Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville, Killah Priest became infatuated with hip-hop as a child, listening to old-school and new school acts like Eric B. & Rakim alike. He also was influenced by local rappers, like GZA and Onyx's Suave, who would often play local parties. Killah Priest began working on his rhyming and eventually earned a considerable reputation in Brooklyn , but instead of pursuing his musical career further, he took a sabbatical in order to educate himself, primarily about religion and history.
Killah Priest returned to rapping in 1995, appearing on several Wu projects. All of his cameos were noteworthy, but his role on Liquid Swords earned special attention. By the end of 1996, he formed his own side project, the Sunz of Man. In 1997, GZA suggested to Geffen that they sign Killah Priest, and the label took his advice.
Killah worked on the album with True Master and 4th Disciple, two producers associated with the Clan. The resulting album, Heavy Mental, was dense with religious imagery and filled with evocative sounds. It received excellent reviews upon its March 1998 release and was a respectable commercial success, debuting at number 24 on the pop charts.
Killah Priest issued his second album, View from Masada, in the spring of 2000, further bolstering his status as one of the most compelling solo artists in the Wu-Tang stable. After that he has released more projects such as Priesthood and Black August.
Be Careful
Killah Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Insane, my bad brain's insanity
Damage me, how can this be?
Bronchitis, the itis and sinus
Take out the tongue
Rubber gloves are the nicest
Supplier for the writer
Arthritis bones break easily
I spit Grammys out my oxygen
My only family - the hood doctrine
When I was just an infant
The streets grabbed me reached thru the semen cavities
Took my pacifier out and put the concrete in my teeth
Breast fed me, grey goose, celeb G
Y'all ain't ready; they took me out the crib
With numbers across my bib
Moms lost her wig, when jail is just an auction
Depending on the numbers of ya bid
Niggas running under the bridge
Train station, the A train, triple six
Do you blame Satan, or God?
Would you sleep in ya bed or a morgue?
-
(Hook) 2x
Be careful who you follow
Be careful on what you swallow
In hell's frail, pass the L
Keep ya eyes on the bottle
Cuz if I die, those niggas die
It's all thought out in the third eye
Feel me?
-
(Killah Priest)
we follow drug dealers as Jesus
Look at the prophet like a Caesar
Dresses miracle, preferable leaders
Or a gun handlers
Number of the Beast is branding us
Mind damage, slumped posture under the cameras
Cracked cardiovascular, Dracula passed the massacre
The passages, aborting reality planes
So foul allow me to explain, young child in the chains
Society now has changed, groupies, kufi's
Gauge and graves, toolies, bad movies get paid
On the roof with the Uzi, popping shit
A mouth with the loose leaf
Empty clips, enemies get hit, fly shit
-
(Hook)
-
(Killah Priest)
A gangster glory, bed full of benjamins, having orgies
Sneak boxes off the floor at least four feet
Jury basements, a brewery, cases of champagne
Painting's costly, maidens
Other bosses talking in foreign languages
40 acres testing aiming
Flossing and dressing
Walking with ya boys out ya arraignment
Priest glory, UFO boarding
Able to foresee the Moorish King
Strange dudes talk to angels
Beam up great wings
Brush against the thick walls of the other planets
Writing rhymes, they lighting kinds of men
Species and women, my streets never made me creepy
Goosebumps - only if you front
Street Gods and gangsta devils
The USA ready to nuke 'em
Mantineum, the kingtanium
Priest ready to introduce 'em
In the song "Be Careful," Killah Priest talks about the struggles of living in a tough neighborhood and how easy it is to get caught up in the negative aspects of life. He raps about his own personal struggles with health issues, drug use, and growing up in an environment where crime and violence are rampant. He speaks of the desperation and hopelessness that comes with living in such an environment, as well as the dangers of following the wrong people and making the wrong decisions.
Throughout the song, Priest touches on themes of mortality, spirituality, and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of hope. He urges listeners to be careful who they follow and what they swallow, and to keep their eyes on the bottle, symbolizing the dangers of substance abuse. He also discusses the struggle between good and evil, asking whether one should blame Satan or God for the state of the world, and posing the question of whether it is better to face death in bed or in a morgue.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released on Killah Priest's 2007 album "The Offering," which was well-received by critics and fans alike. Another interesting fact is that the song heavily samples the track "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles, giving it a haunting and melancholic feel. Additionally, the song features complex rhymes and wordplay, showcasing Killah Priest's skill as a lyricist.
