GZA and the Phunky Nomads perform at Sony Hall with special guests Kota The Friend and DJ Russell Peters. GZA, aka the Genius, was the most cerebral MC in the Wu-Tang Clan , as well as perhaps the most acclaimed. His cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes weren’t as theatrical as Method Man or Ol’ Dirty Bastard , the two biggest commercial stars to spring from the collective. But among hip-hop aficionados, GZA was revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and was considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire Clan.