Sunz of Man

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Sunz of Man


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Brooklyn, New York City, USA
Genre = Hip Hop
Years_active = 1994–Present
Label =
Associated_acts = Wu-Tang Clan
Black Market Militia
Current_members = Prodigal Sunn
Hell Razah
Killah Priest
Shabazz the Disciple
60 Second Assassin
Past_members = 7th Ambassador
Supreme

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. Along with Gravediggaz and Killarmy, Sunz of Man is one of the most popular acts affiliated with Wu-Tang.

History

1994-1996

Prior to being affiliated with Wu-Tang, Sunz were known as Da Last Future and included Shabazz the Disciple, 7th Ambassador and producer Supreme, but not 60 Second Assassin cite web | last = | first = | url = http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm | title = Wu-Tang Clan Family Tree at Wu-International.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Upon their induction into the Wu-Tang family, the group became the first group signed to Wu-Tang Records. In 1995 and 1996, the group released a number of singles, including "No Love Without Hate", "Soldiers of Darkness" (a collaboration with Killarmy), "Five Arch Angels" and "Bloody Choices" cite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sunz_of_man | title = Sunz of Man discography at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . These tracks were to be included on the group's planned debut album "Nothing New Under the Sun", originally scheduled for release in 1996 cite web | last = | first = | url = http://bringyaskillz.blogspot.com/2008/01/nothing-new-under-sun-sunz-of-man.html | title = Nothing New Under the Sun bootleg mixtape release | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Due to label complications, the album was eventually shelved. It has been rumored that this album was actually completed, due to the appearance of several ads featured in various Hip Hop magazines such as "The Source". It has been said that this album had a much darker atmosphere than the group's later work, with the bulk of the production coming from 4th Disciple, with additional beats by RZA, True Master, Allah Mathematics, Supreme, Y-Kim the Illfigure and the late Grym Reaper. By the time the group switched record labels, Shabazz and 7th Ambassador had left the group.

1997-2001

In 1997, the group signed a deal with Red Ant Entertainment. Their first release on the label was the "We Can't Be Touched" b/w "Natural High" single, released that same year cite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sunz_of_man | title = Sunz of Man discography at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . "Natural High" was included on the group's 1998 debut album "The Last Shall be First". The album featured production from Supreme, as well as Wu producers RZA, 4th Disciple and True Master, and Wyclef Jean. Album guests included Wu-Tang members Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard and U-God, as well as Killarmy's Beretta 9, Dreddy Kruger and Tekitha cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/326898 | title = The Last Shall Be First at Discogs.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album saw an impressive debut at #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts cite 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 AllMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . The album received moderate acclaim from critics cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fvfrxqyjldfe | title = The Last Shall Be First at AllMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] , and was met with mixed reactions from Wu-Tang fans, who were expecting a darker sound similar to their earlier work cite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sunz_of_man/the_last_shall_be_first/ | title = The Last Shall Be First at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

Before the release of the debut, Killah Priest began to clash with Wu leader RZA, as Shabazz had earlier, both eventually cutting their Wu ties, and leaving the group for solo careers. In 1999, the album "The First Testament" was released, compiled of the group's earlier work, with contributions from Shabazz and 7th Ambassador cite web | last = | first = | url = http://ohhla.com/anonymous/sunofman/thefirst/ | title = The First Testament lyrics at OHHLA.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . A number of tracks from the album were released on singles, including "Deep in the Water", "In the Beginning..." and "The Sins of Men" cite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/sunz_of_man/deep_in_the_water/ | title = Deep in the Water at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . However, due to heavy bootlegging, the album never saw a proper release. The group took a hiatus, while Killah Priest established his solo career.

2002-present

Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the group's second official studio album "Saviorz Day" cite 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 album was met with a lukewarm reception commercially cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifoxqealdfe~T3 | title = Saviorz Day chart positions at AllMusicGuide.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] and critically cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifoxqealdfe | title = Saviorz Day review at AllMusicGuide.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . In 2004, "The First Testament" saw a re-release as "Elements", which featured most of the tracks from "The First Testament", as well as a handful of other previously unreleased tracks cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gjfexquald6e | title = Elements at AllMusicGuide.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . Later in 2004, Hell Razah and 4th Disciple (under the prefix "Sunz of Man presents") released the album "Freedom of Speech" cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39frxqwsldde | title = Freedom of Speech at AllMusicGuide.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] , which spawned the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love" cite web | last = | first = | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/hell_razah/article_one/ | title = Article One at RateYourMusic.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] . In 2003, Shabazz announced a return to the group cite web | last = | first = | url = http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm | title = Wu-Tang Clan Family Tree at Wu-International.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] , but a new group album has yet to be recorded. The group's most recent release was a 2006 compilation titled "The Old Testament", which features the group's early singles as well as their some of their later hits cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fuxq8dldte | title = The Old Testament at AllMusicGuide.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = | accessyear = ] .

olo careers

Killah Priest was the first SoM member to embark on a solo career, releasing his acclaimed debut album "Heavy Mental" a few months prior to "The Last Shall Be First". He has released four more studio albums, 2000's "View From Masada", 2001's "Priesthood", 2003's "Black August" and 2007's "The Offering". Hell Razah released his solo debut "When All Hell Breaks Loose" in 2001 and received little attention. Shabazz the Disciple released his long-delayed debut album "The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz)" in 2003, which included a number of his early singles, such as "Crime Saga", "The Lamb's Blood" and "Street Parables". Prodigal Sunn released his solo debut "The Return of the Prodigal Sunn" in 2005. Also in 2005, Killah Priest and Hell Razah, along with Royal Fam's Timbo King and New York veteran Tragedy Khadafi formed the Black Market Militia, and released their self-titled album. Hell Razah released two albums in 2007, first "Renaissance Child" in February, and second "Razah's Ladder", a collaboration with producers Blue Sky Black Death, released in October. Razah and Shabazz teamed up with producer Ayatollah in 2008 to form T.H.U.G. Angelz, and will release their debut "Welcome to Red Hook Houses" on July 8.

Discography

Albums

ingles

*"Soldiers of Darkness" b/w "Five Arch Angels" (1995)
*"No Love Without Hate" (1995)
*"Bloody Choices" (1996)
*"We Can't Be Touched" b/w "Natural High" (1997)
*"Shining Star" b/w "Cold" (1998)
*"Shining Star (Remix)" b/w "Intellectuals"/"Cold" (1998)
*"The Plan" b/w "Collaboration '98" (1998)
*"Deep in the Water"/"Writing Rhymes With a Liquid Pen" b/w "In the Beginning..."/"The Sins of Man" (1998)
*"Who are the Sunz of Man?"/"The Valley of Death" b/w "Bring Back the Mike"/"Valley of Kings" (1998)
*"Rosewood" b/w "Hell's Inmates" (1999)
*"Savior's Day" (2002)

Appearances

* 1995: "Wicked Ways" & "Where Ya At" (from the compilation "One Million Strong")
* 1997: "Wake Up" (from the Killarmy album "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars")
* 1997: "Illuminated Sunlight" (from the Mood album "Doom")
* 1997: "Repentance Day" (from the Gravediggaz album "The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel")
* 2002: "Barbed Wire" (from the Dino Lenny single "Barbed Wire")
* 2002: "Lintballz" (from the Ol' Dirty Bastard album "The Trials and Tribulations of Russell Jones")

References