Killah Priest comes to Chop Suey Feb. 15th

This a show that I'm really excited about, especially considering the utter lack of upcoming hip-hop shows, right now Seattle seems bleaker than ever. Killah Priest is one of the better known Wu affiliates, and probably my favorite. From his classic debut Heavy Mental to his work with the group Sunz of Man, Priest stands out as one of the more prolific Wu emcees. Although like most of the extended Wu family, Priest isn't very well known, most Wu-Tang fans will recognize him as the rapper on the track B.I.B.L.E. off of GZA's Liquid Swords, and like most KP fans that track is what really made me dig Killah Priest. First off 4th Disciples production on B.I.B.L.E. was impeccable, although it didn't fit in with the rest of Liquid Swords it managed to keep that Wu-flavor. Sampling Ohio Player's "Our Love Has Died", the beat from B.I.B.L.E. is forceful anthem that is at once sad and forceful. Priest's 5 Percenter inspired lyrics blend mysticism and religion, instructing us in his unique ideals, and his idealism permeates his music, the "Priest" moniker isn't just for show. Priest doesn't shy away from controversial issues, religion and society are very significant in his music. Knowledge, it seems, is what inspires Killah Priest, and he doesn't stop droppin' math throughout any of his joints. Unlike some of his contemporaries his styled hasn't been watered down at all over the years (Heavy Mental was released 1998) and his flow has depth that cannot be rivaled. There's braggadocio, no shit-talking, just pure science. If you don't want your mind expanded then Priest ain't the one for you.

Now, Priest can hold his own as an emcee, but he truly shines when 4th Disciple is handling the beats. When you come across an emcee/producer duo that complements one another so well it's always damn near amazing. Disciples' soul-infused beats are the perfect backdrop to showcase Priest's knowledge. A lot of Disciples' beats have a melancholic feel, which couples nicely with Priest's straight-forwardness and solemnity. Unfortunately the majority of Priest's tracks are not produced by 4th Disciple (if I had to guess, maybe 40% of all Priest tracks) and when they aren't together Priest isn't as meaningful, his words don't have the same impact without 4th Disciple.

Of course, like most of the stuff I listen to, Killah Priest isn't for everyone. He spits meaningful shit, addressing issues most rappers won't even touch. Religion, faith, friendship and social commentary are all things you will have to think about when you listen to Priest's music, he doesn't hesitate to spark your mind. Personally I love music that can make you question your beliefs, music that makes you want to learn, and that is why Priest is an incredible emcee. If only Priest was played on the radio everyday, maybe then people would wake up and realize that hip-hop doesn't have to be a decadent and meaningless genre that causes excessive hedonism in youth.

Anyways, go to this show! I promise you won't be disappointed and maybe you'll learn something.

Show Details: $13 adv/$15 door @ Chop Suey (Seattle) on February 15th, 2009. Doors open at 8:00 PM. Buy tickets here, or at the door, 21+.

Check out Killah Priest's other shit: Heavy Mental (1998), View from Masade (2000), Priesthood (2001) and others. Sunz of Man, Hell Razah etc.

Sunz of Man - "The Plan"


4th Disciple fun fact: The beat off of B.I.B.L.E. is almost identical to the beat from Atmosphere's remix of the song "Travel", produced by Ant, both songs heavily sample the Ohio Player's song "Our Love Has Died"