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.
RISE
Killah Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My rhyme, pen and king recognition dominion over false kindred's
The talk of women, brought from the star system
Dynamic emergence, wordsmith within his turban
Tats of the Virgin, power of planets emerging
Back from hell's furnace, born again, torn from sin
Broke the spell out of my shell, call the hermit
We're twirling books like Merlin within the firmament
Accept ya challenge, I won't budge
Hardwood thugs with hammers and Timb boots and gloves
Woven the greatness, flowing with blood
That's just the basics, after I spit you'll see the Matrix
My heart restored with war, my grape's the realness
My wine of pillage, sip between lines made of pillars
Under his feet the word "Killah"
So print this out of ya data zone
Priest returns home, battle-zone nigga!
-
Surrounded by a sculpture of women
Antisocial when I wrote this rhythm
The vultures got in them, gave us hope at the ending
Game is sour like the Pope of a lemon
My hand's a gram; I put dope in each sentence
Energize rhyme, electromagnetic genetics
With writing esoteric, y'all could see the signs
I did what I could do, from the animal woods environment
The hood to analyze it, y'all could see the God designing
Deep minded, I stay rooted, sage music
Plus strokes of touch, your ghost hugs and shows
They love it yo, I do it for the souls, c'mon!
-
Raps raise the blood pressure
Customize rhymes to fit ya mind size
Difference between suicide notes or love letters
The light between my eyes enterprise
Rid you of mental waste toxins in ya doctrine
This oxygen is space
While ya head blows I pop ya face
Take loads off ya mind and do lunge
A newer army, flood the world like tsunamis
The greatest gift, from dark towers, Excalibur
He's down, now who's the next challenger?
That's when death surrounds ya
Desert Eagle peck ya by the silencer
Indirectly, diary, words are fiery
Thru the eyes of Reed, thru a tube there's I.V. creating magic
In some minutes or some seconds on a record
In the sentence my pen wand shoots stars out of measure
P's God, I rhyme, cause pressure
Mind's the treasures they call me water-head
It's Priest again y'all Walter's dead
Nah, it's Walter again y'all, Priest is on his death bed
Who knows which way it goes, let's call him Priesthood instead
In the first verse of the song "Rise," Killah Priest discusses how his rhymes, pen, and recognition as a king allow him to dominate those who are false kindred. He talks about the power of women who have come from the star system, and how he has emerged as a wordsmith within his turban. Priest mentions his tattoos of the Virgin and the power of the planets that are emerging. He has come back from hell's furnace and been born again, breaking the spell of sin. Priest challenges anyone who challenges him and is unafraid of the "hardwood thugs with hammers and Timb boots and gloves." He is woven with greatness and is flowing with blood, which he considers just the basics. After he spits, you can see the Matrix, and his heart is restored with war, and his wine is the realness.
In the second verse, Killah Priest describes how he wrote this rhythm in isolation, surrounded by sculptures of women. He mentions how the vultures got in them, which gave them hope at the ending, but the game is sour like the pope of a lemon. Priest's hand is a gram, and he puts dope in each sentence. He has electrified rhymes with electromagnetic genetics, and he writes in an esoteric way that makes visible signs. Priest has come from the hood to analyze it and has seen how God designed it. He creates deep-minded, sage music, and his pen wand shoots stars out of measure.
Overall, "Rise" by Killah Priest is a song about his rise to power as a rapper and his unyielding belief in his abilities. He speaks about his connection to God and the power of his words, and expresses a sense of unshakable confidence in his skills.
Line by Line Meaning
My rhyme, pen and king recognition dominion over false kindred's
Through my lyrics and writing, I have power and authority over those who falsely claim to be my kin.
The talk of women, brought from the star system
Women are a topic of discussion that has been brought to Earth from somewhere beyond our own solar system.
Dynamic emergence, wordsmith within his turban
I am an emerging, ever-changing artist and wordsmith, with a turban being a symbol of my spiritual and cultural identity.
Tats of the Virgin, power of planets emerging
My tattoos represent the Virgin Mary and the power of the planets aligning and emerging.
Back from hell's furnace, born again, torn from sin
I have come back from a place of intense suffering and have been reborn, free from my sins and transgressions.
Broke the spell out of my shell, call the hermit
I have broken free from a negative spell that once held me captive, and now I am calling upon the hermit as a guide and mentor.
We're twirling books like Merlin within the firmament
Just as Merlin could manipulate reality with his magic, I too am manipulating reality through my writing.
The perfect balance, I hold my chalice
I have achieved a state of perfect balance in my life and am holding my chalice as a symbol of my success.
Accept ya challenge, I won't budge
I am brave and unyielding, and I will accept any challenge that comes my way without backing down.
Hardwood thugs with hammers and Timb boots and gloves
I am surrounded by tough, street-wise people wearing work boots and gloves who are ready to confront any obstacle.
Woven the greatness, flowing with blood
I have woven together greatness through my writing, and my passion for my craft runs through my veins.
That's just the basics, after I spit you'll see the Matrix
What I have already accomplished is only scratching the surface of what I am truly capable of, and after hearing me perform, you will see things from a completely different perspective.
My heart restored with war, my grape's the realness
My heart has been rejuvenated through my battles and conflicts, and my work reflects a raw and authentic reality.
My wine of pillage, sip between lines made of pillars
My work is like a fine wine that has been extracted through conflict and makes you think and reflect deeply between the lines that form the foundation of my work.
Under his feet the word "Killah"
The word "Killah" is beneath me and beneath my feet, representing my domination and mastery over this aspect of myself and my craft.
So print this out of ya data zone
This work is so powerful that it extends beyond your computer and electronic devices from which you consume it.
