Killah Priest

Last updated
Killah Priest
Killah Priest.jpg
Performing in Chicago, July 2007
Background information
Birth nameWalter Reed [1] [2]
Also known as
  • Priest
  • Iron Sheik from the Middle East
  • 8 Deer Ocelot Claw
  • Masada
Born (1970-08-16) August 16, 1970 (age 53)
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S. [3]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • record producer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • podcaster
Years active1993–present
Labels
Member of

Walter Reed (born August 16, 1970), [1] better known by his stage name Killah Priest, is an American rapper, member of Sunz of Man and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. [1] [2] He is known for his intensely spiritual lyrics, containing religious references and metaphors. He is connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites through his rhymes, and is known for his controversial and political subject matter. He is also a part of supergroup the HRSMN along with Canibus, Ras Kass, and Kurupt.

Contents

Biography

1990s

Killah Priest made his debut on two songs on the Gravediggaz album 6 Feet Deep (which are "Diary of a Madman" and "Graveyard Chamber") in 1994, and followed this with two appearances on each of two Wu-Tang Clan solo albums, Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version and GZA's Liquid Swords , both from 1995 (see 1995 in music). Liquid Swords in fact included a Killah Priest solo track titled "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)". Also in 1995, Priest's group Sunz Of Man with rappers Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Prodigal Sunn, Shabazz the Disciple were signed to Wu-Tang Records and released three 12" singles through the label. Initially Sunz Of Man included Shabazz the Disciple, who had previously been in a duo with Priest called The Disciples Of Armageddon.

Killah Priest's first solo album was Heavy Mental , released on Geffen Records on February 24, 1998. It mostly expanded on the themes of "B.I.B.L.E.", featuring religious references and allegory woven into commentary on African American society and history. The album was mostly produced by the Wu-Elements producers, a group of in-house Wu-Tang producers mentored by Wu leader RZA. Sunz Of Man released their debut album The Last Shall Be First later in 1998, but by that time Priest's ties to the Wu were beginning to weaken, as he and long-time friend Shabazz clashed with RZA (their business ties with the Wu also began to weaken after the GZA Entertainment management agency, which they were both signed to, dissolved in 1996). After unsuccessful attempts by the pair to create new post-Wu Tang crews (Priest proposed a crew called the Maccabeez which would include himself, Shabazz and Timbo King among others, while Shabazz proposed a group including himself and Priest called the Sunz Of Thunder) they both effectively went their separate ways and cut their respective Wu-Tang ties.

2000s

After leaving the Wu stable, and consequently also effectively leaving Sunz Of Man, Priest helped form the hip hop supergroup The HRSMN with Ras Kass, Canibus and Kurupt. In October 2003, Killah Priest and Dreddy Kruger released a nine track album entitled The Horsemen Project. It was released independently through Think Differently Music /Proverbs Music Inc. and was only available to purchase off the internet. [4] Each track featured at least two members of the group as well as an appearance by Pak Man. It is currently unknown who handled the majority of the production on the album, although it is known that Mark Sparks was responsible for two songs. On Killah Priest's HipHopGame.com journal, he mentions the Horsemen a few times. The talks about a new album were mentioned on the May 1, 2006 entry. He said "The Horsemen project is definitely going to come. Right now we just have to get Kurupt. He's been doing the Dogg Pound thing, but it's definitely going to come. We have songs recorded and we have more in store." [5]

Ras Kass and Canibus were featured on Priest's second album, View From Masada , which featured no Wu-Tang input whatsoever (though the album's liner notes included the note "Peace to Wu-Tang Clan"). The album had a decidedly more commercially minded style than Heavy Mental, and introduced his new Maccabeez such as Daddy Rose, Salahudin Rose, Sant Rose and Najee Rose -- part of a crew of then-unknown rappers who now go under the name Rose Cartell. The album was an important early stepping stone to stardom for producer Najee7thStar, Daddy Rose, and Just Blaze, who would later go on to produce countless mainstream hip hop hits for the likes of Cam'ron, Erick Sermon, Fabolous and Jay-Z. However, View From Masada received mixed reviews.

