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

Stargate SG-1 is an United States-Canadian science fiction television series, part of the Stargate. Its story begins one year after the events of the 1994 science fiction film Stargate ....
 episode, see Beneath the Surface (Stargate SG-1)


Beneath the Surface is a 1999
1999 in music

See also:* 1999 in music * :Category:Record labels established in 1999...
 album from Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City?based hip hop group. Wu-Tang Clan consists of nine United States rapping: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard....
 member GZA
GZA

Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
, an American hip hop music
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
ian. It was his second album released as a member of Wu-Tang and his third overall.

ews were mostly positive, though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords

Liquid Swords is the second solo album by Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. It was released on November 7, 1995 through Geffen Records....
 acclaim and commercial success.






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Encyclopedia


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

Stargate SG-1 is an United States-Canadian science fiction television series, part of the Stargate. Its story begins one year after the events of the 1994 science fiction film Stargate ....
 episode, see Beneath the Surface (Stargate SG-1)


Beneath the Surface is a 1999
1999 in music

See also:* 1999 in music * :Category:Record labels established in 1999...
 album from Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City?based hip hop group. Wu-Tang Clan consists of nine United States rapping: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard....
 member GZA
GZA

Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
, an American hip hop music
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
ian. It was his second album released as a member of Wu-Tang and his third overall.

Reception

Reviews were mostly positive, though it failed to live up to Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords

Liquid Swords is the second solo album by Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. It was released on November 7, 1995 through Geffen Records....
 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.

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"
    • Producer: Mathematics
      Mathematics (producer)

      Mathematics, also known as Allah Mathematics, is a hip hop music producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan. He is known for his distinctly traditional Wu-Tang sound ....
  3. "Beneath the Surface"
    • First verse: GZA
      GZA

      Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
    • Second verse: Killah Priest
      Killah Priest

      Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest or simply Priest , is an United States rapping and affiliate of the hip hop culture group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Chorus: Res
      Res

      Shareese Ren?e Ballard, better known as Res is a female rock music/R&B singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her music is a mixture of soul music and rock music....
    • Producer: Inspectah Deck
      Inspectah Deck

      Jason Hunter , better known as Inspectah Deck, is an United States rapping, Record producer, and Acting. A founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, he has not achieved the same level of success in his solo career as some of his fellow Clansmen ; nevertheless, he has continued to release material into the late 2000's....
  4. "Skit 1"
  5. "Skit 2"
  6. "Crash Your Crew"
    • Intro: RZA
      RZA

      Robert F. Diggs , better known as RZA , is an United States Grammy winning music producer, rapper, and occasional actor. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the hip hop music group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Chorus: Ol' Dirty Bastard
      Ol' Dirty Bastard

      Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard . He was one of the founding members of the hip hop music group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Producer: John the Baptist
      John the Baptist (producer)

      John Hitchman Jr., better known as John the Baptist, is a hip hop producer who is affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. His production company is called Deadly Venoms Productions....
  7. "Breaker Breaker"
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
      Arabian Knight (producer)

      Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....
  8. "High Price Small Reward"
    • First verse: GZA
      GZA

      Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
    • Second verse: Masta Killa
      Masta Killa

      Elgin Turner , better known as Masta Killa, is an United States rapping and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Though one of the lesser-known members of the group and on their debut album was only in one song: "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" in which he had the last verse....
    • Producer: Mathematics
  9. "Hip Hop Fury"
    • Chorus: RZA
      RZA

      Robert F. Diggs , better known as RZA , is an United States Grammy winning music producer, rapper, and occasional actor. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the hip hop music group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • First verse: Hell Razah
      Hell Razah

      Hell Razah is an United States rapping, best known as a member of Sunz of Man, an early List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates of the Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Second verse: GZA
    • Third verse: Timbo King
    • Fourth verse: Dreddy Kruger
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
      Arabian Knight (producer)

      Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....
  10. "Skit 3"
  11. "1112"
    • First verse: GZA
      GZA

      Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
    • Second verse: Masta Killa
    • Third verse: Killah Priest
      Killah Priest

      Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest or simply Priest , is an United States rapping and affiliate of the hip hop culture group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Fourth verse: Njeri
    • Producer: RZA
  12. "Skit 4"
  13. "Victim"
    • First verse: GZA
      GZA

      Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
    • Second verse: Njeri
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
      Arabian Knight (producer)

      Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....
  14. "Publicity"
    • Producer: Mathematics
  15. "Feel Like An Enemy"
    • First verse & chorus: Hell Razah
    • Second verse: Killah Priest
      Killah Priest

      Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest or simply Priest , is an United States rapping and affiliate of the hip hop culture group Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Third verse: Trigga
    • Fourth verse: Prodigal Sunn
      Prodigal Sunn

      Prodigal Sunn is an American rapper, who is a member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group Sunz of Man. he is also a solo artist and cousin of RZA. With 12 O'Clock makes up the duo Two On Da Road....
    • Producer: Mathematics
  16. "Stringplay (Like This, Like That)"
    • First verse: GZA
      GZA

      Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
    • Second verse & chorus: Method Man
      Method Man

      Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man, is an United Statesn hip hop music, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop culture collective Wu-Tang Clan....
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
      Arabian Knight (producer)

      Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....
  17. "Mic Trippin"
    • Producer: Mathematics
  18. "Outro"
    • First verse: La The Darkman
      La the Darkman

      La the Darkman is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated American rapper. Also notable for having recorded several times and developed a friendship with the virtual hip hop pariah Vanilla Ice....
    • Second verse : Timbo King
    • Producer: Arabian Knight
      Arabian Knight (producer)

      Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....


Credits


  • Arabian Knight
    Arabian Knight (producer)

    Sulayman Ansari, better known as Arabian Knight, is a hip hop producer affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also been credited as Q-Base....
     - Producer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Assistant Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Assistant
  • Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic - Engineer
  • Tom Coyne - Mastering
  • Joan Davis - Performer
  • GZA
    GZA

    Gary Grice , better known by his stage name GZA , is an United States hip hop music artist best known as a founding member of seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan and for his inclusion on their group albums, his groupmates' solo releases and a successful solo career....
     - Producer, Executive Producer
  • Inspectah Deck - Producer
  • John the Baptist - Producer
  • Killah Priest
    Killah Priest

    Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest or simply Priest , is an United States rapping and affiliate of the hip hop culture group Wu-Tang Clan....
     - Vocals
  • LA the Darkman - Vocals
  • Masta Killa
    Masta Killa

    Elgin Turner , better known as Masta Killa, is an United States rapping and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Though one of the lesser-known members of the group and on their debut album was only in one song: "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" in which he had the last verse....
     - Vocals
  • Mathematics - Producer
  • Method Man
    Method Man

    Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man, is an United Statesn hip hop music, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop culture collective Wu-Tang Clan....
     - Vocals
  • Hell Razah - Vocals
  • Ol' Dirty Bastard
    Ol' Dirty Bastard

    Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard . He was one of the founding members of the hip hop music group Wu-Tang Clan....
     - Performer
  • RZA
    RZA

    Robert F. Diggs , better known as RZA , is an United States Grammy winning music producer, rapper, and occasional actor. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the hip hop music group Wu-Tang Clan....
     - Vocals, Executive Producer
  • Trigga - Performer