Hell Razah
Encyclopedia
Hell Razah is an American rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...

, best known as a member of Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Shabazz the Disciple and Killah Priest. The group's first incarnation also included 7th Ambassador and Supreme...

, an early affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...

. Razah is rumored to have suffered a Brain Aneurysm in April 2010.

Da Last Future & Sunz of Man

Razah made his rap debut in the early 90s as a member of the group Da Last Future, an early incarnation of the Sunz of Man, which included Killah Priest
Killah Priest
Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious...

, Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple or Scientific Shabazz, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.- Biography :...

, Prodigal Sunn
Prodigal Sunn
Prodigal Sunn is an American rapper, actor and entrepreneur.- Biography :Prodigal Sunn was the only child of indigenous parents and grew up in Brooklyn. During his youth, Prodigal was known as the ‘Sun of Man’ and was later re-christened "Prodigal Sunn" by childhood friend Killah Priest in...

, Supreme
Supreme (producer)
Originally, Su-Preme was the primary producer for the Sunz of Man. He produced their demo album . He also produced some songs on the shelved Sunz of Man album Nothing New Under the Sun...

 and 7th Ambassador. Razah and 7th Ambassador self-released the single "Livin' in Hell" b/w "Mental Combat" independently before the group adopted the Sunz of Man moniker. Razah recorded a number of tracks with the group before their induction into the Wu-Tang family, including "Deep in the Water", "Writing Rhymes With a Liquid Pen" (aka "Elements"), "Lulla Bye" and "Psychic Hotline".

In 1995, the group adopted the moniker Sunz of Man, and signed a record deal with Wu-Tang/Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...

. SoM released a number of singles on Wu-Tang Records, including "Soldiers of Darkness", "No Love Without Hate" and "Bloody Choices", in anticipation of their 1996 debut album Nothing New Under the Sun. Due to internal conflicts and label complications, the album was shelved. Sunz of Man later signed a record deal with Red Ant Entertainment for the release of their official 1998 debut The Last Shall Be First, with the group's roster shaved down to just Razah, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin. The album was one of the most successful Wu-Tang affiliate releases, debuting at No. 20 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 album chart, and No. 7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

After the departure of Killah Priest in 1998, the group took a hiatus. 1999 saw the release of The First Testament
The First Testament
The First Testament is a unreleased album by Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group Sunz of Man. In 2004 the album re-released as Elements. A number of tracks from the album were released on singles, including "Deep in the Water", "In the Beginning..." and "The Sins of Men". However, due to heavy...

, which featured previously recorded material from the group, including the early tracks from Da Last Future. Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the album Saviorz Day
Saviorz Day
-Track listing:#"Intro"#"S.O.M."#*Produced by Linx#"Ghetto" #*Produced by Linx#"Banksta'z" #*Produced by John the Baptist#"House of Blues" #*Produced by Joe Loops#"RZA Skit"...

, the second official Sunz of Man studio album. The group has yet to release a third studio album, but it has been reported that the group has reconciled with Shabazz the Disciple, Killah Priest and Supreme.

Solo career

Razah made his solo debut in 2001 with the independent release When All Hell Breaks Loose. The album featured guest appearances from 7th Ambassador, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn and Timbo King of Royal Fam
Royal Fam
Royal Fam is a Hardcore hip hop musical group affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan.Yesterday, Today, Iz Tomorrow was released in 2000 without the group's knowledge or permission. Years Months Dayz was self-released by the group...

, and production from Supreme. The album spawned the single "Champaigne Room" b/w "Ghetto Love". The tracks "Must B tha Music", "Oh! Now You Bangin'", "Ghetto Government", "Champaigne Room", "Like It or Not", "What We Came to Do", "B.B.P. (Business Before Pleasure)" and "Rowdy, Rowdy" made up roughly half of the 2004 Sunz of Man compilation Elements, with the other half made up of tracks from The First Testament.

