1. Priest is … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four artists with the name Priest:
1. Priest is a Swedish band described as 'a synth band that creates music rooted in the vastness of electronic dreams. The goal of their multifaceted prophecy is to safely guide humanity unto the next evolutionary step – the merging with machines.' Official Facebook Page
2. Synth-pop Priest was formerly known as x Priest x. An 80s style synth-pop collaborative effort between vocalist Madeline Priest and producers Dave Kazyk and Chandler Strang (of Saskatchewan fame – an indie act out of Florida well worth a listen), x PRIEST x takes the lo-fi goodness of Grimes and blends it with the cold synths of Zola Jesus.
3. Priest is a Heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario Canada, Formed in 2012.
4. Priest aka Priest Da Nomad is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan.
As a New York City underground artist, Priest was born in raised in Detroit and Metropolitan Detroit, and began sharpening his craft at the age of 13. Overtime, and despite the ever-changing current of music, Priest established his creative properties with his storytelling abilities and poetic narratives through observant eyes. At age 24, he moved to New York to "get the hell out of Michigan. It's not that I don't love Detroit, I just love it for what it was, for what it means historically. Detroit got worse and worse, really. It's a empty, hollowed-out version of itself. I was in a position where I couldn't survive or pursue to music, and I had the opportunity so I left."
Drawing a large amount of his inspiration lyrically from Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, Priest's lyrical content encompasses tones of urban commentary, social dialogue and ironic circumstances of everyday life. In essence, Priest is a realist who documents life in his purest form: uninhibited and unrestrained.
Priest's approach, as he describes it, "depends on the mood of what it is I'm doing. Depending on the emotion of the track, or how I feel about the specific direction, I switch my sh*t up accordingly."
His lyrical style, he expressed is "multi-layered, multi-rhythmic, multi-syllabic. I love words, and when you string them together in a certain way and still hold true to the premise of the track, it sounds amazing. It's not just what you're saying, it's how you say it. Your rhyme pattern is a second instrument. It's a verbal melody. Your sh*t has to be tight and flow right, otherwise it's a ridiculous heap of f*cking noise. Lyrics and flow matter, the ability to rhyme matters. If you refer to yourself as a non-lyrical rapper, then you're not a rapper...
The Cross
Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into a ? I blow steam from the families of the Mackabees
Smack emcees watch them scream your majesty make them suffer
The capacity of tragedy hold the crowd down like gravity
Back the fuck off stop grabbing me hands off me niggas start to
Bore me
I'm getting sleepy I need some coffee, me and my wu-bandits
You fucking dummies, you can't take nothing from me
It's the longest waited, the most anticipated, the album amputated
Scream the name out Killah Priest, I leave the blood filling in the
Street
I'm from the dark hills of Brownsville, the seven shields on windmills
Across the killing fields, never forget it, tell them rap critics
I speak in horrific, so they can never get it, I'm too scientific
Lyrics explicit, I roll with thirsty niggas, theifs and killers
Tigers, gorillas, faces like godzilla
We stomp rappers and smile like a Calm-Della, we got iller
Cross my heart both hope to die, we multiply, by the hundred
Fuckin' by the thousand, leave me out ? so grounded
Beatin' up your soundman
Playa haters and players, we give um' cold stares
Any last prayers
Yo, Yo, concrete techniques, bomb beats and cause causalities
My facalty, hold it down like gravity, rapidly
Sweatin' like weapons to adolescence, ghetto residence
Quick to pass since your present, state of the slum
Kill 4 play the drums
Face 1, their course was now, the snake tongue, I'm deep into this
I sometimes gasp for air, deadly warfare
Hot block cop and gold stares, shots clear
They fire was on July the 4th, weapons get torn, fugitive slidin' off
My force is combined, new world, 2009
Digital, criminals you'll make meals in cyber-crime
Let's all plan ahead, 2 times, I keep the chimes to a great mind
The head that you take, you're not blind
[Chorus]
We stare you eye to eye
We tell the truth no lie
We cross our heart and hope to die, hope to die
High ranked officials and armed tanks with missiles, blood drizzle
Simple fact, you slept on the issue, that B-boy started jerkin
Joysticks a Sega, I was rockin' off 100 watt amps in ?, 2 fine tune it
Ship enough units, emcees ask, who be those rhyme killers in mask
No doubt, difficult task, the last in the square, beware
Infinite amount of darts is in the air, I'm victorious
With no opponents, I blast through components, with micro-phonics
Watch the whole world live the moment, anything in time
Became approaching this, are incompatible of speech, remains motionless
[Chorus: x2]
Hope to die
The lyrics of Priest's song "The Cross" are dense and packed with vivid imagery and wordplay. However, at its core, the song is a boastful description of Priest's skills as an emcee, set against a backdrop of violence and struggle. He describes himself and his crew as powerful and unstoppable, able to "hold the crowd down like gravity" and "stomp rappers." He also references his Jewish heritage, invoking the "families of the Mackabees," famous Jewish warriors, and the "dark hills of Brownsville," a neighborhood in Brooklyn known for its crime and poverty. Throughout the song, Priest showcases his unique style, combining complex rhymes and metaphors with a confident swagger.
One interesting aspect of the song is its use of religious imagery. The title "The Cross" can be seen as a reference to the Christian symbol of salvation, but Priest's use of the word is more ambiguous. He may be drawing on the cross as a symbol of power and dominance, or using it as a metaphor for the struggle and sacrifice of the streets. Alternatively, he may be subverting the Christian symbol, using it to represent a more brutal and violent worldview.