Priest had to leave the major labels behind after View From Masada sold poorly. His first independent release Priesthood (2001), released on Proverbs Music, his own record label, was critically acclaimed though it suffered from very limited distribution. Black August followed in 2003 on Recon Records, and was also well received. Priest also released an album on the Internet titled Black August Revisited a few months after the release of Black August which shared few similarities with the original, save its title. Black August Revisited also saw Priest rediscover his Wu-Tang ties, including collaborations with Hell Razah and Ol' Dirty Bastard. He also appeared in the music video for the single "Made You Look" by fellow New York rapper Nas. In 2009, Killah Priest launched the controversial music video "Redemption" directed by One_Over. The video promotes the beliefs of the Black Hebrew Israelites that believe in the 12 Tribes of Israel in the name of Jesus Christ (Yahawashi Ha Mashayach).

In 2004, Priest performed numerous times with other Wu-Tang Killa Beez and also appeared on Masta Killa's album No Said Date . November 2005 saw the re-release of Priesthood on Mic Club Music, a label owned by Louis Lombard III (aka Luminati), who produced Priesthood as well as recent albums by Canibus. March 2007 saw the release of Killah Priest's mixtape album "End of the World".

On August 21, 2007, Killah Priest released The Offering, which was sequenced by his former manager, Stacey Castro and featured appearances from Nas, Immortal Technique, his fellow HRSMN, & 4th Disciple as well as Hell Razah, who appears on the advance single title track that was released in October 2005.

Killah Priest next album titled Behind the Stained Glass , was released on May 20, 2008 on the label Good Hands Records. It is reported that he's also in the midst of recording Behind the Stained Glass Part Two. [6] Killah Priest also released an album titled Elizabeth on October 20, 2009 on Proverbs Records, which Priest owns and he put out a movie/DVD A Day In the Life of Killah Priest feat Najee7thStar and Hot Flames. Killah Priest is also recording another double album called The Psychic World of Walter Reed, produced by Dutch producers Godz Wrath, 4th Disciple, RZA, and more. Killah Priest also mentioned in a YouTube interview for Pyramid West that he is also working on a sequel to Heavy Mental called Heavier Mental.

2010s and beyond

In an August 2010 radio interview with Mista Montana, Killah Priest discussed the creation of his next album The Psychic World of Walter Reed, stating that the RZA and many other key Wu-Tang Clan members will feature on there, including the Four Horsemen. [7]

After several delays, The Psychic World of Walter Reed was released on February 25, 2013. [8] [9] On March 11, 2013 Priest was hosting the Digital Dynasty 24, [10] after already hosting Digital Dynasty 15.5.

Killah Priest has mentioned a number of projects he's been working on, including The Untold Story of Walter Reed Pt. 2, Castle Hop (both produced by DJ Woool), Natural Born Killers with Ghostface Killah and Planet of the Gods (produced by Dutch producer team Godz Wrath, who worked with Priest several times already). In April 2014, he said he had postponed The Untold Story of Walter Reed Pt. 2, [11] and was finishing up Planet of the Gods, which was released on June 4, 2015. [12] He also appeared on four tracks on the critically acclaimed album, For The Future Of Hip-Hop featuring Killah Priest, Pugs Atomz and Awdazcate, produced by Bryan Ford and released May 2016. [13] On February 27, 2017, exactly 8 years after the first part, he released The Untold Story of Walter Reed Pt. 2. [14]

In 2021 Priest launched his podcast on his official YouTube Channel discussing such topics as Islam, Judaism ,Ifá, Astrotheology, cymatics, the Kabbalah, Sacred Geometry, Herbal Medicine and more . As well as interviewing a variety of guest . Some which have included 9th prince, Jordan Maxwell, John Newsom, Santos Bonacci, Scarub, Dr. Har Hari Khalsa, Zab Judah , Flea (musician), Ras Kass and many more.

