The Offering

Killah Priest | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Traffic (The Orchard)
• ASIN: B000TXZ2G0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,188 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Longtime Wu Tang Clan affiliate and Brooklyn, New York native, Killah Priest returns with a long awaited, highly anticipated album called "The Offering." Best known for his life and career altering appearance on the track "B.I.B.L.E" from GZA's "Liquid Swords" album, his classic debut "Heavy Mental", and for his intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious references, the former Sunz Of Man group member brings his passion for quality rhymes back on this new release. Priest delivers a monster of an album that features a star studded supporting cast including Nas, Immortal Technique, Ras Kass, Canibus, Kurupt, Hell Razah and more. Recent group collaboration projects such as The Black Market Militia and The Horsemen Project have had fans foaming at the mouth for Priest's newest solo effort, and "The Offering" is sure to satisfy their hunger by showcasing why he has been considered one of the top lyricists in the game for years. Killah Priest will be featured on BET's "Rap City" the week of Street Date!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, October 9, 2007

By 

J. Prescott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Offering (Audio CD)

Killah Priest has previously released 4 "good" albums. Showing his spiritual-street blend of lyrics; he was an unpolished diamond. With the exception of Heavy Mental, the albums such as "Black August / Revisited" were good but they lacked something. Consistency. It seemed Priest was toying with the mic, finding his style by trying different things. Each track had it's own feel, he would switch from hard street style to softer, poetic stories.

This album is where he polishes the rough edges and truly shows his talent. "The Offering" has 17 tracks and each one of them is a great song. The production is classic Wu-Tang style; think Ghostface "Ironman" or Cuban Linx. Priest does not jump around with his style like in previous albums, he sticks to making a straight-up classic here. This album is consistent, the beats are very strong and his lyrical ability is unmatched. This is a very solid CD, you won't be disappointed.

This is the album I've been waiting years for Priest to drop. An unpolished diamond before, now he is truly a shining gem in the world of hiphop. No less than 5 stars for the best hiphop CD to come out in recent years, let alone the best out of the Wu-Tang camp since Legend of the Liquid Swords

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An "Offering" not to be refused, August 23, 2007

By 

ctrx ('bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Offering (Audio CD)

Killah Priest's fifth solo album is 2007's "The Offering." Killah Priest is a member of the extended Wu-Tang Family, the Sunz of Man, the Black Market Militia, and the HRSMN, but is probably best known for his excellent 1998 debut Heavy Mental. Kind of like Nas, everything he has released since his debut has inevitably been compared to it, and despite a string of truly quality albums, he remains a drastically underrated rapper even ten years later. Ever since I heard him rap on "B.I.B.L.E." on GZA's Liquid Swords album (a song that remains one of my all-time favorites), I have loved Killah Priest, and listening to him can be quite an experience. He provides the listener with so much more thought, insight, and interesting subject matter than basically any other rapper. He is well educated and artistic and obsessed with ancient European history, religion, architecture, and philosophy (as the great cover might indicate). And like much of the Wu-Tang collective, he tends to often rap through metaphor, but his way is far greater than most of the Wu MCs. His metaphors will usually reference scripture, ancient wars and historical figures, or literary works. This gives his music a very epic feel that is enhanced by the production. The beats take cues from classical music and instrumentals that makes the overall product a very unique and epic sounding work. "The Offering" stays true to Killah Priest's formula, and he makes no concessions of his style or ideas. Sometimes he may come across as paranoid but even though you may not agree with him, he's still incredibly compelling to listen to. He remains strictly rooted in the underground, and that said he will not appeal to everyone. His songs are usually devoid of hooks and he can rap in a monotone flow for a whole song. But for the educated listener his lyrics can open worlds of mysterious and spiritual ideas. My only complaints about "The Offering" are that towards the end of the album, the sound becomes a tad monotonous, and the production grows a little sparse and the songs a bit redundant. "The Offering" is another nice album from Killah Priest, and his fans should not hesitate to hunt this down.

