A founding member of one of the biggest hip-hop groups of all time dignified the stage of Bristol’s Marble Factory on 16th February. Wu-Tang Clan’s own GZA, aka The Genius, played to a large crowd, accompanied by the Phunky Nomads, as fans finally got to see the show live after it originally got postponed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
This was the first time in years I’ve been to see live music at this particular venue and it has changed a lot from what I can remember, and it can definitely accommodate a huge crowd of listeners. It was refreshing to photograph here for the very first time and to be able to photograph one of the founding members of the one and only Wu-Tang Clan was an absolute honour. The Genius is not only the oldest member of the iconic rap ensemble but he was also the first to get a record deal. Aside from being in the Clan, GZA has also maintained a successful solo career for himself after members of the group all pursued solo ventures. According to the internet, an analysis of GZA’s lyrics found that he, impressively, has the second largest vocabulary in popular hip-hop music.
A variety of ages filled the venue, from fans who would’ve grown up during the 90s to the backdrop of Wu-Tang’s sound to newer listeners who may have more recently discovered the renowned rap artist. During the show, GZA performed his own signature tracks as well as popular Wu-Tang hits such as C.R.E.A.M, which is one of my personal favourites. After venturing up to the balcony and behind the main stage, I witnessed a fan pushing through the crowd to the front with a vinyl in hand. Catching GZA’s attention, the fan managed to reach the barrier and threw the record on stage along with a pen, to which The Genius signed it and passed the record back to the excited fan. Gig-goers patted the lucky fan on the back and were hyped up for him as he retracted through the crowd to where he originally came from.
It is a pleasure when influential artists, such as GZA, take the time to come to Bristol to perform, as a lot of artists who are internationally known tend to completely miss this great city when touring the UK. From this night alone, it was clear to see that Bristol attracts a mass of hip-hop fans so I hope that, as the future goes on, more hip-hop artists will also grace the stages of more Bristolian venues.
Dan Rose
Photographer
Dan Rose @danrose.uk
Role: Photographer
I’m primarily a photographer for both concerts and festivals, and am also available for BTS photos, portraits, promo shoots and tour photography. I also write the occasional review.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots and Touring
First attended gig: My most memorable early concert experience was seeing Eminem in 2014 at Wembley Stadium. This was a very pivotal moment in my life as it reinforced why I love music so much and reignited my passion for it.
First gig shot: The very first artist I photographed live was the DJ and producer Nathan Dawe at SWX Bristol. This was an incredibly fulfilling start to concert photography, as I was on stage with him during his set, and even hung out backstage afterwards.
Dream gig: My top 5 dream artists to one day photograph would be Eminem, J. Cole, Rod Wave, Jon Bellion, and Logic. One of my favourite artists, Juice WRLD, is sadly no longer alive, and I wish I had had the opportunity to see him perform live and photograph him.
