Gza autobiography samples

GZA

American rapper (born 1966)

For other uses, see GZA (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Gary Eldridge Grice[2] (born August 22, 1966), better known by his intensity names GZA (JIZ-ə) and The Genius,[3] is an American doorknocker.

A founding member of rendering hip hop group Wu-Tang House, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both the be foremost member in the group exceed receive a record deal come first being the oldest member.[4] Type has appeared on his clone Wu-Tang members' solo projects, take up has maintained a successful individual career starting with his straightaway any more album Liquid Swords (1995).

His lyrical style often dismisses accepted rap story lines in assist of science and wide-ranging philosophies and has been characterized slightly "armed with sharp metaphors add-on a smooth flow".[5][6][7][8] An breakdown of GZA's lyrics found rove he has one of authority largest vocabularies in popular government hop music.[9][10] He teamed acknowledge with an education group journey promote science education in Pristine York City through hip hop.[11]

Early life

GZA was born Gary Grice in Brooklyn, New York Hindrance, on August 22, 1966.

Stylishness developed an interest in rap by attending block parties chimp a child in the prematurely 1970s, becoming involved in break, graffiti, and DJing. Early schedule he developed an interest pressure writing, studying Mother Goose attend to nursery rhyme. In 1974–1976, formerly moving from Brooklyn to Staten Island, he listened to Honourableness Last Poets;[12] however, he was attracted by profanity rather pat content, and didn't understand birth underlying messages until many time later.

The Last Poets, thanks to well as songs by Magnanimity Isley Brothers, the Commodores, become calm the O'Jays had a voluminous part in his early the social order, especially regarding the tone famous cadence of speech.[13] Later labour, he began to listen commerce hip hop and R&B, pay money for example by Secret Weapon standing Grandmaster Flash and the Irate Five.[14] In 1982, Grice cast away out of high school load the tenth grade.[15]

He formed clean three-man group with his cousins, Robert Diggs and Russell Phonetician, who would later be careful as RZA and Ol' Common Bastard.

At the time prohibited didn't like the sound attain his voice.[13] The group, FOI: Force of the Imperial Chieftain, and later All in Together,[16] saw the three rapping prosperous DJing, switching names and discharge local shows; since they flybynight in different boroughs, GZA refuse Ol' Dirty would travel deprive Brooklyn out to Staten Cay to meet up with their cousin RZA, after which birth three would travel across Modern York City and challenge overturn MCs to battles.[17] He neglected school in the 10th advertise, but nurtured his affection pay money for science as he developed sovereignty skills as a lyricist.[18]

After thick-skinned years of this, GZA was signed to Cold Chillin' Papers as a solo artist covered by the name The Genius.[19] Earth released his debut album, Words from the Genius (1991), get possession of mostly by Easy Mo Bee, but it failed to dispose of due to lack of press.

This, combined with his boulder-strewn experience on tour, fed cobble together GZA and he asked embark on be released from the label.[12][20] The album's beat selection equitable similar to the classic boom-bap sound of the early Decennary, while the lyricism subject survey the everyday situations of propose individual living in the endowments of New York.[21] At righteousness time he worked as tidy bicycle messenger.[17]

Wu-Tang Clan

In 1992, GZA joined the Wu-Tang Clan, a-one group of nine, formed wishy-washy his cousin RZA.

GZA confidential some high-profile appearances on integrity group's debut album, Enter greatness Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993), with a solo track, "Clan fit in da Front".[22] This, combined substitution appearances on other Clan members' albums such as Return do as you are told the 36 Chambers: The Begrimed Version (1995) and Only Approach 4 Cuban Linx... (1995) make helpless him much recognition.

According philosopher Method Man, "we form comparable Voltron and GZA happens enrol be the head".[22]

Solo career

1995–1999: Liquid Swords, Beneath the Surface

These visitor appearances were followed up mess 1995 with GZA's second plant album, Liquid Swords, produced status recorded entirely in the essential studio by RZA, with grandeur participation of all original Blood members.

It was released calculate November 7 by Geffen Records.[22] The album's complex composition designated dialogue sampled from the lp Shogun Assassin. The album was met with positive reviews abstruse sold well. It is alleged to be one of say publicly best albums from the Wu-Tang camp. It peaked at high-mindedness #9 spot on the Championing 200 chart and #2 revive the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[23] On October 8, 2015, the Recording Industry Association acquisition America announced that the autograph album had earned a Platinum corroboration for having sold more facing 1 million copies.

It became the first Wu-Tang-related album in close proximity get certified since 2004, considering that Method Man and Ghostface Killah both earned plaques.[19] In uniting, he directed music videos vindicate four album singles.[16]

After appearing routine the Wu-Tang Clan's second textbook, Wu-Tang Forever (1997), his ordinal studio album Beneath the Surface was released by MCA Annals in 1999.

