Killah Priest needs no introduction. He stole GZA's thunder on Liquid Swords with "B.I.B.L.E." He blew minds with the thug evangelism of "Heavy Mental". But who is Walter Reed? On his new album and mixtape, "The Untold Stories of Walter Reed" and "The Psychic World of Walter Reed", Priest will take listeners into the mind behind the Priest persona. I got to ask Priest a few questions about the album, his origins, and his upcoming plans. enjoy!
Ian Thomas: Both the upcoming mixtape and the upcoming album have your real name in the
title. Does this represent a departure from the religious overtones of the
Priest persona? What can listeners expect?
Killah Priest: As far as the mix tapes, im going hard, its dirty; some of them (are) unmixed. We liked the way it sounded the first time we heard it: Project hallway type shit. They going to
get the raw. And as far as Walter Reed: Thats the guy who created Killah Priest, Masada, Leo Angle, Ghetto Jesus, etc. So he's like the professor for the X-Men, like a Dr. Mindbender, and this is his story, his psychic world. The inventor of a movement, he's from the streets of Brooklyn, New York. (He) grew up in Bedstuy and wrote these things out in a little room. Just good old hiphop. But just watch what i really can do, especially on a double! I'll prove why nobody really can get with me, lyrically or song wise.
Ian: Who is producing? Will the album feature any collaboration?
Killah Priest: Well, so far i have Godz Wrath,who did an incredible job. I have
tracks by Kalisto (Black August Light) that was too crazy already. The guests are all coming now, so we will see.
Ian: When will the album be available?
Killah Priest: It depends on a couple of things. I'm looking (to have it out by) mid-summer, but no later.
Ian: Early in your career, particularly on the first GZA album, and Heavy Mental, there was a calmness to your flow. Your style shared the metaphysical aspects of what the Wu was doing at the time, but it was more directly metaphysical. You were speaking directly to listeners about religion. What caused you to approach hip-hop in this way at the beginning?
Killah Priest: Well, it was a couple of things: one was a strong will for truth. I feel you cant be totally free without knowledge and truth. I always felt i had something to say and i always like to do something different from everyone else. And, I don't know, I guess rap found me. I didn't even look at (it) as metaphysical when i was doing it, though. I just was saying what i always felt what i was really trying to say for years.
Ian: When you arrived on the Hip-Hop scene there seemed to be more of a place
for conscious hip-hop. There was Wu-Tang, there was Tribe, etc. This type of intelligent music is still accepted in the hip hop underground, but it seems like the hip-hop mainstream is now limited to a less consciousform of rap. What do you think caused this mainstream departure from conscious hip hop?
Killah Priest: Indeed, but what do I think caused it? (It) was dudes who couldn't rap, but did the business side of it and saw all the money it made them and showed the MC the money and told them to rap about that. Look how much money it's making them. The MC saw all that money
and took it it was hard to pass up. Then, the MC kinda looked down on what they used to rap about because they were looking through another man's eyes: (men) who couldn't rap, but knew how to floss. We all grew up glorifying street legends, the niggas with the dough. We had no stars, but stick up kids and drug dealers. Girls love the money and fame and that's who had it all.
Ian: Are there any artists outside of hip hop that you would like to collaborate
with?
Killah Priest: Where's Miss Hill? I consider her out the box in a good
way. Sade would be dope.
Ian: What are your plans beyond this album? Any touring or collaborations coming
up?
Killah Priest: My plan is to take my spot. Nobody's just going to give it, so take
my spot and enjoy it for a while. Finish a lot of things. I love the road, as long as i can take the fam with me...1
