Locked up for not wearin a shirt
email GlenBurnie MD 07/24/04
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KILLAH PRIEST...
I was recently able to get an exclusive interview with WU-TANG Family member KILLAH PRIEST! I’ve been a huge fan of PRIEST’S since he first exploded onto the hip hop scene on the track B.I.B.L.E. for GZA’s Liquid Swords album. After that he laid low for a few years studying Religion and history to gain more wisdom for his lyrics. Then in 1998 KILLAH PRIEST released his debut solo album titled HEAVY MENTAL, which took the music industry by storm! It was instantly considered a WU-TANG classic (IMO it’s the best WU Fam solo to date) and came in at #24 on the pop charts. Since then he’s released 3 more incredible solo albums and has been a part of numerous rap groups and collaboration tracks. KILLAH PRIEST has recently been attracting a whole new wave of fans following his impressive “live” performances at PSYCHOPATHIC RECORDS- Gathering Of The Juggalos, and a number of recent shows with CAPPADONNA, GZA, and MASTAKILLA. For all those PRIEST fans wanting to know more about his past accomplishments and also what’s in store for KILLAH PRIEST, just sit back relax as I take you on a journey through the mind of one of raps most ingenious lyricists.

HODGE- Thanks for granting me the opportunity to conduct this interview with you man! I’ve been following your career since I first heard you spit fire on the track B.I.B.L.E. for GZA’s debut album.

HODGE- Can you clear up the rumors surrounding the status of a new KILLAH PRIEST album? Months ago the official WU-TANG site had a post about a new album of yours due out in May 2004. It stated that the album would have a similar feel to your debut album HEAVY MENTAL, and feature production by the 4th disciple. Was there ever any truth to this rumor?

KILLAH PRIEST- Yes and no. Me and 4th Disciple are recording songs, but there were no dates on when it was going to drop. I just finished about 3 albums worth of new material. My upcoming solo album is titled THE OFFERING which will take my HEAVY MENTAL listeners into a deeper view of my mental. Another is BLACK MARKET featuring TRAGEDY KHADAFI, which is a stronger, more militant-minded album. The MACCABEEZ album is still having its finishing touches put on it.

HODGE- You can make the most amazing melodic songs such as- “When I’mWriting” and “C U When I Get There”. However, in songs like “Musifiction” and “Come With Me” your lyrics are extremely dark and eerie. How can your music be so versatile yet appear to be so natural in whatever form you decide? Which style of your music do you prefer to make?

KILLAH PRIEST- It’s just something that comes out of me. I write what I feel, whatever is inside me at that moment. To know both sides, light and dark, is a completion. I can’t limit myself to just one path. That’s about knowing who you are within yourself.

HODGE- Your last solo album BLACK AUGUST was released nationwide on Recon Records. Are you still on Recon Records? I was recently on their website and the link for your page was removed?

KILLAH PRIEST- I’m no longer part of that label. That label was immature, and had a lot of chiefs and no Indians. That’s all I have to say about that.

HODGE- Your BLACK AUGUST album was an incredible lyrical journey through both uplifting and very dark mysterious tracks. I have one question about the album though. Why wasn’t ODB’s remix of “Do the damn thing” on the album? Were any other tracks pulled as well?

KILLAH PRIEST- That’s a result of the labels arrogance and lack of understanding about the music business. I was in the studio with ODB recording the re-mix when they decided to release the album without my OK. They were too thirsty for money. I called my album BLACK AUGUST and they decided to just throw it out there in July! There were definitely tracks pulled from the album. I gave them an album I was proud of, and wanted to be put out there, and they started pulling it apart based on stupid shit like sample clearance. Some songs were put out on the Internet called BLACK AUGUST REVISTED and it still wasn’t the way I wanted it, but it’s what we had to work with.

HODGE- Around the same time as the release of BLACK AUGUST you performed in part of a huge 4 day music festival called The Gathering Of The Juggalos presented by PSYCHOPATHIC RECORDS. How did your guest appearance come about at that annual Psychopathic records event?

PRIEST- They called me up and said they wanted me on it.

HODGE- While at the GATHERING OF THE JUGGALOS, did you ever have conversations with any Psychopathic artists such as ESHAM, INSANE CLOWN POSSE, TWIZTID, BLAZE, or ABK about a possible collaboration track or two? A lot of Juggalos on the net were really feelin your performance in their Gathering Of The Juggalos reviews last year.

KILLAH PRIEST- That’s funny to me because of the outcome of the WICKED WONKA TOUR tour.

HODGE- On October 7th you did a concert in Arbor MI with longtime WU-TANG affiliate CAPPADONNA . Being in ICP’s hometown and all, did any of their fans you converted at the Gathering Of The Juggalos show up to support you?

KILLAH PRIEST- There was a big variety of people there and I was happy they all came out to support me.

HODGE- You were initially advertised as being in the official line up for THE WICKED WONKA TOUR featuring- ICP, BONE THUGS, TECH N9NE, and The KOTTON MOUTH KINGS. Why were you removed from the lineup?

