Released at the end of a quiet year for the
Wu-Tang family,
GZA's
Legend of the Liquid Sword proves Gary Grice is easily the most underrated rapper in the fold, and definitely the most consistent as a solo artist. The album gains power as it progresses; after a compelling "Auto Bio" that's chained down by a bland production, and "Did Ya Say That," wherein the
Genius sounds downright confused (or worse, resigned) about the game of label politics,
Legend of the Liquid Sword locks into a great groove with the single "Knock, Knock" and rarely misses after that. Unsurprisingly, the
Wu-Tang features "Fam (Members Only)," featuring
RZA and
Masta Killa, and "Silent," featuring
Ghostface Killah, are big highlights, with a sound similar to 2001's Iron Flag. Surprisingly, though, his track with low-profile
Wu-Tang member
Inspectah Deck bests the other two. "Fame" finds the
Genius weaving some clever word games around celebrity names, and guest Allen Anthony makes the title track into a grand funk jam akin to
OutKast. The productions on
Legend of the Liquid Sword are below average for a talent like his, but chances are good that's by design; since
GZA is a rapper's rapper, his smooth flow and excellent imagination are all that's necessary to propel any of these tracks. ~ John Bush