Beneath the Surface

Beneath the Surface
Studio album by GZA/Genius
Released June 29, 1999
Recorded 1998–1999
Genre Hip hop
Length 46:00
Label MCA Records
MCADE-11969
Producer GZA
Arabian Knight
RZA
John the Baptist
Inspectah Deck
Mathematics
Arabian Knight
GZA/Genius chronology
Liquid Swords
(1995)		 Beneath the Surface
(1999)		 Legend of the Liquid Sword
(2002)
Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology
RZA:
Bobby Digital in Stereo
(1998)		 Beneath the Surface
(1999)		 Inspectah Deck:
Uncontrolled Substance
(1999)
Professional ratings
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.

Contents

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

Track listing

  1. "Intro"
  2. "Amplified Sample"
  3. "Beneath the Surface"
  4. "Skit #1"
  5. "Skit #2"
  6. "Crash Your Crew"
  7. "Breaker, Breaker"
  8. "High Price, Small Reward"
    • First verse: GZA
    • Second verse: Masta Killa
    • Producer: Mathematics
  9. "Hip Hop Fury"
  10. "Skit #3"
  11. "1112"
  12. "Skit #4"
  13. "Victim"
  14. "Publicity"
  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)"
  17. "Mic Trippin"
    • Producer: Mathematics
  18. "Outro"

Credits

Samples

"Breaker, Breaker"

See also

GZA
Studio albums
Singles
"I Gotcha Back"  · "Liquid Swords"  · "Cold World"  · "Shadowboxing"
Collaboration albums
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