tour de force
All the reviewers have given this 5 stars across the board and I can only concur.

The first thing to say is that that this is a serious piece of artwork, not just an incredible hip-hop album. It deserves to be disected in english language lessons, just as much as Bob Dylan's stuff is. The Rza and Gza are the artistic core of the group and this album demonstrates that. All the weight comes from them.

The characterisation of Staten Island NY. as 'Shaolin', and themselves as Hip-Hops 'Monks' (the abbot and the master in the case pf Gza and Rza) is an imagery and a mythology developed by those two.

This imagery and mythology becomes fully understood on this album, whereas on the other albums it really never rises above the threshold of interesting background.

An example is the way that the clip from the film 'Shogun Assassin', when Lone Wolf tells his baby son to choose the ball or the sword. A life of normal play or of abnormal seriousness and violence. A life that skips past childhood. This choice, the father explains, is a choice between death and life, because in the situation they are in, 'playing' is not an option. One has to be 'grown-up' from the 'get-go'.

This of course is the situation on th streets of New York. This is what GZA is telling us and this is why this is included. Pure Genius.

Hip-Hop has always been about the kind of culture that makes insects eating filth under a rock in the garden thrive. The world forgets them. The world creates systems, economic, educational, pseudo-religious, social (and always has done) that means that only certain types of people reach their promised 'destination' while everybody else falls through big cracks in the road. What are those people who fall supposed to do? How can they find self-worth when the world tells them that they are worthless? How can they aspire when the world tells them that this is not for them? This is the modern 'caste' system that is the shadow side of the American dream (and as I write this in London, we all of around around the world have bought into this dream. Often, the only ones who know the truth are those who have been systematically denied it. To build the pyramids in egypt, slaves were required. Slaves and other types of 'lesser human' are still required today. We are living in Huxley's Brave New world)

This essentially is what the album is about, and it is well illustrated in about 10 secs of lyrical dexterity that, to my mind, put in the shade the entire oeuvre of people like 50 cent and Jay-Z

'Veterans got the game spiced like ham, and from that sons are born and then guns are drawn, clips are fully loaded, and then blood floods the lawn'.

Governments, Presidents, societies, nations, the better off, have been loading the dice in their favour for centuries and have become veterens at the game, while the sons born on the streets of NY and other american cities (and now other places) are just learning the game. Just like Pacino's Scarface, who so many street kids identify with, they start from the bottm everytime. Scarface for them, represents revolution. This shows that these kids realise the situation they are in. It shows that they are intelligent and that they know this is their lot. That is the bleak outlook that provides the context and background for violence and crime on the streets of the worlds inner cities. It even explains 50 cent's 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' attitude.

Thats the intelligence which lies behind this album, which is the result of two of the most talented and intelligent insightful kids growing up and eventually chanelling thier disenfranchisement in a more positive way

Having said that, it's a dark piece of work. It's a whole life story. It's no wonder GZA hasn't been able to reach those heights again. Black music has always been about the social context which or course changed for GZA when he and his cohorts made it big.

As I write this, 13 yrs after it was released, this is the album that Hip-Hip promised for so long.

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review by: date: 2008-05-28 rating:
Best solo project from the Wu soldiers
Excellent album and a must-have for any hip hop and/or clan fan. Familiar but with something different that makes it an excellent addition to any collection.

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review by: g munni date: 2008-01-10 rating:
Best Hiphop album of all time
The title says it all...

All music alike, this is one of the most unique sounding albums ever made. Produced by Rza (Wu-Tang) - this is not your typical Eminem, 50 Cent, Game, 2 Pac (although fair play to the guy) commercial sounding hip hop album. But, like all hiphop albums should be, the music is just an accompaniment... the artist of Liquid Swords, GZA/Genius (Wu-Tang) delivers his lyrics to... a... T! He justifies his name on all tracks from Swordsman to B.I.B.L.E leaving you either blown away or pondering for a bit then blown away. I've been listening to this album for 4 years and I'm still getting hit by fresh lyrics, so don't be on a downer if you don't get any of the lyrics first time round - GZA purposefully goes deep in to the lyrics to leave you thinking... the music/beat should keep you good company until next time on getting it :)

Liquid Swords 10/10 - Ultimate battling mc's tune

Duel Of The Iron Mic 10/10 - A personal favourite - lyrically fun, check out Inspectahs part.

Gold 10/10 - Another dark one... on how to make money (lol)

Cold World 8/10 - Haven't really got into it after listening to it so many times, but who knows it might be a 10 in a years time ;)

Labels 10/10 - Dissing all record labels in the most genius way

4th Chamber 10/10 - Raw Tune, Raw Lyrics - GZA: "Disciplinary action was a fraction of strength, that made me truncate the length one tenth"

Shadowboxin 10/10 - Just lyrically fun, Method Mans verse in this is awesome, another personal favourite.

Hells Wind Staff/Killa Hills 10304 7/10 - How imigrants make it in the US, this is probably the weakest track of the album - but still pretty good. Quite funny to hear about GZA's N**** from Afghanistan who grew up In Iran.

Investigative Reports 9/10 - Streets/Ghetto. Top Tune.

Swordsman 9/10 - Divulge into GZA's mind, dark tune

I Gotcha Back 8/10 - Backin a N**** up could cost ya

B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) 8/10 - Name says it all

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review by: date: 2006-06-04 rating:
GZA REALLY IS A GENIUS- CLASSIC
this is one of the best rap albums ever made, and ranks up there with the likes of illmatic, ready to die, and reasonable doubt, all of this album is produced by RZA, and he does a fantastic job, the production is all dark, grimy, with lots of martial art movie samples thrown in, its suits the mood of the album, the lyrics are some of the best ever written, with gzas amazing metaphors, similes, and double meanings, gza has one of those voices that are unique, noone could imitate gzas voice, his delivery and timing are perfect, the albums subject matter is dark but very interesting, gza raps about the sadness and endless cycle of violence in his environment, he tells stories of shootings and stabbings and how he wishes it would stop and gives a vivid picture of the new york he grew up in, when he is not rapping about this he delivers devastating battle raps, using, as i said earlier in the review, unbelievable metaphors, similes, and punchlines, this is arguably the best wu-tang album, along with only built 4 cuban linx, and 36 chambers, and i urge you to get this if you are a hip hop fan, and if you are a wu tang fan, it is essential, if you are a fan of crap hip hop, like lil john, T.I., chingy, etc. you probably wouldnt like this, as it is not overcommercialized rubbish, with radio-friendly beats, this is definitely in my top 5 rap albums ever, and maybe the best, get it, because if you dont, you are missing out on a brilliant album


review by: bruce_rfc1690 date: 2006-04-15 rating:
1 of the best albums ever!
The best wu tang related album and one of the best hip hop albums ever.I've had this album for over 4 years now and still listen to regularly.First off the lyrics are smart and witty.Obviously the beats are some of the best when RZA is producing the full album.It is very mystical with its kung fu film samples.You are not a true hip hop head if you dont have this album.

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