Beneath the Surface
| Beneath the Surface | |||||
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| Studio album by GZA/Genius | |||||
| Released | June 29, 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | 1998–1999 | ||||
| Genre | Hip hop | ||||
| Length | 46:00 | ||||
| Label | MCA Records MCADE-11969 |
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| Producer | GZA Arabian Knight RZA John the Baptist Inspectah Deck Mathematics Arabian Knight |
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| GZA/Genius chronology | |||||
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| Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology | |||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| RapReviews | 7/10 link |
| Stylus Magazine | (B) 2003 |
| Stylus Magazine | (mixed) 2007 |
| Warr.org | link |
| USA Today | link |
| Yahoo! Music | favorable link |
Beneath the Surface is the third solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, an American hip hop musician. It was his second album released as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan.
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[edit] Reception
Reviews were mostly positive, though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords acclaim and commercial success. However, critics pointed to production as the album's main weakness, noting a distinct lack of RZA-produced tracks, resulting in a messy collage of beats rather than a cohesive sound. There were also complaints about the presence of skits and the vast number of guest spots. However, the album did manage to be certified Gold by the RIAA
Alternative Press (10/99, p. 92) - 5 out of 5 - "...the first clear indication...of where the most important act of the hip-hop decade want to take their legions of followers....[RZA's] a master of structure and strategy..."
CMJ (7/12/99, p. 26) - "...solid fusion of RZA-esque string play and thumping jeep beats provide an equally formidable backdrop for the Genius's ever-heady lyrical chessboxing....Surface is a family affair with impressive guest spots....Behold the first true Wu-Banger of 1999."
Rap Pages (9/99, pp. 172–4) - "...an album for thinking individuals....GZA is masterful at wordplay, and the accompanying music makes the listening all the more pleasurable..." - Rating: A
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Time | Producer(s) | Performer(s) | Notes |
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| 1 | "Intro" | 1:16 | GZA | ||
| 2 | "Amplified Sample" | 3:31 | Mathematics |
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| 3 | "Beneath the Surface" | 4:29 | Inspectah Deck |
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Sample: "Back To You" by Jean Plum |
| 4 | "Skit #1" | 0:37 | GZA | ||
| 5 | "Skit #2" | 0:31 | GZA | ||
| 6 | "Crash Your Crew" | 3:07 | John the Baptist |
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Sample: "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch |
| 7 | "Breaker, Breaker" | 3:38 | Arabian Knight |
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| 8 | "High Price, Small Reward" | 1:43 | Mathematics |
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| 9 | "Hip Hop Fury" | 3:44 | Arabian Knight |
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| 10 | "Skit #3" | 0:47 | GZA | ||
| 11 | "1112" | 4:18 | RZA |
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| 12 | "Skit #4" | 0:45 | GZA | ||
| 13 | "Victim" | 4:04 | Arabian Knight |
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| 14 | "Publicity" | 2:37 | Mathematics |
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Sample: I (Who Have Nothing)" by Terry Knight and the Pack |
| 15 | "Feel Like An Enemy" | 3:12 | Mathematics |
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| 16 | "Stringplay (Like This, Like That)" | 3:18 | Arabian Knight |
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| 17 | "Mic Trippin" | 2:59 | Mathematics |
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| 18 | "Outro" | 1:34 | Arabian Knight |
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[edit] Credits
- Arabian Knight - Producer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Assistant Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Assistant
- Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic - Engineer
- Tom Coyne - Mastering
- Joan Davis - Performer
- GZA - Producer, Executive Producer
- Inspectah Deck - Producer
- John the Baptist - Producer
- Killah Priest - Vocals
- La the Darkman - Vocals
- Masta Killa - Vocals
- Mathematics - Producer
- Method Man - Vocals
- Hell Razah - Vocals
- Ol' Dirty Bastard - Performer
- RZA - Vocals, Executive Producer
- Trigga - Performer
[edit] Samples
"Breaker, Breaker"
- Scorpion- "Representin' My Hood" (2009)
[edit] See also
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