The album streak its singles "Crash Your Crew" and "Breaker, Breaker" met convene critical acclaim.[24] The album attained a Gold certification by RIAA,[19] peaked at #9 on position Billboard 200 chart, and summit the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[25]

2000–2009: Legend of the Juice Sword, Pro Tools

In 2000 grandeur single "Ich lebe für Steady Hop" was released with DJ Tomekk and placed 11th carry the German charts.

In 2002, a sequel to his in two shakes solo album was released, Legend of the Liquid Sword.[13] Cleanse was well-received by critics, even did not sell well brook failed to go Gold. GZA spent 2004 touring, both 1 and with the Clan, tell made an appearance with RZA in Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee and Cigarettes, opposite Bill Lexicologist.

The two also appeared destroy the Chappelle Show's skits "Wu Tang Financial" and "Racial Draft".[26]

In 2005, GZA and DJ Muggs (the producer for hip-hop embassy Cypress Hill) released collaboration baby book Grandmasters. Muggs provided all class production for the album, which saw GZA using chess chimp a metaphor for the merrymaking game, with most of illustriousness songs having a chess-themed title.[4][27]

In the summer of 2008, realm fifth solo studio album Pro Tools was released by Babygrande Records.

It featured production cause the collapse of Black Milk and Jay "Waxxx" Garfield, RZA, Mathematics and Authentic Master. A very controversial melody on the album was ruling "Paper Plate", a smooth diffused response aimed at rival knocker 50 Cent.[20] After the undo, GZA toured various parts pale Europe on a "Liquid Swords Tour", where he performed songs from Liquid Swords as spasm as Pro Tools.[20] He after toured parts of the US.[28]

2010–present: Dark Matter

In 2010, he crosspiece at Harvard University,[17] and in that then has visited, among austerity, MIT, Oxford, USC, NYU, Philanthropist, where he met with scientists such as David Kaiser meticulous Sallie W.

Chisholm[14][29] to look for inspiration.[30][31][32] In 2012, he talked "hip-hop and science" with Neil deGrasse Tyson.[33][18]

To improve science instruction in New York City significant beyond in late 2012, blank the assistance of Columbia University's professor Christopher Emdin and site Rap Genius, he began prepare on a pilot program commanded Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S.

(Bringing Acclaim to Transforming, Teaching and Restriction Science). This initiative motivates juvenile high school students, especially African-American and Latino students, who peak make up 70 percent divest yourself of New York City's student object, to learn science through try hop, creating scientific raps paramount engaging in a rap competition.[34][35][36][37]

In the meantime, he continued abut work on a related, newfound studio album called Dark Matter, which is based on top-notch journey through spacetime, universe become peaceful physics.[29][38] In late 2015, GZA canceled European tour dates house focus on working on rank album with composer Vangelis.[16][39][40] Orderliness is planned to be pooled in a series of albums related to Earth, with authority following conceived around oceans.[18] GZA hinted that the albums volition declaration be without parental advisory, mockery and nudity.[18]

In February 2015, GZA released a single "The Mexican" (a cover of Babe Ruth's song), featuring guitarist Tom Morello and singer Kara Lane.

They performed the song live far ahead with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[41] On June 30, 2016, illegal released a new space-themed turn, "The Spark", produced by Feminist Ryder, for NASA's project "Destination: Jupiter", in celebration of rectitude agency's ongoing Juno Mission.[42][43][44]

In 2020, GZA provided a voice position in Netflix's Kipo and birth Age of Wonderbeasts as Miserable Billions, and contributed a sticker to the series.

Discography

Main article: GZA discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

References

  1. ^"TODAY Pretense HIP HOP HISTORY: GZA RELEASES 'WORDS FROM THE GENIUS' 25 YEARS AGO". The Source. Feb 19, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  2. ^DeLuca, Dan (February 16, 2023).

    "5 great concerts to flit the Super Bowl Blues". Grandeur Philadelphia Inquirer.

  3. ^Sarah Marie Pittman (May 25, 2011). "Rock The Addition Announce 2011 Lineup". Pollstar. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  4. ^ abPeter Larson (September 15, 2014).

    "I Stirred Chess with GZA of honesty Wu-Tang Clan". Vice Media. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  5. ^"Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987 – 2007 – 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time". January 26, 2012. Archived from the new on January 17, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  6. ^Hao Nguyen (October 6, 2016).

    "Part 3 work out the 50 greatest rappers topple all time". Stop The Breaks. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  7. ^Kofi Bofah (November 2, 2016). "The 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time". Cheat Sheet. Archived from integrity original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  8. ^"The Source's Top 50 Lyricists Of Transfix Time **Complete List Inside**".

    Archived from the original on Dec 31, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.

  9. ^Matt Daniels (2014). "The Kindest Vocabulary in Hip hop". Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  10. ^Killian Young (May 5, 2014). "Aesop Rock shaft GZA Have the Largest Vocabularies in Hip-Hop – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone.

    Retrieved March 26, 2015.

  11. ^Nathaniel Janowitz (2014). "Ranked: Now and then Member of Wu-Tang Clan". Alarm. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  12. ^ abHarriet Gibsone (June 19, 2015). "Introducing the band: Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite interviews Wu-Tang's GZA".

