Song Detail | Rap Ledger

Liquid Swords

GZA

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

166

Internal

Multi

267

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

When I was little... my father^✦ was famous.^✦

He was the greatest sam-urai in the empire;^✦

And he was the shogun's decapitator.^✦

He cut off the heads of a hundred and thirty-one lords.

It was a bad time for the empire.^✦

The shogun^✦ just stayed inside^✦ his castle -- and he never^✦ came out.

People said his brain was infected by devils.

My father^✦ would come home -- he would forget^✦ about^✦ the killings.

He wasn't scared^✦ of the shogun,^✦ but the shogun^✦ was scared^✦ of him.

Maybe that was the problem.

Then, one night... the shogun^✦ sent his ninja^✦ spies to our house.

They were supposed to kill my father...^✦ but they didn't.

[woman screams]

That was the night everything changed *voice fades*^✦

[Intro 2: RZA]

See, sometimes...

You gotta^✦ flash em back

See niggaz^✦ don't know where this shit started

Y'all know where it came from

I'm sayin we gonna^✦ take y'all back to the source

We bounce, yo

[Chorus: RZA, GZA]

When the mc's came, to live our their name

And to perform (forrrrm)

Some had, to snort cocaine^✦ (caiiinnne) to act insane^✦ (sannne)

With before^✦ pete rock-ed^✦ it on, now gone

That the mental plane (plaaanne) to spark the brain (brainnn)

With the building to be born

Yo rza flip the track with the what to gut

Check em check chicka^✦ icka^✦ etta^✦ uhh

[Verse 1:]

Fake niggaz^✦ get flipped

In mic fights I swing swords and cut clown

Shit is too swift to bite you record and write it down

I flow like the blood on a murder^✦ scene, like a syringe

On some wild out shit, to insert a fiend

But it was yo out the shop stolen^✦ art

Catch a swollen heart from not rollin^✦ smart

I put mad pressure, on phony^✦ wack rhymes^✦ that get hurt

Shit's played, like zodiac signs on sweatshirt

That's minimum,^✦ and feminine^✦ like sandals

My minimum^✦ table stacks a verse on a gamble

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

I don't waste ink, nigga^✦ I think

I drop megaton bombs more faster^✦ than you blink

Cause rhyme thoughts travel^✦ at a tremendous speed

Clouds of smoke, of natural blends of weed

Only^✦ under^✦ one circumstance^✦ is if I'm blunted

Turn that shit up, my clan in da front want it

[Chorus]

[Verse 2:]

I'm on a mission,^✦ that niggaz^✦ say is impossible

But when I swing my swords they all choppable

I be the body^✦ dropper,^✦ the heartbeat stopper^✦

Child educator,^✦ plus head amputator^✦

Cause niggaz^✦ styles^✦ are old like mark 5 sneakers^✦

Lyrics are weak, like clock radio^✦ speakers^✦

Don't even^✦ stop in my station^✦ and attack^✦

While your plan failed,^✦ hit the rail, like amtrak^✦

What the fuck for? down by low, I make law

I be justice, I sentence that ass two to four

Round the clock, that state pen time check it

With the pens I be stickin but you can't stick to crime

Came through with the wu, slid off on the dl

I'm low-key^✦ like seashells, I rock these bells

(when the mc's..) now come aboard, it's medina^✦ bound

Enter^✦ the chamber, and it's a whole different sound

It's a wide entrance,^✦ small exit^✦ like a funnel^✦

So deep it's picked^✦ up on radios in tunnels

Niggaz^✦ are fascinated^✦ how the shit begin^✦

Get vaccinated,^✦ my logo^✦ is branded in your skin

[Chorus]

Technical Breakdown

9.7

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.6

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.7

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres9.8

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.6

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity9.7

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.5

Performance and control

Computed Score9.70

Production

— RZA

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The lyrical composition from GZA demonstrates a masterful command of storytelling intertwined with technical prowess. With high scores in multisyllabic rhymes (9.6) and internal rhymes (9.7), the verse effectively encapsulates a vivid narrative while maintaining an intricate rhyme scheme.

9.6

Multisyllabic

9.7

Internal Rhymes

9.6

Cadence / Flow

9.7

Vocabulary

9.8

Wordplay

9.5

Delivery

storytellingimageryinternal rhyme

Rhyme Architecture: The verses exhibit a free-flowing narrative style with sporadic internal rhymes and multisyllabic structures, emphasizing a dynamic yet cohesive storytelling approach.

engaging narrative

high technical rhyme complexity

strong use of imagery

User Scores

Notes

GZA and RZA's intro track — the title track is a cinematic statement of purpose