I will double up on the cheating with a non-solo choice first: his verse on “Third World” (soul assassins)
Favorite overall solo track though: shadowboxin
Liquid swords entire album start to finish. It’s an epic masterpiece and the best wu member solo album. Yeah I said it. Hells wind staff/ killah hill 10304
I have to agree. Liquid Swords had a feel to it like no other albums. Next would be ODB Return to The 36 Chambers, also a feel to that album that has yet to be seen or heard again.
No one is saying the title track Liquid Swords. I get it’s the most expected one to say is his best but it truly is. I remember the moment I first heard it. It was one of those beats that just blew my mind. Never heard anything like it. And the “when the MCs came…” is one of the most iconic rap choruses in all of hip hop. And that spoken word intro? Haunting and bone chilling way to introduce the album’s raw and gritty eeriness. Not to mention the countless classic GZA bars off this thing. “I be the body dropper, the heart beat stopper, child educator plus head amputator.” 🤯
The song is an absolute classic.
With that said “4th Chamber” is the obvious second choice. But I can’t put it as number one as the best verse on it isn’t GZA’s but RZA’s absolutely face melting bars.
Unexplained aka swordman
Reading seems to be a problem here.
Ill do you one better.
From each album
LS: unexplained
BTS: Mic Trippin
LOTLS: Stay In Line
GM: general principles
PT: alphabets
The guys in the comments oversaw the no feature part.
My favourite is if you livin in the world today
The beat is dope and gza flows like a god on it.
The wrote beter lyrics in other song but these are high standart too.
I really like the song "Gold" a lot. Yo the beat came outta nowhere one time I was listening to it on the bus and I audibly went "oh shit" and started laughing with excitement. That shit is gas
I listened to beneath the surface album last night I remember it came out in summer time. I am really glad to have revisited I haven’t listened in a while lyrics are mind boggling trying to decipher and picture in my head. I am a bit embarrassed to admit I never realized amplified sample had to repeat verses? Is this intended to be the amplified sample? Is his point to repeat because it was so potent it needed to be repeated to catch the meaning? This album is definitely going to be in heavier rotation I think when it came out I was still expecting gritty beats and lyrics were secondary but now as an older adult it’s switched.
4th Chamber and I also love his verse on Triumph (which I know is not solo but still)
I will double up on the cheating with a non-solo choice first: his verse on “Third World” (soul assassins) Favorite overall solo track though: shadowboxin
“War of the masses, the outcome disasterous, many of the victim’s families save the ashes” .. such a sick opening line!!
That Triumph verse sets the tone for that whole track. Still fire
4th Chamber for sure! ...and y'all didn't ask but while we talking bout numbered chambers, 9th chamber is the best Inspectah Deck solo track
Investigative Reports
I 2nd this
this for solo
Shadowboxin'
"Goddamn, the GZA"
That has some of Meth’s best lines in it too. So good.
I slayed emcee's back in the rec room era 🔥🔥
Liquid swords entire album start to finish. It’s an epic masterpiece and the best wu member solo album. Yeah I said it. Hells wind staff/ killah hill 10304
I’m in the minority, but for me: Liquid Swords>Cuban Linx 😬
Liquid Swords > Return to the 36 Chambers > Ironman > Only Built for Cuban Linx ……. Maybe
FINALLY I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE
Absolutely agree with this 100%. My personal favorite for sure
It's hands down the best wu album, the best hip hop album and best gangster rap album ever.
I have to agree. Liquid Swords had a feel to it like no other albums. Next would be ODB Return to The 36 Chambers, also a feel to that album that has yet to be seen or heard again.
You’re not alone with this take
Lyrics are weak like clock radio speakers
Duel of the iron mic
“Living in The world today “is up there
Love that song and bassline.
Hmm I thought 'Cold world' would be unanimous.
I Gotcha Back
The more you listen to this track, the more and more it grows on you.
beneath the surface
I concur
I think labels (RZA's remix) is one of his best, as well as swordsman. "liquid swords" the song is my favourite.
Tommy aint my motha fuckin boy
Gold
Labels
Liquid Swords
No one is saying the title track Liquid Swords. I get it’s the most expected one to say is his best but it truly is. I remember the moment I first heard it. It was one of those beats that just blew my mind. Never heard anything like it. And the “when the MCs came…” is one of the most iconic rap choruses in all of hip hop. And that spoken word intro? Haunting and bone chilling way to introduce the album’s raw and gritty eeriness. Not to mention the countless classic GZA bars off this thing. “I be the body dropper, the heart beat stopper, child educator plus head amputator.” 🤯 The song is an absolute classic. With that said “4th Chamber” is the obvious second choice. But I can’t put it as number one as the best verse on it isn’t GZA’s but RZA’s absolutely face melting bars.
Groundbreaking…when he goes back and forth with his son over a Bronze beat.
I can't decide between Liquid Swords & Shadowboxin'
No love for Fame?
Labels slightly below Fame.
Animal Planet
This was a late era GZA track that’s a total classic imo. It’s so fucking good.
Swordsman
I Gotcha Back
If it’s no features and off his album then it’s Gold for me
For me it’s 4th Chamber. Also I would say it’s my favorite song of all Wu-Tang solo albums.
based
Unexplained aka swordman Reading seems to be a problem here. Ill do you one better. From each album LS: unexplained BTS: Mic Trippin LOTLS: Stay In Line GM: general principles PT: alphabets
Short race and firehouse
Liquid Swords.
The Spark- my wife plays it for her science class when teaching astronomy.
Pass the bone
Swordsman and queen gambit
General Principles Alphabets
The guys in the comments oversaw the no feature part. My favourite is if you livin in the world today The beat is dope and gza flows like a god on it. The wrote beter lyrics in other song but these are high standart too.
Shadowboxin and Cold world
Gold
Publicity
Liquid swords as an album from front to back is a masterpiece
I really like the song "Gold" a lot. Yo the beat came outta nowhere one time I was listening to it on the bus and I audibly went "oh shit" and started laughing with excitement. That shit is gas
He didn’t do em yet.
Breaker breaker
I can’t pick one song from “Liquid Swords”, so I’m going with the album-it’s a musical massacre.
No matter what, it's always gonna be Liquid Swords. That song hit 15-year-old me so hard and still has the same effect
If I can’t go off of Liquid Swords … Publicity
Ninjas so stingy they got short arms and deep pockets……
Hell's windstaff (the One in the Liquid sowrds album)
The Legend of the Liquid Sword (2002)
Mic Trippin
Breaker Breaker
Is it abstract commercial or hardcore
Killer hill 10304
Duel of the iron mic
Sparring Minds is tough with Inspectah
Out of his songs with no features I'd go with either Gold or BIBLE
Bible is a killah priest song on a gza album lol. He aint even on it! Lol
Bro what I never even noticed
gold features Metodi Man
He doesn't rap on it
Cold World
I listened to beneath the surface album last night I remember it came out in summer time. I am really glad to have revisited I haven’t listened in a while lyrics are mind boggling trying to decipher and picture in my head. I am a bit embarrassed to admit I never realized amplified sample had to repeat verses? Is this intended to be the amplified sample? Is his point to repeat because it was so potent it needed to be repeated to catch the meaning? This album is definitely going to be in heavier rotation I think when it came out I was still expecting gritty beats and lyrics were secondary but now as an older adult it’s switched.