GZA

GZA was born Gary Grice in Brooklyn, New York City, on August 22, 1966. He developed an interest in hip-hop by attending block parties as a child in the early 1970s, becoming involved in breakdance, graffiti, and DJing. Early on he developed an interest in writing, studying Mother Goose and nursery rhyme. In 1974–1976, before moving from Brooklyn to Staten Island, he listened to The Last Poets;{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jun/19/mogwai-stuart-braithwaite-interviews-wu-tang-clan-gza-atp|title=Introducing the band: Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite interviews Wu-Tang's GZA|author=Harriet Gibsone|date=June 19, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=November 3, 2016}} however, he was attracted by profanity rather than content, and didn't understand the underlying messages until many years later. The Last Poets, as well as songs by The Isley Brothers, the Commodores, and the O'Jays had a big part in his early life, especially regarding the tone and cadence of speech.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/qanda-gza-on-wrestling-his-hip-hop-beginnings-chess-metaphors-and-the-chances-of-a-wu-tang-kung-fu-flick-6626612|title=Q&A: GZA On Wrestling, His Hip-Hop Beginnings, Chess Metaphors, And The Chances of a Wu-Tang Kung Fu Flick|author=Reyan Ali|date=June 14, 2012|publisher=The Village Voice|access-date=November 3, 2016}} Later on, he began to listen to hip hop and R&B, for example by Secret Weapon and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2695327/gza-interview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104010038/http://www.mtv.com/news/2695327/gza-interview/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2016|title=GZA Plans More Ivy League Lectures, Sitcom Pilot And Virus Names|author=Phillip Mylnar|date=January 27, 2012|publisher=MTV|access-date=November 3, 2016}} In 1982, Grice dropped out of high school in the tenth grade.{{cite web|author=John Leland|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/nyregion/columbia-professor-and-gza-aim-to-help-teach-science-through-hip-hop.html|title=A Hip-Hop Experiment|work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 2012|accessdate=January 10, 2022}}

He formed a three-man group with his cousins, Robert Diggs and Russell Jones, who would later be known as RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. At the time he didn't like the sound of his voice. The group, FOI: Force of the Imperial Master, and later All in Together,{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/11/gza-liquid-swords-20-years-anniversary-interview/|title=20 Years, 20 Questions: GZA Revisits 'Liquid Swords'|author=Corbin Reiff|date=November 6, 2015|publisher=Spin|access-date=November 2, 2016}} saw the three rapping and DJing, switching names and performing local shows; since they lived in different boroughs, GZA and Ol' Dirty would travel from Brooklyn out to Staten Island to meet up with their cousin RZA, after which the three would travel across New York City and challenge other MCs to battles.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/12/2/wu-tang-clan-gza-visits-harvard/|title=Wu-Tang Clan Member Visits Harvard|author=James M. Acer|date=December 2, 2011|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|access-date=November 3, 2016}} He left school in the 10th grade, but nurtured his affection for science as he developed his skills as a lyricist.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303640104577436392955009490|title=A Rapper Finds His Muse in the Stars|author=Anna Louie Sussman|date=May 30, 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 3, 2016}}

After some years of this, GZA was signed to Cold Chillin' Records as a solo artist under the name The Genius. He released his debut album, Words from the Genius (1991), produced mostly by Easy Mo Bee, but it failed to sell due to lack of promotion. This, combined with his rocky experience on tour, caused GZA to feel fed up and so he asked if he could be released from the label.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/gza|title=GZA The Exclaim! Questionnaire|author=Vish Khanna|date=October 26, 2008|publisher=Exclaim!|access-date=November 4, 2016}} The album's beat selection is similar to the classic boom-bap sound of the early 1990s, while the lyricism subject is the everyday situations of an individual living in the parts of New York.{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/02/19/today-in-hip-hop-history-gza-releases-words-from-the-genius-25-years-ago/|title=Today In Hip Hop History: Gza Releases "Words From The Genius" 25 Years Ago|author=Kiah Fields|date=February 19, 2016|publisher=The Source|access-date=November 3, 2016}} At the time he worked as a bicycle messenger.

In 1992, GZA joined the Wu-Tang Clan, a group of nine, formed by his cousin RZA. GZA had some high-profile appearances on the group's debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993), including a solo track, "Clan in da Front".{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2015/11/07/today-in-hip-hop-history-wu-tang-clans-gza-drops-his-debut-album-liquid-swords-20-years-ago/|title=Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan's GZA Drops His Debut Album 'Liquid Swords' 20 Years Ago|author=Pologod|date=November 7, 2015|publisher=The Source|access-date=November 3, 2016}} This, combined with appearances on other Clan members' albums such as Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version (1995) and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995) brought him much recognition. According to Method Man, "we form like Voltron and GZA happens to be the head".

