| Song Listing |  |
(P) 2002 Geffen Records
(C) 2002 Geffen Records
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Genius/GZA, Ghostface Killah, Streetlife, RZA, Masta Killa, Anthony Allen, Governor Two's, Prodigal Sunn, 12 O'Clock ,Inspectah Deck, Armel (rap vocals); Santi White (vocals); Jay "Waxx" Garfield (programming). | | Producers include: Jay "Waxx" Garfield, Boola, Bink, Arabian "Q-Base" Knight, Tyquan Walker. | | Recorded at Liquid Sword, Sound On Sound and 36 Chambers Studios, New York, New York. | | Personnel: Genius/GZA, Ghostface Killah, Streetlife, RZA, Masta Killa, Anthony Allen, TSanti White, Prodigal Sunn, 12O'Clock, Governor Two's, Inspectah Deck, Armel (rap vocals). | | Producers includes: Jay "Waxx" Garfield, Boola, Bink, Arabian "Q-Base" Knight, Tyquan Walker. | | Recorded at Liquid Sword, Sound On Sound & 36 Chambers Studios, New York, New York. | | Audio Mixer: Doug Wilson. | | Recording information: 36 Chambers, New York, NY; Liquid Sword Studios, New York, NY; Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY. | | Photographer: Hassan Jarane. | | Released at the end of a quiet year for the Wu-Tang family, GZA's Legend of the Liquid Sword proves Gary Grice is easily the most underrated rapper in the fold, and definitely the most consistent as a solo artist. The album gains power as it progresses; after a compelling "Auto Bio" that's chained down by a bland production, and "Did Ya Say That," wherein the Genius sounds downright confused (or worse, resigned) about the game of label politics, Legend of the Liquid Sword locks into a great groove with the single "Knock, Knock" and rarely misses after that. Unsurprisingly, the Wu-Tang features "Fam (Members Only)," featuring RZA and Masta Killa, and "Silent," featuring Ghostface Killah, are big highlights, with a sound similar to 2001's Iron Flag. Surprisingly, though, his track with low-profile Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck bests the other two. "Fame" finds the Genius weaving some clever word games around celebrity names, and guest Allen Anthony makes the title track into a grand funk jam akin to OutKast. The productions on Legend of the Liquid Sword are below average for a talent like his, but chances are good that's by design; since GZA is a rapper's rapper, his smooth flow and excellent imagination are all that's necessary to propel any of these tracks. ~ John Bush | | Wu-Tang elder statesman Genius's mind runs at a dizzying pace in numerous and often inscrutable directions. It's ceaselessly fascinating to watch his Shaolin-meets-hip-hop world unfurl on 2002's LEGEND OF THE LIQUID SWORD. While a discernible logic is apparent throughout LEGEND, Genius's records always retain the tinge of madness and unpredictability that made the best of the Wu-Tang collective recordings so captivating. | | The record can shift from blithe earnestness (aptly titled "Auto Bio") and righteous posturing ("Fam (Members Only)") to outright goofiness (the bizarrely fascinating "Fame"). In fact, few would have either the ingenuity to write or the guts and lack of self-consciousness to release the latter, a bouncing track laced with puns on celebrity names such as "used Bernie's Mac to search Veronica's Web" and "Pete's Rose lay on Vanessa's Red Grave." However, Genius/GZA is nothing if not his own man, a rapper with a remarkably complex world to draw from, making LEGEND OF THE LIQUID SWORD ever a provocative listen with new revelations to offer upon each listen. | | Wu-Tang elder statesman Genius's mind runs at a dizzying pace in numerous and often inscrutable directions. It's ceaselessly fascinating to watch his Shaolin-meets-hip-hop world unfurl on 2002's LEGEND OF THE LIQUID SWORD. While a discernible logic is apparent throughout LEGEND, Genius's records always retain the tinge of madness and unpredictability that made the best of the Wu-Tang collective recordings so captivating. | | The record can shift from blithe earnestness (aptly titled "Auto Bio") and righteous posturing ("Fam (Members Only)") to outright goofiness (the bizarrely fascinating "Fame"). In fact, few would have either the ingenuity to write or the guts and lack of self-consciousness to release the latter, a bouncing track laced with puns on celebrity names such as "used Bernie's Mac to search Veronica's Web" and "Pete's Rose lay on Vanessa's Red Grave." However, Genius/GZA is nothing if not his own man, a rapper with a remarkably complex world to draw from, making LEGEND OF THE LIQUID SWORD ever a provocative listen with new revelations to offer upon each listen. |
Engineer: Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic |
Musical Guests | | Ghostface Killah | | Streetlife | | Inspectah Deck | | RZA | | Masta Killa | | Santi White | | Allen Anthony | | Governor Two's | | 12 O'Clock | | Prodigal Sunn | | Armel |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Associated Artists and Works |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 12/10/2002 | | Original Release Date : 2002 | | Catalog ID : 113083 | | Label : MCA Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00008811308322 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (1/23/03, p.66)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...GZA's voice cuts like years of indignation and injustice."Rolling Stone (1/23/03, p.66)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...GZA's voice cuts like years of indignation and injustice." Vibe (12/02, p.208)
- 4 discs out of 5 - "...he backs his steady, measured flow with enough production power to rouse the world from its slumber..." Vibe (12/02, p.208)
- 4 discs out of 5 - "...he backs his steady, measured flow with enough production power to rouse the world from its slumber..." |
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