GZA The Hip Hop Star

GZA (Gary Grice) Born August 22 1966.

Better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter.
A founding member of the hip hop group the
Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is known as the group's
"spiritual head", being both the oldest and the first within the group to receive a record deal. He has appeared on his ellow Clan members' solo projects, and since the release of his critically acclaimed solo album Liquid Sword (1995), he has maintained a successful solo career.

In 2012, The source placed him on their list of the top 50 lyricists of all time.An anaylsis of GZA's lyrics found that he has the second largest vocabulary in hip hop music, behined Aesop Rock, in a sample of 75 rappers. The Wu-Tang clan, as a collective and several of its individual members were also in the top.

GZA Early life

Gary Grice developed an interest in hip hop by attending block parties as a child in the early 1970s.
He formed a three-man group with his cusions, Robert Diggs and Russell Jones who would later be known as RZA and Ol Dirty Baslard, respectively.
The group,Fol: Force of the Imperial Master, Saw the three rapping and DJing,switching pff names and performing local sjows, since they lived in different brought,GZA and OL'Dirty would travel from Brooklyn out to state Island to meet up their cusion RZA, after which the three would travel across New York City and challenge other MCs to battles.

After same years of this,GZA was signed to cold chillin' Records as a solo artist under the name The Genius.He put together an album called words from the Genius, Produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, but after it failed to sell and his rocky experience on tour Grice became fed up and asked for relase from the label.

Solo Career

After appearing on the Wu-tang clan's second album, Wu-tang forever,GZA released benenth the surface in 1999. Grice put in appearances on The W, Iron Flag and some of his group members' solo projects, but did not release another of his own until 2002 with Legend of the Liquid Sword.

The Album was received will by critics,but did not achieve commercial success, failing to go gold as pervious release had. GZA spent 2004 touring, both solo and with the clan, and made an appearance with RZA in Jim Jarmusch's film coffee and cigarettes opposite Bill Murray.

In 2005, GZA and DJ Muggs ( The producer for hip-hop group Cypress Hill) released the LP grand masters.Muggs provided all the production for the album, which saw GZA using chess as a metaphor for the rap game. The album received positive reviews and modest commercial success. He then partook in the recording of groupmate.

                                                              Raekwon's only built 4 Cuban Linx....... Originally stating that he was heavily featured along with inspectah Deck, through he was later unsure about the status of his presence on the project.

In 2007, GZA teamed up with The Wu-Tang Clan to record the group album 8 diagrams, and in the ensuing controversy defended both Raekwon and Ghost face killah's  rights to speak their mind, and RZA's production job on the album.

In the summer of 2008, he released the album pro tools black milk and past collaborators jay "wax"

Garfield, RZA mathematics and true master. A very controversial song on the album was entitled |Paper Plates" a smoth flowing response aimed at rival rapper 50 Cent . After the release GZA toured various parts of Europe on a "Liquid Swords's Tour"  

Where he performed songs from Liquid Swords as well as Pro Tools. He later toured Parts of the USA. GZA also stated his wish to record another full album with RZA. In 2009, made appearances on two more WU-tan Clan albums.

                                                         The first being on a song entitled "stomp da Roach" on the album Dopium, by fellow clan member U-God, the other being appearances on the tracks " We Will Rob You , "Rockstars" and House Of Flying Daggers", on Raekwon's album only Built 4 Cuban Linx.....

The Genuis continued to tour during the year, appearing on the " Rock The Bells" line up and also performing at the NXNE music festival in Canada.

RZA conformed that he will be producing Liquid Swords 2: The Return of the shadow boxer. GZA also made an appearance in a video for Devendra banhart's song titled "Baby' GZA confirmed that Killah Priest will perform a solo song on Liquid sword 2, similar to "B.I.B.L.E"  (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), to act as the closer to the album just like the original. GZA has also began work on a concept album called Dark Matter, which is based on a Journey through time and space. He will also be appearing on the upcoming collaboration album between producers pete rock 6 DJ Premier V.S. album appearing on Premier's track.

In a recent lecture,GZA also hinted at the possibility of an album" Without a Parental advisory sticker" After denoucing Profanity in hip-hop as " Filler which is not needed" GZA is currently working to improve science education in New York City through a partnership with teachers college, Columbia Universty Professor, christopher emdin and website Rap Genius.This iniliative motivaltes young people to learn science through creating raps and engaging in a rap co,petition.