KILLAH PRIEST- Based on what was told to me, by my fucked up label Recon Records…apparently my cousin STARED at one of ICP the wrong way, they took it very offensive, so instead of talking to me about my cousin and what happened, and coming to me like a man and addressing me directly so I could address the issue, they decided just to kick me off the tour. I tried calling ICP’s manager, and they wouldn’t take my calls. They didn’t have to do me like that. I was really looking forward to that tour and seeing my fans, but they cut me off.

HODGE- Speaking of concerts, this past Friday (7/23/04) you did a show in Baltimore MD with original WU-TANG members The GZA aka “The Genius”, and MASTA KILLA. That must have been a very significant night for you, seeing as how GZA and yourself go back along way. Didn’t he bring you into the WU-TANG family?

KILLAH PRIEST-Yes he did. GZA and me grew up on the same block in Brooklyn, He’s older than me and I always looked up to him. He was one of the illest MCs that I’ve ever heard and still is. Basically, back then I was scared to rhyme around him because I didn’t want him to think I was wack. So when I finally came to the mic, I knew it had to be hard.

HODGE- Last October I picked up the new album by SHABAZZ the Disciple. On the album was a track featuring you called “thievez in da nite”. That track was dope as hell! I’ve heard that you and SHABAZZ go way back. Didn’t you two even record an album way back in the day? Was it ever released?

KILLAH PRIEST- Yes we did, and it was never released. RZA sold it so somebody in Europe. That’s all I know about it. Back then we were known as the Disciples of Armageddon, which was later transformed into the SUNZ OF MAN.

HODGE- I’ve read rumors on the net that you’re not a religious person. However, didn’t you spend a few years studying religion and history?

KILLAH PRIEST- Of course. What I’ve studied was different religions and spirituality. As most young cats growing up in the ghetto I was introduced to the 5 Percent Nation, Islam, Christianity, and finally Judaiscism. And I studied them all. That’s not the same as adhering to any one religion. What I deal with is spirituality and humanity.

HODGE- What’s the scoop on the rap groups MACCABEES, BLACK MARKET (KILLAH PRIEST & TRAGEDY KHADAFI) and The 4 HORSEMEN (KILLAH PRIEST, KURUPT, RAS KASS, CANIBUS) that you’re a member of? Are these group albums still gonna drop?

KILLAH PRIEST- Yes, all of them will drop. And I have to be on point because That’s a lot of groups! That’s funny you asked that, because I just got a call from KURUPT. RAS KASS is coming home soon and we will be finishing up the Four Horseman album, which should have a big deal. The Black Market album with TRAGEDY is done, and is going to be amazing. Just us two on a track alone, you can just imagine. Finally, my group, the MACCABEEZ, is really what I wanted to do with the SUNZ OF MAN, but it’s on another level, straight fire! HELL RAZAH and TIMBO have their hammers up for everyone who knows what MACCABEEZ stands for. Daddy Rose should be coming home soon, and Salahudeen.

HODGE- I read somewhere that you recently spoke with The RZA about a few matters. One of the topics that came up was the re-formation of THE GRAVEDIGGAZ. The new GRAVEDIGGAZ line up that leaked on the net was- KILLAH PRIEST, RZA, FRUKWAN, and PRINCE PAUL. Any truth to this rumor?

KILLAH PRIEST- I don’t know where that came from, but it does sound dope.

HODGE- I’ve seen a rare KILLAH PRIEST album popping up on ebay on occasion. The album is called “FOURTH HE SHALL COME”. Was this album a legit release or just somebody bootleggin cds without your knowledge?

KILLAH PRIEST-It was put out with my knowledge, but I think it was from a respectable source. It was songs 4th and me did during the Heavy Mental period, that were never released. We still have songs we’ve done that were never put out there.

HODGE- You’ve been featured on tracks with such musicians as- ODB, METHOD MAN, GEORGE CLINTON, EARTH WIND & FIRE, CHUCK D (PUBLIC ENEMY), MOBB DEEP, KURUPT, INSPECTAH DECK, CANIBUS, U GOD, GRAVEDIGGAZ, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, WYCLEF (production), CAPPADONNA, GZA, and too many more to mention. Are their any rappers out there that you haven’t worked with that you would put on your Collaboration wish list?

KILLAH PRIEST- RAKIM. NAS, who I’ve been talking to lately. EMINEM. OUTKAST.

HODGE- What’s spinning in your cd player these days?

KILLAH PRIEST- Besides the BLACK MARKET album, which is crazy, one of the dopest old soul groups that’s never been heard of in the 21st Century. MARVIN GAYE, STEVIE WONDER. Besides the fam and the people I want to work with, there’s no one out there who is raising the bar with Mcing.

HODGE- In the cd booklet for your PRIESTHOOD album it had an add for an upcoming cd called IMPERUS MUSIC. Was that album scrapped, or was the name changed?

KILLAH PRIEST- Yeah, I took another direction. Even though on the BLACK MARKET album, there’s a song I love a lot that’s called Emperous Song.

HODGE- I wanna take this time to express my appreciation for conducting this interview with me! Nearly all who have heard your music agree that you’re on a whole different level that’s above most rappers out there. Thanks again, and good luck on all of your upcoming projects.

KILLAH PRIEST- And thanks to you, Mike. Look out for me on the new JEDI MIND TRICKS, it was fun working with them, also watch out for William Cooper, he’s all over the BLACK MARKET album, and he’s a dope MC. To my fans, just wait until you hear the next album!