Wu-Tang's GZA spits rhymes at South Beach Park

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Several hundred hip hop fans gathered at South Beach Park late Sunday afternoon to take in a free performance by GZA/The Genius, a founding member of "Shaolin" heroes, the Wu-Tang Clan. And while none of the other members of the legendary crew came out for a cameo, the highly-respected wordsmith, backed by a live band, spit his way through a nearly hour-long set featuring a medley of cuts from his solo discography, sprinkled with a few Wu-related surprises.

Preceded by an opening set by the world-renowned DJ Enuff, the 50-year-old MC hit the stage to the ominous opening monologue of his 1995 platinum-selling opus "Liquid Swords." Nimbly skipping around the track list and performing all of the verses himself, the backing band element gave the critically-acclaimed, classic album a bit of a more upbeat sound and fuller feel.

Barely pausing between songs, a cover of the late Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Shimmy Shimmy Yaw" segued into a selection of Wu staples, including: "C.R.E.A.M.," "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to F' Wit" and "Triumph," among others. Absent was any material from the avid chess player's long-awaited "Dark Matter" record -- an ambitious, yet-to-be-released album set to feature rhymes revolving around science, space and the origins of the universe.

Back on earth, Sunday's event was part of the City Park Foundation's SummerStage Series, and a debut collaboration with Lyricist's Lounge, which is celebrating 25 years of showcasing up-and-coming hip hop talent.

"We're thrilled to be here," said 'Lounge co-founder Danny Castro. "This is the first event we've done in Staten Island and we're hoping after today's turnout we'll be able to do more."

Audience members young and old appeared thrilled as well, with many sporting their finest Wu-Tang T-shirts and going word-for-word with the Brooklyn-born rapper who appeared to feed off the energy and genuinely enjoy himself -- smiling out onto a sea of hands held high in the traditional "W" sign.

"This is fun," he said several times throughout the set. Even going so far as to jokingly acknowledge that he can still rap lines from songs that came out over 20 years ago.

Passing along witty wordplay to the next generation, a number of Wu-Tang-loving parents danced and sang along with the handful of children who could be spotted in the crowd. While back on stage, during a short breather, GZA was joined by Father Sha and Intell -- sons of 'Clan members Method Man and U-God -- who served up a couple of impromptu verses of their own.

Thanking the crowd and returning to a backstage tent, GZA managed to seemingly evaporate from South Beach Park, leaving some loitering autograph and selfie seekers slighly disappointed, but still happy to have witnessed the word wizardry of one of the world's most esteemed lyricists.

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