Track listing
Show track credits
- 1 Opening 1:34
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bass
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- 2 Those That's Bout it 3:24
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guitar
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- 3 Destruction of a Guard 4:00
- 4 Exploitation of Mistakes 3:21
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piano
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- 5 General Principles 3:39
- 6 Advance Pawns 4:02
- 7 Queen's Gambit 4:35
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bass
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piano
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backing vocals
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trumpet
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- 8 All in Together Now 4:24
- feat. RZA
- 9 Unstoppable Threats 3:44
- feat. Masta Killa & Prodigal Sunn
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writer
-
writer
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bass
- 10 Unprotected Pieces 3:29
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bass, keyboards
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- 11 Illusory Protection 4:27
- 12 Smothered Mate 3:12
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writer
-
writer
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guitar, keyboards
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bass, organ
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- Total length: 43:51
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
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2 Issues
- Release view [combined information for all issues]
-
Grandmasters [p]
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Grandmasters 120 gram, 33 rpm
31 Reviews
Two grandmasters in hip hop met up in 2005 to make some dope music. DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill meets up with GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan for the first installment in the "DJ Muggs Vs ..." series.
Everything on this album seems to have a little inspiration from chess. GZA's personal sport of choice. Many of the tracktitles have references to the chessgame. It just shows how much thought GZA likes to put into his work. It also shows in the lyrics on Grandmasters. I really thought he was spitting some gems here. There are just so many tracks where he walks the extra mile with some dope storytelling. His eye for details in a lyric is just uncanny, just take a listen to 'Exploitation Of Mistakes'. I just love how is able to spit such miserable stories, he really brings it all too life. Then there is also 'Queen's Gambit', on which he uses NFL teams and sex, too tell a good story, but the way he uses all the NFL teams in his lyrics is just incredible. It is stuff I really dig. On this album is also a track GZA had actually written for Ol' Dirty Bastard. I am pretty sure it was 'All In Together Now'. Since ODB died, he decided to use the song on his own album and change the perspective. I remember him saying in an interview that he wrote it for ODB, because he felt the labels around him, were ruining his legacy with bullshit music. When this album dropped, there were some people commenting on how the GZA sounded lazy on some tracks. Back then I didn't really notice. I just thought it was the way he choose to bring his lyrics, because it isn't on every track. I admit it is noticable on some tracks, but not all of them. Even when it is noticable it doesn't really bother me on Grandmasters, it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was on Pro Tools.
Instead of GZA rolling with the RZA or anyone of the Wu-Elements, he is teamed up with DJ Muggs. Probably one of the few guys outside of the Wu, who is still able to make that Wu sound. I think he really succeeded in doing just that. You can't tell me 'Unprotected Pieces' doesn't sound like something RZA would have made a few years ago. These are modern day Wu beats. GZA feels right at home as Muggs keeps providing him with perfect backdroppings for his storytelling skills. It's all about dark beats, that really manage to hit hard at times. The album closer 'Smothered Mate' is all kinds of crazy. On the other hand Muggs can also come up with something slower, but still equally dark, as he shows on 'Queen's Gambit' for example. I just don't see any weak beats on this effort and after these couple of years, it still holds up very nice.
Lyrically GZA has never lost a step, even though the first signs of him loosing his technical skills are here. He still manages to bring dopeness, especially with Muggs providing that incredible Wu sound. They showed why they are grandmasters of the game with this release.
