GZA ft. Santigold - "Liquid Swords" [LIVE]

The Genius linked up with Santigold for this exclusive live performance at Lollapoloza, brought to you by Hip Hop Official and 5 Gum. Enjoy.

Wu-Tang Live @ The Apollo in 1997.

Classic. Historic. Everybody's there except the RZA. ODB blesses the stage something fierce. The crowd goes insane. Great times all around.

Shout out to YN for making these embeddable. I know that's not a word, but fuck it. I just made it one.

Wu-Tang Covers Remixed.

Wow, this is super duper fly. Wu fans and design heads are gonna love this. I know I did, and I'm both. Graphic designer Logan Walters has remixed all the original Wu-Tang covers in the style of classic old school Blue Note jazz record covers. Iconic covers meet a timeless look. They are calling the project either Blu-Tang Clan or Wu Note Records. Call what you want, I call it incredible.

The designer plans to do all 21 Wu-related albums, but here are the first 8. I can't wait for the next ones...

The Making of Liquid Swords.

Waxpoetics has a real dope article with the GZA/Genius talking about the making of his classic album, Liquid Swords. He even goes in detail about each of the 13 songs. It's a real dope read, my peoples.

The year was '95 and the first generation of Wu-Tang solo projects was gripping fans globally. And for his part, GZA never did waste ink and has shown a penchant for writing since Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and his debut, Words From The Genius. Even in a year of memorable releases, Liquid Swords' rhymes coupled with RZA's cinematic beats stood tall, furthering Wu-Tang's dominance to this day.

Thirteen years later, Liquid Swords continues to age well and is a stellar case of quality '90s hip-hop. Here for the first time ever, GZA talks about the making of the heralded classic, breaking down the album track-by-track and allowing insight into vital era in which it was made.

What was your writing process like at the time?
Real slow. I don't say slow in the sense that it necessarily took me a long time to finish what I'm writing. I mean, Raekwon and Ghostface can step in and record a song in about forty-five minutes. I on the other hand, would often go back and finish rhymes that I started. I would say I pieced things together [more] slowly then. Songs generally take me two to three days to write. Sometimes I take different sentences and put them together.

For a few tracks on the album I remember, the beat would be running and it'd be four o'clock in the afternoon. We'd be smoking and you know how weed takes its toll on you. I'd just get tired and sit in the same spot all day. I'd take a nap, hang out, nap later, woke up and finish a track. RZA would leave and go to the city to handle business. He'd come home hours later and I'd still be writing same shit I started when he left [laughs].

Check out the full article over at Waxpoetics.

And just because...

[NEW] GZA - "Pencil" (feat. Masta Killa and RZA)

All into together now...things are looking good, getting better now (c) Method Man

New fire from the Genius. This guy is my favorite Wu member, depending on what day it is. Today is that today. This is off his upcoming album, Pro Tools, which drops next Tuesday, Aug 19th.

DOWNLOAD: GZA - "Pencil" (feat. Masta Killa and RZA)


[BONUS]: Watch the GZA talk about the upcoming album.

[NEW] The GZA - "0% Finance"

Wu-Tang Financial in the building. You need to diversify your bonds! (c) Gza

Here's a new cut from the Genius that was supposed to appear on his next album, but evidently wont because of sample clearance issues. Grab this while you can!

DOWNLOAD: The GZA - "0% Finance"

[NEW] The GZA - "Alphabets"

New GZA!

This is the first single off his upcoming album Pro Tools. This is way tighter than his Curtis diss. Check out the tracklist...

1. Intromental
2. Pencil Feat. Masta Killa & RZA
3. Alphabets
4. Groundbreaking Feat. Justice Kareem
5. 7 Pounds
6. 0% Finance
7. Short Race Feat. Rock Marcy
8. Interlude
9. Paper Plate
10. Columbian Ties Feat. True Master
11. Firehouse Feat. Ka
12. Path of Destruction
13. Cinema Feat. Justice Kareem
14. Intermission (Drive In Movie)
15. Life Is A Movie Feat. RZA & Irfane Khan-Acito (of Outlines)
16. Elastic Audio

GZA/Genius - "Paper Plate" (50 Cent Dis)

The GZA sharpens his killer flying guillotine and takes aim at Curtis.

Straight from the press release:

His new album, Pro-Tools arops Augeust 19th, and the first leak track, "Paper Plate," finds GZA going at the Vitamin Water mogul, 50 Cent.

With "Paper Plate," GZA is in top form, a true veteran showcasing the incomparable style that has defined witty battle rap for the greater part of a decade.

Spitting 104 bars of straight heat, GZA cuts the legs out from under the G-Unit impresario, reminding us all how sweet beef on wax really sounds. Using metaphor and lyrical imagery (and without employing a single curse word), GZA gives it to us "burnt & crispy."

True heads stand up...The Genius has finally returned.

DOWNLOAD: GZA/Genius - "Paper Plate"

Backstage @ Paid Dues Festival NYC: Part 2

Part 2 of our backstage coverage of the Paid Dues festival in New York City. We On The Run.

If you missed Part 1, peep it here.

A Day with The GZA

The GZA takes his son to work for the day. Pitchfork spent a day with the Wu-Tang's GZA/Genius as they get haircuts, eat pizza, and rock the mic.

Wu Tang is for the Children.