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.
Death Be the Penalty
Shabazz the Disciple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
The once lost disciples now found
Bound together forever
Verse One:
As I embellish mentally I nourish
Resuscitate a mindstate that has perished you shall inherit
we rise out of spiritual darkness six thousand year curse
The lost disciples bound to the midst of the
bottomless pit trapped behind the gates of the wicked wilderness
I hear the sound of the trumpets, blowing across the heavens
It's calm -- prepare, for the storm, of the seven
Shabazz, the Disciple, the holy, exalter
Condemning those, who sacrificin, babies on the altar
I hear the cries of innocent black babies who are aborted
and unmercifully slaughtered
Loud screams echo, skulls of angry slaves
turning over in their graves
The white sheets are like white flags, you need to wave it
To the soldier, of the Lord, the warrior King David
I come to kill and crucify, those who trick and lie
In the eyes, of the most, high
The pale-face, devil race, caucasoid germ
Grafted, from original, black man's sperm
Thin-blooded weak, grafted-brain punk
Your power's a third of mine, you drunk funky skunk
How dare you use Jesus name to shell your filthy religion
My tongue be the sword, to slash you with precision
The justice system is his, the court'll only acquit him
And eighty-five percent of y'all are going to hell with him
The walls of hell, are closing in, disciples, we rose again
the Sunz of Man, chosen men
Like lightning, striking, from the East
The Holy Psychiatrist, 4th Disciple, and Killah Priest
Unlimited volts, of energy, striking, the enemy
The righteous vicinity, death be the penalty
Chorus:
So come on and swing it low, sweet chariot
Pick up your righteous load, and yo then carry it
To a new home, and i-dentity
For my people, death'll be the penalty
Uhh, and for my folks I mad a-love
Keep your eyes on the prize and you'll rise above
And yo Shabazz, make sure you sing it loud enough
Peacein out to the righteous stay rugged and rough
And y'all get on down, come on now get on down
Swing it low sweet chariot... get on down
Come on now get on down, swing it low sweet chariot
Interlude:
Lawd, I'm in this culture
The microphone and I'm joinin
Sharpen your sword, we must be aware
Them trick knowledge, they use to de-ce-I've us
You've been plagued with the mental di-se-as-es
You worship false portraits of Je-eh-s-us
The grafted image, of worshipping Ce-as-ea-are
Verse Two:
I hear the snap of my great great grandfather's neck
in a noose, hangin from a fuckin tree whipped-in mentally
abused, visions of great great cousins
Runnin across the field, unarmed
Ran down, and killed
I be the star to dispel the darkness
Cast upon your soul by inhabitants of Mount Caucus
Who praise the dead, and not the true and living
Killed Jesus and said, that he died for their religion
Chorus
Swing it low now
Swing it low now (sweet chariot)
Swing it low now (sweet chariot)
Swing it low not (sweet chariot)
Pick up the righteous load and yo carry it
The song "Death Be the Penalty" by Shabazz the Disciple conveys a strong message of empowerment and resistance against oppression. The song is a call to rise against the forces that have kept the Black community down for six thousand years. It speaks of the lost disciples who were once trapped behind the gates of the wicked wilderness, bound to the bottomless pit. The singer hears the trumpets blowing across the heavens, signaling the coming of the storm of seven. He urges his people to prepare for the war against the enemies who have sacrificed innocent black babies on the altar and mercilessly slaughtered them.
