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.
People
Killah Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(People) Is the world we live in
Full of innocent, Yasa's word, we the victims
(6 billion people) To the suburban area
Filled with doctors and lawyers
Cops and judges, we all suffer from paranoia
(6 billion people) From the White House to Hollywoods
To everybody hood, to down south, to deep in the woods
(People) To six million people, that on this planet
[Killah Priest]
As the moon appears like a pearl in the mists of the clouds
I move up through the shadows til I'm at the cliff of the aisle
I sit overlooking, the borough of Brooklyn
As the Devils start to settle and the cement is pushed in
The ghetto comes to life, you can feel it's pulse
I hear, every corner breathing like the streets awoke
It grabs you, it makes you, so you can't escape
It's the phantom, it haunts us, it changes shape
And the building's most chiling, described by children
As the gateway to Hell, it holds the ghosts of millions
Come close to it, it gives you the most grossest feelings
As the black sky open up, my soul is exploding
Back down to the surface, where these seeds are nurtured
With alcohol and drugs, which leads to murders
Born poor, broke and hungry that's when thieves emerges
But to, rob their own, defeats the purpose, and
[Chorus]
[Killah Priest]
I write for children, who really can't express their feelings
I'm their voice, their thoughts, the way they talk
I'm their worries, their fears, their dreams, nightmares
Through that tunnel of darkness, I'm the light that's there
Just stare, look into my endless eyes
See a child walking on stage, his very first time
And the same in the White House when light goes out
The night comes down, the Earth leases unrighteous sound
With gunshots, echoing, through the dark
It's the sand of the ghetto's heart
Put your ear to the ground, you can hear it pound
Subway trains, run through the tunnels like blood through his veins
People in cells, carry like fluid to the brain
Clouds filled with red rain, the sewage drains as the nostrils
And I'm the arsenal, I'm here to set fire, til the entire empire is on
[Chorus]
In the song "People" by Killah Priest, the lyrics depict the struggles and experiences shared by individuals living in different areas of the world with a wide range of professions and lifestyles. The chorus emphasizes the commonality of being victims in a world rife with injustice, paranoia, and suffering. The lyrics describe the beauty of nature juxtaposed with the harsh realities of life in an urban environment. The ghetto is personified as a powerful, all-consuming force that grabs hold of its inhabitants and shapes their lives.
The verses speak to issues of poverty, crime, and inequality. The artist highlights the struggles of children who cannot express themselves fully, and the need for light to guide them through difficult times. The imagery used in the lyrics is vivid, from the "pearl" moon to the "gateway to Hell" buildings. The song emphasizes the interconnectedness of people from all walks of life, and the importance of understanding and empathy in making the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
(People) Is the world we live in
The people make up the world we live in
Full of innocent, Yasa's word, we the victims
Innocent people often become victims of those who ignore the word of Yasa
(6 billion people) To the suburban area
There are approximately 6 billion people in the world, many of whom live in suburban areas
Filled with doctors and lawyers
Suburban areas are full of professionals such as doctors and lawyers
Cops and judges, we all suffer from paranoia
Even those in positions of authority, such as cops and judges, suffer from fear and paranoia
(6 billion people) From the White House to Hollywoods
The 6 billion people on this planet come from all walks of life, from those in the White House to those in Hollywood
To everybody hood, to down south, to deep in the woods
People live in various environments, from urban neighborhoods to rural areas
From my hood (people) to my hood, let's make it better, overstanding
From my own community to others, we must work together to improve our lives by understanding and respecting each other
(People) To six million people, that on this planet
The song is dedicated to the approximately six million people on the planet who may be struggling and need a voice
As the moon appears like a pearl in the mists of the clouds
The moon shining through the clouds is a beautiful sight
I move up through the shadows til I'm at the cliff of the aisle
Killah Priest moves through the shadows to get to a high point to observe his surroundings
I sit overlooking, the borough of Brooklyn
Killah Priest is sitting and observing the borough of Brooklyn
As the Devils start to settle and the cement is pushed in
As night falls and the city becomes quieter, the concrete landscape becomes more apparent
The ghetto comes to life, you can feel it's pulse
The energy in the ghetto is palpable
I hear, every corner breathing like the streets awoke
Killah Priest can hear the activity and energy of the streets coming to life
It grabs you, it makes you, so you can't escape
The energy and pressure of the ghetto can be overwhelming and inescapable
It's the phantom, it haunts us, it changes shape
The pressure and challenges of the ghetto can take many different forms
And the building's most chiling, described by children
Even children can feel the eerie, unsettling feeling of certain buildings in the ghetto
As the gateway to Hell, it holds the ghosts of millions
Some buildings in the ghetto are so notorious that they are thought to be a gateway to Hell and hold the ghosts of those who have died
Come close to it, it gives you the most grossest feelings
Being in close proximity to these buildings can elicit extreme discomfort or disgust
As the black sky open up, my soul is exploding
As the sky gets darker, Killah Priest feels emotional and overwhelmed
Back down to the surface, where these seeds are nurtured
Killah Priest returns to the ground level, where the seeds of the future are cultivated
With alcohol and drugs, which leads to murders
The use of substances such as alcohol and drugs can lead to violent crimes
Born poor, broke and hungry that's when thieves emerges
Growing up poor, broke and hungry can lead to criminal activity such as thievery
But to, rob their own, defeats the purpose, and
Stealing from one's own community is counterproductive
I write for children, who really can't express their feelings
Killah Priest speaks for children who may not have a voice or platform to express themselves
I'm their voice, their thoughts, the way they talk
Killah Priest articulates the thoughts and feelings of the children he writes for
I'm their worries, their fears, their dreams, nightmares
Killah Priest captures the full range of emotions and experiences that children may have
Through that tunnel of darkness, I'm the light that's there
Killah Priest provides a glimmer of hope in the midst of difficult circumstances
Just stare, look into my endless eyes
Killah Priest invites the listener to look into his eyes to see his soul and understand his message
See a child walking on stage, his very first time
Killah Priest envisions a child performing on stage for the first time, with his support and encouragement
And the same in the White House when light goes out
Even in the White House, there are moments of darkness and uncertainty
The night comes down, the Earth leases unrighteous sound
As night falls, the world can become more chaotic and negative
With gunshots, echoing, through the dark
Gun violence is a pervasive issue that is heard even in the darkness of night
It's the sand of the ghetto's heart
Gun violence is a core issue that plagues the ghetto
Put your ear to the ground, you can hear it pound
If you listen closely, you can hear the heartbeat of the ghetto and feel its energy
Subway trains, run through the tunnels like blood through his veins
The subway system is a vital part of the city, moving people through the veins of the landscape
People in cells, carry like fluid to the brain
The people in prison are like a fluid that affects the thinking and feeling of those around them
Clouds filled with red rain, the sewage drains as the nostrils
The environment in the ghetto can be toxic and unpleasant
And I'm the arsenal, I'm here to set fire, til the entire empire is on
Killah Priest is a powerful force ready to spark change and revolutionize the world
Contributed by Declan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Poetics
I must start this comment with complimentin the alias of the uploader cuz this is indeed "ONLYREALHIPHOP". This is Priest at his best... the High Priest never forsakes what Cormega coined as "The Realness" in his philosophical psalms of wisdom and street gospel.
lionsheart8
This is a classic.