Search - DJ Muggs, Gza/Genius :: Grandmasters

Hip-Hop In a State of Danger

ZeeMan | 11/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What happened to hip-hop today? It is in a state of danger when the head of the Wu-Tang Clan drops an album after 3 years and it is not in the "New Release" section of major music or electronic stores (Circuit City & Target, etc.). I stambled upon "Grandmasters" while I was in Bestbuy just looking around the "Rap" section when I noticed that somebody put the wrong CDs in GZA slot, so I went to remove those CDs and discovered that they are actually GZA's new CD. I wasn't even aware that GZA released an album recently because nobody advertised it. That's sad! On top of that I couldn't find any reviews of the album by any major reviewer even my favorite Rap Review website, conveniently www.rapreviews.com (they have the review now). But I had to buy GZA's album because I was just craving for great hip-hop recently.



Now, the album cover says "DJ Muggs vs. GZA/Genius" and I'm not familiar with DJ Muggs but he produces for Cypress Hill. So, initially I was disappointed for reading "all songs produced by DJ Muggs" and nothing from RZA. I learned that it is not a good idea to rate music from one listening. So I listened few times and "Grandmasters" is another important and grand album from GZA, definitely the best of 2005. I cannot compare this album with the masterpiece "Liquid Sword" even if I give "Liquid Sword" a 5-Star it isn't justified since it simply is a masterpiece in hip-hop history. I just hope that GZA and RZA get back together to create another album like that but for right now "Grandmasters" is as good as "Legend of the Liquid Sword" (GZA's previous release). The album clocks in about 44 min. which is a disappointment since Wu fans want more from the Genius after a 3 years hiatus. The production by DJ Muggs is very good (not superb), he's style is similar to RZA where he chooses one good backdrop music and layers it with great samples. He is the closest one to achieve somewhat of raw, viceral and hollow sound that is associated with RZA. But the music gets kinda similar after awhile. GZA will always be the Genius when it comes to lyrics. His albums following "Liquid Sword" haven't lived up to that album because of the music but he is in the same par as the first album when it comes to lyrics and delivery. Although, I did felt that he wasn't hungry or motivated this time as he was in "Legend of the Liquid Sword."



What is great about a GZA album (or most of the Wu-Tang albums) is that they work in different levels. I usually listen couple of times in the beginning just to discover the layers of music, then couple more to get the vibe off of the lyrics and more to decipher the lyrics, so it never gets old. I live the experience as I did the first listen with every listen. That's what separates GZA from other great lyricist like Eminem. When you listen to Eminem, Tupac, Biggie, etc you feel there lyrics and meaning, however consecutive listen gets boring since you already know what they mean and the message, not the same with GZA when you have to understand the metaphors and the wittiness which maybe the reason a whole lot of people will stay away from this great album.



This is a highly recommended album to Wu fans and any fans of real hip-hop/rap. If you havent discovered GZA yet than start with "Liquid Sword" you'll not be disappointed."

One of the Finest Rap Collaborations in Recent Years....

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 10/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this isn't the first time these two artists have worked together (see Gza's contribution on Mugg's 1997's "Soul Assassins" album), but this is the first time the two have worked together on a whole album. What transpires here, is a magnificent coupling of one of hip-hops pioneering producers (Muggs), with easily one of Rap's most lyrically gifted, and commercially undervalued rapper (Gza). With an album that is a throw back to the art of the producer and rapper.



It's an album that is some way's, feels a little retro, because there's not any gimmicky speed-up soul samples, or embellished lifestyle bragging to fall upon. Instead this album goes against the contemporary grain, by favouring an mood that seems more focused on presenting the strengths of the artists involved, so rather than being project designed to become a commercial success, this is more a project that will appeal to those merely concerned with listening to a incredibly tight album, with no room for filler, and to highlight to listeners that both artists are still musically active.



As the title of the album suggests, this is an album, with the mood / Theme / and context largely related to and involving the game of Chess (a particular favourite of Gza's). Ideas, stories, metaphors, anecdotes, and Situations are in some way interrelated and involve the strategy, thinking and concept of a game of chess. It's no surprise that Gza grasps this concept with both hands and spins tales of pre-emptive thinking, outsmarting an opponent, celebrating complicated moves, and the catching an opponent unawares...all of which are beautifully weaved into lucid stories, confident narratives, and sweeping lyrical turns, and reeled off with such a skilful enthusiasm, that the mind boggles that there are far less technically gifted rappers out there, who come nowhere near the mind-boggling metaphoric lyrical talents of Gza, and yet have notably more success. Track such as "Exploitation of Mistakes", "Advance Pawns", "Unprotected Pieces"...all make clever lyrical references to the game of chess, with little of the gangsta posturing, and instead focusing on inventive storytelling, and witty metaphors. Almost in the sense that....Life is like a game of Chess...Play it!!



But equally important is Muggs' contribution....for one of hip-hops most important producers, over the years he's become incredibly overlooked in his contributions to hip-hop. And for this release, it's not so much what he puts in, but what he neglects to leave out. Realising that Gza is such an amazing performer and lyricist, Mugg's doesn't need to do a flashy production to cover up the lyricists shortcomings, instead what we get is a bare-bones-production. That beautifully highlights Gza's narrative, without overshadowing it, and instead sits perfectly alongside it. Muggs imbues the production with sinister synths, nervous backing beats and, up-tempo haunting backdrops, and scintillating organ melodies, and hard hitting, haunting beats that feel like a throw back to the early Wu-Tang days over which Gza skilfully muses, raps confrontationally, and lyrically throws down, with the deserved confidence of someone that has been in the game as long as he has.



There will undoubtedly be reviews here, that say that this is what "Real Hip-Hop" is all about, and with the deliberately retro sound, and the emphasis on the dynamic between producer and lyricist, it certainly does seem, that in todays unforgiving nature of hip-hop, that this is geared purely at those, that feel frustrated at the fact that presentation and marketing are now the driving force in hip-hop, instead of Artist ability. Gza's flow is something that requires several listens to full digest, even though you hear what he's saying, the implications and complexity of his words resonate over the music much longer, with subsequent listens leading to different interpretations, and understanding (hell, even a different appreciation) of what's being said. And with such clever metaphors such as the integration of NFL metaphors in "Queens Gambit", showing a level of articulation largely lacking in commercial hip-hop, and wrapped around Muggs thoughtful production, this is one of those `Word-of-mouth" albums, that undeniably deserves all the praise heap upon it. Whether both artists are planning on collaboration, again isn't known, but irrespective of this, this is one of the strongest hip-hop/rap releases in recent years. Highly recommended!!!"

Save hip hop buy this album

kalashnikov | london | 11/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the pairing of gza and muggs works and it works very well. this is the best hip hop album of 2005. this is the sound of wu tang and house of pain from the 90's. hip hop was real cool back then. this is the best work gza has done since liquid swords, his rhymes sound tight over the dark beats from muggs. tracks that really shine are general pricipals, illusory protection, queen's gambit and the opening which has no rapping but stands alongside nas's genesis from illmatic as one of the best start up tunes to a rap album"