Author Topic: That intro to Liquid Swords is still the illest thing ever (Read 9290 times)

Himu · « **on:** August 24, 2018, 10:04:55 PM »

One of those hip hop songs where the lyrics alone just doesn’t do the song justice.

I’ve been listening to the Wu’s discog a lot the past few weeks. I haven’t heard these albums in so long and they’re always amazing to go to. The type of shit that makes you want to lounge on the couch and just absorb the lyrics from the booklet especially LS and 36 Chambers.

agrajag · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:12:40 PM »

Yeah, I like how they used samples from the same movie throughout the whole album. None of GZA's subsequent work holds a candle to Liquid Swords. RZA's production on LS was in top form. 4th Chamber has a nasty intro as well.

Himu · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:13:33 PM »

Right? The samples are incredible. The album is so cinematic in its sound. It almost sounds like a movie. While the samples are from a movie, the way it fits the music is nothing short of art that just brings visuals up while you listen.

jakefromstatefarm · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:16:27 PM »

I’ve always waffled between this and illmatic as the best rap album ever. I’m p convinced it’s illmatic like 5 days out the week but then ill hear Gza go TOMMY AINT MY MUTHERFUCKINNN BOY and I’m like

Mandark · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:26:18 PM »

obligatory

https://twitter.com/blippoblappo/status/460194112142979075

Himu · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:28:38 PM »

Illmatic is a fantastic album but for some reason I lean 36 Chambers these days. It just hits all my buttons. I love Illmatic and it’s my most studied, listened to hip hop album but that production in 36 chambers just puts it over it for me these days and Raekwon might have my favorite rapper voice. It’s so smooth but not soft.

jakefromstatefarm · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:44:19 PM »

Yeah I’d put 36 3rd after illmatic and LS.

This album (LS) hits so many nostalgia points for me. The skits/intervening samples from shogun assassin are obv a huge part of that to the point where now they’re just a natural part of how I think, like “My father was famous” or “some said his brain was infected by devils” or “come boy, choose life or death” will just pop in my head when any relevant situation presents itself. And listening to it front to back will elicit a kind of rehearsed emotional performance from me because I’ve run through it so many damn times. Like I remember sitting in my room just listening/meditating to cold world instead of doing the homework I was supposed to be doing. I remember flipping out to 4th chamber -the way rza fumbles over “vitamins and minerals” has me like

every time. And I cannot hear “special technique” without manually inserting methodman saying FUCK THAT at exactly the right beat.

When I was a kid I treated those early wu albums like they were scripture, or a set of texts that you’d clutch to your chest in jealous possession. Cindi, you use the word ‘study’ when engaging with them and I think that captures a lot of how I felt about them too. Each one was different, from Ironman to tical to uncontrolled substance to only built 4 Cuban linx, but they all felt like they were a part of something coherent that you had to put effort in to really intuit or feel. And LS was the crowning jewel.

Himu · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2018, 11:07:22 PM »

Yeah, it truly drives in how personal hip hop is more than any other genre. At least for me. When I listen to a hip hop album I have a quick "glance" listen: just listen to its sounds, the rhymes, and the words and try to see what they're going for. But then on the second listen I'll scope the lyrics and try to build a story and try to understand what the album is trying to say, visually, through its words. Hip hop is magic and I miss listening to it.

kingv · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2018, 11:28:04 PM »

Shotgun Assassin is actually a mash up of a few different movies.

All are from a Japanese series called lone wolf and cub. I would recommend them, they are awesome movies and far better than Shogun Assassin.

The scene from liquid swords still occurs with the ball and sword but has more gravitas because it doesn't have a cornball dub. And you'll still say "when the emcees caaaame!" Really loud right after just because.

agrajag · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2018, 11:32:41 PM »

Haha Shotgun Assasin sounds like a grindhouse movie

agrajag · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2018, 11:33:30 PM »

also, you got your tracks confused. Choose the ball is from 4th Chamber.

Himu · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2018, 11:35:35 PM »

Lone Wolf and Cub is an incredible manga. I highly recommend it.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2018, 01:43:22 AM »

I listen to this all time

Purrp Skirrp · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:31:29 AM »

Going through RZA's discography and still finding new shit.

