After hooking up with the Wu-Tang, Shabazz made two guest appearances on the first Gravediggaz album 6 Feet Deep in 1994, and then he signed to the GZA Entertainment management agency. He remained an official member of Sunz Of Man until just before the group released its debut LP The Last Shall Be First; his best-known solo track "Death be the Penalty" was originally intended to be a Sunz of Man track on the B-side to their single "Soldiers of Darkness," but the other members were so impressed with his contribution he was given the track for himself. This track was met with mixed emotions mainly because many felt it was extremely self righteous and incredibly hypocritical.
In the mid-90s Shabazz released a handful of singles, such as "Death be the Penalty", "Crime Saga", "The Lamb's Blood" and "Street Parables", in anticipation of his planned 1998 debut LP which was scrapped after GZA/Genius' GZA Entertainment label folded. Due to that deal folding, Shabazz's Wu affiliation (along with the affiliation of his close friend Killah Priest, also a GZA Entertainment refugee) began to wane. Around this 1996/1997 period, Priest and Shabazz both began to clash with RZA, and both had since all but cut their Wu-Tang ties. After unsuccessful attempts by the pair to create new post-Wu Tang crews (Priest proposed a crew called the Maccabeez which would include himself, Shabazz and Timbo King among others, while Shabazz proposed a group including himself and Priest called the Sunz Of Thunder) they both effectively went their separate ways, recording solo projects and in Shabazz's case recording as Celestial Souljaz with his cousin Freestyle (of non-Wu Tang crew The Arsonists). Shabazz is also known for being an influence on the late Big Pun.
In recent years, Shabazz has began to rediscover his Wu-Tang roots and performed on a Killa Beez tour as well as doing shows in Europe with Killah Priest (who has also recently been repairing his links with the Wu-Tang). After the death of Poetic, he has been rumored to be part of a new incarnation of Gravediggaz though Prince Paul has stated that a revival of the group is unlikely. He also announced in early 2003 that he has returned to Sunz Of Man as an official member.
In 2003, Shabazz finally released his solo debut "The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz)", the album featured his past singles "The Lamb's Blood," "Crime Saga," "Street Parables," and "Organized Rime Part 2," as well as the single "Red Hook Day" b/w "Thieves in da Nite (Heist)." Two years later he returned with The Passion of the Hood Christ in mid-2006.
In 2008, Shabazz formed the group T.H.U.G. Angels with fellow Sunz of Man member Hell Razah and producer Ayatollah. The group's debut, Welcome to Red Hook Houses, was released July 8, 2008, on Babygrande Records.
Son Rise
Shabazz The Disciple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We making solid power moves
Changing up the game, and put ya'll under our rule
It's G-O-D, the Kings, with the royal crown & jewels
To overthrow the castle, make you powder our shoes (solid power moves)
[Shabazz the Disciple]
Yo, Son, where I'm from, it's off the henges
Living and shooting that shit up with syringes
Causing this prophet move with emphatime
Code of the streets, niggaz gotta eat
For better dreams, for a cheddar fiend
Take a look through the eyes of a Disciple
Come into my world of burning punani's
And mami's who'se living trifled
Snipers on the roof with a rifle
And here the death'll roam on our babies
Born in a coma, your shit is a cycle
Unlimited conditions are indecent
And if you getting into the snitches
Pointing at pictures at the precint
Presidents, po-po hate niggaz on round tables
Infiltrating empires with wires
When you got niggaz, Kane & Abe
Why lead your accidents like I was Moses
And I'mma near that way to that day
I'm covered with roses, and my casket closes
Peace to all my niggaz on the Ave., we projects 31's
Paradise, heist and karat ice, stashing dirty guns
[Chorus]
[Outro: Shabazz the Disciple]
Leek Lover, my little brother
That one's for you, one love...
In the song "Son Rise" by Shabazz the Disciple, the chorus talks about making solid power moves and changing up the game, putting everyone under their rule. The G-O-D (which stands for Gangster Of Disciple) and the Kings are referenced, as they wear royal crowns and jewels to overthrow the castle and make others powder their shoes. The verses then go on to describe the rough and dangerous world that Shabazz grew up in. Living and shooting up with syringes was a common occurrence, and the code of the streets dictated that people had to eat however they could. Shabazz then invites the listener to take a look into his world, where there are burning punanis and trifling mothers. Snipers are on the roof with rifles, and death roams the streets, along with unlimited indecent conditions. He even mentions the police hate the round table of niggaz and infiltrating empires with wires. Yet despite all of this, he declares himself covered in roses, and gives a shoutout to all his niggaz on the Ave in the projects with their paradise, heist, and karat ice while stashing dirty guns.
The lyrics to "Son Rise" paint a vivid picture of Shabazz's upbringing and surroundings. It is a harsh, brutal world, where survival of the fittest is the name of the game. The lyrics talk about the need to make power moves and take control of one's own destiny, despite the odds being stacked against them. It is a song of triumph over adversity and an ode to never giving up, no matter how daunting the obstacles may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
We making solid power moves
We're taking tangible, strategic steps towards success
Changing up the game, and put ya'll under our rule
We're disrupting norms and establishing our own dominance over others
It's G-O-D, the Kings, with the royal crown & jewels
We are divinely blessed leaders with status and wealth
To overthrow the castle, make you powder our shoes (solid power moves)
We will take down authority figures and make them submit to us as a sign of our dominance and strength.
Yo, Son, where I'm from, it's off the henges
Brother, in my hometown, things are extremely intense and dangerous
Even niggaz that's hopeless
People who have given up on a better future
Living and shooting that shit up with syringes
Addicted to injecting drugs and causing chaos and pain
Causing this prophet move with emphatime
Influencing others through the power of our words and actions
Code of the streets, niggaz gotta eat
Survival is a necessity and people will do whatever it takes to get by, even if it's breaking the law
For better dreams, for a cheddar fiend
Working hard for the hope of a better life, and for those who are obsessed with money
Take a look through the eyes of a Disciple
See the world from our perspective
Come into my world of burning punani's
Enter our world where sex is taboo and women are disrespected
And mami's who'se living trifled
Women who are living poorly and being taken advantage of
Snipers on the roof with a rifle
People are constantly in danger and being watched by violent criminals
And here the death'll roam on our babies
Even innocent children are not safe from harm and death
Born in a coma, your shit is a cycle
People are born into difficult circumstances and often repeat patterns of struggle
Unlimited conditions are indecent
There are no limits to the unfavorable situations here
And if you getting into the snitches
If you become involved with people who gossip or snitch on others
Pointing at pictures at the precint
Identifying criminal suspects through photographs at the police station
Presidents, po-po hate niggaz on round tables
Community leaders and law enforcement officials harbor hatred towards black men
Infiltrating empires with wires
Secretly gathering evidence against organized crime syndicates
When you got niggaz, Kane & Abe
You have strong, trustworthy allies in the form of the biblical figures Cain and Abel
Why lead your accidents like I was Moses
Why take charge of dangerous situations as if I were the biblical leader Moses
And I'mma near that way to that day
I'm determined to keep going until I reach my goals
I'm covered with roses, and my casket closes
Despite the danger and violence of my world, when I die I will be remembered and honored
Peace to all my niggaz on the Ave., we projects 31's
A nod to my friends and associates in my hometown who I grew up with on 31st street in the projects
Paradise, heist and karat ice, stashing dirty guns
Our idea of paradise is luxury goods obtained through stealing and hiding weapons
Leek Lover, my little brother
A shoutout to my younger sibling, Leek Lover
That one's for you, one love...
Dedicating this song to my brother with love
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.