These guest appearances were followed up in 1995 with GZA's second studio album, Liquid Swords, produced and recorded entirely in the basement studio by RZA, with the participation of all original Clan members. It was released on November 7 by Geffen Records. The album's complex composition included dialogue sampled from the film Shogun Assassin. The album was met with positive reviews and sold well. It is considered to be one of the best albums from the Wu-Tang camp. It peaked at the #9 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/01/11/today-in-hip-hop-history-gzas-liquid-swords-certified-gold-20-years-ago/|title=Today In Hip Hop History: GZA's 'Liquid Swords' Certified Gold 20 Years Ago|author=Kiah Fields|date=January 11, 2016|publisher=The Source|access-date=November 3, 2016}} On October 8, 2015, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that the album had earned a Platinum certification for having sold more than 1 million copies. It became the first Wu-Tang-related album to get certified since 2004, when Method Man and Ghostface Killah both earned plaques.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/garysuarez/2015/10/08/gza-liquid-swords-platinum/|title=GZA Gives Wu-Tang Clan First Platinum Album In More Than A Decade|author=Gary Suarez|date=October 8, 2015|work=Forbes|access-date=November 3, 2016}} In addition, he directed music videos for four album singles.

After appearing on the Wu-Tang Clan's second album, Wu-Tang Forever (1997), his third studio album Beneath the Surface was released by MCA Records in 1999. The album and its singles "Crash Your Crew" and "Breaker, Breaker" met with critical acclaim.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/beneath-the-surface-mw0000666991|title=AllMusic Review of Beneath the Surface|author=John Bush|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=November 3, 2016}} The album earned a Gold certification by RIAA, peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 chart, and topped the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/515894/gzagenius-digs-up-hit-lp-beneath-the-surface/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104075233/http://www.mtv.com/news/515894/gzagenius-digs-up-hit-lp-beneath-the-surface/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2016|title=GZA/Genius Digs Up Hit LP Beneath the Surface|author=Cristopher Oconnor|date=July 13, 1999|work=Forbes|access-date=November 3, 2016}}

File:Gza-01-mika.jpg

In 2000 the single "Ich lebe für Hip Hop" was released with DJ Tomekk and placed 11th in the German charts.

In 2002, a sequel to his second solo album was released, Legend of the Liquid Sword. It was well-received by critics, yet did not sell well and failed to go Gold. GZA spent 2004 touring, both solo and with the Clan, and made an appearance with RZA in Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee and Cigarettes, opposite Bill Murray. The two also appeared on the Chappelle Show's skits "Wu Tang Financial" and "Racial Draft".{{cite web|url=http://thehowardtheatre.com/show/2016/06/12/gza-with-live-band/|title=GZA – Postponed|date=2016|publisher=Howard Theatre|access-date=November 3, 2016|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104013014/http://thehowardtheatre.com/show/2016/06/12/gza-with-live-band/|url-status=dead}}

In 2005, GZA and DJ Muggs (the producer for hip-hop group Cypress Hill) released collaboration album Grandmasters. Muggs provided all the production for the album, which saw GZA using chess as a metaphor for the rap game, with most of the songs having a chess-themed title.{{cite web|url=http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/Gza-of-Wu-tang/index.php |title=Gza of Wu-tang : Rap, Hip-Hop Interview |access-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234156/http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/Gza-of-Wu-tang/index.php |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}

File:GZA at Paid Dues 3.jpg in New York City, 2008]]

In the summer of 2008, his fifth solo studio album Pro Tools was released by Babygrande Records. It featured production from Black Milk and Jay "Waxxx" Garfield, RZA, Mathematics and True Master. A very controversial song on the album was entitled "Paper Plate", a smooth flowing response aimed at rival rapper 50 Cent. 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 US.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/gza-2008-liquid/|title=GZA – 2008 'Liquid Swords' Tour Dates (some w/ RZA)|date=June 17, 2008|publisher=BrooklynVegan|access-date=November 4, 2016}}

In 2010, he spoke at Harvard University, and since then has visited, among others, MIT, Oxford, USC, NYU, Cornell, where he met with scientists such as David Kaiser and Sallie W. Chisholm{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gza-talks-lectures-science-and-dark-matter-20120403|title=GZA Talks Lectures, Science and 'Dark Matter'|author=Matthew Perpetua|date=April 3, 2012|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 3, 2016}} to seek inspiration.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/03/gza-announces-new-album-dark-matter|title=GZA Announces New Album, "Dark Matter"|author=Andrew Martin|date=March 9, 2012|publisher=Complex|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/taking-physics-class-with-professor-gza-2408708|title=Taking Physics Class with Professor GZA|author=Jeff Weiss|date=March 21, 2012|publisher=LA Weekly|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2014/03/24/watch-gza-drop-science-on-high-school-youth-with-new-program-science-genius/|title=Watch GZA Drop Science On High Scholl Youth With New Program, Science Genius|author=Matt Whitlock|date=March 24, 2014|publisher=The Source|access-date=November 3, 2016}} In 2012, he talked "hip-hop and science" with Neil deGrasse Tyson.[https://www.factmag.com/2012/12/13/watch-gza-talk-hip-hop-and-science-with-astrophysicist-neil-degrasse-tyson Watch GZA talk hip-hop and science with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson], FACT, December 13, 2012

