GZA/Genius

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Born 22 July 1966.

live at Koko Hayley Madden

Biography

Gary Grice (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage names Gza (stylized GZA) ( JIZ-ə) and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. 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, Liquid Swords (1995), he has maintained a successful solo career. Steve Huey of Allmusic has called him "one of the best lyricists of the 1990s," while the editors of About.com 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 Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon). In 2012, The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.

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Links & Information

Member Of

BBC Reviews

  1. Liquid Swords: The Chess Box 2012

    Review of Liquid Swords: The Chess Box

    Reviewed by Adam Kennedy

    Expanded edition of what is perhaps the most celebrated Wu-Tang album to date.

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