Am I the only one who always thought GZA was the best member of Wu Tang?

[DJ Mart-Kos]

I think Ghost probably the best overall from Wu. But pure lyrics it's Genius.

 

[Sniper]

Yes

 

[spliz]

From a lyrical standpoint u would be right. Overall standpoint tho? Nah he ain't the best.

 

[pointproven214]

From a lyrical standpoint u would be right. Overall standpoint tho? Nah he ain't the best.

if we talking pure technicality then yeah gza is the best but if we talking albums and everything else then yeah he ain't the best.

 

[spliz]

Even if I died a thousand deaths
when I reserect, I'll still be Meth
the jams 'ill still be def
We here, me and this mic-phone be here
and ain't tryna hear nothing 'cause we had it
up to here
lyrics have no dress code
from KRS to depeche mode
Kid I'm so cool you catch colds
at the jump off, it's about to jump off my nikka, speak with tha hand or the gun talk.
Yo, RZA, we got the clan at the front and police at the do' every exit is laced with see-4, 'bout to blow, like TRIAL I'm passed out,
MC's is like bytches in thongs, they assed out
but me the M-E-T-H the O-D, just to real
I can't be touched and can't feel the monatony, take a picture of my nut sack, carbon copy that, and send it through a fax
MOTHER fukkER!

Nah bro. lol

 

[spliz]

I think it would be unfair not to give that crown to Ghost or Rae after their contributions over the last 20 somethin years.

 

[pointproven214]

I think it would be unfair not to give that crown to Ghost or Rae after their contributions over the last 20 somethin years.

yeah but ghostface is not as ill deck or gza lyrically technically speaking.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

You definitely aren't alone.

Objectively I always thought GZA was the best.

I like Ghost more as a career rapper over time, but Liquid Swords is arguably the best Wu-Tang album ever made (including the group or solo releases), and lyrically it aged well and holds up today. I listened to it front to back earlier this year and thought, "Damn, GZA was the best rapper out of the group for sure."

I haven't followed GZA's career much after his second album, except for that project he did with DJ Muggs.

He's in a strange spot on my list. IMO he's one of the best rappers of all time, dropped one of the best albums of all time, and yet he's not in my personal top 10, and I would argue that as time as gone on that Ghostface became the best in the Wu, but in their prime it was definitely GZA.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

I think it would be unfair not to give that crown to Ghost or Rae after their contributions over the last 20 somethin years.

I agree.

I do also think that if you look at the their prime ('93-'98) that GZA is the best raper on a technical level.

I think Rae and Ghost made the best solo album of the group with Cuban Linx, but at the same time, I think Liquid Swords is the definitive Wu-Tang album. Just because Cuban Linx had the mafioso theme, and didn't feel like as much of a Wu-Tang album as Liquid Swords did. Liquid Swords felt like an extension of the vibe of 36 Chambers, but sharper. I don't know if that makes any sense. Like...I think RZA was at his peak on Liquid Swords, and every single verse on Liquid Swordz is basically perfect, both from GZA and from all the other Wu members.

GZA's wordplay blows Meth out of the water. GZA lyricism is based off wordplay. You never heard Labels?

Plus the way he paints pictures is really dope.

"His Glock clicks like high heeled shoes on parquet floors."



Who thinks of that?

 

[Zero]

That verse from jumpoff won me over.

Run on the track like Jesse Owens
Broke the record flowin', without any knowin'
That my wordplay run the 400 meter relay
It's on once I grab the baton from the DJ
A athlete wit his iron cleat in the ground
Wireless nikka who sprint off the gun sound
The best time yet still 7.0
Swift flow made the cameramen clothes blow

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Lyrics, flow, etc. Meth could jump on any production and sound good. GZA can't do that.

Meth definitely has a better flow.

Meth's Achilles heel is that he's just not a solo artist. He stands out better in a duo or a group. And he can sound good on anything, you're right. I just think the big things Meth has over GZA are flow, voice, and he's easier to listen to. Those things count for a lot, and I don't think it's wrong to say that you like Meth better GZA.

I would disagree with anyone saying that he's a better lyricist though, or that he's got a better discography. GZA dropped one of the best albums of the 90's, period. One of the best albums of all time. If you're giving someone 10-20 albums to let them know what hip-hop is, there's a strong chance Liquid Swords is in the bag.

Meth never made an album above 4 mics, and discography and the ability to make a classic album is a huge thing that I take into consideration when judging rappers. For that reason, I always say Method Man is one of the most underrated ever, and one of my favorites, but Liquid Swords is enough reason alone to put GZA above most other rappers.

There is one knock against GZA for what it's worth and it's that he never came close to what he made with Liquid Swords. Unless I'm sleeping on something.

 

[spliz]

I agree.

I do also think that if you look at the their prime ('93-'98) that GZA is the best raper on a technical level.

I think Rae and Ghost made the best solo album of the group with Cuban Linx, but at the same time, I think Liquid Swords is the definitive Wu-Tang album. Just because Cuban Linx had the mafioso theme, and didn't feel like as much of a Wu-Tang album as Liquid Swords did. Liquid Swords felt like an extension of the vibe of 36 Chambers, but sharper. I don't know if that makes any sense. Like...I think RZA was at his peak on Liquid Swords, and every single verse on Liquid Swordz is basically perfect, both from GZA and from all the other Wu members.


Plus the way he paints pictures is really dope.

"His Glock clicks like high heeled shoes on parquet floors."



Who thinks of that?

Like I said before. GZA is def the best lyricist.

 

[ManBearPig]

Love GZA but he wasn't on the level of Meth or Deck

GZA is better than Meth in so many levels

 

[ManBearPig]

Even if I died a thousand deaths
when I reserect, I'll still be Meth
the jams 'ill still be def
We here, me and this mic-phone be here
and ain't tryna hear nothing 'cause we had it
up to here
lyrics have no dress code
from KRS to depeche mode
Kid I'm so cool you catch colds
at the jump off, it's about to jump off my nikka, speak with tha hand or the gun talk.
Yo, RZA, we got the clan at the front and police at the do' every exit is laced with see-4, 'bout to blow, like TRIAL I'm passed out,
MC's is like bytches in thongs, they assed out
but me the M-E-T-H the O-D, just to real
I can't be touched and can't feel the monatony, take a picture of my nut sack, carbon copy that, and send it through a fax
MOTHER fukkER!

This ain't fukking with that Fame verse by GZA.... At all

 

[FreshAIG]

I think it would be unfair not to give that crown to Ghost or Rae after their contributions over the last 20 somethin years.

Over the long haul they definitely put out better material

But I just meant talent wise, I feel like GZA is the best. And he doesn't bore me like he does others.