The chorus inspires the Black community to swing low, sweet chariot and pick up their righteous load, embracing a new identity and rising above the oppression. The song goes on to condemn the diabolical forces that have plagued the Black community with mental diseases and caused them to worship false portraits of Jesus. It highlights the gruesome acts of violence committed by the oppressors and emphasizes the need to dispel the darkness cast upon the soul by inhabitants of Mount Caucus, who killed Jesus and claimed he died for their religion. In conclusion, the song Death Be the Penalty by Shabazz the Disciple speaks of the courage and resilience of the Black community and exhorts them to continue their fight against oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
As I embellish mentally I nourish
As I improve my mental state, I am also improving yours
Resuscitate a mindstate that has perished you shall inherit
I will revive a mindset that has been lost, and you will benefit from it
his blood I require back to Earth
I demand justice for the innocent blood that has been shed
we rise out of spiritual darkness six thousand year curse
We come out of a long period of spiritual ignorance and oppression
The lost disciples bound to the midst of the bottomless pit trapped behind the gates of the wicked wilderness
We were once lost and trapped in a place of darkness and wickedness
I hear the sound of the trumpets, blowing across the heavens
I hear a call to action from above
It's calm -- prepare, for the storm, of the seven
We must stay calm and be prepared for the coming storm
Shabazz, the Disciple, the holy, exalter
I am a holy messenger who elevates people
Condemning those, who sacrificin, babies on the altar
I condemn those who harm innocent children for their own gain
I hear the cries of innocent black babies who are aborted and unmercifully slaughtered
I hear the cries of innocent children who have been unjustly killed
Loud screams echo, skulls of angry slaves turning over in their graves
The ghosts of our ancestors cry out in anger for the injustices done to them
The white sheets are like white flags, you need to wave it To the soldier, of the Lord, the warrior King David
The KKK's white robes should be seen as a sign of surrender to the true soldiers of God
I come to kill and crucify, those who trick and lie In the eyes, of the most, high
I come to punish those who deceive and betray, in the eyes of God
The pale-face, devil race, caucasoid germ Grafted, from original, black man's sperm Thin-blooded weak, grafted-brain punk
The white race is a product of black people, but they are weak and inferior
Your power's a third of mine, you drunk funky skunk
You have only a fraction of my power, you foolish and worthless person
How dare you use Jesus name to shell your filthy religion
You have no right to use the name of Jesus for your own corrupt purposes
My tongue be the sword, to slash you with precision
My words are like a sharp sword that can cut through your lies
The justice system is his, the court'll only acquit him And eighty-five percent of y'all are going to hell with him
The justice system belongs to God, but many will still be punished for their actions
The walls of hell, are closing in, disciples, we rose again the Sunz of Man, chosen men
We are rising up against evil and will prevail as the chosen ones
Like lightning, striking, from the East The Holy Psychiatrist, 4th Disciple, and Killah Priest
We will come swiftly and suddenly, with the power of God, to fight against evil
Unlimited volts, of energy, striking, the enemy The righteous vicinity, death be the penalty
Our energy and power will strike down our enemies, and they will be punished with death
Pick up your righteous load, and yo then carry it To a new home, and i-dentity For my people, death'll be the penalty
We must take up our righteous cause and carry it with us, as we seek a new home and identity. Death will be the punishment for those who oppose us
Keep your eyes on the prize and you'll rise above
If you focus on what is right and good, you can overcome any obstacle
Lawd, I'm in this culture The microphone and I'm joinin Sharpen your sword, we must be aware Them trick knowledge, they use to de-ce-I've us
I am part of this culture and I am using my voice to fight against deception and trickery
You've been plagued with the mental di-se-as-es You worship false portraits of Je-eh-s-us The grafted image, of worshipping Ce-as-ea-are
You have been infected with mental illnesses and you worship false images of Jesus. This is the result of worshipping the false gods of the Caesars
I hear the snap of my great great grandfather's neck in a noose, hangin from a fuckin tree whipped-in mentally abused, visions of great great cousins Runnin across the field, unarmed Ran down, and killed
I hear the sounds and see the visions of the unjust and brutal violence against my ancestors
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID COLLINS, DAVID ANDREW MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dedrick Johnson
Why this joint ain't still selling, I don't know. One of the best rap songs ever!
shaolin slumz
one of the best and heaviest hip hop tracks ive heard 🔥✌
Slavsco 32
facts
Adriana Cassidy
This song still goes fuckin' hard!...
RushGaming DK
Damn straight!
shaolin slumz
incredible ✌️
Mikhail
Shabbaz at his best!!!! Killer track back then and he is still is!!!!!
armleglegarmhead
this and crime saga
Master Vader
This track reminds me of some crazy LSD trips i had in the Bronx some good some bad but over all fun times. and the beat is a neck breaker! Shabazz underrated MC
blacrsx
I had this on an old mixtape when I was 15 im about to be 40 still rockin. Aint shit change this song proves it