Customer Reviews

Heavy Mental

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Killah Priest obviously did "study till my eyes were swollen," and he's got a passion for the supernatural as expressed by the Jews. He transforms New York into Judah the way the rest of the Wu made staten island Shaolin. He is incredibly knowledgeable "The white image of christ is really caesar bongarie, and a the second son of pope alexander." He's got a vision for purity of people, but he is still nasty. His name is perfect. The title track is the epitome of his overload of imagery, scriptural references, and vision. I thought the production was excellent even if rza didn't touch it. 4th disciple and true master and the rest put together some incredible music that goes with Kllah priests rhymes. And Killah Priest drops more knowledge than I've ever heard from a rapper. He's got a longing for something in his voice, a depressed kind of exiled voice (like the Israel nation he compares his experience to). He's also got that yelling thing, like on Cross My Heart, and I like that too. "See me outside your show browsing, beating up your soundman!" I reccomend this album, but like others say, its different, more contemplative, something you listen to in a walkman because it does demand more attention if youre going to get the most of it. Not by any means a party album, though Cross My Heart is as good and amped up as most any Wu song I've heard.

when i listen to killah priest and pharoahe monch and then i turn on BET and i hear chingy one call away it almost makes me wanna cry! if killah priest had 30 seconds to spit and chingy had 30 minutes to spit i wonder would win? killah priest raps about stuff that mattes in the life and how it's like in brooklyn while chingy is saying ur one call away i would knock chingy so hard if i ever saw him gosh go get this compact disc right now or at least check out b.i.b.l.e.

10 of 10 lyrics 10 of 10 beats

For those who put comments complaining about my man Priest's beats, you are not getting the point. Why would he need to have extravagant beats from the RZA? That would take away from his message. The beats are simple because his rhymes are complex. Killah Priest has arrived to trample those "Fake Mc's", and let them know that "It's Over" and let them know they should read "The BIBLE" and get "Information" about what's going on. I don't have a complaint about my Priest's album. If I could have, I would have given the album 20 stars. This is lyrical perfection. Heavy Mental indeed!!!

This is a truly classic album. For those of you tired of todays pop rappers, check this album out. For all the true hip hop heads that love lyrics: your prayers have been answered. Priest really does his research and it shows. Don't miss track 15, B.I.B.L.E., one of the illest songs ever. Peace.

Killah Priest is among hip hop's most unique characters, and his 1998 debut "Heavy Mental" might be the best showcase of his one-of-a-kind talent. Here, he was marketed as yet another extended Wu-Tang offshoot, yet proved to be an entity entirely his own with an ingenious LP. Anyone wowed by his infamous "B.I.B.L.E.," originally included on GZA's Liquid Swords and still one of rap's most jaw-dropping songs after fifteen years, will love this further insight into his complex thoughts.

Priest has long been a favorite of mine, a captivating performer and inspiring songwriter. A righteous and philosophical thinker, he incorporates sacred scripture and ancient history into his multi-faceted verses, and his gruff, commanding delivery results in an epic sound enhanced by his strong vocabulary. "Heavy Mental" also includes tracks which explore government conspiracy, outer space, and science for a diverse and stimulating listen. His references and metaphors are impressive, as is his method of adapting multiple perspectives for his tales. Musically, the Wu blueprint is evident with production handled by True Master, Y-Kim the Illfigure, and 4th Disciple, but it is cleverly manipulated to Priest's specifications. For instance, instead of sound bytes from kung-fu movies, Priest incorporates samples from such religious films as "The Ten Commandments."

The album is too long, and there are filler tracks where too-sparse production and monotonous flows beget forgettable results. Priest is an entertainer and a rapper, sometimes bordering on pseudo-intelligence for the sake of artistry. However, Priest provides enough genuinely interesting material to make this album a winner worthy of his huge potential.

"One Step" is a masterpiece, a song that ingeniously utilizes an infamous sample that Killah Priest laces with wise verses about religion, government conspiracy, and life. This song shows him at his best, exploring a wide range of unusual subjects over great production and bringing inspirational energy. "Tai Chi" is a chilling gem with apprehensive lyrics from Sunz of Man and an eerie backing by 4th Disciple with keyboards and vocals. ODB makes a noteworthy appearance on "If You Don't Know," and "Atoms to Adam" and "High Explosives" are both excellent stylistically and substantially. The nice "Wisdom" cleverly gives way to an extended version of the aforementioned "B.I.B.L.E." in all its glory. The message of religious realization and theological soul-searching in this track is timeless, and the sample is ingenious. Priest's references and rhymes are hip hop at its finest--effective, inspiring, and endlessly artistic. "Mystic City" and "Information" are great songs ripe with social relevance, paranoid imagery, and strong production. Perhaps most stunning is "Science Project," where Priest attributes urban decay to government experiments. This song is terrifying and ominous, enhanced by 4th Disciple's distant beat and Hell Razah's guest. Closers "Almost There" and "The Professional" are both memorable.

There are parts of Priest's huge catalog that are redundant and overblown, but "Heavy Mental" still hits like the day it was released. Rarely is music this simultaneously enjoyable and legitimately thought-provoking. I highly recommend "Heavy Mental" to any listeners, who will definitely find something they dig about this LP.

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

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.

Killah Priest, a former Wu-Tang affiliate who debuted on the classic Gravediggaz album, 6 Feet Deep, makes his LP debut here on Heavy Mental. I don't think there's ever been a more appropriate name for a Hip-Hop LP than the one for this album, as this is one of the most thought-provoking albums in history.

Over some great beats from Wu-Tang in-house producers, which are as you'd expect, RZA-esque, Killah Priest spits some pure knowledge. A lot of people may not like this album for that very reason; this is NOT an album you sing along with, this is an album that probes at your mind. Killah Priest has a vocabulary so large he'd make college professors running for a copy of Meriam-Webster.

Some people may not like this because it's heavily influenced by religion, but that's just silly for you not to appreciate it for that reason. Killah Priest maybe talking about Koran, and Jesus Christ, but he comes harder than most rappers ever will.

If you're a fan of great lyricism, dark production, or to sum both of those qualities up, the Wu-Tang Clan in general, then you'll love this album. If your only exposure to rap is Eminem and The Game, then this is most definitely not for you.

Horsemen! why have these super rappers been rejected by the indusrty this is a pure classic when priest was associated with wu and gza and odb get it

Favorite Track:B.I.B.L.E.
Guests:Ol'Dirty Bastard,GZA

10 of 10 lyrics 10 of 10 beats

This album by Killah Priest is one of the best hip hop albums in history.Commenting on the harsh brutalities of black life and history throughout the entire album forces you to believe every word the man says.He is a philosopher for the hip hop world and rightly so.With lines like "To many rappers in the east wanna be gangsters, too many gangsters in the west wanna be rappers" and "Religious worship is worthless", his wisdom prevails but it wont appeal to everyone.The only thing that puts down this album, actually has nothing to do with it. The following album "View from Masada" cannot begin to compare to the genius that has gone into "Heavy mental".My advice to you is, if youve never heard a Killah priest song before, buy this album, and avoid "View from Masada" like the plaugue.It'll only ruin the admiration he deserves. Nowadays, rap with a message is considered something of an anomaly with most rappers (eg.Puff Daddy,Jay-z,Nelly).Every song on this album has some form of message, whether it be the hard lives many people lead, or the transition from "Pyramids to projects", its written superbly. Listen to this album and be prepared for a "heavy mental" session. Best songs: One Step,You dont know, Tai Chi, Mystic city. Buy 10 copies.The man deserves his money.