Shadowboxin'
| "Shadowboxin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by GZA featuring Method Man | ||||
| from the album Liquid Swords | ||||
| B-side | "4th Chamber" | |||
| Released | March 28, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gary Grice, Clifford Smith, Robert Diggs[1] | |||
| Producer(s) | RZA | |||
| GZA singles chronology | ||||
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| Method Man singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Shadowboxin'" on YouTube | ||||
"Shadowboxin'" is a song by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, featuring fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man. It was released, along with "4th Chamber", as the fourth and final single from GZA's second studio album Liquid Swords (1995), on March 28, 1996. The song was produced by RZA.[2]
Background and composition
[edit]The song contains dialogue from the film Shaolin vs Lama, and samples "Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness" by Ann Peebles.[3] Method Man raps the first and third verses, while GZA raps the second.[4] According to Method Man, GZA was supposed to rap two verses on the track.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]The song received generally positive reviews. XXL wrote that the repetitive chop of the sample "set the stage for Meth and GZA's master lyricism".[3] In an interview with Wax Poetics, GZA praised Method Man's rapping, saying that the song "seemed more like Meth's track".[2]
Track listing
[edit]A-side:
1. Shadowboxin' Featuring Method Man (LP version) 3:31
2. Shadowboxin' Featuring Method Man (Clean) 3:31
3. Shadowboxin' (Instrumental) 3:31
B-side:
1. 4th Chamber Featuring Ghostface Killer, Killah Priest, RZA (LP version) 4:07
2. 4th Chamber Featuring Ghostface Killer, Killah Priest, RZA (Clean) 4:07
3. 4th Chamber (Instrumental) 4:07[6]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 67 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 41 |
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[9] | 10 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Shadowboxin'". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Ma, David. "Wu-Tang Clan's GZA runs down every track off Liquid Swords". Wax Poetics. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "GZA's 'Liquid Swords' Turns 15 Years Old - XXL". XXL Mag. November 8, 2010.
- ^ Preezy (November 5, 2015). "Five Best Songs From GZA's 'Liquid Swords' Album". The Boombox.
- ^ Ahmed, Insanul (October 19, 2011). "Method Man Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs". Complex.
- ^ "Genius* / GZA – Shadowboxin' / 4th Chamber". Discogs.
- ^ "GZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "GZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "GZA Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