Discography

Solo albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
YearAlbumPeak chart positions
US US R&B
1998 Heavy Mental 244
2000 View from Masada 7318
2001 Priesthood ——
2003 Black August ——
2007 The Offering ——
2008 Behind the Stained Glass ——
2009The Exorcist——
2009Elizabeth——
2010 The 3 Day Theory ——
2013 The Psychic World of Walter Reed ——
2015 Planet of the Gods [12] ——
2020 Rocket to Nebula——
2021Lord Sun Heavy Mental 1.1——
2021Summer End Cafe——
2022The Three Fantastic Supermen EPics——
2022Horrah Scope——
2023Forest of the Happy Ever After——

Singles

YearSingleB-SideAlbum
1995B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)Liquid Swords
1998"Tai Chi" (feat. Hell Razah & 60 Second Assassin) Heavy Mental
"Cross My Heart" (feat. Inspectah Deck & GZA)
"One Step" (feat. Hell Razah)"Fake MC's"
"If You Don't Know" (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)"Blessed Are Those"
2000"Whut Part of the Game?" (feat. Ras Kass) View from Masada
"I'm Wit That""Gotta Eat"
2001"My Hood""C U When I Get There" Priesthood
2003"When I'm Writing""Excalibur" Black August
"Do The Damn Thing""Robbery (Remix)" (feat. Elephant Man)
2007"Gun for Gun (Rivers of Blood)" (feat. Nas)"Happy" (feat. Stori James) The Offering
"Truth B Told""The Offering" (feat. Hell Razah)
2009"The 7 Crowns of God"Elizabeth
2012"Brilliantaire"

Mixtapes

YearMixtape
2009The Untold Story of Walter Reed
2009 I Killed The Devil Last Night
2016Wu-Goo (with Ghostface Killah)
2017The Untold Story of Walter Reed, Pt. 2
2020Journey to the Planet of the Gods

Collaborative albums

Album information
The Last Shall Be First with Sunz of Man
  • Released: July 21, 1998
  • Label: Red Ant Entertainment
  • Singles: "Natural High", "Shining Star"/"Cold", "The Plan"/"Collaboration '98"
The First Testament with Sunz of Man
  • Released: January 31, 1999
  • Label: Red Hook Records
  • Singles: "Deep in the Water"/"In the Beginning..."/"The Sins of Man",
    "Who are the Sunz of Man?"/"The Valley of Death"/"Bring Back the Mike"/"Valley of Kings"
The Horsemen Project with The HRSMN
  • Released: 2003
Black Market Militia with Black Market Militia
  • Released: March 22, 2005
  • Singles: "Audobon Ballroom"/"Thug Nation"/"Hood Lullabye", "Gem Stars (Remix)"/"Mayday!"
The Spooks Who Kicked Down Tha Doorz with Maccabeez
  • Released: 2005
Original S.I.N. with Almighty
  • Released: July 22, 2008
  • Singles: "Obey (The Statesmen)"
Beautiful Minds with Chief Kamachi [15]
  • Released: September 23, 2008
Historic EP with The HRSMN
  • Released: 2014
The Goddess And The Priest EP with Bliss
  • Released: 2015
The Infinite Universe with Vendetta Kingz
  • Released: January, 2016
Death in the Arena with Moon Crickets (Killah Priest, Lord Fury and DJ Mercilless) [16]
  • Released: November 15, 2017
  • Label: Supreme Genes Records/Moon Crickets Inc.
Don't Sit on the Speakers, Vol. 1 with 4th Disciple
  • Released: November, 2017
The Rebirth with Sunz of Man
  • Released: August 2, 2019
  • Label: X-Ray Records
The Third Eye in Technicolor with Jordan River Banks
  • Released: December 8, 2020
Divine Intervention with True Master
  • Released: April 8, 2021
The Last Ride with HRSMN
  • Released: June 18, 2021
Ragnarok with Shaka Amazulu The 7th
  • Released: September 27, 2021
The Mantra with Shroom
  • Released: November 12, 2021
Savage Sanctuary with Holocaust/Warcloud
  • Released: March 18, 2022
Mr Universe with Jordan River Bank
  • Released: November 1, 2022

