Can Somebody Explain why GZA Liquid Swords is considered a classic :lupe

[Metal Face]

im surprised usual trolls on this site aint in this thread tryna shyt on this album

 

[Chip Skylark]

I’d say Duel of the Iron Mic and 4th Chamber and maybe Shadowboxin are bangers that are least on a level higher than Daytona 500, and at least at the level of Shimmy Shimmy Ya, Brooklyn zoo.

There aren’t any club/party/female friendly cuts like Ice Cream, but that was obviously by design. Ice cream is probably my least favorite song on OB4CL

 

[CrimsonTider]

im surprised usual trolls on this site aint in this thread tryna shyt on this album

theres nothing to troll only east coast bias heads know this music

 

[JayBaldacci]

To each it’s in. Production was trash rhymes were aite it just wasn’t good

Gza sounded sleepy on Pro Tools

 

[BmoreGorilla]

This shyt dropped during my freshmen year of hs. My pops copped it for me after a Friday nite football game becuz I had three sacks and forced a fumble. I was blown away when I played it that nite. Shout out to him


Idk why y’all getting upset OP don’t like the album tho. Y’all act like nikkas can’t have opinions.

 

[Greenhornet]

depends how old you are and where you are from

most people here are real old... or way too young

liquid swords is a masterpiece because it didnt follow traditional commercial blueprint
you have the founder and elder statesman of the group ... keeping the original sound and foundation
and just delivering on all levels of real hiphop ... its glossy, its dark, its light, its abstract, its straight forward... its made to be grimey
its real, its underground but on a commercial platform with no compromises, its a story... its insightful. Its powerful, its laid back ... it doesnt cut any corners and speaks for itself. The beats are what real hiphop is... no overly produced glossy bullshyt

illmatic
soul on ice
and liquid swords
all really capture and define the perfect balance of hiphop music in the mid 90s

its understandable to not dig liquid swords vibe, depending on age and region you're in
I love Red Hot Chili Peppers but I'm from New York ... I aint really out in the sun surfing and shyt
the music doesnt hit all times of year when we only have july august to really be out enjoying the weather

liquid swords is October November December music, taking shots, smoking blunts and walking around on empty streets... the album sounds like your thoughts are put into audio form

 

[darealvelle]

Liquid swords is that album

 

[The War Report]

GZA paints a vivid picture of what life in Brooklyn was like when he was coming up.

 

[TripleAgent]

All this talk has me playing it for the billionth time. ZERO SKIPS

 

[White City Black]

• OB4CL- Broke away from the whole martial arts theme, for a more mafioso theme. The beats stand the test of time. The fact that RZA had the gall to use John Woo movie samples to go with the flow of the album still blows my mind. Overall, it felt like a movie..plus the purple tape breh
• Return of the 36 Chambers-Screw the haters, but looking back at ODB's solo...it revolutionizes the game in more ways than one. It was like a Flava Flav solo with bars and better production. I can throw that album on and listen to it from opening to ending.
• Ironman- Its not Supreme Clientele, but another album that I would bump over Liquid Sword as it's smooth as hell. Like it had this fresh sound to it, compared to the old Wu sound. Daytona 500>>>>>>>

These three albums alone blows Liquid Swords out of the water.

I will agree, especially from your breakdown, that those 3 albums would absolutely make for a more exciting listen, particularly for casual rap fans, than Liquid Swords probably would

…but I don’t think the LS love is complete hyperbole. It’s a high 4 mics at least. If someone wants to say 4.5, then fine but it’s certainly mood music

 

[nieman]

I get what you're saying.

I listen to 36 Chambers, OB4CL, & Ironman more than I listen to this one.

Nobody wants to say it, but the reason you're not as into it is that it doesn't have "bangers", or whatever the Wu-Tang equivolent of a banger is.

There's no "C.R.E.A.M." or "Ice Cream" or "Daytona 500" or "Triumph" on it.