Everything on this album seems to have a little inspiration from chess. GZA's personal sport of choice. Many of the tracktitles have references to the chessgame. It just shows how much thought GZA likes to put into his work. It also shows in the lyrics on Grandmasters. I really thought he was spitting some gems here. There are just so many tracks where he walks the extra mile with some dope storytelling. His eye for details in a lyric is just uncanny, just take a listen to 'Exploitation Of Mistakes'. I just love how is able to spit such miserable stories, he really brings it all too life. Then there is also 'Queen's Gambit', on which he uses NFL teams and sex, too tell a good story, but the way he uses all the NFL teams in his lyrics is just incredible. It is stuff I really dig. On this album is also a track GZA had actually written for Ol' Dirty Bastard. I am pretty sure it was 'All In Together Now'. Since ODB died, he decided to use the song on his own album and change the perspective. I remember him saying in an interview that he wrote it for ODB, because he felt the labels around him, were ruining his legacy with bullshit music. When this album dropped, there were some people commenting on how the GZA sounded lazy on some tracks. Back then I didn't really notice. I just thought it was the way he choose to bring his lyrics, because it isn't on every track. I admit it is noticable on some tracks, but not all of them. Even when it is noticable it doesn't really bother me on Grandmasters, it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was on Pro Tools.
Instead of GZA rolling with the RZA or anyone of the Wu-Elements, he is teamed up with DJ Muggs. Probably one of the few guys outside of the Wu, who is still able to make that Wu sound. I think he really succeeded in doing just that. You can't tell me 'Unprotected Pieces' doesn't sound like something RZA would have made a few years ago. These are modern day Wu beats. GZA feels right at home as Muggs keeps providing him with perfect backdroppings for his storytelling skills. It's all about dark beats, that really manage to hit hard at times. The album closer 'Smothered Mate' is all kinds of crazy. On the other hand Muggs can also come up with something slower, but still equally dark, as he shows on 'Queen's Gambit' for example. I just don't see any weak beats on this effort and after these couple of years, it still holds up very nice.
Lyrically GZA has never lost a step, even though the first signs of him loosing his technical skills are here. He still manages to bring dopeness, especially with Muggs providing that incredible Wu sound. They showed why they are grandmasters of the game with this release.
Published
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Cypress Hill and Wu-Tang Clan meet as DJ Muggs has a hip-hop chess match with the GZA.
For years in my CD collecting days this album eluded me and felt like this monolith of boom bap. Muggs' energy on the board combined with the lyrical precision of the Genius seemed like an undeniable classic record. But, FYE at the mall by my college never had it, so I never heard it.
But with streaming comes ease, and now almost 20 years later I'm finally getting to this and realizing the problem here is the problem with every GZA record post Liquid Swords...he's not that great of a presence. He might be the sharpest lyricist in the entire Wu-Tang Clan, but his energy is so low that he can come off as incredibly dull. Look at a track like "Exploitation of Mistakes", he's out here breaking down some real heavy legal stuff, but he's so boring I felt myself zoning out. This trend continues, and while people have heaped praise on Muggs, I feel like his production isn't doing any work to elevate the subject matter. The beats aren't dynamic and catchy, they don't make the GZA seem more legitimate. While this is easy to listen to, the only times it sneaks into being truly enjoyable is when Raekwon and the RZA are rapping, and I have never been too fond of RZA's clunky flow.
Sometimes in life we set expectations very high for things and they don't deliver. Grandmasters is a record that made me realize that's fine. I'm glad FYE didn't overcharge me for it in 2007.
For years in my CD collecting days this album eluded me and felt like this monolith of boom bap. Muggs' energy on the board combined with the lyrical precision of the Genius seemed like an undeniable classic record. But, FYE at the mall by my college never had it, so I never heard it.
But with streaming comes ease, and now almost 20 years later I'm finally getting to this and realizing the problem here is the problem with every GZA record post Liquid Swords...he's not that great of a presence. He might be the sharpest lyricist in the entire Wu-Tang Clan, but his energy is so low that he can come off as incredibly dull. Look at a track like "Exploitation of Mistakes", he's out here breaking down some real heavy legal stuff, but he's so boring I felt myself zoning out. This trend continues, and while people have heaped praise on Muggs, I feel like his production isn't doing any work to elevate the subject matter. The beats aren't dynamic and catchy, they don't make the GZA seem more legitimate. While this is easy to listen to, the only times it sneaks into being truly enjoyable is when Raekwon and the RZA are rapping, and I have never been too fond of RZA's clunky flow.
