Re: Liguid Swords
Ok well here goes my full review.
I wasn't very old when Liquid Swords came out, but I can imagine there was a lot of hype about this album when it came out. The GZA was crazy on 36 Chambers, so people knew this album would be great, as it had almost full RZA production. Here's the review of his 2nd solo.
Liquid Swords-5/5-Ok, first off, this is one of the great intros to an album. A minute and a half clip from Shogun Assassin, and it's a classic. For a while after I had this album, I didn't feel the song that much. The beat wasn't that great to me. After a few listens, I love this track and now after tons of times, it's a great track. As you will often hear in this review, the GZA's wordplay is perfect. He drops some crazy punchlines in this song. Great chorus too. Listen, you can do a chorus but please, please make sure you do it well.
Duel of the Iron Mic-5/5-Another great intro to a song. I love the "I agree." Oh man RZA drops a crazy beat, with a great piano loop. Ol Dirty does a little part of this song, which makes it perfect. Man GZA is way too ill on this song. Once again, perfect worldplay. Not one line is wasted. Masta Killa drops a great verse. This is not an 85 affair, made clear, when the gods get out to perform storms blew up. Great verse followed by another one by Inspectah Deck. This is a classic song in hip hop.
Living in the World Today-5/5-There is something about the intro beat that is absolutely stunning. Wow RZA should have used this beat for another song, it's just so damn hard and gets me so fucking hyped. I will say this again, but GZA has perfect wordplay on this song. The beat is just out of this fucking world. The attacking bassline, and the horn that come in once in a while. This beat is just amazing. GZA has such perfect flow "Now who could ever say they heard of this? My motherfucking style is mad murderous."
Gold-5/5-Another absolutely crazy beat. RZA has dropped 4 classic beats already on this album. Method starts out the track nicely although he didn't drop a verse, why the hell didn't he? GZA tells a great story. Good chorus again.
Cold World-5/5-One of the better beats on the album. The beat tells a story, which few producers have the talent enough to do. Another story type GZA verse, which is once again, flawless. INS drops an equally great verse. "No time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prix, and seaze, packages and pocket the currency. Great verses by both and a classic beat make this a classic verse. I even listen to the last minute and half of the song to hear the beat, it's that good.
Labels-5/5- Oh man this is murderous GZA. He just destroys this track. I love the beat too, it's reasonably simple, but it's got weird noises in it which a lot of the tracks have in this album. I cannot express how incredible GZA in this song. He uses record companys to rhyme with and it sounds like he didn't use any effort at all. I don't think any other MC ever can do this as well as the GZA can. Rza Razor Rza sharp I love that part.
4th Chamber-5/5-One of the weirdest and best beats you will ever hear. I don't think any other producer can make a track like this one. What's even better is the Ghostface Killah spits one of his best ever. These guys are all geniouses, every one of them. Killah Priest is crazy on this song too. " I judge wisely, as if nothing ever surprise me." Wow RZA is a true great MC with a verse like this. A perfect blend of flow with an alert voice. His flow and voice matches the way the verse is set up. It's one of his finest verses ever. The best way to end a song is to GZA on it haha. Well guess what, GZA drops another classic verse. "I got mouths to feed, unecessary beef is more cows to breed." Holy shit! 4 great to classic verses with one of the craziest beats ever. Hip hop at it's finest.
Shadowboxing-5/5-A sampled song, this sounds pretty Cuban Linx to me. It's a great beat, and the Method Man still amazes me with is unique wordplay and always calmness on the mic. Method drops a crazy verse but to me the song really picks up at the beginning of GZA's verse. The beat seems to speed up a bit, it's chaotic. "I slayed MC's back in the rec room era, my style broke motherfucking backs like Ken Patera." That's a real quick line you have to go back about 3 times to really catch but you realize that the guy is a flat out genious haha. Classic shit.
Killah Hills 10304-5/5-Hey look they're using there Cuban Linx aliases that's dope. The intro is good, it fits in with the song good. The beat is great again. GZA tells a story about a drug cartel I think if I can remember correctly. This is probably the half way point in my favorite songs on the album, but it's a great track no doubt. I thought there was going to be another member on this song the first time I heard it, with the intro and everything.
Ivestigative Reports-5/5-I love the chorus, U-God does it damn perfectly. Raekwon was one of the best ever in this period of time with Cuban Linx coming out, and he has a great verse here. GZA has another great verse, with perfect wordplay. Ghostface has a good verse as well, but I don't like him as much on this song as I did on 4th Chamber.
Swordsman-5/5-One of the best beats of all time. No one at this time could make a beat like RZA could. So many weird things going on makes the beat perfect. GZA has another great verses. This song is surreal to me. I think RZA stole it with the beat alone.
I Gotcha Back-5/5- Oh man this song will get you fucking hyped. One of the best choruses out there with the "I gotcha back so you best to watch ya front. It's the niggaz who front, they be pulling stunts." The beat is great as well, a real attacking type beat. "I could wrote a book age 12 and going through hell." I love the sample at the end " but to have it happen to you is, ridiculous"
B.I.B.L.E.-5/5- Hmmmm no GZA on this song? It's a Killah Priest solo which is weird but Ghost did it on Cuban Linx. Plus, when the song is so dope that it doesn't even matter, then it doesn't even matter. A great way to end the album. 4th Disciple what can I say, I think he's one of the greatest producers alive. A true legend to me.
I guess I rated this album perfect, which it might be. No real noticable flaws at all. A productional gem, and lyrically you will not get much better than this.
75/75
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Originally Posted by scorpion
Re: Liguid Swords
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