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.

Greatest Lesson
Killah Priest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[movie sample]
Our reason for fighting is this..
We were only meant to fight in one war only
That battle between the sons of light..
and the sons of darkness, ordained by God
That is our service
Now we see that this is that battle and we will fight..
Under your command

[Killah Priest *humming the beat during sample*]
Priesthood..

I stepped in a church ashamed, naked and hurt
Wet from the rain, my face shows pain
I'm desperate in search for answers
Grabbed the panther that the ushers handed
Blood stain shown through my shirt cuz beneath, my arm was bandaged
I walked up the aisle but didn't stop 'til I got the altar
I was being blocked by the preacher's supporters
But he'd seen my torture
So-called friends filled me with false love
I spoke "Sorry I have nothing to offer but lost hope and an empty soul"
See the Devil tempts me like Jobe, everything I had I now owe
He took my girl, shook my world, lost my crib
It was all his except for my kids
That's what I thought 'til I'm at court with my wiz
She doubled-crossed me then slid
She forced me to live in solitude now the bottle's my food
I follow no rules but if the gospel is true
Then I'm his apostle like you
But he stopped me cold and called me a fool
He said I was rude the way I'd intrude
Then I tossed him this jewel..

[Chorus: Killah Priest w/ ad-libs]
The greatest thing I've ever known..
Greatest thing I've ever known..
The greatest lesson ever learned..
The greatest lesson ever learned..
Most precious thing I've ever owned..
Most precious thing I've ever owned..
Though it left it shall return..
Though it left it shall return..
All I know is what I've known..
All I know is what I've known..
The greatest lesson ever learned..
The greatest lesson ever learned..
Most precious thing I've ever owned..
Most precious thing I've ever owned..
Though it left it shall return..
Though it left it shall return..

[Killah Priest]
You judge me but what would you do if you was me?
If you saw through my eyes, if you've felt the pain that I've felt inside
What would you do? Would you cry?
Ah, thought so, I do sometimes..
See you have a home and a swimming pool, the big backyard (yeah?)
Large living room, fed with a silver spoon
You probably sinning too but don't know
Pardon me if I'm offending you but I won't go
I question my faith, been in a depressional state (yeah man)
Self-hate, one day blessings will wait
Stared death in his fate, planning my 'scape
I've seen D's stretching out tape
I've 'visioned prison dates, injected with the venom of snakes
Women with grapes, slept with in rooms pyramid-shaped
Walls covered with hieroglyphics, I'm far from religious
It was said in my first introduction
which was Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
For me it went deeper than just reading a verse
Seeing it first, I needed work

[Chorus]

[Outro: Killah Priest]
{*humming to the beat and whistling*}
You know it's real, K.P

The picking cot had been lockened
Daily..

Overall Meaning

The song "Greatest Lesson" by Killah Priest contains thought-provoking lyrics that depict a man's struggles with faith and hardship. The song starts with a movie sample discussing the battle between the sons of light and darkness, which is intended by God. After this, Killah Priest begins to lament his troubles and desperation to find answers. He relates his experiences of being blocked by the preacher's supporters and the false love given by his friends. He also talks about the pain of losing everything he had due to the devil's temptation. The chorus of the song emphasizes the greatest lesson he's ever learned, which is a precious but lost thing that shall return.

In the next verse, Killah Priest challenges the listeners, asking them what they would do if they were in his situation. He acknowledges that everyone has their own struggles, but some people are more privileged than others. He shares his experience of being in a depressional state and feeling the venom of snakes injected in him. He also talks about his deep interest in religion and his understanding of the concepts of Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. The song ends with Priest humming the beat and whistling as he reminds listeners that his experiences are real and relatable.

Overall, "Greatest Lesson" by Killah Priest is a thought-provoking and introspective song that deals with themes of faith, hardship, and inner struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Our reason for fighting is this..
We were only meant to fight in the battle between the sons of light and the sons of darkness ordained by God. That is our service, and we will fight under your command.

I stepped in a church ashamed, naked and hurt
I went to the church feeling ashamed, vulnerable, and in pain.

Grabbed the panther that the ushers handed
I took the Bible that the ushers handed to me.

She doubled-crossed me then slid
My wife betrayed me and left me alone.

The greatest thing I've ever known..
The greatest lesson I've learned is the most precious thing I've ever owned, and it shall return even though it has left me.

You judge me but what would you do if you was me?
Before judging me, imagine being in my position and feeling the pain that I'm experiencing.

I've seen D's stretching out tape
I've witnessed deaths and funerals of close friends and acquaintances.

It was said in my first introduction which was Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
I discovered the message of the Bible, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, which gave me a deeper understanding of my faith.

Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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