Razah's next solo album, Renaissance Child
Renaissance Child
Renaissance Child is the solo debut album by rapper Hell Razah, released on February 20, 2007 through Nature Sounds Records. Razah is most famed as a member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate groups Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia. The album features production from MF DOOM, Dev 1, Shuko, Fabrizio...

, was released in early 2007 on Nature Sounds Records
Nature Sounds
Nature Sounds is a record label based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in hip hop and reggae music.-Discography:*Ayatollah - Fingertips *Ayatollah - Live From The MPC 60 *Ayatollah - Cocoon...

. The album featured appearances from Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi
Tragedy Khadafi
Percy Chapman IV, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, and formerly known as Intelligent Hoodlum, is an American rapper and producer who hails from the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, which has spawned other hip hop artists such as Nas, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga,...

, R.A. The Rugged Man
R.A. The Rugged Man
R. A. Thorburn, better known as R.A. the Rugged Man, is an emcee from Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.-Career:At 18, R.A. signed with Jive Records and then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording...

, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...

, Viktor Vaughn
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...

, Bronze Nazareth
Bronze Nazareth
Bronze Nazareth is a Hip-Hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He is, along with Cilvaringz, part of the new generation of producers to carry on the Wu-Tang sound. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen.- Biography :He was born and...

, Killah Priest
Killah Priest
Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious...

 and Ras Kass
Ras Kass
John Austin IV, better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is also a part of hip hop supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt...

, and production from Godz Wrath, MF DOOM
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...

, Bronze Nazareth
Bronze Nazareth
Bronze Nazareth is a Hip-Hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He is, along with Cilvaringz, part of the new generation of producers to carry on the Wu-Tang sound. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen.- Biography :He was born and...

, Krohme
Krohme
Krohme is an American hip hop MC and producer, noted for his work with Kool G Rap, Obie Trice, MF Grimm, Atari Blitzkrieg, Ron Artest, MC Serch, Hell-Razah, Sean Price, Ras Kass, C-Rayz Walz and more...

 and 4th Disciple
4th Disciple
Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...

. The album was a well-received, critical success and featured the singles "The Renaissance" and "Buried Alive" b/w "Project Jazz".
In October 2007, Razah released his next album, Razah's Ladder
Razah's Ladder
Razah's Ladder is a collaboration album from Hip Hop production duo Blue Sky Black Death and rapper Hell Razah, member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate groups Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia. The album was released on October 23, 2007 through Babygrande Records. Production is handled entirely by BSBD...

, entirely produced by the production duo Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...

. The album also was acclaimed, due to BSBD's soulful production work, and also to Razah's new spiritual lyrical direction, inspired by the recent death of his father. The album featured guest appearances from Prodigal Sunn, Shabazz the Disciple, Crooked I
Crooked I
Dominick Wickliffe, better known by his stage name Crooked I, is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. He is a member of the hip hop group, Slaughterhouse with other members Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9. Slaughterhouse is currently signed to Shady Records / Interscope Records....

, Ill Bill
Ill Bill
William Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records...

 and Sabac Red
Sabac Red
Sabac Red, also known as Sabac, is an Sicilian-Puerto Rican rapper from New York, US, and a former member of Non Phixion.-Biography:Sabac was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico along with his twin sister. His family moved to Brooklyn, NY when he was 4 years old. Sabac was raised by his mom and...

, and featured no singles. Self-funded videos were shot for the tracks "Razah's Ladder" and "Audiobiography", the latter directed by Sunz of Man producer Supreme, and "Razah's Ladder", Directed by Apademik
Apademik
Apademik is an American Hip-Hop Producer, Movie Director, CEO and founder of Funkin Beatz Entertainment Corporation, and ASCAP registered Recording Artist. Known for his role as Producer and Director for the movie, The Razah Code, Underground Hip-Hop Vol. 1, released September, 2006 Koch Records...

.

Collaborations

In 2004, Hell Razah and 4th Disciple
4th Disciple
Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...

 released a full-length collaboration album, Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech (album)
Freedom of Speech is a 2004 collaborative album from Sunz of Man member Hell Razah and Killarmy producer 4th Disciple. The first version of the album features 5 bonus tracks produced by other beatmakers, 4th Disciple did however release an edition of the album that omitted those from that pressing...

