Legend of the Liquid Sword (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Legend of the Liquid Sword
Type = Album
Artist = GZA


Released = December 10, 2002
Recorded = 2001-2002
Genre = Hip hop
Length = 51:00
Label = MCA
Producer =
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:djuvadskq8w6 link]
*Pitchfork (8.3/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18259/GZA_Legend_of_the_Liquid_Sword 1/8/2003]
*Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5432016/a/Legend+Of+The+Liquid+Sword.htm 1/23/03 Pg.66]
*Vibe Rating|4|5 [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5432016/a/Legend+Of+The+Liquid+Sword.htm 12/02 Pg.208]
*"Stylus" (B) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=459 9/1/2003] |Last album = "Beneath The Surface" (1999] )
This album = "Legend of the Liquid Sword" (2002)
Next album = "GrandMasters" (2005)

"Legend of the Liquid Sword" is the fourth solo album from American hip hop artist GZA, a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. It was released December 10, 2002.

The album is named after the kung fu film "Legend of the Liquid Sword". In the songs "Did Ya Say That", and "Knock Knock", GZA focuses on the politics of record labels, and expresses his issues in dealing with record companies over artistic goals in music.

Critical reception

Many fans will argue whether or not this album was a sincere effort on GZA's part due to the time of the release and the less commercial appeal.The album has been praised for being GZA's consistent fan appreciated lyrics, yet accused of having "bland" production, which is often argued. [http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1382341&AMGLENGTH=full#review] . [http://www.junkmedia.org/index2.php?i=481 ...the appeal of this record eventually runs dry on production grounds. Perhaps the GZA's delivery lends itself to a specific type of beat, because the ten producers on Legend never push beyond a limited variety of sounds.] [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=12488&aid=562208 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.] [http://mvremix.com/urban_blogs/2008/03/30/gza-legend-of-the-liquid-sword-review/ “Legend” is a thicker LP than “Beneath The Surface” but it does not have that Rza production that the original “Liquid Swords” had.]

The album was deemed amongst reviews a pleaser to most Wu-Tang Clan fans alike, yet many argue if it even compared to earlier or later releases. [http://wutang-corp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8653] Brett Berliner of Stylus magazine said: "The man simply is brilliant, and although these aren’t the lyrics that will appeal to most, they are certainly some of the best. It’s just like why simple books appeal to the masses – most people can’t comprehend this much depth." [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/the-gza/legend-of-the-liquid-sword.htm]

Jonah Weiner of Blender magazine stated: "This abstract skill put his 1995 masterpiece, Liquid Swords (name-checked here in the title and every other song), in the running for best Wu solo album, but dense, volatile production pushed it over the top — the prosaic soul loops here are solid enough, but fall short of the legend." [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=155]

The overall sound of the album conflicted much of the mainstream hip-hop at the time of its release. Samira Niazy of prefixmag.com rated the album 8.0 out of 10 and concluded: "One of the things you'll notice is that Gza's more unique [sic] and real style shines through because he focuses on lyricism rather than distracting the listener with loud instrumental background noise. It draws your attention to his best asset, his distinct style. Thankfully, Legend of the Liquid Sword sounds nothing like the hip-pop that's on heavy rotation on hip-hop stations right now." [http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/cds/G/gzagenius/legend-of-the-liquid-sword/251]

Though many opinions varied on whether the album was the classic "Wu-Tang sound", Ari Levenfeld of Pop Matters feels: "If Legend of the Liquid Sword is any indication of the Wu-Tang Clan's efforts to come, it doesn't seem like the group is all that interested in expanding their fan base or growing musically. Maybe they've done what they set out to do. The franchise is working... GZA isn't trying to be something or someone he's not. He's all about the original recipe." [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/g/gzagenius-legend.shtml]

Track listing

#"Intro"
#*Performed by: Young Justice
#"AutoBio"
#*Producer: Gza
#*Samples: Saint Tropez - "Belle De Jour"
#"Did Ya Say That?"
#*Producer: Sport
#"Silent"
#*First verse: Ghostface Killah
#*Second verse: Streetlife
#*Third verse: GZA
#*Producer: Bink!
#"Knock, Knock"
#*Chorus: Ghostface Killah
#*Producer: Jefferson, Simmons, Gza
#*Samples: Spinners - "I Must Be Living For A Broken Heart"
#"Stay In Line"
#*Chorus: Santi White
#*Producer: Arabian Knight
#"Animal Planet"
#*Producers: Tyquan Walker, Blink! The Koala
#*Samples: Isaac Hayes - "Man's Temptation"
#"Fam (Members Only)"
#*First & third verses, chorus: RZA
#*Second verse: Masta Killa
#*Fourth verse: GZA
#*Producer: Mathematics
#*Samples: Gladys Knight & The Pips - "Between Her Goodbye and My Hello"
#"Legend of the Liquid Sword"
#*Chorus: Anthony Allen
#*Producer: Jaz-O
#*Samples: Quincy Jones - Razzamatazz
#"Fame"
#*Producer: Arabian Knight
#"Highway Robbery"
#*Chorus: Governor Two's
#*Producer: Arabian Knight
#"Luminal"
#*Producer: DJ Muggs
#"Sparring Minds"
#*First & third verses: GZA
#*Second verse: Inspectah Deck
#*Producer: Arabian Knight
#"Rough Cut"
#*Chorus: GZA
#*First verse: Armel
#*Second verse: Prodigal Sunn
#*Third verse: 12 O'Clock
#*Producer: RZA
#"Uncut Material"
#*Producer: Gza

References

External links

Music video for "Knock, Knock" [http://youtube.com/watch?v=JjCXZcz7mIk]

Album sampler at Amazon.com [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00007FXQF]

All Lyrics of the album [http://lyricwiki.org/GZA/Genius:Legend_Of_The_Liquid_Sword_%282002%29]