GZA & The Soul Rebels: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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- Опубліковано 8 тра 2018
- May 2, 2018 | Abby O'Neill -- GZA's performance at the Tiny Desk was a rare appearance for the legendary Wu-Tang Clan emcee, in part because he's notoriously introverted, and because he brought along The Soul Rebels, an eight-piece New Orleans brass ensemble. Once they stepped behind the desk they got right down to business, opening with the sparkling "Living In The World Today," from GZA's 1995 solo album Liquid Swords. These 23-year old lyrics and metaphors felt timeless.
GZA continued his onslaught of poetic precision with another beauty from Liquid Swords, "Duel of the Iron Mic." "I ain't particular," he spat, starting to break into a sweat behind the desk. "I bang like vehicular/Homicides on July 4th in Bed-Stuy." At one point, GZA even channeled his cousin, the late great Ol' Dirty Bastard, who provided the hook on the original version of the track.
Most rap fans would name RZA as the head of the Wu-Tang Clan. But Wu purists know that GZA, or The Genius, is the crew's unspoken elder statesman. By the third and final song at the Tiny Desk, driven by unbridled passion and his command of the room, GZA was soaked in sweat as they broke into the title track of Liquid Swords. The Soul Rebels perfectly recreated the track's seamless horn hits while adding on a bit of their own flare. The cherry on top arrived when GZA used his final minutes to tell the story of how the hook originally came together. In RZA's basement, smoking and drinking with fellow Wu lyricist Masta Killa, RZA was sold on a routine he, GZA and ODB used to perform as teens. But I'll leave it to him to tell you all about it in this unforgettable performance.
This set was recorded when The Soul Rebels were in Washington, D.C. for a performance at the 9:30 Club that featured GZA and Talib Kweli. It was one of just a handful of live concerts GZA has done with the group.
SET LIST
"Living in the World Today"
"Duel of the Iron Mic"
"Liquid Swords"
MUSICIANS
GZA (emcee), Lumar LeBlanc (Drums), Derrick Moss (Drums), Manuel Perkins (Sousaphone), Julian Gosin (Trumpet), Marcus Hubbard (Trumpet), Erion Williams (Saxophone), Corey Peyton (Trombone), Paul Robertson (Trombone)
CREDITS
Producers: Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Beck Harlan, Kara Frame, Dani Lyman; Production Assistant: Joshua Bote; Photo: Eslah Attar/NPR.
How do you love rap when rap doesn’t love you back? From Rico Nasty’s harassment from toxic Carti fans, to Saucy Santana's unapologetically femme aesthetics in a queerphobic industry, to the assault case that put Megan Thee Stallion’s entire image on trial, each episode of Louder Than A Riot - the second season of our investigative hip-hop podcast - unpacks the unspoken rules of rap that hold the entire culture back. Tap in to our first episode at n.pr/louder-season-2.
When I was little, my father was famous, he was the greatest samurai in the empire...and he was the shogun's decapitator
Tom S he wasn’t afraid of the shogun but the shogun was afraid of him, maybe that was the problem
A legendary album
liquid sword.....🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Did you actually watch shogun assassin? Its way ahead of its time as far as directing and editing. Really an amazing movie.
He wasn’t scared of the shogun, but the shogun was scared of him. Maybe that WAS THE PROBLEM
The older i get, the more i realize that every single member of Wu could be in the list of illest spitters of all time. The talent these dudes had is massively understated.
I think about this a lot. Not for all of them, but for a handful of them for sure.
method man, gza, and deck
Nah real hip hop heads been knew they were all top tier. Enter the 36 Chambers redefined rap/hip hop when it dropped and then the first round of solo albums from every member was an instant classic. Even tho technically liquid swords was Gza's 2nd solo album as he is the only member of the clan to have been signed and released an album prior to Wu Tang Clans inception
@@brianchavis5463 Real hip hop heads like you? I been on this since Whodini and Melle Mel. You right tho. I was just takin the time to let people reflect on just how talented every member was.
Facts actual facts
Quick reminder:He rapped every single word and he is 53 years old. 🐐🐐
@Jack McCrea and then remembered it...fully.
51 at the time, but yeah, one of my favourite rappers of all time for many reasons, and facts like these make my state firm.
Its not so difficult to remember words when you are 51. He is not 91 ... but yes its good!
Well...Masta ace is 53 too if i m not mistaken. You would not believe when watching him on a show
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
He looks so vulnerable, but his Rap sounds immortal.
He did a 50 cent Diss and 50 never made a sound. He isn't called genius for nothing.
Yeah, watching his Rap city freestyle too - GZA seemed shy at first. Haha.
Looks like a rap god
Thank you. I said "nervous", but vulnerable was definitely the right word. Like he's proud of this, but he's unsure how it will be received.
The vessel to The Message always comes from those who aren’t afraid to put themselves out there.
Liquid Swords is the best album in human history
BluntforceJ damn right it is
BluntforceJ ua-cam.com/video/xGiWTnyZdbI/v-deo.html
And the title track beat gets me a buzz
I was at the Liquid Swords 20th Anniversary live performance! 4 young Wu-hedz were in the front by the stage, MC'ing. GZA stopped the show and asked them their age. They were 17 and flew in from Germany for the show. GZA asked the audience, what MC has fans that would do that for an album that dropped before they was born? GZA = G.O.A.T.
Truth
Never knew he was so awkward, now I love him more.
Some ppl unleash in their craft but in themselves they are internalists
You must be young or wasn’t into early 1990s hip hop
Gza was always this
Dude is very introverted, and a nerd. Talks very lttile, unless when behind a mic with a RZA beat.
He a chess geek as well but it’s super cool. He’s very intelligent.
@Ali Chaudhry Damn, thanks for the knowledge
"The GZA...he...he just a Genius"
- Raekwon
it's almost impossible to describe how good this is.
Agreed. Another notha level
I’m seeing him in two weeks, words don’t describe how excited I am
for me it swings so hard! its perfect music. to compliment the rymes. gave me a whole new appreciation for him
How was he?
That’s where I’m at. I send this joint to people
GZA isn’t rapping. he’s speaking to you.
Hahaaa, I´m dying :D
but he's rapping tho
It's called shadow boxing! The dudes got a whole brass section, fuck off lol bahaha!
Lol He's teaching you
schoolin fools for decades !
Liquid Swords!
So sicc
Ok
One of the Hardest Album
Got it on vinyl 👌
One of those 36 styles of danger!
He did this with no hype man! Most emcees can’t perform live without a hype man to finish their lyrics on every other bar. This dudes breath control is crazy
Because he's not moving
Dude I couldn’t do that when I was 23 !
Living clean..or not lol
I do this in my car every day
Underrated comment
0:00 Living in the World Today
3:37 Dual of the Iron Mic
6:33 Liquid Swords
6:33 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@@r.nicole378 ✊🏾✊🏾
I just noticed they've put it as "Dual" in the video too. Lol.
Liquid Sword is a classic album
Gza is really one of the best to ever do it
Jeroen Verschooren FACTS!!!
Jeroen Verschooren agree completely
Everytime I tell people he is the best in the Wu they be like Raekwon or Ghost, im like Ghost is the Workhorse, Rae got the charisma, but GZA is the best "emcee".
On this Evidence I can’t disagree
He's miles ahead of his competition
GZA asked for the towel, and said thank you....take
notes
As a Canadian, when I visited America I thought a majority of Americans were rude for not saying thank you and apologizing constantly, then I remembered where I was...
@@Caleb983 as an American i couldn't agree more
@@Caleb983 We're workin on it, lol.
he also said please iirc
@@Ultramagnetic808 :) (:
Money don't grow on trees but there's theiving MC's who cut throat to rake leaves.
One of my favourite lines gza ever spoke 👌
Jesus I have been listening to this for years and only reading your comment right do I realize how incredible that line is. Amazing
GZAs got such a unique voice. Love it.
Tiny Desk is for the children 👐🏻
AngryFollower Yes Lawd
For real bro
Tiny Desk ain't nothin to fuck with!
Lol. Yeah they are.
👐👐🏻👐🏼👐🏽👐🏾👐🏿
GZA's lyricism requires intelligence to understand. One of my faves from the Wu.
Funny......if you think youre smart for getting his lyrics, ive got to pop that bubble for you;
youre not even close to average
aka "hey im smart everyone"
True in-fucking-deed.
For me it goes Gza Killah Priest Rza Ghost
All you know is that you don't know....
RZAs production sounds so dope with live instruments
Samples 🤷♂️
@@fantasychickenn he still curated them and repurposed the sounds for a new meaning
Bro that's GZA
@@Bipolar.Baddie you right, but RZA produced those tracks
@@Bipolar.Baddie they know you fool there speaking about the music
Even with how absolutely mind-numbingly nervous he looks, you'd never know from his delivery. One of the greats!
