BENEATH THE SURFACE is an Enhanced audio CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel includes: Genius/GZA, Killah Priest, Res, Masta Killa, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Trigga, Method Man, Royal Fam, Njeri, LA The Darkman, Dreddy Kreuger, Hell Raizah, Prodigal Sun, Joan Davis.
Producers include: GZA, Arabian Knight, Inspectah Deck, John The Baptist, Mathematics.
GZA is something of a mad scientist-easily one of hiphop's most intellectual and complex MC's. Here he drops his third solo album, BENEATH THE SURFACE. Filled with guest vocal appearances from his Wu-Tang Clan brothers Ol' Dirty Bastard, Killah Priest, Masta Killa, and RZA, BENEATH THE SURFACE is another classic work of GZA word-art. Look no further than the media-hype wordplay of "Publicity" to see why GZA is in a class by himself.
Mathematics and Arabian Knight handle most of the production on BENEATH THE SURFACE, but check the title cut, produced by Inspectah Deck. Don't miss the first single, "Breaker, Breaker," "Amplified Sample," and "Stringplay (Like This, Like That)," the latter featuring a hot verse from Method Man. Who knows when or if we'll see another Wu-Tang album? Until then, BENEATH THE SURFACE is a gem you'll want to spin over and over again.
Professional Reviews
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
