While spirituality has always played a role in hip-hop, Killah Priest was one of the few emcees to truly bring it to the forefront of his music in a hardcore and intellectual way. He first earned recognition on his solo track “B.I.B.L.E.” that was on the classic Gza/Genius album “Liquid Swords”. With many other Wu-Tang Clan collaborations under his belt, Killah Priest soon became a fan favorite of the Wu-affiliates. He was ¼ of The Sunz Of Man who also consisted of Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, and Prodigal Sunn. Sunz Of Man came out with their debut album “The Last Shall Be First” and it featured production by Rza, True Master, Wyclef, and 4th Disciple. Guests included Method Man, U-God, Ol Dirty Bastard, and even Earth Wind And Fire. Around the same time, Killah Priest released his debut solo album “Heavy Mental” on Geffen Records. It was a thick album that was overflowing with spirituality, intellect, and beats by True Master and 4th Disciple. Classic songs like “Cross My Heart” (featuring Gza & Inspectah Deck), “The Professional”, “Information”, “It’s Over”, and “One Step” all displayed Killah Priest’s love for God, hip-hop and his people. Eventually, Killah Priest and Sunz Of Man stopped recording and touring together. Without Killah Priest, Sunz Of Man continued and eventually released “Savior’s Day” on D3 Entertainment. Priest then joined up with Canibus, Ras Kass, and Kurupt to form The Four Horsemen. A couple of incredible tracks floated around and appeared on solo albums but the official Horsemen album never came out. Killah Priest soon released his sophomore LP “View From Masada” on MCA with the lead single “What Part Of The Game” featuring Ras Kass. On the LP, Killah Priest showed a more thugged out persona. Many critics and fans thought that he was less spiritual and intellectual and much more generic. Still, he was one of the first emcees to use Just Blaze (now an extremely popular producer used by Roc-A-Fella Records). His major label deal fell apart and soon, he began his own record label Proverbs Music. Killah Priest returned with “Priesthood”, a dark album that had collaborations with The Maccabees, Canibus, Kurupt, Ras Kass, and George Clinton. Only the true die-hard fans followed his career. They literally had to search for the album. Fast forward to 2003. Killah Priest signed to Recon Records / Artemis Records and now just released “Black August”. Killah Priest found the perfect balance of thugged out street lyricism and spirituality. Some songs like “Musifixtion” and “Excalibur” and are very deep and thoughtful. Other songs like “Déjà vu” and “Robbery” are intense story-telling tracks that are just as thought provoking. Then there is the pornographic “Do You Want It”. Still, the love of hip-hop is expressed in amazing tracks like “When I’m Writing” and “Breathe”. Newcomers like Jahson, G-13, and Kallisto handle production. Through the years, Killah Priest has come full circle. He is working hard on touring and his next album along with a Maccabees album too! On a warm September evening in 2003, I had an in-depth conversation with him about hip-hop, his career, The Four Horsemen, Sunz Of Man, Wu-Tang Clan, and spirituality. Killah Priest is a hardcore spiritualist. Prepare to be enlightened.

T.JONES: “What goes on?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I’m just chilling right now, man. I’m getting back in the studio to record more songs. I’m getting ready to get on the radio tomorrow.”

T.JONES: “Your new album is called ‘Black August’. Tell us about it.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Basically, it’s the story of my life, you know. ‘Black August’ is about me coming back from chilling for a minute. It’s basically my life. ‘Black August’ is my struggle. It’s about me and hip-hop. It’s about bringing hip-hop back to the basics about the rhyming art form, an art form that brings us to light.”

T.JONES: “What is the meaning behind the title?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “The title comes from me. I was born in August under the revolutionary statement. I’m all about the struggle and the revolution.”

T.JONES: “Do you have a favorite song on the ‘Black August’ album?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I like ‘Déjà vu’. That’s one of my favorite ones. ‘Breathe’ definitely.”

T.JONES: “For those who don’t know, could you explain your name?” How did you get it? What’s the meaning behind it?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “My new name is Priesthood. Killah Priest came from the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan. They gave me that name because the way I come across. I come across lyrically. Lyrically, I be chilling. Priest is the form I carry myself in. I’m always building. I’m always talking to the youth.”

T.JONES: “How is this album different from ‘Priesthood’?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “This album, ‘Black August’, is very different because every time I try to switch it, I’m filled with hip-hop. Hip-hop is in me. I have so many styles that I want to switch up. ‘Priesthood’s is more dark. It was a little more darker than this one. ‘Black August’ is the light. This one you hear songs like ‘Black August’ that have more light and they are much more bright. ‘Breathe’ is more bright. There are moments on the album where the darkness comes in, like on ‘Musifixtion’. This one is different because of different styles. This one I’m talking more about my art form and what I do like in ‘When I’m Writing’. Emcee-ing. I’m trying to put emcees back into that category where they can really rhyme and really say something.”