Hes not Called the Genius for nothing.
Love how he let the band rock when the verse slipped his mind. Word to the GZA
Musicianship
Yep, and instantly GZA came alive and crushed the track. Wow!
The slip wasn't that bad..he's frikkin naturally resilient
Liquid Swords... pound for pound, start to finish, the greatest hip-hop LP ever released. I've listened to hundreds of hip-hop albums over the last 20 years and none of them come close to matching its brilliant musical flow, absurdly deep rhymes and intensity of ambience and storytelling.
its actually too good, they are pure and clean, just really real rappers.
facts, GZA is the most underrated emcee of all time imo
💯 My favorite album of all time. Any genre.
Cuban Links is definitely just as vivid.
It's so good. You know one that is alway slept on.. Well the artist and the album. Masta Ace - Disposable Arts.
Anyone else love the Wu's pronunciation of "sword" and "guillotine"?
It's interesting because some of them pronounce "guillotine" the British way and others pronounce it the American way. The swords thing is just that Shaolin accent.
Let it go unsaid maybe
Haha, in 4th-5th grade me and a lot of my classmates was playing an mmorpg game, remember us getting into a heated discussion with our english teacher when she tried to tell us the "w" is silent in "sword", we weren't having it and kept arguing that she was the one saying it wrong. Always think back on that and smile a little when I hear wu pronouce it that way too
@@jacobsvensson8193 I love this 😀
@@MrCash-lm1xz Shaolin slang. Yes!!!
Only GZA can forget his verse that smoothly...
DJ REMZ unstable eye movement? He's making eye contact with a lot of the folks in the room you fool, and dude cant be expected to remember EVERY fucking bar he's ever written. Show some respect to one of the MVP's. What you done recently compared to GZA's career?
@@bombedranolimoilou That is the least intelligent thing I have ever heard anyone say on UA-cam. You're a disgrace to the gene pool and should be ashamed of yourself for being such an Ill informed moron.
DJ REMZ yeah as a human being you find him under you don't you? His introvert behavior and tendencies are things to make fun of right?
DJ REMZ of course. Terrible lyricist, did he even write bruh? Probably crap at music in general
@@bombedranolimoilou Kick rocks, dummy. You don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
NPR your employees need a god damn raise for having all these Gods on
People are sleeping on the soul rebels that he’s performing with. Ppl have no idea how dope of a band they are
FR! He played with the Phunky Nomads the other night... They were nothing compared to to the Soul Rebels.
I love how GZA and Soul Rebels just casually throw down one of the best rap sets ever.......
I like this part of the description:
"Most rap fans would name RZA as the head of the Wu-Tang Clan. But Wu purists know that GZA, or The Genius, is the crew's unspoken elder statesman"
FACT!
Wu tang 4 ever
Facts!!
That's why he is the abbot
"We form like Voltron and the Gza just happens to be the head"...
Gza nd ODB Rza is tha blood
This dude looks pretty good for a 53.
In the car I get winded trying to rhyme along with 2nd verse of _Livin in da world Today_ and GZA just delivered it, live without a hype man, at 50+ years old
The coolest thing about the Wu is that they can reference each other's lyrics like they're nursery rhymes and then break it down in their own way...
His voice has best tone , an instrument in itself
One of the greatest lyricists of all time!!
agree 100%
💯💯💯
I'm really liking this pattern of inviting old school hip hop guests!
I love how GZA after so many years of fame and popularity at least in the true hip hop world. He still remains humble. While these one hit wonders make one simple hit and they think that God owes them a favor.
And they couldn't hold half a candle to him. On his worst day with Strep Throat.
GZA’s vocals are mesmerizing in a way words fail to describe.
If this man is not in your top five you are confused 👐🏼✌🏼
Facts
Top3
True
Always wished GZA and Deck got more love. This is phenomenal!
Jeffrey Porter Czarface whole discography is crazy. Deck is great
Jenny Butterfly facts!
Pure Poetry & Jammin' ! 😎👌
Gza is the best in Wu Tang no doubt
StayEarthly I don't think that there necessarily is a "best in wu-tang".
What made them special is how each member is unique and has some special talent and attribute to them that separates them from their peers.
I could never memorize these lyrics no matter how often I listen to his songs. The fact that he goes up there solo without any type of hype man to give him breaks spitting verses from over 20 years ago is incredible!!
