GZA Liquid Swords 25th Anniversary Tour at Gabe’s

by Jack Roche
Photos by Hayley Anderson

Wu-Tang hands in the crowd Photo by Hayley Anderson/Fools Magazine — Wu-Tang hands in the crowd
Photo by Hayley Anderson/Fools Magazine

Wu-Tang forever was a shared sentiment throughout the crowd January 30th at Gabe’s as GZA, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his second solo studio album Liquid Swords, arguably one of the most esteemed hip-hop albums of all time. As a Wu-Tang fan myself, it was amazing to feel the energy of the many killa bees there, as well to see a legend in the flesh, GZA The Genius. The hip-hop community in Iowa City does not slack. Hip-hop crowds are one of a kind – one overhears people debate top five best rap albums and best rappers. With shows like these, everyone is there for the culture. I pretended to be on Staten Island while watching this show and a part of a freestyle committee back in the nineties, imagining the formation of GZA with RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa. That night, the spirit of those scenes are alive in Iowa City.

The two openers for GZA were both local acts, Strangers Of Necessity and The Only Ion. Seeing these two local hip-hoppers hosted by GZA was ecstatic. The hip-hop heads are here in Iowa City, and it’s a shame there aren’t many places that host these acts. The Only Ion and his crew had a cipher session on stage to cap their performance. I thought of them bringing their ciphers from their basement sessions to sharing the stage with a legend like The Genius.

GZA The Genius Photo by Hayley Anderson/Fools Magazine — GZA The Genius
Photo by Hayley Anderson/Fools Magazine

Opening with a pure reflection of why so many people at that show love hip-hop and Wu-Tang Clan, GZA began with “Duel of the Iron Mic.” From there The Genius played much of Liquid Swords and many other Wu-Tang jams. Although it was just GZA and his DJ on stage, you could feel the energy of the whole clan – especially hearing GZA spit bars from Ol’ Dirty Bastard, particularly those from “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” Hearing the words of the late rapper being spit from one of the founding members of the group and a lifelong friend was chilling. I was barely conscious when ODB passed, but a wound was reopened hearing GZA deliver some of his best lines.

Seeing GZA at Gabe’s was one of the most emotional and communal shows I have seen in Iowa City. Strangers Of Necessity and The Only Ion demonstrated what Iowa City has to offer in terms of hip-hop. Hip-hop heads showed out in a packed and energetic crowd. That night it was Wu-Tang over everything – Wu-Tang forever.