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

[DaveyDave]

Personally I think it’s a 5 mic classic and top 2/3 Wu solo. I’ve loved it since it dropped but it has definitely become a Tik Tok nerd white boy hipster “must listen” type album. The same as Illmatic.

Every video I see about Hip Hop from these young white boy vinyl “collectors” is Illmatic, LS, DOOM, Midnight Marauders and then it’s always Griselda, Ye and Kendrick. You never see AmeriKKKas Most Wanted or Doggystyle or EPMD or even DMX or Blu & Exile.

They’re like the worst parts of hypebeast culture mixed with bad Complex, Pitchfork and Fantano listicles.

 

[Crumple]

From the days of being a Joey bumping Wu to a grown ass marsupial growing greys, I never for the love of me understood why Liquid Swords is put on such a pedestal.

Each time I listen to the album back and forth, I come up with the same thoughts:

• The album is boring as hell
• The theme didn't quite grab me compared to OB4CL
• The beats just missing something

I just don't get it . Am I'm misguided, smooth brained, or lost in the sauce because for the love of me I always thought this project was overrated as hell? Can a Wu head help me understand the madness and give me insight on why Liquid Swords is considered one of the best Wu albums, if not the best Wu album of all time

Low key alot of replies here made me very angry.

The album is classic because
Gza's voice
Content
Rza's beats
The short back and forth with Method Man
Bible
The art
The videos

The content

He was in his own lane.

I'm also angry that Gza hasn't been active in years.

I love the album.

I played it to my ex in my twenties and she didn't like it. I wouldn't introduce it to just anyone anymore.

I re bought it on CD.

I heard it when it dropped in 1995.

It's a masterpiece.

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

This is like someone requesting to be explained why "Taxi Driver" is a classic movie

"it's boring...I wanted big explosions and super heros...where tf are the avengers?!?!?11?"

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Personally I think it’s a 5 mic classic and top 2/3 Wu solo. I’ve loved it since it dropped but it has definitely become a Tik Tok nerd white boy hipster “must listen” type album. The same as Illmatic.

Every video I see about Hip Hop from these young white boy vinyl “collectors” is Illmatic, LS, DOOM, Midnight Marauders and then it’s always Griselda, Ye and Kendrick. You never see AmeriKKKas Most Wanted or Doggystyle or EPMD or even DMX or Blu & Exile.

They’re like the worst parts of hypebeast culture mixed with bad Complex, Pitchfork and Fantano listicles.

Big L - Lifestylez album is also up there as a top 5 most overrated by internet cacs album. Euro cacs on hip hop reddit have re-written history to make people believe this album was more impactful than The Chronic.

 

[BUSINESS AS USUAL]

Cold world is legendary n shadowboxin

 

[Marc Spector]

liquid swords hits differently when you look at it as a Collab album between RZA and GZA. For as sharp as Genius is on it, I personally view it as Razor at his absolute peak and showcasing his full repertoire as a producer to that point.

 

[StatUS]

"You don't understand my words but you must choose."

 

[Pazzy]

Still one of my favorite albums to this day. Still remember the day that I brought this album. January 12th, 2001. I got the CD version of this along with ODB return of the 36 on cassette. At the time, I was 14 trying to figure my way in high school. I studied that album for real. Looking at ohhla.com for the lyrics. i'll never forget the first time listening to Swordsman. It was in a dark room at night on a Saturday. Contemplating about buying a GZA liquid swords shirt

 

[Corndog]

What's understood don't need to be explained

 

[DaveyDave]

Still one of my favorite albums to this day. Still remember the day that I brought this album. January 12th, 2001. I got the CD version of this along with ODB return of the 36 on cassette. At the time, I was 14 trying to figure my way in high school. I studied that album for real. Looking at ohhla.com for the lyrics. i'll never forget the first time listening to Swordsman. It was in a dark room at night on a Saturday. Contemplating about buying a GZA liquid swords shirt

Back in about 2005-ish I went to this place that printed shirts for you and got them to do my own LS shirt. It was just back with the album cover in white on the front but it was dope cost me like $60 or something AUD. You literally couldn’t get that type of shyt in Aus back then, maybe if lived in Sydney or Melbourne. I wanted it to cover the whole front of the shirt and the sleeves but they couldn’t do that with whatever machine they had.

 

[Sean7]

Production on there is some of Rza's best hands down and Gza is one of the bet lyricists in the group by far so the album came out damn near flawless IMO..... I don't skip a song on that album when I listen to it, classic.

 

[MJ Truth]

As a Wu casual, I like it more than any other solo album from any of them. Shadowboxin' is probably a Top 20 hip-hop record of all time. Just flames.



I'll be glad for you to post examples of music from their solo careers better than what this album has to offer though, I'm all ears

Absolutely not.

Top 200 maybe.

 

[Playaz Eyez]

Liquid Swords was heat, you trippin, I’m bout to play some of that right now

 

[KillKenny]

Personally I think it’s a 5 mic classic and top 2/3 Wu solo. I’ve loved it since it dropped but it has definitely become a Tik Tok nerd white boy hipster “must listen” type album. The same as Illmatic.

Every video I see about Hip Hop from these young white boy vinyl “collectors” is Illmatic, LS, DOOM, Midnight Marauders and then it’s always Griselda, Ye and Kendrick. You never see AmeriKKKas Most Wanted or Doggystyle or EPMD or even DMX or Blu & Exile.

They’re like the worst parts of hypebeast culture mixed with bad Complex, Pitchfork and Fantano listicles.

Big L is up there too.

 

[Ohene]

cap

I love Havoc but none of his beats sound quite like the title track or 4th Chamber. RZA don't got nothing that sounds like Hell on Earth, they both make dark/gritty beats but use different approaches

you could argue liquid swordz sounds like a lesser version of bloodsport. wouldnt even be surprised if the sample is the same
4th chamber not too diff from the Releast (Alc)/Murda Muzik