Ashburn

GZA, aka the Genius, was the most cerebral MC in <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Wu-Tang Clan</a>, as well as perhaps the most acclaimed. His cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes weren't as theatrical as <a href="spotify:artist:4VmEWwd8y9MCLwexFMdpwt">Method Man</a> or <a href="spotify:artist:50NoVNy9GU1lCrDV8iGpyu">Ol' Dirty Bastard</a>, the two biggest commercial stars to spring from the collective. But among hip-hop aficionados, GZA was revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and was considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Clan</a>. GZA was born Gary Grice on August 22, 1966, on Staten Island, New York, and shuttled between several other New York boroughs with various relatives during his childhood. He started learning rhymes by the earliest hip-hop MCs while spending time in the Bronx, and returned to Staten Island to share them with his cousins, who later became known as <a href="spotify:artist:50NoVNy9GU1lCrDV8iGpyu">Ol' Dirty Bastard</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4iCwCMnqsNZ6atvRiADgtn">the RZA</a>. In fact, the three of them first teamed up in the early '80s as part of an obscure group called All in Together Now.

Time passed, and GZA landed a recording contract with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cold+Chillin%27%22">Cold Chillin'</a>, which, unfortunately, was nearing the end of its brilliant run. In 1991, he became the only future <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> member to release a solo album prior to <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Clan</a>'s formation, with Words from the Genius. Produced mostly by <a href="spotify:artist:1hFiH4ETB3NF2zmJPGzke4">Easy Mo Bee</a>, the album flopped badly and, creatively, did little to hint at GZA's future standing. Conflicts with the label sent him packing, and he reteamed with a similarly disenchanted <a href="spotify:artist:4iCwCMnqsNZ6atvRiADgtn">RZA</a> (fresh off a failed stint with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Tommy+Boy%22">Tommy Boy</a>) and <a href="spotify:artist:50NoVNy9GU1lCrDV8iGpyu">Ol' Dirty Bastard</a> to co-found <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Wu-Tang Clan</a>. Adding six other friends and associates, the group became an underground sensation and took the rap world by storm with its 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Their innovative contract allowed each member to sign a solo deal with whatever label they chose, and GZA wound up on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Geffen%22">Geffen</a>. In 1994, his first post-<a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu</a> solo track, "I Gotcha Back," appeared on the soundtrack of the film Fresh. His second solo album, Liquid Swords, followed in 1995 and was hailed as a hip-hop classic thanks to its coolly understated menace. While it didn't make him a star on the level of <a href="spotify:artist:4VmEWwd8y9MCLwexFMdpwt">Method Man</a>, the album did sell well, reaching the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 and falling one spot short of the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. There were no big mainstream hits, but the title cut, "Cold World," and "Shadowboxin'" all did well on the rap chart.

Following <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Clan</a>'s 1997 sophomore set, Wu-Tang Forever, GZA returned to the solo arena with 1999's Beneath the Surface. While critics didn't praise it quite as lavishly as Liquid Swords, it was another well-received effort (especially compared to some of the lackluster follow-ups elsewhere in the <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> camp), and it topped the Hip-Hop/R&B album chart. After reconvening with <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Wu</a> for 2000's The W and 2001's Iron Flag, GZA dropped his fourth solo effort, Legend of the Liquid Sword, in late 2002, consolidating his reputation as one of the most skillful rappers around. Grandmasters, a collaborative project between himself and <a href="spotify:artist:4P0dddbxPil35MNN9G2MEX">Cypress Hill</a> DJ <a href="spotify:artist:7pDkjftAxiFHomWsPNkapS">Muggs</a>, was released in 2005, followed the next year by an instrumental version and then a remix version in 2007. A year later GZA released the solo album Pro Tools on the indie label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Babygrande%22">Babygrande</a>. It featured guest shots from <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu</a> affiliates <a href="spotify:artist:4iCwCMnqsNZ6atvRiADgtn">RZA</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0ME1RawvWt3qOJnYnxVqeh">Masta Killa</a>, and producer Mathematics. GZA lectured at several universities, including Harvard and Oxford, and applied his academic connections and deep interest in science to develop a science-meets-hip-hop program dedicated to engaging New York City high school students. Additionally, he worked toward another solo album, Dark Matter, with electronic music pioneer <a href="spotify:artist:4P70aqttdpJ9vuYFDmf7f6">Vangelis</a> among his collaborators. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

GZAGeniusVEVO

All Of That.

The Future

Above The Rim

Eso Es

For the Win

Microphone Check

Rock The Party...

Old School, New School

Over The Top

Turned Up!

The Big Time

.In The Zone!.

Yeezy!

Heineken Red Star Access & Kanye West

Blowing Up!

Class Is In Session

The Hit Club

The New Regime

Writer's Block

Luxury Rap

Summer Sun

DETECTED: Big Sean

Classic Hip-Hop

We Major .

Boombastic

Loud Pockets

Ear To The Streets.

Go Getters!

Go Getters.

Pot Of Gold

Light It Up.

Make Some Noise

Licensed to Ill

VEVO Presents: G.O.O.D. Music

Hustle Hard

2Pacalypse Now

And You Don't Stop

Bass Down Low

BET Nominees 2011

We Make Hitz!

The Return of Forever

#BRV - Best Rap Videos of 2000

Who Run It

VEVO LIFT Presents:  Tinie Tempah

Dance Nation

Rapper's Delight

Get Up On This

Snoop Dogg: Live on Letterman

Ear To The Streets

Hype-Hop

Official Music Video for Shadowboxin performed by GZA.

#GZA #Shadowboxin

GZA - Shadowboxin' ft. Method Man

Official Music Video for Liquid Swords performed by GZA.

#GZA #LiquidSwords

GZA - Liquid Swords

Music video by GZA performing Cold World ft Inspectah Deck
 
Celebrating 25 years of the debut solo release of Gza’s “Liquid Swords”
 
#GZA #Coldworld  #InspectahDeck #LiquidSwords #VEVO #OfficialMusicVideo

GZA

Pro Tools

The Pro Tools Instrumentals

Grandmasters

Legend Of The Liquid Sword

Beneath The Surface

Liquid Swords (Expanded Edition)

Liquid Swords

The Spark

The Mexican (feat. Tom Morello & K.I.D.) - Single

Paper Plate

Cold World

Cold World (Remixes)

I Told Them...

I Told Them...

Wu-Tang Forever

Dance with Somebody

This Is GZA

GZA Radio

I Love My '90s Hip-Hop

Throwback Jams