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.
Where Ya Heart At
Killah Priest Lyrics
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So yo check this out
This is Ice Cube from the Westside Connection
Callin all the way from Johannesburg, South Africa
The world has never seen a million black men in one place
But on October 16, in Washington, D.C., a million black men will gather
"This is a mission, not a small time thing" (sample repeats)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, word up son, check it out though
YaknowhatI'msayin? Word up son
Listen up son, knowhatI'msayin?
(Watch out for them man) Listen up son, check it out though, yo
Open your eyes get wise and look alive focus your attention
Windows 95 updated high tech lynchin
Crosses of the colored man who claims he holds the keys to the safe
Secrets of the world, blow him in his face
Who's the master of the universe, galaxy and planets
Babylonians ecstatic moon the sinkin of Atlantis
(Be the one soul original black filled with melanin
Goin out like represent Kuwait in two thousand)
[Ice-T]
Brothers gonna have to put themself in check
Three strikes you in the penzo, checked to your neck
Your woman cries, your baby grows up alone
Talkin through a three inch glass on a two way phone
You tell me brothers got no options today
You best to listen to the Ice closely fool, crime don't pay
Gas and dope bullets and coke ain't the way
You need to march with the Nation on Atonement Day, represent
[Chuck D]
Now, to all my brothers we be rhymin like this
Yeah I can handle, but they can't kill it mill or dismantle it
And we can leave the component alone
Show all my brothers a brother instead of negro
Crackers in the back obscene knahmean
But I've been knockin em out the box like ??
So on the single we be flowin at the lingo
Comin together, not solo like Mandingo
[Chorus: all together]
So where you at why'all?
Right here, hangin with my brothers and we showin no fear
So where you at why'all?
Right here, if you represent then throw your hands in the air
[Smooth B]
Arm Leg Leg Arm Head
My people with braids waves dreads and baldheads
A million strong doin duty, wisdom strength beauty
Ummah Ahs they are, sun moon star
And it's a holy day, come sober
Smooth be in D.C., sixteenth of October
In unity there is power, none can devour
Hour after hour, we shower
[RZA & Killah Priest]
Imagine us travellin back to Nazareth
Most fabulous
To raise up the black dead slaves like Lazarus
When I catch rays through the blaze holy essays
No more death days and vexed slaves possessed in caves
Yo it's the last days and times we gots to raise your mind
Brothers walk around dumb different and blind
Pregnant Earths always carry eggs
I pledge to never fall off the ledge
and blacks remain family like Sister Sledge
[Shorty]
God prepared the table for us, in the presence of our enemy
Now we soon to be, one in unity
One two three I'm a G
But the God inside is that G I chose to be
The world is a stage and everybody plays a part
I'm not considered, the one with a sensitive heart
When I say black man you say go
Black man GO black man GO
[Chorus]
[DA Smart]
Somebody stole me, you took me from Kunta to Toby
and mold me, in a way that you freed me but still hold me
What you tryin to pull? Eatin us like cannibals
Whatever happened to that forty acres and that animal
Now you tryin to use integration just to fool us
Like Malcolm said, we been hoodwinked and bamboozled
Mama cryin, and I ain't lyin
I'm going to Washington for justice, I'ma get it, or die tryin
Don't hesitate, he's at the gate
And that's a million black men in one place to set it straight
So black women applaud the black God
I'm DA Smart, with the million man march
[KAM]
Damn that's how you know the world about to end
Rain hail snow earthquakes and a million black men
Upon the God indivisible
With liberty and justice for all cause why'all done made us miserable
With this AmeriKKKan nightmare
That's why October 16th we gon be right there like yeah
The same niggaz that you want gone
Well we about a million deep on your front lawn
It's goin on from here to Abraham Lincoln's statue
And every brother here thinkin yeah we need to holla at you
About this overdue bidness
With the Black Muslim, Christian Jew and Jehovah Witness
To get this out in the open the only way
Is for us to declare a black holy day
The homies say that they rollin
Plus we got family, forty miles up, controllin
[Chorus: x 4]
The song "Where Ya Heart At" is a powerful and introspective track that addresses various issues affecting the black community. The lyrics touch on themes of unity, social injustice, and the need for change. The song starts with Ice Cube making a call from Johannesburg, emphasizing the significance of a million black men gathering in Washington, D.C. On October 16th. This gathering is seen as a mission, not just a small-time event.
The following verses feature artists like Mobb Deep, Ice-T, Chuck D, and others, who deliver thought-provoking lyrics about the state of the world and the struggles faced by black men. They speak about the need to open our eyes, focus our attention, and challenge the systems of oppression. References to history, religion, and social issues are woven into the lyrics, creating a layered and impactful message. The chorus, sung by all the artists together, emphasizes the importance of standing together and not succumbing to fear.
The song encourages black men to unite, represent their community, and take action against injustices. It calls for awareness, education, and the recognition of black power. The lyrics also touch on the idea of reclaiming black history and celebrating the contributions of black people.
Overall, "Where Ya Heart At" is a powerful song that seeks to inspire and empower the black community while highlighting the need for unity, justice, and change.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN W. DAVIS, ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, ERIC BARRIER, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND, WILLIAM GRIFFIN, ADAM KEEFE HOROVITZ, RICK RUBIN, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH, SIMON P. JR. CULLINS, JAMES BROWN, CHARLES A. BOBBIT, BOBBY BYRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Isaac Willis
This whole album was filled with knowledge. The type of knowledge kids and adults can learn from. Not like that other water down stuff. Lyrically a diamond album.
Adam Gordon
I haven’t heard anyone mention this so I’m gonna say it... Killah Priest has to be considered as one of the G.O.A.T. Seriously... he’s dope AF, and still putting out banging music 💯
Adam Gordon
Jonathan Soko : Big Facts 💯
Queen Cee
I met him in person a couple weeks ago and told him the exact same thing. He’s definitely in my top 5!
Erebus ZepTepi
Truth..
MM B
Definitely one of the GOATs. I just wish he had more consistent platforms to release his music; he has some amazing work that is tough to find or wasn't produced as well as it could have been.
Queen Cee
@Matt B He has a new album coming out called "O Son of Man". He has a podcast that he does every Wednesday night on his Youtube channel. He's been dropping exclusives over the past month also.
Hashton Kusha-215
Killah Priest has this mystic aura about him....his delivery, his tone, the spiritual knowledge he puts into rhyme form is monolithic.
Madd Dogg
This deserves way more views. Killah is dope. B.I.B.L.E was one of my fav tracks from Liquid Swords. Wu Forever
LIL JON'S
The vid is on other channels too is why...