Online Encyclopedia
Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords | ||
---|---|---|
Cassette, CD& Vinyl LP by GZA | ||
Released | November 20, 1995 | |
Recorded | ||
Genre | Hardcore hip hop | |
Length | 55 min 19 s | |
Record label | Geffen | |
Producer | RZA | |
Professional reviews | ||
Entertainment Weekly | Grade: B+ | December 22, 1995, p.70 |
Option | Positive | March/April, 1996, pp.104-105 |
NME | 9 out of 10 | November 11, 1995, p.46 |
The Wire | Positive | link |
Melody Maker | Positive | November 25, 1995, p.36 |
Q | 4 stars out of 5 | October 2000 |
Rolling Stone review | 3 stars out of 5 | November 30, 1995, pp.66-67 |
Allmusic.com | 5 stars out of 5 | link |
Rap Pages | 8 stars out of 10 | January 1996, p.31 |
Robert Christgau | 2 stars out of 4 | link |
GZA Chronology | ||
Words From the Genius (1990) |
Liquid Swords (1995) |
Beneath the Surface (1999) |
Liquid Swords was a 1995 (see 1995 in music) solo album by Wu-Tang Clan member Genius (GZA). Though the album was credited to Genius alone, there are numerous guest appearances from the entire Wu-Tang Clan. Liquid Swords is widely acknowledged as one of the best Wu-Tang solo albums, on par with classics like Ironman (Ghostface Killah) and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (Raekwon).
Liquid Swords is characteristic of the Wu-Tang Clan in its distinctive, spare, menacing beats by producer RZA, and its cinematic themes relating to kung fu movie s. The album begins with a monologue from a little girl; her monologue, and many of the other skits scattered throughout the album, are from the cult classic kung fu film Shaolin Vs. Lama .
Track listing
- "Liquid Swords" - 4:30
- "Duel of the Iron Mic" (with Ol' Dirty Bastard) - 4:06
- "Living in the World Today" (with Inspectah Deck) - 4:23
- "Gold" (with Inspectah Deck) - 3:57
- "Cold World" (with Inspectah Deck) - 5:31
- "Labels" (with Ghostface Killah) - 2:54
- "4th Chamber" (with Ghostface Killah) - 4:37
- "Shadowboxin'" (with Method Man) - 3:29
- "Hell's Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304" (with Killah Priest, Dreddy Kruger ) - 5:08
- "Investigative Reports" (with Raekwon) - 3:49
- "Swordsman" performed by (with Killah Priest) - 3:21
- "I Gotcha' Back" performed by (with Killah Priest) - 5:01
- "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (with Killah Priest) - 4:32
Personnel
- Method Man - Performer
- Mark A. Humphrey - Photography
- GZA - Performer
- U-God - Performer
- Killah Priest - Performer
- Dreddy Kruger - Performer
Chart positions
Billboard (North America) - album
1995 The Billboard 200 No. 9 1995 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 2
Billboard (North America) - singles
1994 I Gotcha Back Hot Rap Singles No. 29 1994 I Gotcha Back Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 39 1995 Cold World The Billboard Hot 100 No. 97 1995 Liquid Swords Hot Rap Singles No. 3 1995 Liquid Swords Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 33 1995 Liquid Swords Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 2 1995 Liquid Swords The Billboard Hot 100 No. 48 1996 Shadowboxin' The Billboard Hot 100 No. 67 1996 Cold World Hot Rap Singles No. 8 1996 Shadowboxin' Hot Rap Singles No. 10 1996 Cold World Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 57 1996 Shadowboxin' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 41 1996 Cold World Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 8 1996 Shadowboxin' Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 9