The Genius GZA "Words From a Genius" 12" Cold Chillin' PRO-A-4890 (US) 

Vinyl is NM, Jacket is VG!! 

Original Press!

Out of Print!! Promo Only

Track Listing:

A
Words From A Genius (Album Version) 5:05
B
Words From A Genius (Album Version) 5:05
Gary Grice (born August 22, 1966), better known by his GZA (pronounced  ) and The Genius, is an artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the . Within the clan, he is known as the "spiritual head," being both the oldest and the first within the group to receive a record deal.

GZA has appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and since the release of his critically acclaimed solo album, (1995), he has maintained a successful solo career. Steve Huey of has called him "one of the best lyricists of the 1990s," while the editors of ranked him #17 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), making him the highest-ranking Wu-Tang Clan member on the list (ahead of , and ).

Biography

Gary Grice developed an interest in hip-hop by attending block parties as a child in the early '70s. He formed a three-man group with his cousins, who would later be known as and . The group, All in Together Now, saw the three rapping and DJing, switching off names and performing local shows; since they lived in different boroughs, GZA and Ol' Dirty would travel from out to to meet up with their cousin RZA, after which the three would travel across NYC and challenge other MCs to battles. After some years of this, GZA was signed to as a solo artist under the name The Genius. He put together an album called , produced mostly by , but after it failed to sell—and his rocky experience on tour—Grice became fed up and asked for release from the label.

After joining the Wu-Tang Clan, a group of nine which included himself, RZA and ODB, GZA boasted some high-profile appearances on the group's debut album, , including a solo track, "Clan in da Front." This, combined with appearances on other Clan albums such as and brought him much recognition and respect (more than he achieved solo as "The Genius"). These guest appearances were followed up in 1995 with GZA's sophomore solo effort, , produced entirely by RZA; the album was met with critical and commercial acclaim, and is still considered one of the best albums to come out of the Wu-Tang camp; in 1998, the album was selected as one of Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums of all time.

2000

After appearing on the Wu-Tang Clan's second album, , GZA released in 1999. Reviews were mostly positive and the album did well (going Gold), though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords' acclaim or commercial success. Like the post-debut projects of many Clan members, critics decried the album's lack of RZA production, claiming the underground producers and used did not live up to the producer's skill level. Grice put in appearances on , and some of his group members' solo projects, but did not release another of his own until 2002 with . The album was received well by critics, but did not achieve commercial success, failing to go Gold as his previous release had. GZA spent 2004 touring, both solo and with the Clan, and made an appearance with RZA in 's film , opposite .

In 2005, GZA and (the producer for hip-hop group ) released the LP . 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 's , originally stating that he was heavily featured along with , though he was later unsure about his status on the project.

2007 saw GZA teaming up with his Wu-Tang Clan to record the group album , and in the ensuing , defended both Raekwon and 's rights to speak their mind, and RZA's production job on the album. In the summer of 2008, he released the album which featured production from and past collaborators Jay "Waxxx" Garfield, RZA, and . A very controversial song on the album was entitled "Paper Plates" a smooth flowing response aimed at rival rapper . After the release GZA toured various parts of Europe on a "Liquid Swords 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, GZA made appearances on two more Wu-Tang Clan albums. The first being on a song entitled "Stomp Da Roach" on the album , 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 . The Genius continued to tour during the year, appearing on the "Rock The Bells" lineup and also performing at the music festival in Canada. Recently, RZA confirmed that he will be producing Liquid Swords II: The Return Of The Shadowboxer, which is tentatively due in 2012. The GZA also made an appearance in a video for song titled . For Liquid Swords II, he has recently confirmed with Examiner.com that will hold a solo song ala 'B.I.B.L.E.' to act as the closer to the album just like the original. He will also be appearing on the upcoming collaboration album between producers & V.S. album appearing on Premier's track.

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