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

Amestafuu (Emeritus)

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Exactly. If anything, its a good album but I remember a den of "real hip hop" cacs straight up shytted on me because I did not get on my knees and pray to the fukking album. I mean, I get it...it's lyrical but its a prime example of "lyrical spiritual" nonsense that becomes boring and dated:francis:
I hate when you dudes make classics about cac praise. That album is hard and a classic period. When I was in school everyone played it who was into hip hop. It's not lyrical miracle AT ALL gza didn't waste words just rhyming stop bruh
 

Black Ball

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This album is crazy dope. I'd say the 15 year-old version of me couldn't fully appreciate the subtle & dark production on this. Especially being on the westcoast.

I'd say you need to listen to this on a good set of headphones to really appreciate all aspects of this album.

Gza don't have the charisma of Rae, Meth, & Ghost, but his voice is dope and damn the nikka was so sharp lyrically. The beats also don't jump up at you like OB4CL & Iron Man, but the detail in the production is crazy, especially listening through headphones.
 

The Intergalactic Koala

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You have to experience your own apocalypse to appreciate this album. It reminds me of living in darkness while having my face warmed by the sun.

My own personal apocalypse album was this jawn:

Downfall_cover_MF_Grimm.jpg

:wow:Album was the embodiment of "fukk life" as a young adult Joey.
 

DaHNIC82

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You sure you
Man if there were some younger cats on this board who was trying to get into older albums a lot of yall would really turn them off. Lol idk if OP is trolling but most of the responses have been insults or calling it a masterpiece without descriptive details. :snoop:

I would say it’s one of those albums that “hip hop purists” die by which you can’t criticize lol but I do love it because I think it’s one of those albums that captures GZA ability to rap and the production matched his strengths

But for me the beats complimented everything on this album perfectly. As far as lyrics goes I for one think it’s one of the most focused rap albums that remains true to its theme ever created simply because he didn’t chase after a hit record or a large crowd but chose to be true to what he does best and that’s be a great MC.

GZA doesn’t waste a bar and it contains no filler as far as lyricism goes. The nerd in me says GZA on this album in my opinion wrote in an blackout poetry style that wasn’t being done in 95 or til this day (though I think it wouldn’t sound as good in 23 simply because of delivery)

He was able to weave quo-tables inside of whole verses which is also were informative and story like which a lot of rappers til this day can’t do.

“I was always taught my do's and don'ts
For do's I did, and for don'ts, I said I won't”

He basically embodies everything people wanted from a dope rapper at the time

Now as far as style I would say that I do understand why you can get bored with the album. GZA tone never changes and he isn’t a super charismatic rapper he doesn’t uses his voice to capture you but his focus is his lyrics. Which is probably my biggest gripe.

The beats aren’t high energy. But they weren’t made to be. So depending on setting you may feel it or you may not.

Lol it’s not like you’re gonna be playing Liquid swords at a cookout or to have a good time.

It’s one of those quenissential hip hop that displays a certain skill set that a top tier lyricist can do. It may click with you it may not it’s nothing wrong with that.
How could cats call themselves a hip hop head and NOT feel this?

 

The Intergalactic Koala

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the back cover is fire looks like it should have been the cover

back.jpg

Not going to lie, the album cover was the reason why I never checked for the album because I was so burnt by late 90s Wu albums being mid as all hell. The back cover reminds me of the old Bay Area gangsta rap covers:ehh:
 

nieman

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Probaby the reason i dont think its that great...im surrounded by palm trees and sunny 70 degree weather
:ehh:
While that may be, the theme of the album is that it's a man on a mission, just walking the earth with his thoughts, observing the world, as he tries to navigate through a changing landscape of music and life in the hood. It just happens to be the fall/winter seasons.

His American Saga episode captured part of that concept perfectly.

"I ain't caught up in politics..I'm no black activist on a so called scholars d!ck..."
 

The Intergalactic Koala

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Probaby the reason i dont think its that great...im surrounded by palm trees and sunny 70 degree weather
:ehh:


That's it. Its a hardbody east coast album to the friggin tee. Nothing wrong with it, but for the most part Liquid Swords just a bump once and move away album. Folks getting the perception that I don't care for the album, or even shytting on it.

No, I actually fukk with the album but the ball groping for such a album is silly as all hell, when the Purple Tape was LEAGUES better than the album. Hell, Tical was better than the album because it had not only the grit, but it had replayability. I played that album from here to kingdom come for the time.
 
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