Killah Priest is a tangential associate of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Brooklyn n… Read Full Bio ↴Killah Priest is a tangential associate of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Brooklyn native made his first recorded appearances on records by such Wu side projects and solo albums as the Gravediggaz, Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers, and, most importantly, Genius/GZA's seminal Liquid Swords. His contributions became legendary and paved the way for the release of his acclaimed debut album, Heavy Mental, in the spring of 1998.

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.

Fame
Killah Priest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus: x2]
All I wanted was the fame and the money
All I wanted was the cars and the honeys
Till I die, till I rise
Till I die, till I rise

Don't stop till you get a million dollars
Nope! Don't stop till you get a zillion dollars

Then what? Enemies at ya door
Hidin' ya money under floor
Don't trust ya whore, screenin' ya cause
Niggas used to be cool, but ain't cool no more
Now you gon' to war, just made a deal as a business man
Lawyers jerkin' you, you can't trust ya fam
Got cancer from all the cigars
Neva picture ya self on the I.V. because of liquor
Dreamin' of ya funeral, some niggas wanna shoot at you
Now you being fed through a tube, the suspect's unusual
Kings die, thrones rust, skeleton bones turn to dust
This money you trust, hard luck
Now you get stuck, your family is fucked
That's what happens when guns buss

[Chorus: x2]

Game recognize game, G's recognize G's
Shootouts in the rain cause of M-O-N-E-Y
Why my nephew had to die? Eye for an eye
Tooth for tooth, my fam for ya fam
Niggas just shoot
While we talkin' their lives are coffin
If he go they put his riches in the auction (Damn!)
Luck, teardrops and pain, hug, fears, stops the rain
The bullets and a kiss
A buncha Brooklyn kids cried that day
When the hearse roll thru wit BIG
Listen to the vision Martin had
Shots in the flag, David rocks in his bag
We love money, buss slugs for money
Would you sell ya moms for money?

Soon, all in tuned
That's what will be required from this country, doom!

Overall Meaning

The song "Fame" by Killah Priest reflects the dark side of fame, highlighting the harsh realities of the never-ending quest for money and the consequences that come with it. The lyrics suggest a slippery slope that begins with a dream of fame, money, women, and cars but leads to betrayal, fear, and even death. The chorus emphasizes the idea that the desire for these things controls a person's life, even to the point of death. The first verse describes the fear and mistrust that comes with having money, and the second verse comments on the violence that is often associated with the pursuit of wealth.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of loss, regret, and disillusionment. The artist portrays the downside of the music industry and the ways it can impact the lives of those who become successful. The lyrics suggest that the quest for fame and money can lead to an unfulfilling, tragic end.

In summary, "Fame" by Killah Priest highlights the negative consequences of the quest for money and fame, emphasizing the darker realities of the music industry. The lyrics comment on the violence, mistrust, and fear that can arise when one focuses solely on these things.

Line by Line Meaning

All I wanted was the fame and the money
I desired fame and wealth above all else

All I wanted was the cars and the honeys
Desiring material objects and women was my primary motivation

Till I die, till I rise Till I die, till I rise
This pursuit drove me relentlessly, even in death and rebirth

Don't stop till you get a million dollars
Stop at nothing to achieve wealth

Nope! Don't stop till you get a zillion dollars
Continue to strive for endless riches

Then what? Enemies at ya door
With great wealth comes inevitable threats

Hidin' ya money under floor
Storing money in hidden and secure locations

Don't trust ya whore, screenin' ya cause
Be wary of those trying to exploit your resources for profit

Niggas used to be cool but ain't cool no more
The acquisition of wealth can cause close relationships to sour

Now you gon' to war, just made a deal as a business man
Entering into business deals can lead to conflict

Lawyers jerkin' you, you can't trust ya fam
Even those closest to you can betray for personal gain

Got cancer from all the cigars
Health may suffer due to detrimental habits formed from excess wealth

Neva picture ya self on the I.V. because of liquor
Wealth can turn to addiction and weaken the body

Dreamin' of ya funeral, some niggas wanna shoot at you
A consequence of wealth is having enemies that would try to harm or kill you

Now you being fed through a tube, the suspect's unusual
Injury due to violence can leave one permanently incapacitated

Kings die, thrones rust, skeleton bones turn to dust
Wealth cannot protect from the inevitability of death

This money you trust, hard luck Now you get stuck, your family is fucked
Misfortune and tragedy can befall those who put all their trust in wealth

That's what happens when guns buss
Violent retribution is a common fate for those who seek wealth through aggression

Game recognize game, G's recognize G's
Only those with similar motives and skillsets can understand each other's desires and actions

Shootouts in the rain cause of M-O-N-E-Y
Money is a common cause of violence and death

Why my nephew had to die? Eye for an eye
Revenge is a common response to violence caused by greed

Tooth for tooth, my fam for ya fam
Retribution will be taken upon those who harm one's own family

Niggas just shoot While we talkin' their lives are coffin
Violence is swift and deadly, occurring while others are still in disbelief

If he go they put his riches in the auction (Damn!)
Death does not erase one's wealth, it often gets redistributed

Luck, teardrops and pain, hug, fears, stops the rain
The pursuit of wealth can bring temporary joy and lasting sorrow

The bullets and a kiss A buncha Brooklyn kids cried that day When the hearse roll thru wit BIG
The violence that wealth can bring often leads to tragedy and tears

Listen to the vision Martin had Shots in the flag, David rocks in his bag
The pursuit of wealth can cause one to forget and overlook the aspirations of other oppressed groups

We love money, buss slugs for money Would you sell ya moms for money?
The obsession with wealth can lead to disturbing actions and choices

Soon, all in tuned That's what will be required from this country, doom!
If we do not change our societal obsession with wealth, the future looks bleak

[Chorus: x2] All I wanted was the fame and the money All I wanted was the cars and the honeys Till I die, till I rise Till I die, till I rise
The chorus repeats the main message of the song, that wealth and fame were the primary motivators of the artist throughout his life

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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