HardcoreRetro · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:47:55 AM »

Them lone wolf and cub bits. It's the only album still in my car.

Transhuman · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2018, 05:56:29 AM »

How could a sword be liquid

nudemacusers · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2018, 07:29:02 AM »

am i in trouble if I say that the opening track is like the top 10 album openers of all time but the rest of the album kinda falls flat overall?

nudemacusers · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2018, 07:44:40 AM »

for whatever reason it just never grabbed me. then again i get a lot of flak for liking the w more than wu tang forever.

HardcoreRetro · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2018, 09:13:56 AM »

4th Chamber is probably my favourite song on the album.

Edit: Now make a thread for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

kingv · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2018, 10:44:07 AM »

Quote from: agrajag on August 24, 2018, 11:33:30 PM

also, you got your tracks confused. Choose the ball is from 4th Chamber.

It’s all basically from the same scene :-)

I think shogun assassin might truncate the beginning segment somewhat. I know it basically takes most of the fight scenes out of the first two or three Lone Wolf and Cub movies and omits most of the dramatic parts.

I had no idea there was a manga.

agrajag · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:28:26 AM »

Quote from: nudemacusers on August 25, 2018, 07:29:02 AM

am i in trouble if I say that the opening track is like the top 10 album openers of all time but the rest of the album kinda falls flat overall?

It's ok to be wrong sometimes. It's not the beat track on the album, but a strong opener.

nachobro · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:45:29 AM »

such a solid album, still a good listen even to this day. 4th Chamber is a sick jam

nachobro · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:52:41 AM »

smoking a blunt while listening to duel of the iron mic

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:58:34 AM »

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to liquid swords through. I have seen the whole lone wolf and cub movie series though, that shit is lit.

But anyway, I’m going to go get blazed and put this album on while I play some vidya, thx

Tasty · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:59:37 AM »

Quote from: Dufus on August 25, 2018, 07:05:06 AM

Quote from: Transhuman on August 25, 2018, 05:56:29 AM
How could a sword be liquid

it's a metaphor for the fluid lyrics/rapping on the album, if you use lyrics to attack people, it's like a sword, fluid lyrics -> fluid swords -> liquid swords

you dumb bitch ass muthafucka

Sounds like a pussy way to attack someone but OK

agrajag · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:00:05 PM »

Quote from: CatsCatsCats on August 25, 2018, 11:58:34 AM

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to liquid swords through. I have seen the whole lone wolf and cub movie series though, that shit is lit.

But anyway, I’m going to go get blazed and put this album on while I play some vidya, thx

Shadowboxin'

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #26 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:10:58 PM »

Yeah this is definitely working for me 👌🏻😽💨☁️

nachobro · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:12:02 PM »

Tasty · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:12:17 PM »

Started listening but it starts with a over minute of some jackass kid talking like a rere

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #29 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:27:15 PM »

Tuckers Law · « **Reply #30 on:** August 25, 2018, 12:28:39 PM »

Quote from: Tasty Meat on August 25, 2018, 12:12:17 PM

Started listening but it starts with a over minute of some jackass kid talking like a rere

If you like Wu and long intros, you should love RZA's "Domestic Violence".

toku · « **Reply #31 on:** August 25, 2018, 01:54:05 PM »

I used that as the ringtone for a girlfriend/ex for awhile

seagrams hotsauce · « **Reply #32 on:** August 25, 2018, 01:58:30 PM »

when i was a teen i had a crank call go minorly 'viral' before that was a phrase amongst the local high schools where i very liberally 'borrowed' from that song, specifically the intro and the part where he just starts yelling "ho" over and over

Himu · « **Reply #33 on:** August 30, 2018, 12:43:36 AM »

agrajag · « **Reply #34 on:** August 30, 2018, 12:50:43 AM »

the guitar strumming sample in that song is from a really old soul record, it's crazy how different it sounds out of its original context. RZA has a knack for doing that.

btw the best line in it is "I'm on a mission that niccas say is impossible, but when I swing my sword they all choppable"

Himu · « **Reply #35 on:** August 30, 2018, 01:17:48 AM »

I have a bias towards lowkey like sea shells.

kingv · « **Reply #36 on:** August 30, 2018, 09:34:17 AM »

Man those years from like 92-96 or 98 or so we’re definitely some of the best years in hip hop.

There was probably more classic albums released during that time frame than in the last 10 years.

Himu · « **Reply #37 on:** August 30, 2018, 11:06:18 AM »

It was 1988-1998 that were the golden years of hip hop imo.

MMaRsu · « **Reply #38 on:** August 30, 2018, 10:31:36 PM »

Yeah probably my favorite solo project from any of the wu affiliates

seagrams hotsauce · « **Reply #39 on:** August 31, 2018, 04:06:07 AM »

gotta say cindi it's really annoying when you whine about rap and the first thing on the dresser is the most rote NYC shit on the face of the planet when you're from Houston of all places on earth

Himu · « **Reply #40 on:** August 31, 2018, 11:12:08 AM »

Quote from: seagrams hotsauce on August 31, 2018, 04:06:07 AM

gotta say cindi it's really annoying when you whine about rap and the first thing on the dresser is the most rote NYC shit on the face of the planet when you're from Houston of all places on earth

I don’t understand your point.

My overall preference is definitely pfor old New York hip hop. I like how it sounds and I like the rhymes/messages. I never took to the southern stuff besides OutKast, Luda, Geto Boys, Scarface;etc. When I was a teen I was all about Cash Money though but at the end of the day, NYC is why I got into hip hop in the first place.

My tastes evolved over time. I used to be a backpacker. I’d listen to stuff like Blackstar, Talib and Hi-Tek, Common (my go to), Blackalicious, Little Brother;etc. There was a period when “conscious” hip hop was all I listened to. That and quirky stuff like MF Doom.

Eventually I just stopped listening but I kind of embraced a middle ground between backpack hip hop and stuff like Nas or the Wu.

FWIW my GOAT is actually 2Pac, and the two greatest hop hop songs imo are So Many Tears by Pac and It’s Your World by Common.

As for Houston I’m not understanding the relevance. Houston hip hop heads tend be eclectic in taste because we’re not on the coasts. I’m just a former hip hop head that’s old.

Himu · « **Reply #41 on:** August 31, 2018, 11:24:30 AM »

Basically, I’m an old head. I want to get back into hip hop but idk. I honestly don’t know where to start. Hip hop has a “story” you follow. You had the first hip hop which lead to DMC, which lead to stuff like Rakim, but then after that hip hop got a bit mainstream and very dance/family oriented as seen in stuff like Hammer or Digital Underground, which lead to more hood rappers wanting to push their stuff which gave us Wu, Biggie, Nas;etc. which lead to a boom in “alternative” or backpack rap. I know that story. And it’s been so long I haven’t paid attention to the game that I no longer know the story. And hip hop is more fun when you know the story.

And this is about me not digging Mobb Deep ain’t it? THEY SCARE ME, AIGHT

kingv · « **Reply #42 on:** August 31, 2018, 01:21:32 PM »

What’s good out of Houston really besides Scarface and maybe Geto Boyz?

I definitely wouldn’t criticize someone for not stanning Chamillionaire or Paul Wall or DJ Screw.

Purrp Skirrp · « **Reply #43 on:** August 31, 2018, 01:48:35 PM »

Preemo.

agrajag · « **Reply #44 on:** August 31, 2018, 01:56:27 PM »

90's east coast rap is best.

kingv · « **Reply #45 on:** August 31, 2018, 03:49:16 PM »

Ehhh, based on that preemo logic 2pac was an east coasts NYC emcee.

I get that he was born in houston, but every Gangstarr album was recorded in NYC.

agrajag · « **Reply #46 on:** August 31, 2018, 04:03:49 PM »

Also, Mobb Deep is fantastic, at least their first four albums

Mr. Nobody · « **Reply #47 on:** August 31, 2018, 04:28:41 PM »

He used to heat up the cypher with a shot that was hyper than your average JFK sniper

Mr. Nobody · « **Reply #48 on:** August 31, 2018, 04:31:09 PM »

Quote from: kingv on August 31, 2018, 01:21:32 PM

What’s good out of Houston really besides Scarface and maybe Geto Boyz?

