Grandmasters is a collaborative studio album by American Los Angeles–based record producer DJ Muggs and New York–based rapper GZA. It was released on October 6, 2005 via Angeles Records, serving as Muggs' first in his "DJ Muggs vs." series and GZA's fifth album. Produced entirely by Muggs, it features fellow Wu-Tang Clan members and affiliates Raekwon, RZA, Masta Killa and Prodigal Sunn, as well as Cypress Hill's Sen Dog. The project has a theme of chess as can be seen by the track names. Introductions featuring chess strategy, including instruction for a chess opening using algebraic notation, are within the album. The album was also released in 'Instrumentals' and 'Remix' versions. The latter containing a bonus DVD featuring world tour and studio footage.
Chess is the ultimate board game. Monopoly is not in its league and Checkers doesn't compare at all. It's civilized war. It's a mathematical thing, its science, and it's strategy. That's life all the time. Just planning your day, being ten steps ahead and seeing the moves ahead. That's what chess is about. I'm not the greatest player. I'm not a master or a grandmaster. I lose a lot, but I learn. I've been defeated plenty times. I play online and I might have 900 wins and 850 losses but I play all the time. The game is fascinating and I am captivated by that. The album I just dropped is called Grandmasters. That's the highest level you reach when playing chess and it's also the highest level of emceeing, producing and deejaying. Most of the titles are chess slang 'Queen's Gambit', 'Destruction of a Guard', 'Unprotected Pieces', and 'Illusory Protection'. I incorporate chess into certain rhymes. I use chess all the time. Chess is a big part of what I do.
^Ryce, Jeff (February 1, 2006). "DJ Muggs vs GZA - Grandmasters". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^Engelen, Alexander. "Fanfaren, Pianos und Bässe lassen den Hip Hop der alten Schule aufleben ..." laut.de (in German). Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"Grandmasters | Prefixmag.com". Prefix Magazine. November 15, 2005. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^Juon, Steve 'Flash' (November 1, 2005). "DJ Muggs vs. GZA :: Grandmasters :: Angeles Records". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: DJ Muggs Vs GZA the Genius". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"DJ Muggs Vs GZA - Grandmasters (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. May 7, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"DJ Muggs Vs GZA - Grandmasters (album review 2) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. March 21, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^McGowan, Ross (November 1, 2005). "DJ Muggs vs. GZA - Grandmasters - Review - Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"GZA (Wu-Tang) - Halftimeonline - Hip Hop Music & Culture". Halftimeonline. 2006-04-10. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
^"GZA Genius Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"DJ Muggs Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^"DJ Muggs Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
External linksedit
DJ Muggs vs. GZA The Genius – Grandmasters at Discogs (list of releases)
May 05, 2024
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Grandmasters is a collaborative studio album by American Los Angeles based record producer DJ Muggs and New York based rapper GZA It was released on October 6 2005 via Angeles Records serving as Muggs first in his DJ Muggs vs series and GZA s fifth album Produced entirely by Muggs it features fellow Wu Tang Clan members and affiliates Raekwon RZA Masta Killa and Prodigal Sunn as well as Cypress Hill s Sen Dog The project has a theme of chess as can be seen by the track names Introductions featuring chess strategy including instruction for a chess opening using algebraic notation are within the album The album was also released in Instrumentals and Remix versions The latter containing a bonus DVD featuring world tour and studio footage GrandmastersStudio album by DJ Muggs vs GZAReleasedOctober 6 2005 2005 10 06 Recorded2005StudioS A Recording Los Angeles CA GenreHip hopLength43 46LabelAngeles RecordsProducerDJ MuggsDJ Muggs chronologyDust 2003 Grandmasters 2005 Legend of the Mask and the Assassin 2007 GZA chronologyLegend of the Liquid Sword 2002 Grandmasters 2005 Pro Tools 2008 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 Cokemachineglow87 2 