Killah Priest - Heavy Mental

Interesting Knowledge...(Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

Suns Of Man/Wu-Tang's extended family member Killah Priest might be one of the most diverse lyricists that people may ever hear. His lyrics expand from storytelling, to project life, to religion. Especially on the latter, as one may believe that he has actually studied the Bible all throughout his life, before recording his album. Almost every verse has a good concept behind it, as to get listeners to learn, as well as expand their knowledge basis. After making an impact on "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" on The Genius' Liquid Swords, expect his whole album to have similar content throughout.

The songs that are great standouts are the fierce "Cross My Heart" with Inspetah Deck and The Genius. Followed is the deep "Fake MC's". My favorite track here is "Tai Chi" with Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, and Father Lord. The track has an deep (and somewhat disturbing sounding) piano loop that works very well. Following that track is the spoken word "Heavy Mental", where Killah Priest goes for over four minutes. Things keep going on with the deep sounding "If You Don't Know" with ODB. Another favorite of mine is "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth", as it's no different from the version that appeared on The Genius' album. Towards the end is the story telling "Science Project". Priest kicks more knowledge on "Almost There". And the album closes off with a solid "The Professional".

Killah Priest's debut is full of deeply thought lyrics, and dark sounding production. This album may end up growing on some people, as it did on myself. When it does, it will be enjoyed by fans of the Wu, Suns Of Man, IV Horsemen, and other Killah Priest related fans. Back in '98, this album slipped through the cracks, due to the change in what hip hop was becoming around that time. Killah Priest wasn't following trends back in that time, which was probably the reason why this album was ignored. I recommend you pick this up, because it is definitely recommended. Peace.

Lyrics: A+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: A+
Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Tai Chi (featuring Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, and Father Lord)
2. Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
3. Cross My Heart (featuring The Genius and Inspectah Deck)
4. Science Project (featuring Hell Razah)
5. If You Don't Know (featuring ODB)

Honorable Mention:
1. Heavy Mental
2. It's Over
3. High Explosives October 13, 2008

Great for its time

Was put together in '98 - so we're looking at a 10 year old album here. The "Priest" is a gun on the lyrics, rattling them off and for that alone is worth the buy. February 29, 2008

Killah Priest takes us to hip-hop church to discover his classic Heavy Mental

With the re-emergence of party-oriented hip-hop tracks in the late '90s, lyrically talented mc's began to get phased out and could sometimes be considered obsolete if not promoted properly. Despite this, one thing is always certain: skills are skills, and MCs whose skills overpower their production rarely go unnoticed. Killah Priest comes from a camp whose lyrics will always be respected for feeding your head, regardless of production. Formally introduced to the hip-hop world on GZA's "Liquid Swords," Killah Priest debuts with his own solo album ahead of his highly-anticipated Sunz Of Man project. On HEAVY MENTAL, Priest shocks listeners with his complex lyrical style and is assisted by members of the Wu, who add additional musical flavor to the proceedings.It s a crime, but Killah Priest has been a vastly underrated emcee, not only when compared to his Wu-Tang counterparts, but in hip hop in general.


Bearing somewhat of a hoarse, dreary tone, Killah Priest easily ranks among some of the best lyricists in hip hop history with his poetic writing, incredible rhyming ability, and his afro centric subject matter. There was no questioning that the man had all the talent in the world for hip hop, and this is best represented in his phenomenal debut album Heavy Mental. You see, Killah Priest is one of those lyricists that are light-years ahead of the rest of the rap game. But what truly makes him as great as he is, is the poet inside of him. All through Heavy Mental, Killah Priest drops a number of amazing metaphors that relate top the mistreatment of blacks in earlier times.

One Step and Blessed Are Those are beautifully written tracks, despite their somewhat melancholy subjects, and overall feel .The president just ordered the navy/ to hit the borders of Haiti/ slaughtered babies from the waters of Euphrates/ maybe they send germs that polluted our sperm/ and made us live with circumcise in the serpents eyes . His writing is something else. Once his powerful words get through to you, you realize that he also flawlessly rhymes his words. Priest can say whatever the hell he wants and make it sound perfect, now theres an emcee for you.