T.JONES: “What happened to Proverbs Music?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Yeah, Proverbs Music was my own record label. What happened was that I had a partnership with my man Louis Lombard. I guess, we tried it and it kind of worked out for the best. It was just a new experience. Then, I just moved on.

T.JONES: “Do you go into the studio with pre-written rhymes, lyrics and themes or do you hear the beat first and write then and there?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Nah, I hear the beat first and there it is. Lately, like the last albums, I just go into the studio and do it right there on the spot. When I hear the beat, I have a concept in my head. That’s what’s more important to me, the concept. It may be a concept that I thought about a long time ago but never did it. So, I do it.”

T.JONES: “What is going on with The 4 Horsemen? Will there ever be an album? Will those songs ever be released?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Yeah, definitely! We’re gonna merge on through! Right now, I’m concentrating on the Maccabees album. Right now, we’re just coming out of the studio. The Maccabees are me, Hell Razah, Daddy Rose, Salahudin, Timbo King, and my man Flame, the new member.”

T.JONES: “Where did you find the producers for ‘Black August’?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I met them out in Cali, when I was staying out in Cali for a minute. This cat, Jahson hit me off with some beats and I managed to see the natural talent. I was like ‘Yo, man I got to use some of this.’ Sh*t, I’m in the middle of the street now about to get hit by a car. (laughs).”

T.JONES: “Since you are from New York, does recording in California or on the West Coast have a different affect on the music or creative process?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Nah, not really. I just went out there because I like the atmosphere. The next album, I might record it in Jamaica. I just liked the atmosphere. Plus, at the time, I had a lot of people who be coming up to me so by recording. In Cali, I had a better chance at getting away from everybody running up in your studio session. You know how that go.””

T.JONES: “Elephant Man is on the ‘Robbery’ remix. How did you hook up with him and what was that collaboration like?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Danny Wyatt hooked that up. We flew out there to Jamaica and met up with Elephant Man and his sh*t was dope. He came in the studio and busted in, heard the joint and was like ‘Yo, I like this!’. He just kicked a rhyme and the sh*t was dope. We recorded it and it worked out from there. Also, I did a song for his album.”

T.JONES: “How did the Sunz Of Man come together?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Sunz Of Man was a group that I put together. We were called The Disciples. It was me and Shabazz The Disciple. Then, I met up with Hell Razah and Prodigal Sunn. One thing led to another and we put together Sunz Of Man. Then came 60 Second Assassin. That’s how that happened. Sunz Of Man is based on being hardcore both lyrical and spiritual.”

T.JONES: “Why and how did you leave Sunz Of Man? What happened?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I didn’t really leave Sunz Of Man. It’s just that in time, everything changes and you have to make better moves. If you don’t move, you stick around the same old format. I think that some of the members in the group wanted to branch and do other things. That’s what happened with them.”

T.JONES: “What is your relationship with them now? Were there any hard feelings?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Not with all the members. I think that some of the members didn’t understand fully about the business. We were all learning ourselves. At the time, I was engrossed with the business and he was telling me a lot more stuff in it. I guess Prodigal Sunn felt that he should get closer to Rza. I left it at that.”

T.JONES: “Religion plays a major role in your music and life. Do you subscribe to one kind? Which one?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Nah, nah. I’m not a religious person. A lot of people may think that a man named Killah Priest is religious by the way I was pushed out there but I’m more of a spiritual person. Religion is a Greek word that came from a word ‘Religio’ that means to hold back, restrain or keep down. So, it’s like an institution for the mind. If you listen to all of my songs and take it back as early as ‘B.I.B.L.E.’, I was never quoting religion. I was just rhyming about my life and going through that regarding spirituality.”

T.JONES: “What emcee/group would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “All of them. I think Eminem is dope. Nas is dope. I think that Dead Prez is dope. I like them too.”

T.JONES: “What producer would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I would like to work with Dr. Dre. I would like to work with Just Blaze again.”

T.JONES: “On ‘View From Masada’, you were one of the first to bring out Just Blaze as a producer. How did you guys meet and end up collaborating?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Yeah! Definitely. He’s with the Roc now. I can’t hate. I say ‘Get your money man!’ Me and Just Blaze started out like this. I was listening to his beats and I told him that he would be on top. It worked out good. He brought that cinematic viewpoint to the music on ‘View From Masada’. He kind of put up the canvas and I just painted the pictures.”

T.JONES: “Out of your 4 albums, do you have a favorite?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I would have to say ‘Priesthood’ because it was the first time that I truly did my own thing.”

T.JONES: “Many people think that ‘Heavy Mental’ is your best album. What is your opinion on ‘Heavy Mental’?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “The album ‘Heavy Mental’ is always a classic. A lot of people like ‘Heavy Mental’ but that’s just the beginning. That’s not the end. Some people say ‘Priest, why don’t you do a Heavy Mental II?’ That’s nothing. Actually, the ‘Heavy Mental’ I dropped was actually the 2nd one. I lost the first one. I lost the first version. The song ‘Heavy Mental’, I lost it on a ferry boat going to Staten Island.”