Another notable feature of the song is its intense and aggressive sound. The beat is hard and heavy, with a driving bassline and distorted samples. Priest's flow is equally forceful, with rapid-fire rhymes and sharp cadences. The overall effect is one of power and energy, capturing the intensity of Priest's persona and his message.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the visiting king supreme all heal kiss the ring
The arrival of a great and powerful figure who is revered by all and seen as a source of healing and unity.
Into a ? I blow steam from the families of the Mackabees
I, as the artist, am bursting with energy and passion that stems from the lineage of the Mackabees, a family known for their courage and strength.
Smack emcees watch them scream your majesty make them suffer
I am a skilled rapper who can easily defeat my opponents and make them suffer, acknowledging my own power and authority.
The capacity of tragedy hold the crowd down like gravity
My lyrics are powerful, and they can affect an audience in a profound way, almost like gravity holding them down.
Back the fuck off stop grabbing me hands off me niggas start to Bore me
I am feeling annoyed and overwhelmed by others' attempts to grab at me and control me, and I am becoming disinterested as a result.
I'm getting sleepy I need some coffee, me and my wu-bandits
I am feeling tired and need some caffeine, and I am accompanied by my fellow Wu-Tang Clan members.
We carry niggas deep in the canvas, body bandage, like some mummies
We are skilled fighters who can easily defeat our opponents and leave them beaten and bandaged up like mummies.
You fucking dummies, you can't take nothing from me
I am confident in my abilities and believe that my opponents are foolish and unable to take anything from me.
It's the longest waited, the most anticipated, the album amputated
My album has been eagerly awaited for a long time and is highly anticipated, but there have been changes made to it that may have harmed it in some way.
Scream the name out Killah Priest, I leave the blood filling in the street
I want people to know my name and acknowledge my power, and I am willing to use violence and aggression to make that happen if necessary.
I'm from the dark hills of Brownsville, the seven shields on windmills
I come from a place that is characterized by darkness and struggle, and my ancestors have been known for their strength and resilience.
Across the killing fields, never forget it, tell them rap critics
I have experienced a great deal of violence and tragedy in my life, and I want to make sure that others are aware of the struggles I have survived.
Lyrics explicit, I roll with thirsty niggas, theifs and killers Tigers, gorillas, faces like godzilla
My lyrics are candid and raw, and I associate with others who are similarly driven and ruthless, including both men and women who are known for their intense and intimidating personas.
We stomp rappers and smile like a Calm-Della, we got iller
We are confident in our abilities to crush our opponents, and we take pleasure in doing so even as we continue to improve and evolve our skills.
Cross my heart both hope to die, we multiply, by the hundred
We are making a serious promise and expressing our sincere dedication to our craft, and there are many of us who share this commitment.
Yo, Yo, concrete techniques, bomb beats and cause causalities
I am known for my skilled rapping and production abilities, and I can have a significant impact on my listeners.
My facalty, hold it down like gravity, rapidly
My team is skilled and committed, and we can perform with great intensity and force even as we remain grounded like gravity.
Sweatin' like weapons to adolescence, ghetto residence Quick to pass since your present, state of the slum Kill 4 play the drums
We are deeply connected to the struggles of those who live in poverty and violence, and we are quick to recognize and respond to the challenges they face.
Face 1, their course was now, the snake tongue, I'm deep into this
I am taking on powerful opponents who are using deceitful tactics to try to defeat me, but I am confident in my ability to prevail despite these obstacles.
Hot block cop and gold stares, shots clear
We are interacting with law enforcement and other powerful forces who are trying to intimidate us, but we refuse to be silenced or intimidated.
They fire was on July the 4th, weapons get torn, fugitive slidin' off
We have been involved in a violent conflict in which weapons have been used and people have been arrested or forced to leave the area.
My force is combined, new world, 2009 Digital, criminals you'll make meals in cyber-crime
I am working with others to create change and challenge the status quo, using digital technology and other innovative means to empower ourselves and build new systems.
Let's all plan ahead, 2 times, I keep the chimes to a great mind The head that you take, you're not blind
We are making a concerted effort to think ahead and plan for the future, and we are committed to maintaining a clear and focused mental state in order to make this happen.
High ranked officials and armed tanks with missiles, blood drizzle Simple fact, you slept on the issue
We are facing powerful forces who are using violence and force to suppress us, and this represents a serious challenge that must be taken seriously.
That B-boy started jerkin Joysticks a Sega, I was rockin' off 100 watt amps in ?, 2 fine tune it Ship enough units, emcees ask, who be those rhyme killers in mask
I have been immersed in hip-hop culture and technology for a long time, honing my skills and perfecting my sound in order to create powerful and effective music.
No doubt, difficult task, the last in the square, beware Infinite amount of darts is in the air, I'm victorious
Defeating my opponents is a difficult challenge, but I am confident in my abilities and believe that my victory is inevitable.
With no opponents, I blast through components, with micro-phonics Watch the whole world live the moment, anything in time Became approaching this, are incompatible of speech, remains motionless
I am so skilled and powerful that I am able to overcome all obstacles and barriers, delivering my message to the entire world even as I remain immovable and unyielding.
We stare you eye to eye We tell the truth no lie We cross our heart and hope to die, hope to die
We are making a solemn promise to face our opponents head-on, always speaking the truth and remaining committed to our cause even in the face of danger and adversity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVY JO HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind