Beneath the Surface

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Beneath the Surface
Studio album by GZA
Released	June 29, 1999
Recorded	1998–1999
Genre	Hip hop
Length	46:00
Label	MCA
Producer	GZA, Arabian Knight, RZA
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link RapReviews.com link Robert Christgau link
GZA chronology
Liquid Swords (1995) Beneath the Surface (1999) Legend of the Liquid Sword (2002)

This article is about Beneath the Surface, the album by GZA. For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see Beneath the Surface (Stargate SG-1)

Beneath the Surface is a 1999 (see 1999 in music) album from Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, an American hip hop musician. It was his second album released as a member of Wu-Tang and his third overall.

[edit] Reception

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

1. "Intro"
2. "Amplified Sample"
   • Producer: Mathematics
3. "Beneath the Surface"
   • First verse: GZA
   • Second verse: Killah Priest
   • Chorus: Res
   • Producer: Inspectah Deck
4. "Skit 1"
5. "Skit 2"
6. "Crash Your Crew"
   • Intro: RZA
   • Chorus: Ol' Dirty Bastard
   • Producer: John the Baptist
7. "Breaker Breaker"
   • Producer: Arabian Knight
8. "High Price Small Reward"
   • First verse: GZA
   • Second verse: Masta Killa
   • Producer: Mathematics
9. "Hip Hop Fury"
   • Chorus: RZA
   • First verse: Hell Razah
   • Second verse: GZA
   • Third verse: Timbo King
   • Fourth verse: Dreddy Kruger
   • Producer: Arabian Knight
10. "Skit 3"
11. "1112"
    • First verse: GZA
    • Second verse: Masta Killa
    • Third verse: Killah Priest
    • Fourth verse: Njeri
    • Producer: RZA
12. "Skit 4"
13. "Victim"
    • First verse: GZA
    • Second verse: Njeri
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
14. "Publicity"
    • Producer: Mathematics
15. "Feel Like An Enemy"
    • First verse & chorus: Hell Razah
    • Second verse: Killah Priest
    • Third verse: Trigga
    • Fourth verse: Prodigal Sunn
    • Producer: Mathematics
16. "Stringplay (Like This, Like That)"
    • First verse: GZA
    • Second verse & chorus: Method Man
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
17. "Mic Trippin"
    • Producer: Mathematics
18. "Outro"
    • First verse: La The Darkman
    • Second verse : Timbo King
    • Producer: Arabian Knight

[edit] Credits

• Arabian Knight - Producer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Assistant Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Assistant
• Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic - Engineer
• Tom Coyne - Mastering
• Joan Davis - Performer
• The Genius - 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