To improve science education in New York City and beyond in late 2012, with the assistance of Columbia University's professor Christopher Emdin and website Rap Genius, he began work on a pilot program called Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. (Bringing Attention to Transforming, Teaching and Learning Science). This initiative motivates young high school students, especially African-American and Latino students, who together make up 70 percent of New York City's student body, to learn science through hip hop, creating scientific raps and engaging in a rap competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/nyregion/columbia-professor-and-gza-aim-to-help-teach-science-through-hip-hop.html?_r=0|title=A Hip-Hop Experiment|author=John Leland|date=November 16, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/19/professor-enter-the-wu-tang-to-teach-high-school-science/|title=Professor: Enter the Wu-Tang to teach high school science|author=Martin Rand|date=November 19, 2012|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 3, 2016|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104075352/http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/19/professor-enter-the-wu-tang-to-teach-high-school-science/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2013/june/science-genius-battles-judges-choose-winning-science-/|title=Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. Judges Choose Winning Science Rap|date=June 26, 2013|publisher=Teachers College, Columbia University|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/07/rap-science-genius-gza/|title=Video: How Rap Battles Are Helping High Schoolers Learn to Love Science|author=Angela Watercutter|date=July 1, 2013|publisher=Wired|access-date=November 3, 2016}}

In the meantime, he continued to work on a related, new studio album called Dark Matter, which is based on a journey through spacetime, universe and physics.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/just-ask-wu-tang-clan-1/|title=School House Rapping With Wu-Tang Clan's GZA|author=Merrill Schwerin|date=March 27, 2013|publisher=PBS|access-date=November 3, 2016}} In late 2015, GZA canceled European tour dates to focus on working on the album with composer Vangelis.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60990-gza-working-with-vangelis-on-new-album/|title=GZA Working With Vangelis on New Album|author=Evan Minsker|date=August 29, 2015|publisher=Pitchfork|access-date=November 2, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6678872/gza-vangelis-tour-dates-canceled|title=GZA Hits Studio With 'Rare' Collaborator Vangelis, Cancels Tour Dates|author=Paley Martin|date=August 31, 2015|publisher=Billboard|access-date=November 4, 2016}} It is planned to be one in a series of albums related to Earth, with the following conceived around oceans. GZA hinted that the albums will be without parental advisory, profanity and nudity.

In February 2015, GZA released a single "The Mexican" (a cover of Babe Ruth's song), featuring guitarist Tom Morello and singer Kara Lane. They performed the song live along with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58712-gza-and-tom-morello-perform-the-mexican-with-the-roots-on-the-tonight-show/|title=GZA and Tom Morello Perform "The Mexican" With the Roots on "The Tonight Show"|author=Evan Minsker|date=March 4, 2015|publisher=Pitchfork|access-date=November 3, 2016}} On June 30, 2016, he released a new space-themed track, "The Spark", produced by Paul Ryder, for NASA's project "Destination: Jupiter", in celebration of the agency's ongoing Juno Mission.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/07/gza-drops-new-song-the-spark-for-nasa|title=GZA Drops New Song "The Spark" for NASA|author=Corbin Reiff|date=July 2, 2016|publisher=Complex|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/02/gza-recorded-a-song-with-happy-mondays-paul-ryder-for-nasa/|title=GZA recorded a song with The Happy Mondays' Paul Ryder for NASA|author=Laurent Fintoni|date=July 2, 2016|publisher=Fact|access-date=November 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7424043/trent-reznor-weezer-gza-more-partner-with-apple-nasa-collaboration-as-juno|title=Trent Reznor, Weezer, GZA & More Partner With Apple-NASA Collaboration as Juno Reaches Jupiter|author=Andy Gensler|date=July 4, 2016|publisher=Billboard|access-date=November 3, 2016}}

In 2020, GZA provided a voice role in Netflix's Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts as Bad Billions, and contributed a song to the series.

{{Main|GZA discography}}

• Words from the Genius (1991)
• Liquid Swords (1995)
• Beneath the Surface (1999)
• Legend of the Liquid Sword (2002)
• Pro Tools (2008)

• GrandMasters with DJ Muggs (2005)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons}}

• [https://www.facebook.com/theGZA/ GZA] on Facebook
• [https://twitter.com/therealgza GZA] on Twitter
• [https://genius.com/artists/Gza GZA] on Genius
• {{IMDb name|1292361}}

{{GZA}}

{{Wu-Tang Clan}}

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Category:1966 births

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:20th-century American male rappers

Category:Bicycle messengers

Category:Cold Chillin' Records artists

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Geffen Records artists

Category:Living people

Category:MCA Records artists

Category:Five percenters

Category:Rappers from Staten Island

Category:Rappers from Brooklyn

Category:Wu-Tang Clan members