It's just solid workmanlike hip-hop.

If you're not predisposed to be into sort of cold-weather East Coast beats, then it's easy to get bored by it.

Also, GZA isn't as charismatic as Meth, Rae, Ghost, or ODB.

Those dudes could've been stars even without Wu.

I think it's a 4 Mic record. "Shadowboxin" is one of the best tracks of the '90s & eventually, I think you'll get it.

It's a record that has to sink in. Each lyric is intricate. Every beat matches the mood. It's the rap equivalent of a gritty crime drama directed by Scorsese


I've always felt like the solo records were better than all the collective records outside of 36 Chambers

Yeah, all Koalas got gonorrhea, if I'm not mistaken.

But with the arguable Daytona 500, those aren't even the best tracks on those albums. They probably aren't top half. But if you mean anchor tracks, I get it, but once again, Daytona doesn't fall into that category either.

And then Meth isn't even charismatic on Tical. He pretty forgettable, outside of Bring the Pain.

I think amongst the Wu, they're a group in which the status of the member enhances the listening experience for the rap fan. In the eyes of the public, GZA is just another member, so most will brush off this album, but on its own, it's an incredible album. There's this, and Cuban neck & neck. A similar feel is MK's No Said Date. The album is amazing, and competes with Ironman amongst the 3rd best Wu 1st solos. But it's also MK, so people will brush it off.

Liquid Swords is an incredible album of perfectly crafted thoughts on the industry and life in the East (Northeast), during the winter. Like Illmatic, while they aren't movies, they are indeed cinematic.

 

[Greenhornet]

the element you are referring to is preference

a more exciting listen is akin to a movie having a slower pace or more action
that doesnt mean the slower pace movie is less better or impactful

its just a preference of style that you like individually

Gza is based on an observant, tame, methodical style. You knew that before you pressed play on the record

Nobody plays an ODB record and expects tame smooth jazz

You gotta look at it from a members angle, Gza is the Grandmaster... he is the elder and the most knowledgeable
If you go to a boxing ring, or whatever art you want to pick... you'll see the students practicing and leveling up etc
When you fight or train with the lead/master...they arent all over the place and practicing. They are very direct with no mistakes
They arent wild or overly emotional etc. Gza kind of embodies that, so when he dropped this ... it fit perfectly into the puzzle piece of the clan

He delivered a masterful, leader embodied tape that showed excellence and poise
like I said before, he is observant and doesnt flash much... so his lyrics and style of the tape mimicked him speaking about the things he saw around him

if all the other CDs were parts of a play and characters on the screen... Gza would be the narrator and glue that keeps the balance of the members

 

[HabitualChiller]

Seems pretty good so far on first listen. I personally can't listen to rappers like the Wu because I'd have to concentrate, which fukks with my ADHD-brain

Edit: Alright this album is definitely great. Changing my vote to 9.8/10. One of the dozen or so albums that I can listen to from start to finish.

B.I.B.L.E. being at the end of the record is a chef's kiss.

 

[24 Hr. Finesse]

• OB4CL- Broke away from the whole martial arts theme, for a more mafioso theme. The beats stand the test of time. The fact that RZA had the gall to use John Woo movie samples to go with the flow of the album still blows my mind. Overall, it felt like a movie..plus the purple tape breh
• Return of the 36 Chambers-Screw the haters, but looking back at ODB's solo...it revolutionizes the game in more ways than one. It was like a Flava Flav solo with bars and better production. I can throw that album on and listen to it from opening to ending.
• Ironman- Its not Supreme Clientele, but another album that I would bump over Liquid Sword as it's smooth as hell. Like it had this fresh sound to it, compared to the old Wu sound. Daytona 500>>>>>>>

These three albums alone blows Liquid Swords out of the water.

Whoa, you serious b?

 

[TripleAgent]

Whoa, you serious b?

Dirty's album is great.