, under the title "Sunz of Man presents". The album featured fifteen newly recorded tracks with 4th Disciple, and five other previously released tracks from When All Hell Breaks Loose. The album featured the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love".

In 2005, Razah, Killah Priest, Royal Fam's Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper formed the underground supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....

 Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia is a rap group composed of Killah Priest, Timbo King, Hell Razah, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper. They released their first - Black Market Militia - in 2005, through Performance Records, invisioned and initiated by Mitchell Serbes, Gary Hertzan and Mariel Maffetone. They...

. The group released their self-titled debut album Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia (album)
Black Market Militia is the first album by the hip hop supergroup Black Market Militia. The album has sold 5,727 copies.-Track listing:#"Intro: Children of Children"#"Thug Nation"#"May Day!"#"Audobon Ballroom" #"The Struggle"...

that same year, with production from Godz Wrath and Bronze Nazareth, and guest appearances from dead prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...

 and Abiodun Oyewole
Abiodun Oyewole
Abiodun Oyewole , is a poet, teacher and founding member of the American music and spoken-word group The Last Poets that developed into what is considered the first ever hip hop group....

 of The Last Poets
The Last Poets
The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread...

. The album spawned the singles "Audobon Ballroom" b/w "Thug Nation"/"Hood Lullabye" and "Gem Stars" b/w "Mayday!".

Future projects

Razah's next album is a collaboration with Shabazz the Disciple and producer Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...

 as the group T.H.U.G. Angelz, titled Welcome to Red Hook Houses
Welcome to Red Hook Houses
Welcome to Red Hook Houses is a collaboration album by rappers and Sunz of Man members Hell Razah and Shabazz the Disciple, under the name T.H.U.G. Angelz , released on July 8, 2008 through Babygrande Records...

, to be released on July 8, 2008 on Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...

. Other releases announced for 2008 are Razah's next solo album, titled Heaven Razah, and Article 2: Right to Bare Arms, a second full-length collaboration with 4th Disciple
4th Disciple
Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...

. In an October 2007 interview, Razah also announced plans for numerous other releases for the year. He announced that the Sunz of Man were reunited and planned on releasing an album in 2008. He also stated that The Maccabeez, a group consisting of himself, Killah Priest and Timbo King, were nearly finished recording their debut album, and that it would be released in 2008. Black Market Militia are also planning to release their second album in 2008. Another possible release is a collaboration between Razah, Shabazz and Blue Sky Black Death, and a project from G.G.O. (Ghetto Government Officialz), which consists of Razah, 7th Ambassador, Lazarus, Face God and other Red Hook locals.

However, non of these albums came out yet. Heaven Razah is the only album with a release date and will hit stores September 28, 2010, after many delays caused by the coma of Hell Razah after a Brain Aneurysm. Razah is recovering.

In 2011, Hell Razah's health was improving and he said on Twitter several albums will come out in the future, including Heaven Razah 2, the second album with Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple or Scientific Shabazz, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.- Biography :...

 as T.H.U.G. Angelz
Welcome to Red Hook Houses
Welcome to Red Hook Houses is a collaboration album by rappers and Sunz of Man members Hell Razah and Shabazz the Disciple, under the name T.H.U.G. Angelz , released on July 8, 2008 through Babygrande Records...

 (produced by Ayatollah
Ayatollah (producer)
Lamont Dorrell, better known as Ayatollah is a Hip-Hop producer from Queens, New York who has produced for predominantly New York-based rappers including Mos Def, R.A. The Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Ghostface Killah as well as...

 and 4th Disciple
4th Disciple
Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...

), Razah's Ladder 2 produced by Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...

