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.
Live By The Gun
Killah Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Live by the gun, die by the forty (x7)
[Killah Priest]
I see demons in the atmosphere
Gats appears out of nowhere
Blood and crips be thuggin it
Niggas be lovin that shit
Look at shorty over there
On the street corner, packin heat on him
Better warm em, bout to be dead soon
I saw the sign in a red room
Nervous, whatæ?¯ our purpose?
So many churches asked the reverend
Do blacks get to go heavens
Pack da gat for Armageddon
Mac-11, know where headin
Selling crack since seven
B.C., L.K., Neatha
From Bushwick to Bed-Stuy
Got my momma on her knees by her bedsides
A man walked in with a suit and a necktie
[Chorus: Unknown Singer]
Falling from heaven in hell, spending our days
Asking for Christ to come, and change our ways
Cold in the night chasing the light
O Father forgive us for what we done to you
[Goldie]
Mind slippin, gotta focus
What you think I was, in and out when I wrote this
Coming from a race of people thatæ?¯ hopeless, copeless
Things seem like they never change, itæ?¯ strange man
Itæ?¯ like the night brings, pain afflicting my brain
Damn man, trying to maintain, my my my composure
Puffing on dosher, feel like the hearts getting colder
Black P stone solider knows ya, follow ya then fold ya hold ya
Uh, if you chose to bang with me hang
With me do ya thang with me, but I see angels see
Flying through my mind crying doing time
[Judas Maccabee]
Dear Father, forgive me for what I done
Live by the gun die by the gun
Screaming bloody murdah, murder and more murder
Red rum red rum
Monster like Coby
You donæ?° know me Iæ?¦ a O.G.
You try to pop me Iæ?¦ a pop you
Ready to die bitch
Ready to die too
[Chorus]
[Nikki Bonds]
North, South, Midwest, West, East Coast
Wherever I go keep the heat close
Got some .45 slugs make a nigga eat those
If not leave a nigga with some deep holes
Throws his body in a deep hole
Never fuck with no creep hoes
Rose Cartel staring in street show
Find me laid back sitting in a E-420
With 20 grand in the truck, hand on the pump
Ready to dump on any man for a lump
Acting like a bitch, is you a man or a chump?
Many niggas stood in the quicksand and they sunk
Nikki Bonds, Rose Cartel, Killah Priest
Masada rose be the sheik from the Middle East
Swinging a double edge sword trying to stay the beast
Swinging a double edge sword trying to stay the beast
[Chorus]
[Hook x7]
[Unknown Singer]
Father forgive us...
The song Live By The Gun by Killah Priest displays a grim portrayal of the reality of urban crime and gang violence. The lyrics describe the feeling of insecurity and fear of death that permeate all aspects of life in violent neighborhoods. They talk about how youth and adults alike carry guns for protection and as a sign of power, and how gangs wield guns like symbols of their strength and solidarity. With lyrics like "Live by the gun, die by the forty," the song suggests that violence is a cycle that will perpetuate itself unless some powerful force intervenes to break it. The chorus and closing line appeal to a divine power to forgive the people who have succumbed to this cycle of violence and to help change their ways.
Overall, the song Live By The Gun paints a vivid, harrowing picture of the streets, where angels and demons alike walk among us and where the sight of a weapon is never far away. Through deep and symbolic lyrics, Killah Priest explores the reasons and motivations behind the intense violence that exists in our society and the reasons that drive people to pick up a gun.
Line by Line Meaning
Live by the gun, die by the forty
The consequences of a violent lifestyle are often fatal.
I see demons in the atmosphere
The world is full of evil and danger.
Gats appears out of nowhere
Danger can arise suddenly and unexpectedly.
Blood and crips be thuggin it
Gangs engage in violent and criminal behavior.
Niggas be lovin that shit
Some people are drawn to violence and criminal behavior.
Bustin they guns to that shit
Some people use violence and guns to express themselves or defend their territory.
Look at shorty over there
There are young people who get caught up in dangerous lifestyles.
On the street corner, packin heat on him
Some people carry guns for protection or to assert their power.
Better warn em, bout to be dead soon
Those who live by violence are likely to die by violence.
Selling crack since seven
Some people are drawn into criminal lifestyles early on.
Got my momma on her knees by her bedsides
The dangers of a violent lifestyle can affect family members too.
Mind slippin, gotta focus
It is easy to lose your way in a violent and chaotic world.
Coming from a race of people thatæ?¯ hopeless, copeless
Some people feel trapped by their circumstances and have limited choices in life.
Itæ?¯ like the night brings, pain afflicting my brain
The darkness and uncertainty of life can be mentally and emotionally taxing.
Monster like Coby
Some people are dangerous and deadly like a monster.
Screaming bloody murdah, murder and more murder
Those who live violently are surrounded by death and danger.
Red rum red rum
The word 'murder' spelled backwards is a reminder of the violent reality.
North, South, Midwest, West, East Coast
Danger and violence exist in all parts of the country.
Wherever I go keep the heat close
Some people feel the need to carry guns for protection.
Got some .45 slugs make a nigga eat those
Some people are willing to kill others with their gun.
Many niggas stood in the quicksand and they sunk
Those who engage in violence and criminal behavior are often doomed to fail.
Swinging a double edge sword trying to stay the beast
It is difficult to avoid violence and aggression when they are so prevalent in society.
Father forgive us...
The singer acknowledges the wrongs and dangers of their violent lifestyle and seeks forgiveness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnny Westbrook
I loved this since day one. Listening to it now takes me back. Thanks for this track. 👍🏾👌🏾
Crafty Spirit
Very interesting guest starr, and Killah Priest doing double time? A surprising track
Akalyte
This album hard af!
Calico Cal the copper kid
This joint is fire.
HOW MUSIC
Classic🔥
Shaun Scout
My love causes war serving poetic Justice with my sword for all my love children ❤
Rick Redmon
🔥🔥🔥
Jean Emlicar
A Wu-tang joint that sounds like a Bone Thugs N Harmony Song. Still this is a Banger.
Ernesto Cadena
Is because, This song is with Triple Darkness from Chi town
Midwest flow
Jason Lee Crafton
they bit Bone hard on this one. Talking about Mo Murda and redrum smh