Line by Line Meaning
Insane, my bad brain's insanity
My crazy way of thinking is overwhelming me
Damage me, how can this be?
I am helpless and wounded; how did it happen?
Bronchitis, the itis and sinus
I am suffering from breathing problems with sinus inflammation
Take out the tongue
Silence my voice
Rubber gloves are the nicest
Even when things are painfully unfair, we can find comfort in small things.
Supplier for the writer
A source of inspiration and ideas for the writer's music
Arthritis bones break easily
My body is fragile and prone to breaking because of my illness
Too much toxins, I need antioxidants
I am suffering from poisoning, and I need remedies to help me counter it
I spit Grammys out my oxygen
I will earn many Grammys in my lifetime
My only family - the hood doctrine
I have learned my values from the streets that raised me
When I was just an infant
Even as a child, I have been exposed to the harsh realities of life
The streets grabbed me reached thru the semen cavities
The harshness of life has left a mark on me, even from my birth
Took my pacifier out and put the concrete in my teeth
I had to learn to be tough and grow up too fast during my childhood
Breast fed me, grey goose, celeb G
I grew up on a diet of alcohol and substance abuse
Y'all ain't ready; they took me out the crib
My life has been toughened by the harsh realities of life, and I am a survivor of it all
With numbers across my bib
I am a product of my environment and upbringing
Moms lost her wig, when jail is just an auction Depending on the numbers of ya bid Niggas running under the bridge Train station, the A Train, triple six
My mother was traumatized when I was incarcerated and had to fight for my survival
Do you blame Satan, or God? Would you sleep in ya bed or a morgue?
Life is a constant struggle, and sometimes, we have to make hard choices
Be careful who you follow Be careful on what you swallow In hell's frail, pass the L Keep ya eyes on the bottle Cuz if I die, those niggas die It's all thought out in the third eye Feel me?
Stay aware of your surroundings and the choices you make because they have consequences for yourself and others. Be mindful of the power of peer pressure and the impact it can have on your life. It's all part of a deeper plan.
we follow drug dealers as Jesus Look at the prophet like a Caesar Dresses miracle, preferable leaders Or a gun handlers Number of the Beast is branding us Mind damage, slumped posture under the cameras Cracked cardiovascular, Dracula passed the massacre The passages, aborting reality planes So foul allow me to explain, young child in the chains Society now has changed, groupies, kufi's Gauge and graves, toolies, bad movies get paid On the roof with the Uzi, popping shit A mouth with the loose leaf Empty clips, enemies get hit, fly shit
We are idolizing those that do not deserve it and putting our faith in the wrong places. It has led to violence and a twisted sense of reality, where people are willing to do terrible things to get ahead.
A gangster glory, bed full of benjamins, having orgies Sneak boxes off the floor at least four feet Jury basements, a brewery, cases of champagne Painting's costly, maidens Other bosses talking in foreign languages 40 acres testing aiming Flossing and dressing Walking with ya boys out ya arraignment Priest glory, UFO boarding Able to foresee the Moorish King Strange dudes talk to angels Beam up great wings Brush against the thick walls of the other planets Writing rhymes, they lighting kinds of men Species and women, my streets never made me creepy Goosebumps - only if you front Street Gods and gangsta devils The USA ready to nuke 'em Mantineum, the kingtanium Priest ready to introduce 'em
Wealth, glamour, and power have become our main goals, leaving behind our morals and values. Many people have been corrupted by their desire to succeed, leading them down a path of destruction.
Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john john
Priest is not only great at rhyming and putting words together he's great at creating deliveries and flows that match the vibe and feeling of the instrumental he rhymes over
Deus Absconditus
The Best to ever spit
Teboho Mokoena
amongst the best tracks on the cd
Matt Beezy
somebody call a medic! lol
Fumbani Kumwenda
ths song z sick...
Kaknelson
out of this world