, an album produced by St. Peter called The N.A.U., a gospel/rock album produced by Krohme called KrohmeRazahs, an album with Shyheim called The Verrazano and the sequel to Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech (album)
Freedom of Speech is a 2004 collaborative album from Sunz of Man member Hell Razah and Killarmy producer 4th Disciple. The first version of the album features 5 bonus tracks produced by other beatmakers, 4th Disciple did however release an edition of the album that omitted those from that pressing...

called Write to Bare Arms produced by 4th Disciple. According to Timbo King, there will be also a second Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia
Black Market Militia is a rap group composed of Killah Priest, Timbo King, Hell Razah, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper. They released their first - Black Market Militia - in 2005, through Performance Records, invisioned and initiated by Mitchell Serbes, Gary Hertzan and Mariel Maffetone. They...

 album.

Discography

  • When All Hell Breaks Loose (2001)
    • Label: Echo International (Re-Released on Chamber Music 2008)

  • Freedom of Speech
    Freedom of Speech (album)
    Freedom of Speech is a 2004 collaborative album from Sunz of Man member Hell Razah and Killarmy producer 4th Disciple. The first version of the album features 5 bonus tracks produced by other beatmakers, 4th Disciple did however release an edition of the album that omitted those from that pressing...

    (2004) (with 4th Disciple
    4th Disciple
    Selwin Bougard, now known as El-Divine Amir Bey, better known by his stage name 4th Disciple, is a hip hop producer and engineer who was one of the founding members of Killarmy and one of the best-known Wu-Tang-affiliated producers.- Biography :...

    )
    • Label: X-Ray Records

  • Black Market Militia
    Black Market Militia (album)
    Black Market Militia is the first album by the hip hop supergroup Black Market Militia. The album has sold 5,727 copies.-Track listing:#"Intro: Children of Children"#"Thug Nation"#"May Day!"#"Audobon Ballroom" #"The Struggle"...

    (2005) (with Black Market Militia
    Black Market Militia
    Black Market Militia is a rap group composed of Killah Priest, Timbo King, Hell Razah, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper. They released their first - Black Market Militia - in 2005, through Performance Records, invisioned and initiated by Mitchell Serbes, Gary Hertzan and Mariel Maffetone. They...

    )
    • Label: Nature Sounds
      Nature Sounds
      Nature Sounds is a record label based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in hip hop and reggae music.-Discography:*Ayatollah - Fingertips *Ayatollah - Live From The MPC 60 *Ayatollah - Cocoon...


  • Renaissance Child
    Renaissance Child
    Renaissance Child is the solo debut album by rapper Hell Razah, released on February 20, 2007 through Nature Sounds Records. Razah is most famed as a member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate groups Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia. The album features production from MF DOOM, Dev 1, Shuko, Fabrizio...

    (2007)
    • Label: Nature Sounds

  • Razah's Ladder
    Razah's Ladder
    Razah's Ladder is a collaboration album from Hip Hop production duo Blue Sky Black Death and rapper Hell Razah, member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate groups Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia. The album was released on October 23, 2007 through Babygrande Records. Production is handled entirely by BSBD...

    (2007) (with Blue Sky Black Death
    Blue Sky Black Death
    Blue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...

    )
    • Label: Babygrande Records
      Babygrande Records
      Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...


  • Ultra Sounds of a Renaissance Child (2008)
    • Label: Hell Razah Music

  • Welcome to Red Hook Houses
    Welcome to Red Hook Houses
    Welcome to Red Hook Houses is a collaboration album by rappers and Sunz of Man members Hell Razah and Shabazz the Disciple, under the name T.H.U.G. Angelz , released on July 8, 2008 through Babygrande Records...

    (2008) (with Shabazz the Disciple
    Shabazz the Disciple
    Shabazz the Disciple or Scientific Shabazz, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.- Biography :...

     as T.H.U.G. Angelz)
    • Label: Babygrande Records

  • Heaven Razah
    Heaven Razah
    Heaven Razah is the latest solo album by rapper Hell Razah, released on September 28,2010 through Nature Sounds Records. Razah is most famed as a member of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate groups Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia. The album features production from Dev 1, Rainmayqah, Jordan River Banks,...

    (2010)
    • Label: Nature Sounds

External links

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