Priest returns home, battle-zone nigga!
I, Killah Priest, have returned home to my roots and am ready to take on any battle or conflict that comes my way.
Surrounded by a sculpture of women
I am surrounded by a beautiful, ornate sculpture of women that represents the value and importance of the feminine in my life.
Antisocial when I wrote this rhythm
I am in a solitary, introspective state while writing and creating this particular work of art.
The vultures got in them, gave us hope at the ending
Those who were once seen as vultures have provided us with hope and optimism at the conclusion of this tumultuous journey.
Game is sour like the Pope of a lemon
The situation at hand is difficult and acrid, like the sour taste of a lemon and the power of the Catholic Church.
My hand's a gram; I put dope in each sentence
I put my heart and soul into each sentence that I write, making it a powerful and potent work of art.
Energize rhyme, electromagnetic genetics
My writing is energizing and electrifying, tapping into the genetic make-up of the listener and engaging them on a deep level.
With writing esoteric, y'all could see the signs
Through my difficult-to-understand writing style, you can begin to see and understand the hidden signs and meanings behind what I am saying.
I did what I could do, from the animal woods environment
I have done everything that I possibly can, coming from a primal and instinctual environment.
The hood to analyze it, y'all could see the God designing
By analyzing the environment I grew up in, you can see the cosmic hand of God in my life and my work.
Deep minded, I stay rooted, sage music
I am deeply introspective and rooted in my thinking and beliefs, which is reflected in my intelligent and thought-provoking music.
Plus strokes of touch, your ghost hugs and shows
My artistic work is so powerful and emotionally resonant that it feels like a ghostly presence hugging and comforting you.
They love it yo, I do it for the souls, c'mon!
My work is loved by many and inspires their souls, and this is my main motivation for continuing to create and perform.
Raps raise the blood pressure
My rapping is so intense and powerful that it raises the listener's blood pressure and gets their adrenaline pumping.
Customize rhymes to fit ya mind size
I tailor my raps to fit the listener's mindset and understanding, making them more relatable and meaningful.
Difference between suicide notes or love letters
The difference between my work being like a suicide note versus a love letter is a thin line, which reflects the complexity and intensity of my writing style.
The light between my eyes enterprise
There is a bright and intense light that radiates from my eyes, representing my entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
Rid you of mental waste toxins in ya doctrine
My work has the power to purge you of negative thoughts and beliefs that are poisoning your mind.
This oxygen is space
The air we breathe represents the vast and infinite expanses of space.
While ya head blows I pop ya face
While your mind is blown by the power of my work, I will continue to impress and astound you with my creativity.
Take loads off ya mind and do lunge
Let go of your mental burdens and allow yourself to take a leap of faith.
A newer army, flood the world like tsunamis
I represent a new and invigorated generation of artists and performers, who will take the world by storm like powerful tsunamis.
The greatest gift, from dark towers, Excalibur
I have been endowed with the greatest gift of all, like the legendary sword Excalibur, which was bestowed upon the great King Arthur.
He's down, now who's the next challenger?
I have already defeated one opponent, and I am now looking for the next challenge to take on and conquer.
That's when death surrounds ya
When you are surrounded by the inevitability of death, you come to realize the importance and significance of life.
Desert Eagle peck ya by the silencer
My words are like the powerful shot of a Desert Eagle gun, silent and deadly.
Indirectly, diary, words are fiery
My writing is fiery and intense, reflecting my own personal diary and inner world.
Thru the eyes of Reed, thru a tube there's I.V. creating magic
Through my own personal lens and perspective, I am able to create something truly magical and enchanting that transcends time and space.
In some minutes or some seconds on a record
In the span of just a few minutes or seconds on a recording, I am able to create something truly powerful and memorable.
In the sentence my pen wand shoots stars out of measure
With just one sentence, I am able to capture the attention and imagination of my listeners, shining like stars in the night sky.
P's God, I rhyme, cause pressure
Through my rhymes and creative output, I have the power and authority of a god, and I am able to cause immense pressure and impact on those who consume my work.
Mind's the treasures they call me water-head
My mind is full of rich and valuable treasures, and this is why I am often referred to as a "water-head" or someone who is full of knowledge and wisdom.
It's Priest again y'all Walter's dead
I, Killah Priest, have returned in full force, signaling the end of Walter (who represents my former self or artistic persona).
Nah, it's Walter again y'all, Priest is on his death bed
Actually, I'm still bounded by the confines of my old self and persona, and it is Killah Priest who is struggling to stay afloat during this transition.
Who knows which way it goes, let's call him Priesthood instead
It's difficult to say which way my artistic career and persona will go from here on out, but for now, let's embrace the idea of "Priesthood" as a symbol of my spiritual journey and creative output.
Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jdubb2012
This is slowly becoming my favorite song on the whole album. Guy just comes in dropping bombs right out the gate not giving the beat any time to breathe with no catchy choruses. This is some straight raw Hip-Hop shit. Shout out to DJ Woool for blessing this whole album
@jachzohnson
This song, 'Street Matrix' and 'Real Rap Shit' are my favorites on this album.
@doodiemac100
This is cold. But I think To Be King might be neck and neck with this. That and Jacob Never Died. Priest was spitting for his life throughout the whole project. Top 5 lyricist of all time
@kxng29
Mind is the treasure yet they call me water head
@macdabluepanther
Straight Preking Phire! Hate I'm just learning about this album. Thank God for HHGA and Youtube!!
@CARLOSRUBALCAVA-sy6sh
Sapphire
@CARLOSRUBALCAVA-sy6sh
Jb