I definitely wouldn’t criticize someone for not stanning Chamillionaire or Paul Wall or DJ Screw.

Babies first southern hip hop opinion

To me, this us the baseline. If you can't groove to this...forget about it.

toku · « **Reply #49 on:** August 31, 2018, 04:50:24 PM »

Tuckers Law · « **Reply #50 on:** September 01, 2018, 11:35:03 AM »

Quote from: Cindi Mayweather on August 31, 2018, 11:12:08 AM

Quote from: seagrams hotsauce on August 31, 2018, 04:06:07 AM
gotta say cindi it's really annoying when you whine about rap and the first thing on the dresser is the most rote NYC shit on the face of the planet when you're from Houston of all places on earth

I don’t understand your point.

My overall preference is definitely pfor old New York hip hop. I like how it sounds and I like the rhymes/messages. I never took to the southern stuff besides OutKast, Luda, Geto Boys, Scarface;etc. When I was a teen I was all about Cash Money though but at the end of the day, NYC is why I got into hip hop in the first place.

My tastes evolved over time. I used to be a backpacker. I’d listen to stuff like Blackstar, Talib and Hi-Tek, Common (my go to), Blackalicious, Little Brother;etc. There was a period when “conscious” hip hop was all I listened to. That and quirky stuff like MF Doom.

Eventually I just stopped listening but I kind of embraced a middle ground between backpack hip hop and stuff like Nas or the Wu.

FWIW my GOAT is actually 2Pac, and the two greatest hop hop songs imo are So Many Tears by Pac and It’s Your World by Common.

As for Houston I’m not understanding the relevance. Houston hip hop heads tend be eclectic in taste because we’re not on the coasts. I’m just a former hip hop head that’s old.

I don't blame anyone from noping away from the usual chopped and screw shit.

Big K.R.I.T. though

Himu · « **Reply #51 on:** September 01, 2018, 12:31:01 PM »

KRIT isn’t bad

seagrams hotsauce · « **Reply #52 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:07:37 PM »

i mean it's the city that threw out shit like this from the mid to late 90s. i love dusty nyc shit as much as anyone but Houston of all cities had some incredible records from that same period. hell Drake wouldn't be a thing without j prince

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #53 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:22:13 PM »

Every now and then I feel like the answer is Cuban Linx but as of right now, Liquid Swords is the best Wu solo album.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #54 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:26:17 PM »

fuck it im drinking

Best Wu album: Liquid Swords
Best Wu rapper: Ghostface
Best producer run: RZA 1993-2000
Best rap double album of all time: Wu Tang Forever

Himu · « **Reply #55 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:34:39 PM »

Quote from: seagrams hotsauce on September 01, 2018, 09:07:37 PM

i mean it's the city that threw out shit like this from the mid to late 90s. i love dusty nyc shit as much as anyone but Houston of all cities had some incredible records from that same period. hell Drake wouldn't be a thing without j prince

I know Lil Keke, Geto Boys, Scarface, UGK;etc. of course and I like them and all but i just don't stan them. Why should I stan them over the Wu or Nas? Can you tell me why? Are you assuming that because I don't really talk about them that I don't know about them? Lil Keke's Southside is an Htown anthem. Same for Down South and Wanna Be A Baller. I've talked about those before, even on the Bore, but they're not worth stanning. I don't consider them GOAT material, and I resent being called about why I don't talk about Htown hip hop in a thread about Liquid Swords, which is far and beyond any htown album besides maybe The Fix.

agrajag · « **Reply #56 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:36:55 PM »

TORTURE, MOTHAFUCKA

toku · « **Reply #57 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:41:18 PM »

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #58 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:45:32 PM »

In the jungle, banging Nas, Mobb Deep and Wu

The only nicca Sade dated, the most hated

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

toku · « **Reply #59 on:** September 01, 2018, 09:49:30 PM »

News:

Author Topic: That intro to Liquid Swords is still the illest thing ever (Read 9290 times)