I really loved how the band backed off during Inspectah’s verse in Duel of the Iron Mic to create more impact and emphasis on the vocals. GZA with a live band is really cool, both providing a phenomenal performance together
That is actually how the song goes on the album. When deck raps the baseline stops and then deck raps then the baseline comes back in later in decks verse.
GZA is such a real dude. No ego or vanity, just excellence in his craft; the pure essence of hip hop. Liquid Swords is my favourite album all time. I also love Grandmasters with DJ Muggs and Pro Tools. Also Paper Plates is probably the most underrated diss track of all time. Doesn't have the most expansive discography but he's still my favourite Wu-Tang MC.
Brent Blayone Blayone
Check out his album called beneath the surface. Really dope too!
One of the most lyrical of the Wu-Tang Clan, still doing his thing. Much love fam ❤️
JazznRealHipHop true facts
He's easily the best lyricisit from Wu.
The most lyrical...
Liquid Swords yeah, I’m scratching my head here like, “wait, who is more lyrical than GZA in the Wu?!”
I guess Meth, Raekwon, and Ghostface come close in their own ways. But still...
Forgot Deck too. Man, now that I think of it, they were so fuckin ill! Miss those days.
He is my age, 53, i grew up in England listening to Bob Dylan, i love lyrics, this man is as good a lyricist as i heard.
I dun listened to this about 30 times. Just classic!!
Appreciated how Genius edited his own lyrics. Shows class an growth! ✊🏼
Damn this was dope, gza should make an acoustic album it would be crazy
i can die now. this was beautiful. Gza changed my life.
I let my english teacher hear this; and it blow her mind. I had to translate some words for her but now she's a WU fan Clan.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
I'm an instructor at uni and I introduce GZA to students. Wu-Tang is for the children, and for the university students, and for everyone.
I'm am English teacher and I love the Wu-Tang Clan.
@@aleon916 I love that. My English textbook had raps from Mos Def which I thought was pretty cool. I think rap music needs to be celebrated and studied more in English classes
LIQUID SWORDS ! One of the best rap albums ever
Loved it back then, still lovin it. Work of a true genius.
Listen to it all the time, in fact I've got some searching to do, I feel obligated to buy it, even if it is 25 yrs too late.
36 chambers as well.
You'll get no argument from me..
Top5...
Voice, delivery, content. GZA for me is a perfect MC.
Indubitably!!! 💪🏾👐🏾💯
This is absolutely incredible. Wu Tang is forever. Gary Grice (GZA) is one of the best lyricists and most recognizable voices in rap.
GZA and this small brass band is still more fire than anything in modern rap.
Absolute truth!!
One of the best Tiny Desk concerts! The live band adds a whole nother dimension to some hip hop classics and GZA is so humble with his skills.
Incredible lyricist.
"We form like Voltron and the GZA happens to be the head"
RZA happens to be the head. Is how that goes. Not GZA
AJ F no meth 100000% says gza.u must be young or never heard enter the wu tang
damondej No it's Gza go and listen to it again, Rza is the sharpest.
GZA is one of the all time greats. Liquid Swords holds up against any gangsta rap album you care to mention.
Nice, raw, stone cold rhyming from the GZA. A true artist, making his craft seem effortless. Massive respect.
GZA forgot the verse 7:29... Comes back soooo smooth mid beat... LEGEND!
7:29
Never in my life have i seen someone forgetting his verse soooooo god damn graceful. GZA The Genius FOR LIFE!!!
“Basic instructions before leaving earth” - The GZa.. This man lived it! Best listen to him!
Storytelling at its best.
This is gold. 👐
"Gold" eh? I see what you did there
Pickle Pure indeed...
Tooooo Fly!
gold is correct
It sure is
Uncomfortable not at all, he’s the Genius so damn intelligent he made you think he was uncomfortable.
I love this comment lol
How did I miss this for 3 years?! One of my favorites.
One of the reasons why I love old raw rap and mc's is because you hear them exactly the same live as you hear them on the tape. DMX, GZA and lots of other legends
GZA is a top 5 rapper of all time in my opinion
In no order; GZA, Black Thought, Mos Def, Aesop Rock, and Sage Francis are my personal Tier 1A Hip Hop artists.