T.JONES: “What was the last incident of racism you experienced?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Hmm. Let me see. I don’t know. Probably, the other day. I don’t know, man. I stay clear of that bullsh*t. I think that people who are still caught up in that type of mentality are ready to get lost.”

T.JONES: “Where were you on Sept. 11th, 2001? How did you deal with it? How do you think it has affected or will affect hip-hop?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I think it affected people a lot. I think it brought people back to reality. I was staying out in Cali for a minute. On September 10th, I was on a plane. I came right back to New York. As soon as I came back, they took the towers.”

T.JONES: “What is your favorite part of your live show?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “When I’m performing songs. (laughs). It’s all good. I like every moment of it. I ain’t gonna front. My favorite part is when I do the a cappella stuff. The a cappella stuff in the middle of my shows is dope.”

T.JONES: “What songs do you perform a cappella?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I perform ‘Almost There’ and a new song that nobody ever heard of yet. I do ‘B.I.B.L.E. Part II’ also.”

T.JONES: “Word association time. I’m going to say a name of a group/emcee and you say the first word that pops in your head. So, if I say ‘Chuck D’, you may say ‘Revolution’. Okay?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Okay.”
T.JONES: “Ol Dirty Bastard.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Psycho.”
T.JONES: “Jay-Z.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Flossy.”
T.JONES: “Sunz Of Man.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Ghetto prophets.”
T.JONES: “Kurupt.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Twisted lyrics.”
T.JONES: “Common.” 
KILLAH PRIEST: “Conscious.”
T.JONES: “Wu-Tang Clan.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “The Posse.”
T.JONES: “Rza.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Dashboard.”
T.JONES: “George Bush.”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Devil.”

T.JONES: “What do you think hip-hop or music (in general) needs these days?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I think it needs to be re-educating the audience of where real hip-hop came from. Just like the grass roots of it. That old school flavor is needed. It’s lacking that creativity and the concepts. Hip-hop needs more creativity and not the same old sh*t.”

T.JONES: “What has been in your turntable or CD player recently?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I’ve been listening to a lot of old sh*t. A lot of Hall & Oates, Marvin Gaye. That’s what makes me right, man! I can’t listen to some of the sh*t out now because it ain’t stimulating. I like to go back to the old Wu-Tang joint or the old Nas joint or the old f*cking Tupac joint.”

T.JONES: “If you could remake any classic hip-hop song, what would it be?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “It would be ‘It’s Yours’.”

T.JONES: “What is the worst hip-hop fad?"”
KILLAH PRIEST: “‘Jump! Jump!’ I hated that f*cking sh*t. (laughs). I hated that era.”

T.JONES: “What do you do when you are incredibly stressed out?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “When I’m incredibly stressed out, I go get with my girl. I talk to her.”

T.JONES: “What is the biggest mistake that you made in your career?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Management. I always needed a good manager.”

T.JONES: “What are some major misconceptions that people have of you?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I don’t know. They think I’m religious. I need to be put out there more. People have to hear me more. I don’t really think that there are too many misconceptions about me.”

T.JONES: “What did you think of Ol Dirty Bastard signing to Roc-A-Fella Records?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I’m kind of glad for him. I think he should get his money. I’ll never knock him. O.D.B. signing with Roc-A-Fella is kind of different but you know, I don’t knock it.”

T.JONES: “What is next in the future for Killah Priest?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “More albums, Maccabees. I’m going to be pioneering sh*t. Put out other cat’s songs and sit back and chill.”

T.JONES: “Have you talked to or heard from Ras Kass since he’s been locked up?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I haven’t spoken to him since he’s been locked up but we’re still going to do the Horsemen joint.”

T.JONES: “What are some of the future projects or collaborations you are or will be working on?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Yeah! Look out for The Maccabees album. That’s next. Then, you got the next Killah Priest album coming out after that.”

T.JONES: “Who is doing the production for the Maccabees album?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “We got various producers. We have 4th Disciple! It’s going to be sick! Then, you have the Killah Priest joint. Then, you have the Hell Razah joint. You have to look out for more and more of our stuff. We’re going to keep on coming.”

T.JONES: “What is the new Killah Priest album going to be called?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “I don’t want to give that away yet. It’s called ‘INI’.”

T.JONES: “What do you want on your epitaph (your gravestone)?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “(laughs) Here lies one of the dopest lyricists in the whole world…. And kiss my ass!”

T.JONES: “Any final words for the people who are reading this?”
KILLAH PRIEST: “Yeah! ‘Black August!’ Get it! It’s in stores now! Get ready for the next one! One love! Keep your head straight and your nose clean. Don’t drink when you’re driving. Just drink when you pull over.”