GZA

WU-TANG CLAN是一支成名比較長時間的HIP-HOP樂隊組合。在黑人HIP-HOP界享有盛名。
這支來自紐約長島的hip-hop樂隊的原始成員包括Genius aka GZA，RZA aka Prince Rakeem，Ol' Dirty Bastard，Raekwon，Method Man，Ghostface Killah，Inspectah Deck aka Rebel INS和U-God。Wu-Tang Clan樂隊的歷史可以追溯到由Rakeem堂兄弟，the Genius和Ol' Dirty Bastard組成。在Rakeem和the Genius組成Wu-Tang Clan之前就各自在Tommy Boy唱片公司和Cold Chillin'唱片公司出版了自己的唱片，如今這些唱片公司都遼無蹤影。樂隊的每個成員都以自己的功夫知識自豪，在他們的首張專輯里，劃成兩派，武當(dāng)和少林，象征他們在說唱時的兩個對立面。他們獨立制作的單曲Protect Ya Neck在地下廣為流傳，這引起了主流唱片公司的注意。當(dāng)他們作為一個樂隊整體和Loud/ RCA唱片公司簽約的時候，在合同上他們也注明了樂隊成員可以在樂隊之外作個人的發(fā)展。The Genius和Geffen公司，Method Man和Def Jam公司，Ol' Dirty Bastard和Elektra公司都簽有個人發(fā)展的合同，而Raekwon留在Loud/RCA作個人發(fā)展。RZA也與Prince Paul和Fruitkwan組成了Gravediggaz，同時兼顧Wu-Tang Clan和自己個人發(fā)展。Wu-Tang Clan的音樂素材里包含了學(xué)院化的韻律，這對于他們那種在音樂中分為對立兩派，相互爭論的風(fēng)格很有用。音樂的背景節(jié)奏采樣于功夫影片。這些富有攻擊性的功夫文化色彩的音樂和以前的說唱很不一樣，他們的首張專輯Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)在他們自己的錄音室錄制，36 Chambers暗指少林派功夫里常常提到的人體的36個要穴。RZA在作品中的所有的節(jié)奏和采樣方式很快在地下hip-hop界時髦起來。專輯最后在美國達到了金唱片，但是1993年11月剛出版的時候只達到專輯榜41位。而單曲"C.R.E.A.M."遲到的成功使得樂隊成為炙手可熱的說唱明星。而在1994年，樂隊出了件糟糕的事兒，3月13日U-God的2歲兒子Dante Hawkins在戶外玩耍的時候被街頭槍戰(zhàn)流彈擊中，被打傷了雙手和腎。
就在一天后，他們一個圈內(nèi)的朋友在一次突然以外中被殺死。
Wu-Tang Clan現(xiàn)在的官方成員又增加了兩位Masta Killa和Cappadonna，這個長長的名單上還包括一些合作者Shyheim, Killah Priest, Shabazz The Disciple, Killarmy以及the Sunz Of Man，他們也都出版了口碑不錯的個人專輯。樂隊在1997年重新集結(jié)，但是新專輯明顯不如他們的處女專輯，甚至不如GZA的個人專輯Liquid Swords。不過專輯仍然是hip-hop歷史上期待值最高的專輯，并且在6月登上了美國專輯榜的第一位。除此之外還有一些與Wu-Tang Clan相關(guān)的專輯，包括Killah Priest出色的個人專輯Heavy Mental，Cappadonna的暢銷專輯The Pillage，這都使得Wu-Tang Clan及其旁支成為一個龐大的產(chǎn)業(yè)王國，現(xiàn)在他們又在出賣自己的服裝和電視游戲。樂隊的成員現(xiàn)在準(zhǔn)備錄制一張the W作為一次精彩的回歸，制作人員還包括了一些從未合作過的客座音樂人。
The Genius, aka the GZA, was the most cerebral MC in the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as perhaps the most acclaimed. His cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes werent as theatrical as Method Man or Ol Dirty Bastard, the two biggest commercial stars to spring from the collective. But among hip-hop aficionados, the Genius was revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and was considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire Clan. The Genius was born Gary Grice on August 22, 1966, in Staten Island, NY, and shuttled between several other New York boroughs with various relatives during his childhood. He started learning rhymes by the earliest hip-hop MCs while spending time in the Bronx, and returned to Staten Island to share them with his cousins, who later became Ol Dirty Bastard and the RZA. In fact, the three of them first teamed up in the early 80s as part of an obscure group called All in Together Now.Time passed, and the Genius landed a recording contract with Cold Chillin, which, unfortunately, was nearing the end of its brilliant run. In 1991, he became the only future Wu-Tang member to release a solo album prior to the Clans formation, with Words From the Genius. Produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, the album flopped badly and, creatively, did little to hint at the Genius future standing. Conflicts with the label sent the Genius packing, and he reteamed with a similarly disenchanted RZA (fresh off a failed stint with Tommy Boy) and Ol Dirty Bastard to co-found the Wu-Tang Clan. Adding six other friends and associates, the group became an underground sensation and took the rap world by storm with its 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Their innovative contract allowed each member to sign a solo deal with whatever label they chose, and the Genius wound up on Geffen. In 1994, his first post-Wu solo track, I Gotcha Back, appeared on the soundtrack of the film Fresh. His second solo album, Liquid Swords, followed in 1995 and was hailed as a hip-hop classic thanks to its coolly understated menace. While it didnt make him a star on the level of Method Man, the album did sell well, reaching the pop Top Ten and falling one spot short of the top of the R&B charts. There were no big mainstream hits, but the title cut, Cold World, and Shadowboxin all did well on the rap charts.Following the Clans 1997 sophomore set, Wu-Tang Forever, the Genius returned to the solo arena with 1999s Beneath the Surface. While critics didnt praise it quite as lavishly as Liquid Swords, it was another well-received effort (especially compared to some of the lackluster follow-ups elsewhere in the Wu-Tang camp), and it topped the R&B album charts. After reconvening with the Wu for 2000s The W and 2001s Iron Flag, the Genius dropped his fourth solo effort, Legend of the Liquid Sword, in late 2002, consolidating his reputation as one of the most skillful rappers around.