Throughout the long, 20 track duration of Heavy Mental, Killah Priest will keep the listener mesmerized by his divine writing, with gorgeous metaphors that either refer to the history of blacks, or state his own personal beliefs. For example, he states that ones own religious beliefs can prevent them from discovering an unknown fact about the universe, summed up in this amazing line .Religion is a prison for the seekers of wisdom .Pay attention mainstream audience, because that line right there might be worth more than your favorite rappers career.

While I have heard a few emcees that are similar to Killah Priest, (Canibus and Ras Kass) when it all comes down to it, there is no one like him. The man was born to work with a pen. Who else would dedicate a love song to intelligence? (Wisdom) Or analyze the way black people have changed over the centuries? (From Then Till Now) .We was the wisest and the richest/ now we turn to snitches/ women turn to b*tches/ in the time of harvest/ we was the smartest/ worshipped wisdom like the goddess/ now we act retarded/ forsook the wisdom of the fathers .

Killah Priest seems to be more of a poet on this album more than anything, but dont forget that he is an emcee. Killah Priest also demonstrates his dominant battle rapping skills with tracks like Fake MC s and Its Over. Both of which demonstrate his amazing delivery as he fires off punch line after punch line to grind his imaginary opponents into dust Put whisky in your soda or vodka/ chop you with a blade made of copper/ kick your head off like a soccer/ ball, raw alcohol and its over/ arrest over in October

He is restless and ferocious on tracks like this, and he even brings two of the Wu-Tang Clans better lyricists, Gza and Inspectah Deck to join him in the battling on memorable cut Cross My Heart. So looking at everything I ve said so far, is there anything this guy cant do? Heavy Mental displays one of the greatest at his peak. As a writer, he's as deep and thoughtful as any other. As a battler, he's as talented and razor tongued as they come. Heavy Mental is a true hip hop fans dream. Step into the one of a kind mind of Killah Priest .


Personnel includes: Gza, 60 Second Assassin, Ol' Dirty [...], Tekitha, Inspectah Deck, Hell Razah.
Producers include: 4th Disciple, Killah Priest, Y-Kim, True Master, The Arabian Knight.
July 13, 2007

Killah Priest's Debut = The best Wu-Tang album by a non-member.

Heavy Mental was the debut album from Killah Priest. He first emerged with the single, B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), which was included as the final track on GZA's seminal Wu-Tang classic, Liquid Swords. Initially signed to Geffen Records at the behest of Wu-Tang stalwart GZA, who helped develop his talent, Killah Priest went on to make one of the deepest and most thought-provoking albums in '90s era hip-hop.

The main reason why I had to add this album to my Wu-Tang collection was Track 4, From Then Till Now, a powerfully haunting track where Killah Priest spits ill rhymes commenting on the grim realities that project-dwelling black folks deal with today while paying tribute to the glory and splendor of Nubian ancestors from ages past. This song was featured in the opening scenes of the movie, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Forest Whitaker (Oscar Winner, Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland). If you're looking for a lot of rap songs glorifying excess, greed, drug dealing, pimping, and misogyny, you will not find them on this album. Killah Priest is strictly for cats looking for more out of their rap lyrics than the usually mainstream rubbish.

Heavy Mental, the title track, is especially daring and experimental. Killah Priest employs a Spoken Word Poetry-style delivery and utilizes an ancient Aboriginal wind instrument called a derrigeroo on that track to give it a primal edginess unlike anything that's ever been heard before. Clan members GZA, Inspecktah Deck, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and affiliate group Sunz of Man also made guest appearances on the album. Other stand out tracks include One Step, Blessed Are Those, Tai Chi, It's Over, and High Explosives. The beats, sampling, and production on this album overall, are top-notch.

In closing, I'd just like to say that this album was worth every penny I paid to have it and I look forward hearing the rest of Killah Priest's albums. As an MC with a near-limitless lyrical eloquence and vocabulary, Killah Priest "kept it real" on Heavy Mental. March 8, 2007

If you bought 50's disc(s) don't buy this.

This album is one of my favorites. It's got what I look for in quality beats that match up with more than quality rhymes. Killah Priest has far more to say that most pop rappers and that to me makes all the difference.

Two lines standout, "one half my crew is aitheist, the other half is waiting on the spaceship." and "too many gangstas in the West wanna be rappers, to many rappers in the East wanna be gangstas..." just imagine those clowns from Mobb Deep or DMX or "the Game" and you'll realize that you're listening to a man who understands. July 23, 2006

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