‘Labels’: the GZA song about the dangers of record labels
One of the most respected lyricists in hip-hop, Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA is revered for writing song lyrics that combine his flair for sharp wordplay with thoughtful themes that explore matters across the political and social spectrums. I mean, he’s literally referred to as the rap group’s “spiritual head”. Not just within the genre, but across music at large, GZA is a heavy weight writer.
One particularly interesting song is ‘Labels’, a track that appears on the rapper’s third studio album, 1999’s Beneath the Surface. As fans will know, ‘Labels’, is more than just a solid rap song: it is an excellent display of ambitious and creative lyricism that reinforces GZA’s status as a leader of thoughtful and expressive poetry within the hip-hop scene.
The song itself is a warning from GZA to the community on the dangers and limitations of record labels. Considered by most aspiring musicians to be the golden ticket to a career within the music industry, GZA offers a reality check to the actual dynamic between label and musician from his own personal experience.
“My whole negative experience with Cold Chillin’ [Records] was part of why I made this song—but it wasn’t the main reason,” the rapper explained to Wax Poetics. “I wasn’t deliberately trying to write a song dedicated to problems with labels and so on—I just threw Cold Chillin’ in there because they were an established label at one time.”
“It actually started when I heard my friend say: “Tommy ain’t my boy!” Then it just kind of clicked in my head to use “Tommy” and “Boy.” I mean, I like doing songs based around wordplay with one theme. I actually love doing those kinds of songs. It comes naturally to me for my rhymes to have double meanings.”
GZA had a strained relationship with Cold Chillin’ Records early in his career. He signed with the Warner Bros. distributed label in the early 1990s, releasing his first solo album, Words from the Genius, in 1991. The album, which was predominantly produced by Easy Mo Bee, did not sell well at all, with lack of promotion from the label cited as one of the reasons why. A difficult experience on tour further amplified GZA’s sentiments that he would later rap about on ‘Labels’.
The next year, GZA joined his cousins RZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard in their nine-man group Wu-Tang Clan. His solo album Liquid Swords, released in 1995, peaked at number two on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums chart. Produced by RZA, and featuring appearances from the other members of Wu-Tang Clan alongside group friend Killah Priest, the then critically acclaimed album has only expanded in admiration and adoration since, and is today considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
His follow-up album Beneath the Surface, in which ‘Labels’ features, was produced by both GZA and RZA and also featured the cast of Wu-Tang Clan. Highlighting GZA’s maturity and technical and lyrical prowess, the album peaked at number one on the US Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums.