Masta Killa was the last member to join the Wu-Tang Clan; consequently he did not appear on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck". He was also the only member not to already be an experienced rapper at the time of the group's formation. He was extensively mentored by the GZA during his early days with the group, evident in the similar flow they both employ. He derived his rap name from the 1978 kung-fu film Shaolin Master Killer, (Shao Lin san shi liu fang). Masta only appeared on one track on the Wu-Tang Clan's first album in 1993, though his only verse on the album, the closing verse to "Da Mystery of Chessboxin", is considered by many fans to be one of its most memorable. Masta only narrowly made the track, and was almost left off in favor of Killah Priest. In fact, on the No Said Date DVD, Killah Priest claims that he and Masta Killa were in competition for the spot on Da Mystery of Chessboxin', and while Killah Priest fell asleep, Masta Killa stayed up all night writing rhymes and Killah Priest woke up the next morning to Masta Killa's verse. Since he was a developing rapper at the time Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was being written, his verse in "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" was the only one that could hold up with the other, more experienced Wu-Tang members.
During the first round of solo projects, he made several appearances on tracks now considered Wu-Tang classics, such as "Winter Warz", "Duel of the Iron Mic", and "Glaciers of Ice". His flow at the time attracted attention for being very slow and laid-back, in contrast to the more manic, forceful styles of members like Inspectah Deck and Ghostface Killah. Masta Killa is also the Clansman fondest of Chinese martial arts imagery. In 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan's second album Wu-Tang Forever saw Masta become a mainstay in the group's line-up with regular appearances throughout the double album.
Masta Killa was the last member to release a solo project, after it was delayed for several years and finally released in June 2004 (2004 in music) with the title No Said Date. It was critically acclaimed and heralded by fans as a return to form for the Clan, with an ethos and sound reminiscent of the early and mid-1990s Wu-Tang and affiliate albums. His second album, Made in Brooklyn, was released in August 8, 2006, and includes production from Pete Rock and MF DOOM. "Ringing Bells", the Bronze Nazareth-produced lead single from the album, was released in March 2006. Also in 2006, Masta Killa became the latest in a succession of hip hop artists to endorse PETA, also participating in an advertisement for the organization and is also vegetarian.
He is known for being the most quiet and mysterious member of the Wu-Tang Clan, and little is still known about him. He rarely speaks in Wu-Tang interviews, and does not give many independent interviews. "I know I seem serious and quiet to a lot of the fans. That's because I take my work seriously. It's not a game. The Clan and I work hard to give you the best," says Masta Killa.
Name
Masta Killa takes his name from the 1978 film by Lau Kar-leung called Master Killer also known as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The main character in the movie is played by Gordon Liu who can be seen in many other films including a double role in Kill Bill.
Aliases
Jamel Irief (pron. Juh-mel I-reef)
High Chief
Noodles (from the film Once Upon a Time in America)
Cereal Man
Luongo
secret rivals
Masta Killa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh... musical clever
You know what time it is (Ooh-ahh, Meth Tical)
Yeah... what... (Hey, did you turn my mic down
Oh.. my headphone fell off.. damn..)
[Killah Priest]
Death come to those who oppose
In plain clothes, when the face ice cold
Lock your windows, still I come in when the wind blows
Come in slow, suddenly your eyes close
Then your body set through your soul, it rose
Turn into a black crow and fly into the internal night
That's when I also take flight
I turn into a great falcon
With mighty wings, when they flap, they move mountains
I leap on your back, like a wild fucking monkey
Eyes are blood shot read, with a growling tummy
Beat your fucking back out, like a gorilla
When I was tore, I figure my, out the house of mirrors
I show up to a recording session, with no facial expression
I'm just there like I crept in
Escape through the east gate, return through the west ends
When the son said, I'm like the westerns beneath the moon light
And the crescent, Priest, I have a stance, that's strong
When I perform, I transform, into a sandstorm
Leaving one third of the land torn
I'm like mice, I react strange
'm like a terratrane, I react crazy when the weather change
Then the father of a hurricane, handcuff pain
I whip tornados with iron chains
I make volcanos scream out my name
Niggaz kill me, try'nna escape my wrath
Through death, don't you know, I'm crazy muthafucka, I hold my breath..
[Interlude: Method Man]
Flicks... sluggy... one time
For your muthafuckin' mind
Wu-Tang Forever, this is just the next chamber, baby
(Fish filet, fish filet) Ah, ah-ah-ah
[Method Man]
We walking dogs, foot soldiers, fuck you all
Guns and roses, play the wall
The final curtain calls every day, all day
We hurtin' ya'll, project hallways is triflin'
Public Enemy, number one, still fightin'
The power, like Tyson
When nothing else work, start biting
Swallow up that weak shit, they writing
Spit it out, frustrated with the line
Hard for me to get it out
Intellectual, architect, bomb threat to a vegetable
Mr. Meth, you can get the left and right testicle
Step to the rear, Wu-Tang on arrival
Raised in the ghetto, singin' songs for survival
Nothing else matter, suspect chin niggaz shatter
Clap a mad rapper, red dot beemin' on the blood, splatter
University, anniversary of terror
It's now, or it's never
Ain't no in betweens in the cold war
Can't hold it down, got a thousand that can hold yours
Starvin', pardon me, God, I get a charge
Like a human lighting rod, strike back with no regard
For the innocent, harder than the bricks in my tenements
Wu-Tang, forever and a day, webe killin' it
[Masta Killa]
So patient, they sat there in the aisles and waited
For the testimony, hungry, for a statement from the one and only
Thristy for the ceremony at and, true Wu die hard fans
Now look how we rock, make a freestyle drop, old school like the wop
My grandaddy used to do this dance called the slop
I keep it hip hop for ya'll, we don't stop
Got ladies by the flock, no safety on the glock
Stop, look and listen when the semi auto's pop, your neck
Mock with the rope, who can match palm
I'm strong as a nuclear bomb, dangerous armed
Have you not prepared yourself, you've been warned
Gun shot to the informer, Killa Bee Swarm
Caught 'em on the corner of Lavonia
Reported missing, found him in the fetal position
Shot twice, armed with the rocket
Blind for the target, dipped on arrival
Suspenseful, kill or be killed, pass the rifle
The song "Secret Rivals" by Masta Killa features verses from fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Killah Priest and Method Man. The overall tone of the song centers around a sense of power and dominance, with each rapper sharing their own unique take on what it means to be the best. The song begins with a haunting intro, with Killah Priest discussing death and how it comes to those who stand in opposition. He raps about his ability to transform into different creatures and wreak havoc on his enemies. Method Man contributes a verse where he discusses his own prowess and intellect, while also showing a willingness to be violent if necessary. Finally, Masta Killa closes out the song, discussing his own ability to take on adversaries and dominate the rap scene with his skills.
Overall, "Secret Rivals" is a song that celebrates the power and strength of the Wu-Tang Clan, with each rapper contributing their own unique perspective on what it means to be a dominant force in the rap world. Through their lyrics, they paint a picture of a group that cannot be beaten, no matter what obstacles are put in their path.
Line by Line Meaning
Death come to those who oppose
Those who resist will meet their end
Knockin' at the door, holding a rose
The arrival of death is imminent and presents itself in a peaceful manner
In plain clothes, when the face ice cold
Death comes unexpectedly and appears indifferent to the victim
Lock your windows, still I come in when the wind blows
Even when precautions are taken, death cannot be avoided
Come in slow, suddenly your eyes close
Death arrives with slowness, but quickly takes the victim
Then your body set through your soul, it rose
Death separates the body from the soul
Turn into a black crow and fly into the internal night
The soul is metaphorically portrayed as a black crow that flies into the afterlife
That's when I also take flight
The artist also takes flight in spirit form
I turn into a great falcon
The artist describes his transformation into a falcon as he travels further into the afterlife
With mighty wings, when they flap, they move mountains
The artist's spirit is powerful and capable of great things
I leap on your back, like a wild fucking monkey
The singer becomes aggressive in spirit form
Beat your fucking back out, like a gorilla
The artist is unstoppable and violent in spirit form
I show up to a recording session, with no facial expression
The singer appears emotionless and indifferent to his surroundings
I'm just there like I crept in
The singer's presence is both unexpected and uninvited
Escape through the east gate, return through the west ends
The singer is able to move through different realms and dimensions
When the son said, I'm like the westerns beneath the moon light
The artist compares himself to characters from western movies
And the crescent, Priest, I have a stance, that's strong
The artist sees himself as strong and powerful like the moon's crescent shape
When I perform, I transform, into a sandstorm
The singer transforms into a destructive force capable of destroying landscapes
Leaving one third of the land torn
The singer's actions have destructive consequences
I'm like mice, I react strange
The artist is unpredictable
'm like a terratrane, I react crazy when the weather change
The artist's reactions are uncontrollable and intense
Then the father of a hurricane, handcuff pain
The artist is capable of causing destruction and disabling pain
I whip tornados with iron chains
The singer wields immense power and control over natural disasters
I make volcanos scream out my name
The artist is so powerful that even volcanoes recognize him
Niggaz kill me, try'nna escape my wrath
The singer is a force to be reckoned with and people try to avoid crossing him
Through death, don't you know, I'm crazy muthafucka, I hold my breath..
The singer's confrontational nature makes him dangerous even in death
We walking dogs, foot soldiers, fuck you all
The singer is powerful and dominant among his peers
Guns and roses, play the wall
The artist uses violence and peacefulness alike to assert his power
The final curtain calls every day, all day
Death is ever-present and cannot be avoided
We hurtin' ya'll, project hallways is triflin'
The singer's surroundings are rough and dangerous
Public Enemy, number one, still fightin'
The singer sees himself as the greatest threat to his enemies
The power, like Tyson
The artist has immense strength and power
When nothing else work, start biting
The artist uses aggression and force when necessary
Swallow up that weak shit, they writing
The artist is critical of those who are not as powerful as he is
Spit it out, frustrated with the line
The singer is impatient and easily annoyed
Hard for me to get it out
The artist struggles to express himself
Intellectual, architect, bomb threat to a vegetable
The singer sees himself as a powerful and intelligent figure
Mr. Meth, you can get the left and right testicle
The singer is capable of inflicting severe pain
Step to the rear, Wu-Tang on arrival
The singer is a part of a powerful and dominant group
Raised in the ghetto, singin' songs for survival
The artist's upbringing was rough and tough, and he had to rely on music to survive
Nothing else matter, suspect chin niggaz shatter
The artist sees himself as powerful enough to destroy his enemies
Clap a mad rapper, red dot beemin' on the blood, splatter
The singer is capable of taking down even the greatest of his rivals
University, anniversary of terror
The singer is a part of an organization that is feared and respected
It's now, or it's never
The artist's actions are final and carry great weight
Ain't no in betweens in the cold war
The artist sees his confrontations as a war with no compromises
Can't hold it down, got a thousand that can hold yours
The artist has many supporters who will fight for him
Starvin', pardon me, God, I get a charge
The singer is hungry for power and will do whatever it takes to get it
Like a human lighting rod, strike back with no regard
The artist is capable of inflicting severe damage without showing any mercy
For the innocent, harder than the bricks in my tenements
The singer is unforgiving and ruthless, even to those who are innocent
Wu-Tang, forever and a day, webe killin' it
The singer is part of a group that is powerful and is making an impact in the world
So patient, they sat there in the aisles and waited
The singer's fans are patient and eager to hear from him
For the testimony, hungry, for a statement from the one and only
The artist is seen as a dominant and influential figure
Thristy for the ceremony at and, true Wu die hard fans
The artist's supporters are dedicated and eager to celebrate his success
Now look how we rock, make a freestyle drop, old school like the wop
The singer is proud of his success and is confident in his abilities to make great music
My grandaddy used to do this dance called the slop
The singer has pride in his heritage and the legacy of his family
I keep it hip hop for ya'll, we don't stop
The artist is dedicated to his craft and to pleasing his fans
Got ladies by the flock, no safety on the glock
The artist is powerful enough to attract many women and feels confident in his abilities to protect himself
Stop, look and listen when the semi auto's pop, your neck
The artist is capable of violence and his enemies should be cautious when he is present
Mock with the rope, who can match palm
The singer is highly skilled in combat and is capable of overmatching his opponents
I'm strong as a nuclear bomb, dangerous armed
The artist is powerful and his strength can be compared to that of a nuclear bomb
Have you not prepared yourself, you've been warned
The singer is capable of violence and his enemies should be cautious
Gun shot to the informer, Killa Bee Swarm
The singer and his associates are capable of violence and should not be underestimated
Caught 'em on the corner of Lavonia
The singer's enemies cannot escape his wrath
Reported missing, found him in the fetal position
The artist's enemies are powerless against him
Shot twice, armed with the rocket
The artist's enemies are met with by deadly force
Blind for the target, dipped on arrival
The singer is unwilling to compromise and is capable of hurting his enemies
Suspenseful, kill or be killed, pass the rifle
The singer views his confrontations as life-or-death situations and is willing to kill to protect himself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind