The Genius/GZA’s Liquid Swords album has been certified platinum, according to the RIAA, which tracks the sales of music. When an album is certified platinum, it has shipped more than 1 million copies.
The second album from the New York rapper was released by Geffen Records in 1995 and was certified platinum September 15. Geffen is part of the Interscope Records umbrella.
As The Genius, he released his Words From The Genius album in 1991 on Cold Chillin’ Records. After the Wu-Tang Clan arrived in 1993 with Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the GZA/Genius and fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version) and Raekwon (Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…) released solo albums in 1995.
Genius/GZA says that Geffen Records, which didn’t have many rappers on its roster when it signed him, was excited to release Liquid Swords.
“I was getting so much support because of the popularity from Wu-Tang,” Genius/GZA says during an interview with The Guardian that was published in June. “Making an album was a great feeling, and there were many hours in RZA’s house, in his basement, and hours of beat playing. We were still in our early stage, so there was so much support from everyone. I was doing the album, and every now and then a Clan member would come through. Rae would be there one day or Ghost another. It was just fun.”
Classic
Grimmmey classsssic
Way better than anything Drake ever released. We’re talking about a piece of art here, not some fly-by-night Drake album. It was probably bootlegged and copied more times than can be counted. Every head had this album back in the day! It’s about time!
@Matt And that’s why it didn’t go platinium the first go-around. Ya’ll bootlegged the album instead of buying it.
You so-called “real hip hop heads” let GZA down. Big Time.
And it only took 20 fucking years. Drake does platinum within a month.
Took only 20 fucking years to go weak platinum
I This is why I hate pop music fans who only care about sales. Weak platinum doesn’t exist, if you sell a million, that’s a huge success. Nothing weak about that. Plus, Drake’s bullshit is pop music while Liquid Swords is more underground hip-hop. Of course, it’ll sell quicker.
The Beatles got the fastest selling record in history. I don’t listen to them neither
Because you clowns buy anything
You do realize that the process of purchasing music has changed greatly since 1995? In 1995, there was no major internet, cellphones, etc. Hell, microwaves and having an answering machine on your land phone line were a big deal back then.
Your the type of hip hop “fan” that should be dragged to the woods kicking and screaming. Then when we get deep enough I load the shotgun and blow your fucking head clean off. Then let all the forest animals pick you clean.
Within a month. Dye to social media exposure behind him. Nobody would have heard of Drake if you put him on when Gza’s “Liquid Swords” came out. And Drake didn’t come close in subject matter like Gza does. Drake raps about girls and partying. That makes him the best or whatever? Played out.
My favorite album from wutang
Congrats
Have you bought “Real, Real Mad” on Jango? I am killing rhymes with a freshly message. I am the curve breaker.
Ok fans this is why this happened:
1. Rap today is sooo garbage that people went back and started buying the old shit again, which pushed this album to platinum status. This wont be the last time this happens.
2. It is a good album. Yes it took 20 years to get there..AND? DO you really think anyone will be buying Drake albums released in 2015 20 years from now?? Ja Rule anyone??
I still listen to this album weekly. I haven’t put it down since it dropped.
It could have easily gone platinum in the 90s if the Radio had played it more.
I’m 38 years old. When I was a teenager in the 90s, I bought Genius/Gza the day it hit the shelves in September of 1995. The singles alone, stood out on the Radio, even alongside Notorious B.I.G., Fugees, Smif N Wesson, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, and even among Gza’s own Wu brothers, Dirty and Raekwon.
When Labels and Liquid Swords blended in, Rza’s beats were hypnotic and very different from the Wu-Tang beats at that time. It’s like Rza began using different synthesizer’s and sounds. Genius’ rhymes were spectacular, line for line.
Amidst everything out at that time, my Genius Liquid Swords album was the album most of my college roommates wanted to borrow, and it was HARD to get in touch with people to give it back. Used to piss me off. It was because the album was so creative and so Seminal. The album also was the debut of Wu-Tang’s Biblical Lyricist, Killah Priest. He had his own song on there.
The album also had a mysterious feel to it. The cover, the lyrics, and the beat. I felt like a was a black man in a Ninja uniform, while listening to it.
I knew a cool blonde haired chicken in college who bought Liquid Swords and took it to a party. It was stolen within minutes.
That album was like hot cakes. It could’ve easily gone platinum in the 90s with more Radio play.
I’m very happy for Genius, Rza, and Wu-Tang. A Toast to True Craftsmanship, True Lyrical Skills, and True Hip Hop beats.
Raise a glass for The Genius, the Lyrical Grandmaster Ninja of the Wu-Tang Clan. Peace to Gza’s lyrical crew within the Wu-Tang Clan….Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck, the Lyrical Detective of the Wu-Tang Clan.
DJ OFFICER BAD GUY(on Twitter and Spotify) @OFFICER_BAD_GUY on Spotify djofficerbadguy
Dumbass autocorrect spelling Error in my last comment.
Dr. Dre & should read ‘Dr. Dre and’.
Blonde haired Chicken should read ‘Blonde haired Chick’.
Autocorrect should be called AutoError