Customer Reviews

View From Masada

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"heavy mental" was an immaculate piece of art that stayed clear of most hip-hop cliches and was soaked in religious mysticism. this album doesn't even sound like it's from the same person. before i even opened the case, i knew i wasn't going to like this album as much as his debut. i looked at the song titles and said "oh no!" it's not a bad album per se, just not killah priest as we knew him. i think maybe he was trying to appeal to a larger audience and was trying to prove himself or something instead of doing what he does best: creating abstract raps that don't sound like anyone else's.

in the future, "view from masada" will not be regarded as a classic like "heavy mental". it will be forgotten because it doesn't sound as provocative compared to the rest of the hip-hop industry.

the addition of 'bounce' beats was shameful.

this album frustrates me becuase a good artist sold out to sound more commercial. it is however, better than anything jay-z or master p could ever dream of making.

I wasn't extremely disappointed to see no wu members on his cd cuz his first cd only had a couple wu, but damn if he is part of the wu he ought to have someone on it, at least meth, or u-god. I'll quit hating on that. If you've never heard Killah Priest he sounds exactly like Black Rob, but a lot better. My fav tracks are "what part of the game" "gotta eat" the track with canibus"i'm wit that", and "live by the gun". In "live by the gun" Killah starts off fast and he sounds pretty tight. I wish he would rap fast more often. This cd is pretty tight though. It would have been 5 stars with some wu members, but go peep it! See for yourself.

I think it's cool album.. It's waaay different from Heavy Mental and that's both a good and bad thing. first, bad: There is NO Wu-type sound and NO Wu-tang emcees.. There's a producer called LZA and this person is NOT the Rza... There's not even the "Wu" symbol on the album.. If you never heard of him before, you would never guess that he had ANYTHING to do with the Wu-tang clan affiliates or The Sunz Of Man. The beats are a little thicker than HEAVY MENTAL (which had weaker beats but they were very mystical sounding and very creative too).. Many of the beats sound the same on this jam. Killah is trying to gain a bigger audience. This is evident on "Gotta Eat" where he says, he "does this for his thugs".. Another bad thing is that, the album is too short.. When HEAVY MENTAL had 20 songs and clocked in a lil under 74 minutes, MASADA has only 16 songs and clocks in under 60 minutes. I also think there should have been more guest appearences... one problem is that there are no cuts like "The Professional" or "Cross Your Heart" though "What Part Of the Game?" may be considered a classic joint in a couple of years...

GOOD things: One thing I didn't like about HEAVY MENTAL was that it was too religious and not enough street oriented. Hip-hop was born in the ghetto streets and it's important to have that aspect. MASADA has a street feel. It has a harder edge. Sure, the music is not as mystical sounding but it's more jeep-friendly. Killah can get the attention of less-spiritual hip-hop heads with dope songs like "What Part Of The Game?" and "I'm Wit That". The new project (the 4 horsemen) is on this album (minus Kurupt...) "What Part Of the Game" w/Ras Kass is a dope song which assault wack emcees who want to be like Pac and Biggie.. "Oh you a baller now? What part of the game is that?" Canibus does a dope job on "Bop Your Head"... also, Shamello (who did the production for Busta's "Put Your hands where my eyes can see" produces the very dope "I'm Wit That"

Dope cuts: "What Part Of the Game?" f/Ras Kass "I'm Wit That" "Bop Your Head" f/Canibus "Macabean Revolt"

Songs that seem to be lacking or just not that great: "Gotta Eat"

It's a good effort.. Most of the songs are dope... They are all pretty short (the album is short.) but the main thing is that the production and the guests are different from the first album... So if you LOVED Heavy Mental, this will be a big departure whereas if you though HM was too out there or too religious sounding, you may like Killah's new street-oriented style.. He does use the term "Thug" a little too much.. it sounds odd out of his mouth but he's from New York and there's plenty of Thugs surrounding him...so he may be one of them... He's definitely still on another level than most of the emcees out there...

this album came from nowhere. i wasnt expecting killah p to have one out yet but i definately had to pick it up. i must say i was and am somewhat disappointed cuz i of course compare this to his last which was his first album. killah p's first album (heavy mental) i would definately recomend over view from masada. if you're unfamiliar with kp and you like biblical, mental, deep, dark and interesing lyrics than pick that one up. i dont know if he'll ever top heavy mental but i have to say i hope he does. all in all this albums still at the top of the list in the hip hop genre. thanks for the time peeeaaaaace to all.

