Legend of the Liquid Sword (album)
Encyclopedia
Legend of the Liquid Sword is the fourth solo studio album
by American
hip hop
artist GZA
, a member of the Wu-Tang Clan
. It was released December 10, 2002. The album is named after the kung fu film Legend of the Liquid Sword
. In the songs "Did Ya Say That", and "Knock Knock", GZA focuses on the politics
of record labels, and expresses his issues in dealing with record companies over artistic goals in music.
Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine
said: "The man simply is brilliant, and although these aren’t the lyrics that will appeal to most, they are certainly some of the best. It’s just like why simple books appeal to the masses – most people can’t comprehend this much depth."
Jonah Weiner of Blender
magazine stated: "This abstract skill put his 1995 masterpiece, Liquid Swords
(name-checked here in the title and every other song), in the running for best Wu solo album, but dense, volatile production pushed it over the top — the prosaic soul loops here are solid enough, but fall short of the legend."
The overall sound of the album conflicted much of the mainstream
hip-hop at the time of its release. Samira Niazy of prefixmag.com rated the album 8.0 out of 10 and concluded: "One of the things you'll notice is that GZA's more unique [sic] and real style shines through because he focuses on lyricism rather than distracting the listener with loud instrumental background noise. It draws your attention to his best asset, his distinct style. Thankfully, Legend of the Liquid Sword sounds nothing like the hip-pop that's on heavy rotation on hip-hop stations right now."
Though many opinions varied on whether the album was the classic "Wu-Tang sound", Ari Levenfeld of PopMatters
feels: "If Legend of the Liquid Sword is any indication of the Wu-Tang Clan's efforts to come, it doesn't seem like the group is all that interested in expanding their fan base or growing musically. Maybe they've done what they set out to do. The franchise is working... GZA isn't trying to be something or someone he's not. He's all about the original recipe."
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
, a member of the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
. It was released December 10, 2002. The album is named after the kung fu film Legend of the Liquid Sword
Legend of the Liquid Sword
Legend of the Liquid Sword is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia comedy film loosely based on Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was written and directed by Wong Jing.-Plot:...
. In the songs "Did Ya Say That", and "Knock Knock", GZA focuses on the politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
of record labels, and expresses his issues in dealing with record companies over artistic goals in music.
Critical reception
Many fans will argue whether or not this album was a sincere effort on GZA's part due to the time of the release and the less commercial appeal. The album has been praised for GZA's consistent fan appreciated lyrics, yet accused of having "bland" production, which is often argued.Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
said: "The man simply is brilliant, and although these aren’t the lyrics that will appeal to most, they are certainly some of the best. It’s just like why simple books appeal to the masses – most people can’t comprehend this much depth."
Jonah Weiner of Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine stated: "This abstract skill put his 1995 masterpiece, Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released November 7, 1995, on Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began mid-way through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in Staten Island New York...
(name-checked here in the title and every other song), in the running for best Wu solo album, but dense, volatile production pushed it over the top — the prosaic soul loops here are solid enough, but fall short of the legend."
The overall sound of the album conflicted much of the mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
hip-hop at the time of its release. Samira Niazy of prefixmag.com rated the album 8.0 out of 10 and concluded: "One of the things you'll notice is that GZA's more unique [sic] and real style shines through because he focuses on lyricism rather than distracting the listener with loud instrumental background noise. It draws your attention to his best asset, his distinct style. Thankfully, Legend of the Liquid Sword sounds nothing like the hip-pop that's on heavy rotation on hip-hop stations right now."
Though many opinions varied on whether the album was the classic "Wu-Tang sound", Ari Levenfeld of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
feels: "If Legend of the Liquid Sword is any indication of the Wu-Tang Clan's efforts to come, it doesn't seem like the group is all that interested in expanding their fan base or growing musically. Maybe they've done what they set out to do. The franchise is working... GZA isn't trying to be something or someone he's not. He's all about the original recipe."