Unreleased and unfinished albums

Album information
Nothing New Under the Sun with Sunz of Man [17]
  • Info: Unreleased, planned for 1996
  • Label: Wu-Tang/Priority Records
  • Singles: Soldiers of Darkness/Five Arch Angels, No Love Without Hate, Bloody Choices
Holy of Holies with Remedy
  • Info: Unreleased, announced in 2007 [18]
Untitled with Rasul Allah (of Lost Children of Babylon) as G-Ciples
  • Info: Unreleased, announced in 2009
Untitled with GZA [19]
  • Info: Unreleased
Untitled with Black Market Militia
  • Info: Rumoured, second Black Market Militia album
Untitled with Maccabeez (Killah Priest, Timbo King and Hell Razah) [20]
  • Info: Unreleased
All Praise is Due with Almighty [21]
Behind the Stained Glass Pt. 2 [22]
  • Info: Unreleased, some material appeared on later albums
  • Label: Good Hands Records/Proverb Records
The End is Near with The HRSMN [23]
  • Info: Unreleased, second The HRSMN album
  • Singles: Impossible (feat. RBX) [24]
Keys Of Solomon EP with Aslan [25]
  • Released: TBA
The Creation of Care with RawzChyld [26]
  • Released: TBA
  • Singles: Run On/Amen Ra/Illuminati
The Lamb's Supper with Hell Razah as Thug Vaticans [27]
  • Released: TBA
  • Singles: New Millennium Child
Natural Born Killers with Ghostface Killah [28]
  • Released: TBA

Guest appearances

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorRole
2000 Boricua's Bond Val Likas himself
2009 All Tomorrow's Parties Jonathan Caouette as himself
2015Holy Shit Jozef K. Richards "Killah Priest"
2017Batman & Jesus Jozef K. Richards as himself

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 591. ISBN   9780857125958.
  2. 1 2 "Killah Priest Biography". Wu Tang Corp. Archived from the original on 18 February 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Nick Veronin (September 22, 2014). "Priest of Wu-Tang Brings New Book, 'The Psychic World of Walter Reed,' to Back Bar SoFA". metroactive. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "thaformula.com". Thaformula.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes". Hiphopgame.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  6. ↑ Jasarevic, Mina (2008-06-21). "Underground Report: Killah Priest | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHopdx.com. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  7. ↑ "PodOmatic | Podcast - Conspiracy Worldwide Hip Hop Radio - [Part 2] Live Guests - Slaughterhouse - Crooked I - Four Horsemen - Killah Priest - Cormega - Dame Grease - 2 Hungry Bros - Willo Wispa - Pakistan Disaster Appeal - world exclusives and more! Conspiracy Worldwide Radio UNCUT!". Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com. 2010-08-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  8. ↑ "Physical copies of..." Facebook . Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  9. ↑ "Psychic World of..." Facebook . Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
  10. ↑ "Download: Digital Dynasty 24 (Hosted By Killah Priest) (Mixtape)". BallerStatus.com. 2013-03-11.
  11. ↑ "Killah Priest Postpones "The Untold Story Of Walter Reed 2"". BallerStatus.com. 2014-04-07.
  12. 1 2 "Planet of the Gods by Killah Priest". Music.apple.com. 4 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "For the Future of Hip-Hop by Bryan Ford". Music.apple.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  14. ↑ "Killah Priest Drops Long-Awaited "The Untold Story Of Walter Reed 2"". Ballerstatus.com. February 27, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Welcome to nginx". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  16. ↑ "Death in the Arena, by Moon Crickets". Moon Crickets.
  17. ↑ "Wu-Tang Clan - [ Wu-Tang International ] - wu-international.com". Archived from the original on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  18. ↑ "Remedy - [Words To Live By Interview] - Wu-international.com". Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  19. ↑ "Superfriends: GZA & Killah Priest To Collabo?". G4tv.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Killah Priest Interview - 04/21/09 - Wu-Tang Corp. - Official Site of the Wu-Tang Clan". Wutang-corp.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "M-Eighty & Rap Legend Spice 1 Working on Almighty 2 in the Studio". YouTube. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Underground Report: Killah Priest". HipHopDX.com. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "HRSMN (Four Horsemen) - "THE END IS NEAR" (Official Trailer 2011) HD". YouTube. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "HRSMN ft RBX - Impossible". YouTube. 22 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Asioan Press Kit" (PDF). Twelvejewelz.com. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  26. ↑ "RawzChyld". April 25, 2012. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012.
  27. ↑ Justin (2011-12-12). "Thug Vaticans (Hell Razah & Killah Priest): New Millennium Child [Exclusive]| KevinNottingham.com | The Underground Hip Hop Authority | Hip Hop Music, Videos & Reviews". KevinNottingham.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-20. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  28. ↑ "Killah Priest Interview | HipHopGame – Exclusive News, Audio, Videos, Mixtapes Download". Hiphopgame.ihiphop.com. Retrieved 2014-04-24.


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