Liquid Swords

Liquid Swords
Studio album by Genius/GZA
Released	November 7, 1995
Recorded	June 1994 - March 1995
Studio	36 Chambers Studio (Staten Island, New York)
Genre	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Conscious hip hop
Length	50:49
Label	Geffen Records / MCA
Producer	RZA (exec), 4th Disciple

GZA chronology
Previous	Words from the Genius (1991)
Next	Beneath the Surface (1999)

Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology
Previous	Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... by Raekwon (1995)
Next	Ironman by Ghostface Killah (1996)

Liquid Swords is the second studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released in November 7, 1995 on Geffen Records and MCA. Recording sessions mostly took place at 36 Chambers Studio in Staten Island, New York City from June 1994 to March 1995. Production was handled predominantly by RZA with the exception of one track produced by 4th Disciple. It features guest appearances by his Wu-Tang Clan brothers: Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Killah Priest and Method Man. It is the third solo Wu-Tang Clan member album following the release of their 1993 album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

The album heavily samples dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin and maintains a dark atmosphere throughout its course, while it incorporates lyrical references to chess, crime and philosophy. Liquid Swords features numerous guest appearances from the entire nine piece Wu-Tang Clan.

Upon its release, Liquid Swords peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was certified gold in sales by the RIAA in 1996. The album initially received favorable critical reviews for its lyrical complexity and hypnotic musical style. Over the years, its recognition has grown, with a number of publishers naming it as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Along with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... by Raekwon, it is often cited as the best solo work by a Wu-Tang member.

Liquid Swords spawned the singles: "I Gotcha Back", "Labels", "Cold World", "Shadowboxing" and the title track "Liquid Swords".

Legacy

Rolling Stone listed Liquid Swords at #347 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020.

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1.	"Liquid Swords"	GZA	Brigati, Cavaliere, Diggs, Grice	RZA	4:31
2.	"Duel of the Iron Mic"	GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Dreddy Kruger, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa	Diggs, Grice, Magidson, Wrubel	RZA	4:06
3.	"Living in the World Today"	GZA	Diggs, Grice	RZA	4:23
4.	"Gold"	GZA	Diggs, Grice	RZA	3:57
5.	"Cold World"	GZA, Inspectah Deck	DeBarge, Diggs, Grice, Hunter, Wonder	RZA	5:31
6.	"Labels"	GZA	Diggs, Grice	RZA	2:54
7.	"4th Chamber"	GZA, Ghostface Killah, RZA, Killah Priest	Coles, Diggs, Grice, Reed	RZA	4:37
8.	"Shadowboxin'"	GZA, Method Man	Diggs, Grice, Smith	RZA	3:30
9.	"Hell's Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304"	GZA, Killah Priest, Dreddy Kruger, Masta Killa	Diggs, Grice	RZA	5:09
10.	"Investigative Reports"	GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God	Coles, Diggs, Grice, Hawkins, Woods	RZA	3:50
11.	"Swordsman"	GZA	Diggs, Grice, Reed	RZA	3:21
12.	"I Gotcha Back"	GZA	Diggs, Grice	RZA	5:01
13.	"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"	Killah Priest	Bogart, Reed	4th Disciple	4:33

Samples

Liquid Swords

• "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and "Groovin'" by Willie Mitchell
• "The Legend of Lone Wolf from Shogun Assassin

Duel of the Iron Mic

• "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter

Living In the World Today"

• "I'm His Wife (You're Just a Friend)" by Ann Sexton

Gold

• "Aries" by Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley Sextet
• "Mongoose" by Elephant's Memory
• "Meadowland" by Stanley Black
• "The Look of Love" by Isaac Hayes

Cold World

• "Rocket Love" by Stevie Wonder
• "Plastic People" by The Mothers of Invention
• "In The Rain" by The Dramatics

Labels

• "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston

4th Chamber

• "Dharmatma Theme Music (Sad)" by Kalyanji Anandji

Shadowboxing

• "Trouble, Heartaches and Sadness" by Ann Peebles

Hell's Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304

• "Soul Vibrations" by Dorothy Ashby

Investigative Reports

• "I'd Be So Happy" by Three Dog Night

I Gotcha Back

• "As Long as I've Got You" by The Charmels
• "Red Alert" by The 45 King
• "Is It Him or Me" by Jackie Jackson

B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)

• "Our Love Has Died" by Ohio Players