Hell Razah

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Hell Razah

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Chron Smith
Alias = Heaven Razah, Razah Rubiez
Born = October 1, 1976
Died =
Origin = Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York
Genre = Hip Hop
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Babygrande Records
Nature Sounds
Hell Razah Music Inc.
Associated_acts = Sunz of Man
Black Market Militia
URL = http://www.hell-razahonline.com

Hell Razah (born Chron Smith, October 1, 1976 in Brooklyn, New Yorkcite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hell+Razah | title = Hell Razah bio at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] ) is an American rapper, best known as a member of Sunz of Man, an early affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Recording history

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, Shabazz the Disciple, Prodigal Sunn, Supreme and 7th Ambassadorcite web | last = | first = | url = http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm | title = Sunz of Man bio at Wu-International.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Razah and 7th Ambassador self-released the single "Livin' in Hell" b/w "Mental Combat" independently before the group adopted the Sunz of Man monikercite web | last = | first = | url = http://lyrics.chambermusik.com/hell_razah/razahs_ladder/06-audiobiography.txt | title = Audiobiography lyrics at Wu-Lyricz | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . 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"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://lyrics.chambermusik.com/sunz_of_man.html | title = The First Testament lyrics at Wu-Lyricz | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

In 1995, the group adopted the moniker Sunz of Man, and signed a record deal with Wu-Tang/Priority Recordscite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1153550 | title = Bloody Choices entry at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . SoM released a number of singles on Wu-Tang Records, including "Soldiers of Darkness", "No Love Without Hate" and "Bloody Choices"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Sunz+Of+Man | title = Sunz of Man discography at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] , in anticipation of their 1996 debut album "Nothing New Under the Sun". Due to internal conflicts and label complications, the album was shelvedcite web | last = | first = | url = http://bringyaskillz.blogspot.com/2008/01/nothing-new-under-sun-sunz-of-man.html | title = Nothing New Under the Sun mixtape | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . 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 Assassincite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sunz_of_man | title = Sunz of Man at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album was one of the most successful Wu-Tang affiliate releases, debuting at #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chartcite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fvfrxqyjldfe~T3 | title = The Last Shall Be First chart positions at AllMusicGuide | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

After the departure of Killah Priest in 1998, the group took a hiatus. 1999 saw the release of "The First Testament", which featured previously recorded material from the group, including the early tracks from Da Last Futurecite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sunz_of_man/the_first_testament/ | title = The First Testament at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the album "Saviorz Day", the second official Sunz of Man studio albumcite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sunz_of_man/saviorz_day/ | title = Saviorz Day at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . 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 Supremecite web | last = | first = | url = http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm | title = Sunz of Man bio at Wu-International.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

olo 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, and production from Supremecite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1007192 | title = When All Hell Breaks Loose at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album spawned the single "Champaigne Room" b/w "Ghetto Love"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/720338 | title = Champaigne Room at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . 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"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/354312 | title = Elements at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

Razah's next solo album, "Renaissance Child", was released in early 2007 on Nature Sounds Records. The album featured appearances from Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi, R.A. The Rugged Man, Talib Kweli, Viktor Vaughn, Bronze Nazareth, Killah Priest and Ras Kass, and production from Godz Wrath, MF DOOM, Bronze Nazareth and 4th Disciplecite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/927622 | title = Renaissance Child at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album was well-received, but sold poorly, moving only 3,311 units as of September 2007 according to SoundScancite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.babygrande.com/scoreboard.jsp | title = Scoreboard at Babygrande.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album featured the singles "The Renaissance"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/700135 | title = Gem Stars/The Renaissance at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] and "Buried Alive" b/w "Project Jazz"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/935353 | title = Buried Alive at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

In October 2007, Razah released his next album, "Razah's Ladder", entirely produced by the acclaimed production duo Blue Sky Black Deathcite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1161653 | title = Razah's Ladder at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album became Razah's most acclaimedcite web | last = | first = | url = http://rapreviews.com/archive/2007_11_razahsladder.html | title = Razah's Ladder review at RapReviews.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] , due largely to BSBD's soulful production work, and also to Razah's new spiritual lyrical direction, inspired by the recent death of his fathercite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.hiphopcrack.com/viewVideo.hhc?videoId=269 | title = Hell Razah interview at HipHopCrack.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album featured guest appearances from Prodigal Sunn, Shabazz the Disciple, Crooked I, Ill Bill and Sabac Red, and featured no singlescite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hell+Razah | title = Hell Razah discography at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Self-funded videos were shot for the tracks "Razah's Ladder"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDelRzvwxaQ | title = Razah's Ladder video at YouTube | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] and "Audiobiography", the latter directed by Sunz of Man producer Supremecite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWXPVr838Yg | title = Audiobiography video at YouTube | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

Collaborations

In 2004, Hell Razah and 4th Disciple released a full-length collaboration album, "Freedom of Speech", 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"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/354440 | title = Freedom of Speech at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album featured the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/715881 | title = Article One at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

In 2005, Razah, Killah Priest, Royal Fam's Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper formed the underground supergroup Black Market Militia. The group released their self-titled debut album "Black Market Militia" that same year, with production from Godz Wrath and Bronze Nazareth, and guest appearances from dead prez and Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poetscite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/569586 | title = Black Market Militia at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album spawned the singles "Audobon Ballroom" b/w "Thug Nation"/"Hood Lullabye" and "Gem Stars" b/w "Mayday!"cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Black+Market+Militia | title = Black Market Militia discography at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Like "Renaissance Child", the album was well-received but sold poorly, pushing 5,341 units as of September 26, 2007cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.babygrande.com/scoreboard.jsp | title = Scoreboard at Babygrande.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

Future projects

Razah's next album is a collaboration with Shabazz the Disciple and producer Ayatollah as the group T.H.U.G. Angelz, titled "Welcome to Red Hook Houses", to be released on July 8, 2008 on Babygrande Records. 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 Disciplecite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.myspace.com/heavenrazah | title = Hell Razah at Myspace | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . 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 localscite web | last = | first = | url = http://wu-international.com/misc_albums/Interviews/HellRazahBSBD%20Interview.htm | title = Hell Razah interview at Wu-International.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

Discography

Albums

With T.H.U.G. Angelz

Guest appearances

*1997: "Wake Up" (from the Killarmy album "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars")
*1998: "Concrete Jungle" & "Co-Defendant" (from the compilation "")
*1998: "One Step", "Tai Chi" & "Science Project" (from the Killah Priest album "Heavy Mental")
*1998: "Play IV Keeps" (from the Method Man album "")
*1999: "Hip Hop Fury" & "Feel Like an Enemy" (from the GZA album "Beneath the Surface")
*1999: "Pleasure or Pain" & "Shell Shock" (from the U-God album "Golden Arms Redemption")
*2000: "Musical Chairs" (from the Royal Fam album "Yesterday, Today, Iz Tomorrow")
*2000: "We Made It" (from the Ghostface Killah album "Supreme Clientele")
*2003: "Mind as a Weapon" & "Street Opera" (from the Killah Priest album "Black August Revisited")
*2007: "Masked Avengers" (from the compilation "Wu-Tang Unreleased")
*2007: "Melodic Pt. 2", "The Offering" & "Till Thee Angels Come (For Us)" (from the Killah Priest album "The Offering")
*2007: "Holy Grail", "Mac Riderz", "Under the Vatican" & "Verbal Divorce" (from the Blue Sky Black Death mixtape "Dirtnap")

DVDs

*2006: "The Razah Code Underground Hip-Hop Vol. 1"

References

External links

* [http://www.hell-razahonline.com Official website]
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