Liquid Swords got a 10 and best new reissue from p4k today.
Very pleasing. The writer hits on a lot of the thoughts I have about the album. The lyricism and the rhymes are just sublime. They blow me away with every single listen. And the production is phenomenal. RZA genuinely creates an atmosphere. Whenever I listen to Cold World I feel like I need to but a thick jumper on.
My hip-hop Rushmore, as it currently stands:
1. Outkast - Aquemini
Has everything that I love about Outkast - funk, aggression, deep lyrics, fun, effortless vocals, astounding, varying production, much more - all rolled into one package. As good as Southernplayalistic, ATLiens and Stankonia are, this is the one I come back to most often. It has everything.
2. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Probably the best rap album I’ve ever heard. RZA gets a lot of credit for his production, and rightly so, but his style is more laying down good beats and then getting the fuck out of the way to let the rapping shine through. Protect Ya Neck is the best hip-hop track of all time, no contest.
3. Nas - Illmatic
An absolute mastercraft. Not much longer than 40 minutes, no skits to be heard of, just a hungry young rapper trying to make sense of the fucked-up world around him. Sure, Jay-Z has gone on to be more successful, but as much as he dissed Nas (and as good as The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt are), even he had to admit this is a touchstone of the genre. Unwitable.
4. GZA - Swordsman
GZA is now my favourite member of the clan, and all the reasons why are laid out here. The dude’s lyrics are incredibly potent, and whilst his style doesn’t immediately hit you like Ghostface Killah or Ol’ Dirty Bastard, it will get under your skin. It’s death by a thousand cuts. Swordsman might be one of the most underrated tracks ever.