The real ‘rap Genius’ (originally posted on Rap Genius)

The real ‘rap Genius‘

Each Wu album can be seen as one artist taking a ‘wu theme’ and applying it to their work. Raekwon took the criminology aspect and forged himself a grimy tale of gangster and the criminal classes in Only Built For Cuban Linx. Similarly Meth took the weed induced haze that permeated songs such as M.E.T.H.O.D MAN and stretched it over the whole of Tical. Ghostface took his hype mic presence, RZA took his scientific mind and Dirty…just took himself. Nothing else was needed.

So what did GZA choose as his theme?

Simple. He took the role of the Wu Tang fighters, who skits drive 36 Chambers , deadly opponents of the Shaolin in the old kung fu flicks. Built around clips and skits from Shogun Assassin, the album follows the journey of a tribe of warriors who are part kung fu masters,part samurai and part New York hoods. GZA re-invented each member of the Wu as a ancient warrior and crowned himself as their head assassin. As he simply states

‘I be the body dropper, the heartbeat stopper
Child educator, plus head amputator. ‘

If you will it is the Wu Tangiest of the Wu albums. Filled with the martial art madness,the grim lifestyle and lyrical genius this is in the top tier of hip hop albums.The original Wu cover had mystery and menace.

.This album has more. Much more. The comic cover, with warriors emblazoned with the symbol of the GZA,battling over a chess board is a clue to what is coming. We ain’t in Kansas any more.

GZA peppers the whole album with wordplay, that at first glance seems simple but, that reveals itself to be dazzling. Most songs have at least ten quotables – lines that you will find yourself repeating verbatim et literatim. From the story of Muhammed blowing people up with champagne bottles onHell’s Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304 to something seemingly as simple as’

‘We were on the same ship when the slaves were checked I had to pull your card, you was on the top deck‘

the albums is filled with standout lines. To break it down at first the line seems a testament to GZA’s cunning and swift hands. Secondly it serves as a refernce to the treatment of African slves on their forced jouirney across The Atlantic. Only on perhaps, the second, third or fourth listen you may catch the card/deck/check wordplay. That is one line taken at random- find your own and enjoy them.

Each track is deep, with haunting RZA beats and verses that most rappers would behead someone for. RZA strips his musical palette down to the bare essentials. The musicians blowing the horns on Living in the World Today sound like they have a Wu Tang grip on their throats and the albums drum beats sound as if they are being played by someone with some chrome to their dome. The danger permeates this album and it drips from the lyrics with death , whether a customer of the aforementioned Muhammed or a certain Mr Grecko, is not far away. In a word GZA and RZA create an atmosphere.

However this is far from a two man show. Everybody featured comes hard -even less recognised mc’s such as Killa Priest who kills it on Investigative reports with image laden lines such as

I judge wisely as if nothing ever surprise me
Lounging between two pillars of ivory

and he balances this with a verse ending piece of humorous vulgarity. Fourth Chamber boasts a posse cut that still stands up today. Ghostface rips it with tales of Haitian voodoo and RZA details a ninja attack on a household. Similarly Duel of the Iron Mic proves that even rappers as seemingly as disparate as GZA and Dirty could make a banging tune, perfectly in sync. Everybody gets on board with the theme and they al excel.

As we continue winding through the dangers of Shaolin ; I hear you cry ‘what is the stand out track?’

Sure I hear the shouts out for 4^th Chamber. The title track is pretty awesome too, with its huge sample setting up both the single and the album as a whole. For me, however it has to be Shadowboxin. Meth and GZA compliment each other expertly. Meths hyped persona balances with GZA’s natural grit. Allied with a harrowing beat from RZA it forms a trifecta of hip hop awesomeness. The two bring out the best in each others word play. Go listen to it, your ears will thank you.

Any flaws? Not many. The only one I can think of comes from the GZA himself. He is an acquired taste. If you are not concentrating you will miss the point of the album- most of the lines will fly past you and into the ether. His slow flow and dense,layered metaphors mean he was never going to be a rapper who topped the billboard with a smash single. Don’t jump on this expecting to be blaring it of your car. The lyrics need to be listened to and understood. GZA himself will guide you. He is too sharp and lyrically acidic for a Grammy and too quiet a person to attract support through outlandish means such as getting involved in hyped up beef. After all

I got mouths to feed, unnecessary beef is more cows to breed

And I think we genius’s should let The Genius have the last word. One one track he bemoans he lack of gold. If he could metaphorically smelt down this album he would have more than enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQoVv0FSKQ