Track listing
- "Intro"
- Performed by: Young Justice
- "AutoBio"
- Producer: Jay "Waxx" Garfield
- Samples: Saint Tropez - "Belle de Jour"
- "Did Ya Say That?"
- Producer: Boola
- "Silent"
- First verse: Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
- Second verse: StreetlifeStreetlife (rapper)Patrick Charles, better known by the stage name Streetlife, is a hip hop artist who is a close associate of the Wu-Tang Clan, particularly of Method Man. He was born in the Bronx, moved to Houston, Texas, and later moved to Staten Island where he grew up....
- Third verse: GZA
- Producer: Bink!Bink (producer)Bink is a Grammy nominated hip hop producer who is noted for his work with Roc-A-Fella Records artists. His most high-profile work has been Jay-Z's critically acclaimed album The Blueprint, for which he produced three tracks, including the first and last tracks on the album...
- First verse: Ghostface Killah
- "Knock, Knock"
- Producer: Jay "Waxx" Garfield
- Samples: The Spinners - "I Must Be Living For A Broken Heart"
- "Stay In Line"
- Chorus: Santi White
- Producer: Arabian KnightArabian Knight (producer)Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base.- Production credits :- References :...
- Samples: June of 44June of 44June of 44 was an American rock band which was formed in 1994 from ex-members of Rodan, Lungfish, Rex, and Hoover. The band's music is often described as 'math rock'. The band's name refers the period during which erotic fiction writers Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin corresponded.The band toured...
- "The Dexterity of Luck"
- "Animal Planet"
- Producers: Tyquan Walker, Bink!
- Samples: Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
- "Man's Temptation"
- "Fam (Members Only)"
- First & third verses, chorus: RZARZARobert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
- Second verse: Masta KillaMasta KillaJamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
- Fourth verse: GZA
- Producer: MathematicsMathematics (producer)Mathematics, also known as Allah Mathematics, is a hip hop producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan. As well as producing many tracks for the Wu-Tang Clan and for its solo and affiliate projects, Math has released two solo albums.-Biography:Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York Mathematics was...
- Samples: Gladys Knight & The PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
- "Between Her Goodbye and My Hello"
- First & third verses, chorus: RZA
- "Legend of the Liquid Sword"
- Chorus: Anthony Allen
- Producer: Jaz-OJaz-OJonathan Burks better known by his stage name Jaz-O, is an American rapper and record producer active in the late 1980s through the 1990s, best known for being the mentor of Jay-Z. Jaz is also known as the Originator and had a song called "The Originators" that featured a young Jay-Z in 1990...
- Samples: Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
- "Razzamatazz"
- "Fame"
- Producer: Arabian Knight
- "Highway Robbery"
- Chorus: Governor Two's
- Producer: Arabian Knight
- "Luminal"
- Producer: DJ MuggsDJ MuggsLawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
- Producer: DJ Muggs
- "Sparring Minds"
- First & third verses: GZA
- Second verse: Inspectah DeckInspectah DeckJason Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
- Producer: Arabian Knight
- "Rough Cut"
- Chorus: GZA
- First verse: Armel
- Second verse: Prodigal SunnProdigal SunnProdigal Sunn is an American rapper, actor and entrepreneur.- Biography :Prodigal Sunn was the only child of indigenous parents and grew up in Brooklyn. During his youth, Prodigal was known as the ‘Sun of Man’ and was later re-christened "Prodigal Sunn" by childhood friend Killah Priest in...
- Third verse: 12 O'Clock12 o'clock12 o'clock usually refers to a clock position on the 12-hour clock, either noon - 12 o'clock in the daytime - or midnight - 12 o'clock in the nighttime.It may also be:* A Wu-Tang Clan affiliate, 12 O'Clock.* A community in Quinte West-See also:...
- Producer: RZA
- "Uncut Material"
- Producer: GZA