The album kicks off with "The Offering (Intro)," a full-length song with a cool beat where Killah Priest drops the first of his mystical, spiritual lyrics on the album. "Salvation" has epic-sounding production anchored by a trumpet line and some of the best metaphorical lyrics, referencing ancient Europe. My favorite song is the Nas collaboration "Gun For Gun." This song has rough, frenetic production and quality verses that display the raw side of both MCs. On the fast and claustrophobic "How Many," Killah Priest speaks of the state of hip hop and mentions legends like KRS-One and Slick Rick. KP steals the show on "Uprising," a highlight both musically and lyrically, and he collaborates with fellow Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia member Hell Razah on "Melodic Pt. 2." The nice "Priesthood" precedes "Inner G," where the full incredible HRSMN crew of Killah Priest, Canibus, Kurupt, and Ras Kass show up. This is an amazing collective and this song showcases their awesome talent, a simple beat provides a backdrop for their deep and literate lyricism, my favorite verse is Kurupt's vicious one at the end. "Ghetto Jezus" is more vintage Killah Priest, ripe with references to scripture and a cool beat. The good title track comes before "Truth B Told" and "Osirus Eyes," two very solid cuts. "Standstill" is a high profile collabo with Bloodsport and Immortal Technique, and "PJs" features female rapper Zariya for one of the better songs on the disc. The hook and production in this song are really appealing and the verses are deep. The sunny "Happy" uses the same beat as Freeway's "You Don't Know" to create a nice late-album track, and the seven-minute "Essential" is very compelling, where he speaks on politics, religion, and philosophy over one of the best beats. This might be the best song on the album, it's got an epic feel to it. The album closes with another great song, "Till the Angels Come," which has an unsettling beat and an awesome concept.

"The Offering" is not an album that will receive heavy praise or attention, but Killah Priest's fanbase is sure to love it because it stays so true to his unique formula. I definitely recommend "The Offering."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Awaited & Worth The Anticipation..., September 3, 2007

By 

Tricky Dick "- HeavenlyBent -" (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Offering (Audio CD)

A few years back, a good friend of mine introduced me to Killah Priest by strongly recommending me to purchase Killah Priest's 'Heavy Mental LP.' Truthfully, the album didn't really take into a favorable effect and left me disappointed, which in turn, left the CD buried in my glove box for months. During a typical New York traffic gridlock (complete standstill), I dug into my CD collection and decided to give Heavy Mental another chance. Killah Priest's lyrical smoothness & ability to ride a beat to it's preciseness is ridiculously spectacular. I was beyond impressed. Although I can't give Heavy Mental a Classic rating or even a perfected appraisal.. it did have a STRONG potential towards a classic achievement.

Anyway, years after.. something gave me the feeling that 'The Offering' was going to be amazing. So, after this long-awaited delay.. WOW, I was not disappointed. Killah P has definitely chosen to work with a great handful of producers on this LP, letting him release his true under-rated talent that lies within him. Honestly, I knew that this album was guaranteed towards success when his 2 verses on the compilation "Gun For Gun" had out-shined Nas's verse. Although I'm a devoted Nas fan, his contribution to the track had not held up against K.P's.

Tracks like 'Uprising' just gives me that re-assurance that Killah Priest is one of the most Under-Rated, Under-Appreciated, and Over-Looked MC's in our generation of Hip-Hop. His presence from the commencement of that 1st verse had literally had blasted me away.. his incorporation of intellectual wordplay just gives credit to his image and his title as Killah Priest.

It's funny how much appreciation and praise Pharoahe Monch recieved for 'Desire' when Killah Priest should have received A LOT MORE hype and anticipation for his release of 'The Offering'. I feel that they have a similar style, whereas their ideology compares and contrasts at so many equal levels.

I believe the production on this album had achieved a perfect standard and I would not add or subtract any of them.

My preferences and perspective(s) of 'Good Music' (in terms of Genre's of Hip-Hop) is not based on a limited variety, like many others fans who are strictly devoted to either Underground Hip-Hop or Commercially Fan-Favorite Rap (Radio Music). I range from Killah Priest & Jedi-Mind-Tricks to Cam'ron & Lil Wayne.

So, the factor that differentiates Killah Priest from many of these other rappers is his connection and authenticity to his music. His tracks are powerful and his lyrics and emotions are immensely convincing.... simply put - it's real!!

Tracks like 'Happy' & 'Essential' just put me in the position to believe that Killah is dedicated to his work.. as if it was his Pre-disposed destination.. Once again solidifying his image of the Killah Priest. His name, is validated by his work. Most people would incorrectly recognize his name as a humorous Oxy-Moron, yet his fans understand its roots and presentation.

Honestly, I listened to this album a few times so far (probably 3 times), and although I presently would not award this album with a 5/5 rating.. I know that within a few days or even weeks, this LP will become attached to me like a body part. Killah Priest's work is like a Will Farrell movie. After the first viewing, you know it's good.. but after a few more, you're convinced its GREAT. Also, this presents another similarity between these two artists... they're ability to create entertainment that has immensely STRONG RE-PLAY VALUE.

Personally, I've "acquired" two other albums on the same day as 'The Offering'--(Common - Finding Forever & Kanye W's Graduation)-- and although they are both really good albums.. Killah Priest has definitely achieved the most attention.

P.S. -- Canibus' Verse on the 4 Horse-Men track 'Inner G'.. WHOAA.. No, Seriously.. WHOA..