GZA celebrates 30 years of ‘Liquid Swords’ in Garden Grove

The grittiest hip hop came to the Garden AMP in Garden Grove, California, as Wu-Tang Clan legend GZA celebrated his classic 1995 album Liquid Swords by performing the record in its entirety backed by the funky, soul-influenced instrumentation of Phunky Nomads.

Long-time hip hop heads all over LA and OC came into the venue wearing vintage Wu-Tang tees, picked up vinyl and other collectibles from the merch booth, and snagged their spots early — whether that was at a seat or on the GA floor. The vibes are always immaculate at shows like this.

Attendees had one common denominator — a deep appreciation for hip hop culture.

Opening the night was Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest, pushing the evening even further into the golden era of New York hip hop. Though he wasn’t in Wu-Tang proper, Killah Priest frequently collaborated on classic Wu-Tang albums and was a member of the spin-off group Sunz of Man.

After the opening set concluded came “The Genius” of Wu-Tang Clan — GZA. One of the founding members, GZA helped evolve Wu-Tang in the early 1990s, boasting an influence that extends far beyond the group’s success for fellow east coast ensembles such as Griselda, A$AP Mob, and Pro Era.

GZA’s ‘Liquid Swords’ remains one of the most popular hip hop albums of all time.

When Phunky Nomads opened up the set, they captured the raw and dark essence of the album; it was a true ‘you had to be there’ experience, especially for the title track and songs like “4th Chamber”, “Shadowboxin’”, and “Cold World”.

Many of GZA’s famous lines were met with raised W hands, with audience members shouting the lyrics ingrained in them for decades back to the stage. That alone highlighted the masterpiece of Liquid Swords after 30 years for me!

For old school Wu-Tang fans, GZA’s 30th anniversary tour of Liquid Swords brings 1995 back; for younger fans, this show was a night of classic hip hop brought to life. GZA makes appearances more often than some think at the Garden AMP, too, so if you missed the Liquid Swords 30th celebration, be on the lookout for another GZA show popping up soon on the Garden Amp’s website.

Photography by Celeste Basich

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