As a founding member of Wu-Tang, Gary Grice — aka GZA, is hip hop royalty. While he’s released a number of solo albums, he always comes back to the clan, which has become known for its innovative rap-stylings.
The Wu-Tang Clan assembled Staten Island, New York in the early ’90s under RZA, the group’s producer. RZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard adopted the group’s name after the film Shaolin and Wu Tang, and the group’s debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme — dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections.
As the oldest and first member to receive a record deal, GZA has become known as the group’s spiritual head. Other members include Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa.
While GZA showed up on the rap-scene in 1991, it was 1995’s Liquid Swords that launched him to hip hop stardom. As a last-minute Bonnaroo addition, he will be performing the album in its entirety at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday night. (Or Sunday morning — depending on how you look at it.)
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While I’ve seen Method Man a few times, I’ve never seen GZA. Since Addam and I didn’t know he was going to be at Roo until we saw the schedule last week, we’re very excited to see the set.
Discography:
- Words From the Genius (1991)
- Liquid Swords (1995)
- Beneath the Surface (1999)
- Legend of the Liquid Sword (2002)
- GrandMasters (2005)
- Pro Tools (2008)
- Dark Matter (2012)
Sounds Like:
Songs to Listen For:
- Liquid Swords
- Shadowboxin’
- Duel of the Iron Mic
- 4th Chamber
- B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
Times at Roo: 0
Times I’ve Seen Him: 0
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“Energy is felt once the cards are dealt/With the impact of roundhouse kicks from black belts/That attack, the mic-fones like cyclones or typhoon/I represent from midnight to high noon.” — GZA, Liquid Swords, Liquid Swords (1995).
Doc Hop 
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