THIS ALBUM IS TIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TRIED SO HARD STOP THIS ALBUM FROM COMING OUT. I WENT TO THE MALL AND HAPPEN TO SEE THIS ALBUM ON THE SHELF. I WAS LIKE OH SNAP!!! I ASK THE THE EMPLOYEE WHEN DID THIS ALBUM COME OUT AND HE DID NOT KNOW. HE LOOKED IN THE BOOK AND EVERYTHING AND COULD FIND WHEN THIS ALBUM CAME OUT. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FORCED KILLAH PRIEST TO GO UNDERGROUND BECAUSE HE IS BASICALLY PROPHESIZING ON THE ALBUM, INSTEAD OF TALIKNG ABOUT "BLING, BLING" OR HOW MUCH MONEY I GOT. THAT IS WHAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WANTS RAPPERS TO TALK ABOUT.

KILLAH PRIEST IS SOMETHING LIKE BIG AND PAC, ESPECIALLY PAC(ABOUT TO BECOME AN BLACK ACTIVIST OR WAS ONE). KILLAH PRIEST IS ON A MORE SPIRITUAL LEVEL AND IT MAKES PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE BROADER THINGS IN LIFE INSTEAD OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN THE WORLD. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE REALNESS THAT KILLAH PRIEST REPRESENTS. THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE TOPICS THAT REPRESENT MATERIALISM, GREED, AND THOSE MAIN-STREAM TOPICS THAT BRING FUED BETWEEN OUR PEOPLE. YO, AMAZON DIDN'T HAVE THIS ALBUM ON THE SITE. IT IS OUT THOUGH PEOPLE'S COP IT IF YOU CAN FIND IT. "PRIEST HUG" "PROVERBS FOR LIFE". ONE.

Killah Priest is incredible on "View Of Masada". The beats are strong, but better than "Heavy Mental". Despite the facts that there are no Wu-Tang members on this album, no Wu-Tang producers, and the 3 mics The Source gave him (They don't know real hip-hop if they sniffed it), this is still a great accomplishment I've waited for in so long. Tracks like "Whut Part Of The Game?" f/Ras Kass, "Maccabean Revolt", "Gotta Eat", If I Die", and "I'm Wit That" are stand outs. I urge you to go get this album fast. Wu-Tang Forever!

This doesn't come even close to his thorough classic "Heavy Mental"
However a few of the tracks on here are ok.

Although i shouldn't give this a 5 star at all. I only did because this is my boy! Yes,I know,I'm being Emcee rating bias! But i already know his great lyrical potential. He has done much better older and newer albums. Both before, and after,this album.

I still highly respect his talents in which are vast.

"View From Masada", hits me as a second chapter of his crittically acclaimed debut "Heavy Mental". every track bangs and he even worked with Just Blaze before he blew up, which i think is a plus. every track also is a lesson of it own contemplation. for example "Gotta Eat" is the struggle track along with "Hard Times" are both great at capturing the urban struggle. then you have "What Part of The Game?" is a track dissing the fakeness in the industry with Ras Kass providing his own unique perspective along with "Bop Your Head" feat Canibus showing how to tear apart phony emcees. both emcees rip the track with ease. to those who wanted the same actual fact type ideogram of lp that Priest bought for previously i'm sorry this is the next best thing. favorite tracks on "View From Masada" are
1.Whut Part of The Game?
2.Bop Your Head
3.Rap Legend
4.Live by the gun
5.I'm Wit That

Killah Priest returns with his second solo album. He spits some heavy deep thought provoking lyrics throughout the album and he has some hardcore upbeat tracks as well, more than normal for him and less religious prophecy material than usual but it still is a very good album. Being affiliated with the Wu you can sense this in his delivery and style. Guests are held to a minimum, on 4 of the 13 songs (on 2 songs are Rose Cartel and his Horsemen crew - Canibus & Ras Kass no Kurupt). Production is mostly handled by Just Blaze, Wiz & Daddy Rose (each did 3 songs) as well as a couple other contributors and they did a good job. I was a little disappointed no Wu producers were used on the album or any Wu related guests (or even any of his Sunz of Man crew). It has 1 or 2 classics and a bunch of good songs and only 1 I skip. A Must have album.

#2 - 8
#3 - 9 (deep song -- good beat)
#4 - 8 (Rose Cartel - no Priest -- just a short intro to the next song)
#5 - 8.5 (f/ Rose Cartel)
#6 - 6.5
#7 - 9 (f/ Ras Kass)
#8 - 8.5
#9 - 10 (classic w/ great beat -- f/ Canibus)
#10 - 7.5
#11 - 9 (good beat)
#12 - 8.5 (deep song)
#14 - 9.5 (f/ Rose Cartel -- good beat)
#15 - 8 (deep song)

W. Reed -- Brooklyn, NY
check all my reviews

this is priest worst album but that doesnt mean that it aint sick!! priest albums are so damn hard to find but they are worth the journey!

Favorite Track:Bob Your Head
Guests:Ras Kass,Canibus

10 of 10 lyrics 8 of 10 beats