| "4th Chamber" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by GZA featuring RZA, Ghostface Killah and Killah Priest | ||||
| from the album Liquid Swords | ||||
| B-side | "Shadowboxin'" | |||
| Released | March 28, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 4:37 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | RZA | |||
| GZA singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| RZA singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Ghostface Killah singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Killah Priest singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Shadowboxin' / 4th Chamber" on YouTube | ||||
"4th Chamber" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA,released as the fourth and final single (along with "Shadowboxin'") from his second studio album Liquid Swords (1995),on March 28,1996. It features fellow Wu-Tang members RZA and Ghostface Killah and American rapper Killah Priest. The song contains samples from the film Shogun Assassin ,"Assassin With Son" by W. Michael Lewis &Mark Lewis from the movie Shogun Assassin,"Groovin'" by Willie Mitchell and "Dharmatma Theme Music (Sad)" by Kalyanji Anandji.
GZA stated in an interview with Wax Poetics :
Making "4th Chamber" was crazy because I didn't have a rhyme ready for that one. That's why I went last on it. Plus,Ghost killed it with his verse so I knew I had to come correct. It's not even a GZA song to me—it's a Wu-Tang song. And Ghost's verse is just incredible to me. He delivered so well. I don't know if you saw the video,I directed that too. This song,the guest verses,the video,the crowd response,all turned out perfect for this one." [1]
The song begins with dialogue excerpt from Shogun Assassin: "Choose the sword and you will join me, choose the ball and you will join your mother in death." [2] Built on an electric guitar-laden beat, [3] [4] it features an "impossibly bugged-out synth hook". In Ghostface Killah's verse, he asks complex metaphysical questions and mentions "sipping rum out of Stanley Cups". [4] [5]
The song received generally positive reviews. Cheo Hodari Coker of Los Angeles Times , describing the song to be "hypnotic", cited it as one of the songs from Liquid Swords that "add to the evidence that the Wu-Tang Clan are the kings of New York rap." [6] Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews wrote, "the raw verbal assaults of Killah Priest, RZA, and Ghostface Killah share the spotlight with GZA on '4th Chamber.' Built on a track which was heavy metal and headbanging long Limp Bizkit became trendy, the track bubbles over with the supreme confidence only a crew of rappers sitting on top of the world could possibly have. Just peep the boastful and disdainful lyricism of Killah Priest as an example". [3] Chris Smith from Stylus Magazine wrote, "soon gives way to an even more astonishing, hyperactive RZA verse, rich in breathless they've-got-documents-on-it-locked-away but-they-know-we're-onto-them and-they're-coming-for-us paranoia with a righteous-anger, gnomic undertone. It doesn't make much sense, but it sure is amazing." [4] In a review of the album, Ian Cohen of Pitchfork stated "Outside of RZA's phenomenal third-eye verse from '4th Chamber' (yell 'lynched the prominent dominant Islamic, Asiatic black Hebrew' on the subway, it's fun), there is almost nothing here that can't be easily understood by a teenager." [5] Rachel Greenberg of Okayplayer commented that Ghostface Killah "spaz[zes] out on [a] stellar guest turn". [7]
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member.
Lamont Jody Hawkins, better known by his stage name U-God, meaning Universal-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on November 7, 1995, by Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in the New York City borough of Staten Island. The album heavily samples dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin and maintains a dark atmosphere throughout, incorporating lyrical references to chess, crime and philosophy. Liquid Swords features numerous guest appearances from the other eight members of Wu-Tang Clan along with Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest.
Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper and hip hop producer. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
Walter Reed, better known by his stage name Killah Priest, is an American rapper, member of Sunz of Man and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his intensely spiritual lyrics, containing religious references and metaphors. He is connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites through his rhymes, and is known for his controversial and political subject matter. He is also a part of supergroup the HRSMN along with Canibus, Ras Kass, and Kurupt.
Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and occasional rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Made in Brooklyn is the second solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa. The album was released on August 8, 2006, by Nature Sounds. Recording sessions took place during 2004 to 2006. Production was handled by Pete Rock, Bronze Nazareth, Whyz Ruler and MF Doom, as well as guest appearances from all the other seven surviving Wu-Tang Clan members. Upon its release, Made in Brooklyn has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The album peaked at number 176 on the US Billboard 200.
The Wu-Elements are a production team closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. A loosely knit group, it consists of five producers who typically support main producer RZA in handling production duties for Wu-Tang group, solo and affiliate releases.
The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of ten American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. This list chronologically displays the albums of each group member including collaboration and side group albums. This list does not include compilation albums, mixtapes, or extended plays.
The following list is a discography of production by American hip hop record producer and recording artist the RZA. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released on August 1, 1995, by Loud Records and RCA Records. The album was loosely composed to play like a film with Raekwon as the "star", fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah as the "guest-star", and producer RZA as the "director". It features appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The album also features debut appearances from affiliates Cappadonna and Blue Raspberry, and an acclaimed guest appearance from rapper Nas, which marked the first collaboration with a non-affiliated artist on a Wu-Tang related album.
Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, by Loud and RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up to their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . Forever features several guest appearances from Wu-Tang affiliates Cappadonna, Streetlife, 4th Disciple, True Master, and Tekitha. The original run of compact discs featured an enhanced CD which allowed users to walk around the "Wu Mansion" and access additional content.
Gary Grice, better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American rapper. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both the first member in the group to receive a record deal and being the oldest member. He has appeared on his fellow Wu-Tang members' solo projects, and has maintained a successful solo career starting with Liquid Swords (1995).
No Said Date is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa. The album was released on June 1, 2004, by Nature Sounds. The album features guest appearances from Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Streetlife, Prodigal Sunn, Killah Priest, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Allah Real, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and GZA.
Ironman is the debut studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on October 29, 1996, by Epic Records. It was produced by fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The album's music draws prominently on blaxploitation films and soul samples. More so than on other solo debuts from the group's members, Ironman contains references to the Nation of Gods and Earths.
"Wu Tang Forever" is a song by American rapper Logic, featured as the sixth track on his 2018 album YSIV. The song is a homage to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and features all living members of the group: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA, as well as Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty; deceased member Ol' Dirty Bastard received a writing credit. The song shares the same title as the group's second studio album.
"Liquid Swords" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. It is the second single and title track of his second studio album (1995). The song contains background vocals from RZA, who also produced the song.
"Shadowboxin'" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, featuring fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man. It was released as the fourth and final single from GZA's second studio album Liquid Swords (1995), on March 28, 1996. The song was produced by RZA.
"Cold World'" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on October 10, 1995, as the second single from his second studio album Liquid Swords (1995). It features fellow Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck and singer Life. The song contains samples from "In The Rain" by The Dramatics and "Plastic People" by The Mothers of Invention, interpolations from "Rocket Love" by Stevie Wonder and "Love Me In A Special Way" by DeBarge, the film Shogun Assassin.
