I'd say like most fans of hip hop, my first introduction (and what led to my eventual love of the culture) began with the album
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by the Wu-Tang Clan. The Clan has always held a prominent place in Hip Hop, and their influence was only partly because of their music, but rather what they represented for Hip Hop in 1993. Their debut of the
36 Chambers was at a time when the shift in popularity had gone from the East Coast sound to the West Coast G-Funk sound that had been originated by Dr. Dre. With the establishment of the 9 members out of Staten Island, NY, the Wu had revolutionized the concept of what it meant to be in a Hip Hop group. Each member of the Clan would overtake the record industry by releasing solo albums. Through these albums, the 9 members would establish themselves in the Hip Hop world as well as gaining some degree of success.
One of these members being GZA (the Genius). His 1995 release,
Liquid Swords has been revered by some as the best of the Wu-Tang Clan's solo releases and solidified GZA as the best lyricists in the group. Through his rich use of allusions and dark imagery his lyrics are perfectly matched with his cousin (and the leader of the Clan), the RZA's production. Through RZA's use of kung-fu samples (a trademark of the Clan that is present even on their debut release) and layers upon layers of dark tones make this one of the most gritty releases out of the Wu's catalog. Without a doubt
Liquid Swords is an undisputed classic among their discography.
