May 10, 2017

The GZA "Labels" (Word! in Rap Pages, Oct. 1995)

The GZA 'Labels' Word! Feature in Rap Pages (Oct, 1995) Lyrics

"My Priority is that I'm first priority." The GZA/The Genius came with it on 'Labels' off his sophomore album, 'Liquid Swords,' in '95. The verse so potent that Rap Pages picked it up in the Word! section for their October '95 issue. GZA broke down the meaning of the track at Wax Poetics: "My whole negative experience with Cold Chillin’ was part of why I made this song - but it wasn’t the main reason. I wasn’t deliberately trying to write a song dedicated to problems with labels and so on - I just threw Cold Chillin’ in there because they were an established label at one time. It actually started when I heard my friend say: “Tommy ain’t my boy!” Then it just kind of clicked in my head to use 'Tommy' and 'Boy.' I mean, I like doing songs based around wordplay with one theme. I actually love doing those kinds of songs. It comes naturally to me for my rhymes to have double meanings." Taking a closer look at the illustration that they coupled with the lyrics, the old man has on one Adidas and one Nike Air Max '95, holding himself up with a cane surrounded by signed contracts he doesn't understand: Rule 4080. My question to you, very loosely related to this post ... is 'Liquid Swords' one of the top 5 greatest winter albums ever released? It's definitely on my list.

"And rough up the motherfuckin' house cause I smother
You cold chillin' motherf#ckers, I still warn a brother
I'm ruthless my clan don't have to act wild
That shit is jive, an old sleeping bag profile
The soft comedian rap shit ain't the rough witty
On the reel to reel it wasn't from a tough city"