HipHopDX4 5 3 laut de 4 Prefix9 10 5 RapReviews8 5 10 6 Robert Christgau 7 Sputnikmusic4 5 5 8 5 5 9 StylusB 10 Contents 1 Background 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 4 Charts 5 References 6 External linksBackground editChess is the ultimate board game Monopoly is not in its league and Checkers doesn t compare at all It s civilized war It s a mathematical thing its science and it s strategy That s life all the time Just planning your day being ten steps ahead and seeing the moves ahead That s what chess is about I m not the greatest player I m not a master or a grandmaster I lose a lot but I learn I ve been defeated plenty times I play online and I might have 900 wins and 850 losses but I play all the time The game is fascinating and I am captivated by that The album I just dropped is called Grandmasters That s the highest level you reach when playing chess and it s also the highest level of emceeing producing and deejaying Most of the titles are chess slang Queen s Gambit Destruction of a Guard Unprotected Pieces and Illusory Protection I incorporate chess into certain rhymes I use chess all the time Chess is a big part of what I do GZA 11 Track listing editAll music is composed by DJ MuggsNo TitleLength1 Opening 1 342 Those That s Bout It 3 243 Destruction of a Guard featuring Raekwon 3 594 Exploitation of Mistakes 3 215 General Principles 3 396 Advance Pawns featuring RZA Raekwon and Sen Dog 4 027 Queen s Gambit 4 358 All in Together Now featuring RZA 4 249 Unstoppable Threats featuring Masta Killa and Prodigal Sunn 3 4410 Unprotected Pieces 3 2911 Illusory Protection 4 2712 Smothered Mate 3 12Total length 43 46Personnel editGary Grice main artist vocals Lawrence Muggerud main artist keyboards track 3 producer Corey Woods featured artist tracks 3 6 Robert Diggs featured artist tracks 6 8 Senen Reyes featured artist track 6 Elgin Turner featured artist track 9 Vergil Ruff featured artist track 9 Dina Nadezhdina voice spoken word interludes Ina Williams backing vocals track 7 Mike Crazy Neck Sims guitar tracks 2 12 piano tracks 4 7 bass tracks 10 11 keyboards tracks 10 12 Daniel Seeff bass tracks 2 6 7 9 Rob Hill guitar amp strings track 3 mixing Dontae Winslow trumpet track 7 Ernesto Ern Dog Medina guitar track 11 bass amp organ track 12 assistant engineering Joe The Butcher Nicolo mixing Tyler Nicolo assistant mixing DJ SPR4 recording assistant mixing Brian Big Bass Gardner mastering Mike Fatoe Orduna art direction design Joey Castillo Jr art direction design Robert Johnson III photographyCharts editChart 2005 Peak position US Billboard 200 12 180 US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 13 69 US Independent Albums Billboard 14 12References edit Brown Marisa Grandmasters DJ Muggs GZA Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved November 20 2020 Purdom Clayton November 4 2005 DJ Muggs vs GZA Grandmasters Angeles 2005 Record Reviews Cokemachineglow com Cokemachineglow Retrieved November 20 2020 via Wayback Machine Ryce Jeff February 1 2006 DJ Muggs vs GZA Grandmasters HipHopDX Retrieved November 20 2020 Engelen Alexander Fanfaren Pianos und Basse lassen den Hip Hop der alten Schule aufleben laut de in German Retrieved November 20 2020 Grandmasters Prefixmag com Prefix Magazine November 15 2005 Retrieved November 20 2020 Juon Steve Flash November 1 2005 DJ Muggs vs GZA Grandmasters Angeles Records www rapreviews com Retrieved November 20 2020 Christgau Robert Robert Christgau CG DJ Muggs Vs GZA the Genius www robertchristgau com Retrieved November 20 2020 DJ Muggs Vs GZA Grandmasters album review Sputnikmusic Sputnikmusic May 7 2009 Retrieved November 20 2020 DJ Muggs Vs GZA Grandmasters album review 2 Sputnikmusic Sputnikmusic March 21 2007 Retrieved November 20 2020 McGowan Ross November 1 2005 DJ Muggs vs GZA Grandmasters Review Stylus Magazine Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 20 2020 GZA Wu Tang Halftimeonline Hip Hop Music amp Culture Halftimeonline 2006 04 10 Retrieved 2015 09 17 GZA Genius Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved November 20 2020 DJ Muggs Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved November 20 2020 DJ Muggs Chart History Independent Albums Billboard Retrieved November 20 2020 External links editDJ Muggs vs GZA The Genius Grandmasters at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grandmasters album amp oldid 1207117228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,