Heavy Mental

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Heavy Mental
Heavymental.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1998
Recorded1997–98, 1995 (B.I.B.L.E.)
Genre Hip hop
Length74:12
Label Geffen/MCA
GEFD-24971
Producer True Master
Y-Kim
4th Disciple
Killah Priest
The Arabian Knight
John the Baptist
Killah Priest chronology
Heavy Mental
(1998)
View from Masada
(2000)

Heavy Mental is the debut studio album by the American rapper Killah Priest, released in March 1998. [1] [2] Killah Priest is an associate of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and a member of the group Sunz of Man. [3]

Contents

The album contains references to Judeo-Christian-Islamic mythology and theology, drawing parallels to the condition of Black people in the United States to that of the Jewish people during Exodus. A notable track on the CD is "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)", which had appeared on GZA's 1995 Liquid Swords album in a slightly different form. Another is the title track, which features Killah Priest rhyming in a style reminiscent of slam poetry and prominently features a didgeridoo. "One Step", with its refrain of "Your arms too short to box with God", reached No. 84 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop singles chart. The album peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 [4] and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Robert Christgau A− [6]
NME 8/10 [7]
RapReviews8.5/10 [8]
Spin 8/10 [9]

Spin noted that Killah Priest's rapping is "more consistently metaphysical than Ghostface's blunt confessions but still in line with the Wu belief that black soul is more interesting than black violence." [9] Robert Christgau deemed the album "Shaolin mystagogy meets millenarian panic in music for the end time." [6]

Track listing

Track listing information is taken from the official liner notes. [10]

Heavy Mental
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  0:53
2."One Step" (Featuring Tekitha and Hell Razah) True Master 4:20
3."Blessed Are Those"
Y-Kim the illfigure 3:28
4."From Then Till Now"
  • Walter Reed
  • Ernest Aye
Y-Kim the illfigure3:44
5."Cross My Heart" (Featuring Inspectah Deck and Genius/GZA)
True Master3:46
6."Fake MC's"
4th Disciple 3:36
7."It's Over"
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple3:29
8."Crusaids"
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple0:58
9."Tai Chi" (Featuring Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin and Father Lord: R.I.P.)
4th Disciple4:02
10."Heavy Mental"
  • Walter Reed
Killah Priest 4:16
11."If You Don't Know" (Featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard)
True Master5:15
12."Atoms to Adam" (Featuring Shangai the Messenger)
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple5:28
13."High Explosives"
The Arabian Knight 3:04
14."Wisdom"
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple2:03
15."B.I.B.L.E."
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple4:52
16."Mystic City"
  • Walter Reed
  • Ernest Aye
Y-Kim the illfigure4:11
17."Information"
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple4:42
18."Science Projects" (Featuring Hell Razah)
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple4:19
19."Almost There"
  • Walter Reed
  • Selwyn Bogard
4th Disciple3:55
20."The Professional"
John The Baptist 3:48
Total length:74:09

Notes

Samples

Album singles

Single information
"Cross My Heart" (featuring GZA and Inspectah Deck)
  • Released: 1997
  • B-Side:
"One Step" (featuring Tekitha & Hell Razah)
"If You Don't Know" (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard)
  • Released: 1998
  • B-Side: "Blessed Are Those"

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References

  1. Fernando Jr., S. H. (2021). From the Streets of Shaolin: The Wu-Tang Saga. Hachette Books.
  2. Berman, Marshall; Berger, Brian, eds. (2007). New York Calling: From Blackout to Bloomberg. Reaktion. p. 354.
  3. The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. 2015. p. 709.
  4. "Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 16. Apr 18, 1998. p. 83.
  5. "Heavy Mental Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Killah Priest". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  7. Goldsmith, Mike. "Killah Priest Heavy Mental". NME. Archived from the original on 2000-08-17.
  8. Rodriguez, Kenny (June 29, 2004). "Killah Priest Heavy Mental". RapReviews. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  9. 1 2 Frere-Jones, Sasha (Apr 1998). "Mama Said Knock You Out". Spin. Vol. 14, no. 4. p. 123.
  10. Heavy Mental (booklet). Killah Priest. Geffen/MCA Records. 1998. GEFD-24971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)