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Liquid Swords

Liquid Swords
Album cover
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

  1. "Liquid Swords" - 4:30
  2. "Duel of the Iron Mic" (with Ol' Dirty Bastard) - 4:06
  3. "Living in the World Today" (with Inspectah Deck) - 4:23
  4. "Gold" (with Inspectah Deck) - 3:57
  5. "Cold World" (with Inspectah Deck) - 5:31
  6. "Labels" (with Ghostface Killah) - 2:54
  7. "4th Chamber" (with Ghostface Killah) - 4:37
  8. "Shadowboxin'" (with Method Man) - 3:29
  9. "Hell's Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304" (with Killah Priest, Dreddy Kruger ) - 5:08
  10. "Investigative Reports" (with Raekwon) - 3:49
  11. "Swordsman" performed by (with Killah Priest) - 3:21
  12. "I Gotcha' Back" performed by (with Killah Priest) - 5:01
  13. "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


Last updated: 11-08-2004 11:07:06