Sometimes in life we set expectations very high for things and they don't deliver. Grandmasters is a record that made me realize that's fine. I'm glad FYE didn't overcharge me for it in 2007.
Published
Beats: 3.5
Lyrics: 3.5
Best tracks: Opening, Expolitation of Mistakes
This album is interesting in that it outsources a producer to recreate that classic Wu sound. DJ Muggs doesn't do a bad job of it, but it definitely feels a bit like an imitation of the Wu sound that does not fully work. There is nothing exceptional about this production, but it does the job and it is pretty good. Lots of vocal samples sitting on top of sometimes purposely discordant instrumental loops. Some of the production sounds a bit too computerized, and therefore lacking in authenticity. The production also takes a background function, and there is nothing in the way of switching up the beat or offering some interesting musicality.
Turning to GZA, these beats do actually complement his character. He presents the scholarly lyrics that we all love, but this is where the good side ends. He sounds extremely tired and his voice completely lacks the punch that it had on Liquid Swords and Beneath the Surface. That laziness is just not appropriate for a top tier MC. But at the end of the day, his lyrical content does the job and makes it a worthwhile listen
Grandmasters does lack standouts. There is not a single classic track here, and the best instrumental is the short opening track. The beat on that track is extremely good. It creates a glorious sound with the interlocking guitar-like synths and vocal samples (including a Method Man vocal sample). It is pretty disappointing that a genius could not recreate this for the rest of the album, but he needs to be given credit for delivering a decent record.
Lyrics: 3.5
Best tracks: Opening, Expolitation of Mistakes
This album is interesting in that it outsources a producer to recreate that classic Wu sound. DJ Muggs doesn't do a bad job of it, but it definitely feels a bit like an imitation of the Wu sound that does not fully work. There is nothing exceptional about this production, but it does the job and it is pretty good. Lots of vocal samples sitting on top of sometimes purposely discordant instrumental loops. Some of the production sounds a bit too computerized, and therefore lacking in authenticity. The production also takes a background function, and there is nothing in the way of switching up the beat or offering some interesting musicality.
Turning to GZA, these beats do actually complement his character. He presents the scholarly lyrics that we all love, but this is where the good side ends. He sounds extremely tired and his voice completely lacks the punch that it had on Liquid Swords and Beneath the Surface. That laziness is just not appropriate for a top tier MC. But at the end of the day, his lyrical content does the job and makes it a worthwhile listen
Grandmasters does lack standouts. There is not a single classic track here, and the best instrumental is the short opening track. The beat on that track is extremely good. It creates a glorious sound with the interlocking guitar-like synths and vocal samples (including a Method Man vocal sample). It is pretty disappointing that a genius could not recreate this for the rest of the album, but he needs to be given credit for delivering a decent record.
Published
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I'm not sure if GZA is disinterested or if he just has a slightly altered style. His voice isn't as emphatic as it was but I feel like he really focused on enunciation (on top of his usual, awesome lyrics). The beats here rival RZAs on Liquid Swords. Absolutely awesome beats. DJ Muggs killed it here.
Published
I like it. Reminds me of GZA of ol'.
Published
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1
Opening
-
2
Those That's Bout it
-
4
Exploitation of Mistakes
-
5
General Principles
-
7
Queen's Gambit
-
10
Unprotected Pieces
-
11
Illusory Protection
-
12
Smothered Mate
Published
This is pure dope. I don't really think GZA sounds lazy...he just sounds like the confident Grandmaster. He's never exactly been hype on the mic, but listen to what he's spitting! GZA is on fire here. The beats are perfect. I am surprised to find an album I enjoy almost as much as Liquid Swords at the later point in his career, but Muggs made some bomb shit for the true Grandmaster of hip hop. GZA is so sharp here. You want it.
Published
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