@@tomfoolery5680 I love your list you have great taste my personal top ten is rakim,big l ,nas, black thought,gza,guru,immortal technique,big daddy kane,jeru the damaja and krs one
He is the genius
Think Method Man should be on the top 5
typo, you meant top 1
GZA looks quite uncomfortable, didn't realise he was so introverted until I saw this. Love him for doing this, he's absolutely brilliant
The most interesting people are often those who talk less.
He was probably sober
He looks like he's used to yelling on a stage with his crew, not solo in a library. He is punching the lines out instead of flowing like in a studio
Met him at his gig in Brighton couple of months ago..... Definitely introverted but 100% genius and the oldest most wise member of the Wu
Some of the biggest talents of all time are quite uncomfortable. Like Chris Farley, Jim Carrey, Mitch Hedberg and Eminem.
EDIT: and Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley and Dennis Rodman
Can you rap? Rap is poetry. Rap is rhythm, speed, eloquence, patience, thoughtfulness. Rap is many talents. Respect it . It is something not everyone possesses. He is older. But he will never forget
Gza: gimme a beat
::dude pulls out a tuba:::
GZA: let's do it
I literally choked when I saw this in my recommendations! Wu-tang is forever✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
That must be the coolest trombonist I’ve ever seen.
I can hear dirty in his voice.
He wrote half the rhymes on Dirty's album. Think they cousins with Rza
@@satchelyork the RZA, GZA and ODB are cousins
Cousins
I swear I also hear ODB. Rest in peace legend!
First cousins
Jesus. Amazing set. Felt like my hair was standing on end & had goosebumps the entire time. Dudes still got it.
Took me back to high school with this
Damn, that horn arrangement is perfect! GZA nails it
This is too good for words. Thank you immensely, Tiny Desk and GZA & The Soul Rebels!
Truly one of the most eloquent and versatile lyricists of our time. Wish more people were hip to it.
this is a science class.
Most intelligent lyricist there ever was, is, and will be.
Still trying to unpack liquid swords, 20+ years later.
Feliciano Lopez MF DOOM. thank me later.
Still listening to this album in 2022. Amazing MC. One of my all time favourite albums & artists.
Probably one of the most talented musical projects EVER
My preliminary attack keeps cemeteries packed. Liquid Sword along Enter the 36 chambers are the real masterpieces of 90's hip-hop.
What was so dope that he even spit Deck’s verse on dual of the iron mic!🔥 Fire
Enlightenment Channel He spit MK’s verse also
I saw him live in manchester last year and he was incredible. Spat the verses of all the Wu members who was on the songs he did from the Liquid swords album, was absolutely insane 🔥
i had the cassette liquid sword album his lyrics back then and still ahead of its time now. one of the best mc period.
I love the way he sheaths up at the end with the toothpick and then you can almost hear the "shing" sword sounds when he unsheaths it to ask for one last applause for the band.
SWHING SWORDS
Wow that was incredible, his first album is one of the best hip-hop albums ever produced.
2nd *
Wu-Tang has always had such a good balance of styles. Their individual albums are just as great as their collective ones.
My favorite from the Wu! Intelligent, humble, and talented beyond belief 👐🏾👐🏾 Man I’m just crushin on him so hard 😍
That’s my man🙂, he is my man crush lol
One of the greatest MC in da history!!!!!! Razor Sharp
Legend
ua-cam.com/video/cZcF-1czmLc/v-deo.html
legend?Infinite God!👐u Tang 👐u Tang 👐u Tang 👐u Tang 👐u Tang is on my brain.P2TG
"Sleep-holds, put strangle on commercial angle
Microphone cords tangled from being Star Spangled"
Luis Calzadilla "Now who can say they never heard of this, my mother fuck'n style is mad murderous."
By far one of the best collabs I’ve seen on this channel. So soulful and inspiring
Never had goosebumps for 12mins and 44 secs straight before.
Tiny Desk has always been ill regarding all genres,but they been co stuntin like Evel Knievel lately man.Hefty props NPR for always coming with the organic eclectic steez.1 Love/Peace
Felix Fox No question fam!
Word ! I won't even mention The Breeders !!
This needs to be longer
Live music and lyricism, what a magical combination! I'm going to look around to see if I can locate anything like this around town. Much respect to Gza and the Wu.
I've watched this video every day for 3 weeks now
This really made me miss Old Dirty.... #WuTangForever
Ikr😭
Me too
FOREVERRRRRRRRRR
The GZA and Masta Killa my favorite two Wu members. Both are underrated.
GZA is the Wagyu version of hip hop. There is flavor all throughout.
Melts in your mouth