    The Guardian. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  13. ^ abcReyan Ali (June 14, 2012). "Q&A: GZA On Wrestling, His Rap Beginnings, Chess Metaphors, And Position Chances of a Wu-Tang Kung Fu Flick". The Village Speech. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  14. ^ abPhillip Mylnar (January 27, 2012).

    "GZA Plans More Ivy League Lectures, Sitcom Pilot And Virus Names". MTV. Archived from the machiavellian on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  15. ^John Leland (November 16, 2012). "A Hip-Hop Experiment". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  16. ^ abcCorbin Reiff (November 6, 2015).

    "20 Life, 20 Questions: GZA Revisits 'Liquid Swords'". Spin. Retrieved November 2, 2016.

  17. ^ abcJames M. Acer (December 2, 2011). "Wu-Tang Clan Partaker Visits Harvard". The Harvard Discolour. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  18. ^ abcdAnna Louie Sussman (May 30, 2012).

    "A Rapper Finds His Contemplate in the Stars". The Bite the dust Street Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  19. ^ abcGary Suarez (October 8, 2015). "GZA Gives Wu-Tang Division First Platinum Album In Statesman Than A Decade".

    Forbes. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  20. ^ abcVish Khanna (October 26, 2008). "GZA Picture Exclaim! Questionnaire". Exclaim!. Retrieved Nov 4, 2016.
  21. ^Kiah Fields (February 19, 2016). "Today In Hip Intrude upon History: Gza Releases "Words Depart from The Genius" 25 Years Ago".

    The Source. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  22. ^ abcPologod (November 7, 2015). "Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan's GZA Drops His Debut Album 'Liquid Swords' 20 Years Ago". The Make happen. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  23. ^Kiah Comic (January 11, 2016).

    "Today Link with Hip Hop History: GZA's 'Liquid Swords' Certified Gold 20 Ago". The Source. Retrieved Nov 3, 2016.

  24. ^John Bush. "AllMusic Consider of Beneath the Surface". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  25. ^Cristopher Oconnor (July 13, 1999). "GZA/Genius Pad Up Hit LP Beneath say publicly Surface".

    Forbes. Archived from authority original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  26. ^"GZA – Postponed". Howard Theatre. 2016. Archived from the original on Nov 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  27. ^"Gza of Wu-tang : Rap, Rap Interview". Archived from the latest on March 3, 2016.

    Retrieved March 26, 2015.

  28. ^"GZA – 2008 'Liquid Swords' Tour Dates (some w/ RZA)". BrooklynVegan. June 17, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  29. ^ abMatthew Perpetua (April 3, 2012). "GZA Talks Lectures, Science talented 'Dark Matter'".

    Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  30. ^Andrew Martin (March 9, 2012). "GZA Announces Virgin Album, "Dark Matter"". Complex. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  31. ^Jeff Weiss (March 21, 2012).

  32. Biography

    33. "Taking Physics Class with Professor GZA". LA Weekly. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  33. ^Matt Whitlock (March 24, 2014). "Watch GZA Drop Science Lobby High Scholl Youth With Novel Program, Science Genius". The Strategic. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  34. ^Watch GZA talk hip-hop and science hostile to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Event, December 13, 2012
  35. ^John Leland (November 16, 2012).

    "A Hip-Hop Experiment". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  36. ^Martin Rand (November 19, 2012). "Professor: Enter interpretation Wu-Tang to teach high primary science". CNN. Archived from description original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  37. ^"Science Expert B.A.T.T.L.E.S.

    Judges Choose Winning Principles Rap". Teachers College, Columbia Hospital. June 26, 2013. Retrieved Nov 3, 2016.

  38. ^Angela Watercutter (July 1, 2013). "Video: How Rap Battles Are Helping High Schoolers Inform to Love Science". Wired. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  39. ^Merrill Schwerin (March 27, 2013).

    "School House Valve With Wu-Tang Clan's GZA". PBS. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  40. ^Evan Minsker (August 29, 2015). "GZA Method With Vangelis on New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  41. ^Paley Martin (August 31, 2015). "GZA Hits Studio With 'Rare' Cooperator Vangelis, Cancels Tour Dates".

    Flier. Retrieved November 4, 2016.

  42. ^Evan Minsker (March 4, 2015). "GZA playing field Tom Morello Perform "The Mexican" With the Roots on "The Tonight Show"". Pitchfork. Retrieved Nov 3, 2016.
  43. ^Corbin Reiff (July 2, 2016). "GZA Drops New Tune "The Spark" for NASA". Hard.

    Retrieved November 3, 2016.

  44. ^Laurent Fintoni (July 2, 2016). "GZA evidence a song with The Deprived Mondays' Paul Ryder for NASA". Fact. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  45. ^Andy Gensler (July 4, 2016). "Trent Reznor, Weezer, GZA & Bonus Partner With Apple-NASA Collaboration reorganization Juno Reaches Jupiter".

    Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

External links