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Real Name: Gary Grice a.k.a The Genius a.k.a Maximillion a.k.a Justice
Biography: The Genius/GZA is the oldest and most experienced Wu-Tang member, he was born and raised in Staten Island, but has strong connections with Brooklyn and Manhattan. The RZA, The Genius/GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard had the deepest roots in the clan, in the early 80's they were part of a group called 'All In Together Now', very little is known about the group, and no material has surfaced from them, but according to other Wu members, if this group had of surfaced in Hip-Hop at that time, they would have been the greatest group of all time, following this misterious venture, The Genius signed with Cold Chillin', and The RZA (Prince Rakeem) signed with Tommy Boy. GZA is the only Wu-Member so far to release 2 solo albums, his first album is pretty unknown, it was first released in 1991, but later re-issued in 1994 after the success of the 'Enter The Wu-Tang', 'Words From The Genius' was a strong album for it's time, but was still a flop, GZA has a lot of hatred for Cold Chillin' Records because of this album, and took this hatred very seriously on his second album, released on Geffen Records, 'Liquid Swords' was an explosion of styles, with lyrics as sharp as swords and flows like liquid, it quickly became a Wu-Classic and in my opinion the best Wu-solo album ever. The Gza's third album is entitled 'Beneath The Surface'released on MCA. The third is not a good as Liquid Swords, but it is still very dope. The first single off the album is Breaker, Breaker. According to GZA his Fourth Album entitled 'Above The Surface' should be out sometime in December'99. Check out some music from Gza/Genius in the Music Section!
Interesting Facts:
It was The Genius/GZA who first told RZA about the Parliament of Gods and Earths, when he was aged 11. The Parliament is effectively a church, though denying the existence of any supernatural 'Mystery God,' and through it RZA was taught the 120 lessons of the Living Mathematics, the metaphysical teachings of the Five Percent Nation (an offshoot of the Nation of Islam), hidden meanings in all things. That names, numbers and signs are repositories of a body of knowledge that is withheld from 85% of the people. That five percent, and handed down by the remaining 10%, the Poor Righteous Teachers. Mathematics runs through the semantics of the Wu-Tang Clan. (Quoted from HHC Magazine)
The RZA, The Genius/GZA & The Ol' Dirty Bastard are cousins.
The Genius/GZA directs most of the Wu-Tang Clan music videos, he also directs for The Sunz Of Man & Shabazz The Disciple. He has created some of the most exciting videos in Hip-Hop.
Takes band-wide loathing of lousy A&R men to another level on ‘Liquid Swords’ sleeve artwork, which features drawing of hooded swordsman decapitating a hapless record executive
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