TheSource.com chops it up with “King Zohar” aka Killah Priest of the legendary WTC and talks about, among other things, the first rule for an artist is not to fall asleep in the studio!
Besides Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” and a little LeCrae, not many of today’s Hip Hop aficionados are familiar with the biblical content in the creative rhymes from the mind of Mr. Walter Reed. Better known to Hip Hop fans as Killah Priest, the Judaic-based, Brooklyn bred, mystic lyricist has kept his hand in the industry through various mediums, including literature and film since making moves to the West Coast alongside some of his Killa Bee brethren.
Check out this exclusive TheSource.com interview with King Zohartalking about his latest album, Planet Of The Gods, his current moniker, “King Zohar” and how Masta Killa beat him to the punch in closing out “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'”.
TheSource.com: You’ve dropped about a dozen albums since the release of Heavy Mental. What has made you put out consecutive projects over these past 15 years?
KZ: It’s just the passion, man. It’s just the love for Hip Hop itself. It’s motivation. I can listen to any Hip Hop and just get inspired.
TheSource.com: How did you initially link with the GZA?
KZ: We lived in the same neighborhood. I was just a shorty from around the block that he used to take with him when he used to battle MCs.I was such a fan of lyricism and he was the most lyrical dude around my way, so I was like the apprentice cat. I eventually got in the studio and the first cat I got in the studio with was Ghostface.
TheSource.com: I gotta pull one more Wu story out of you! What happened where Masta Killa appeared on “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'” instead of you at the end?
KZ: Me and Masta Killa was already on other songs [on Enter The 36 Chambers], but we just wanted that spot. Me and him was writing and I just fell asleep and when I woke up, I heard his verse on it. That was the last song for that album and Masta Killa caught it. He nailed it. I remember RZA coming out saying, “One of y’all gonna knock this out.’ Back then though, it was a lot of weed…a lot of late night sessions, man.
TheSource.com: Tell me about your new album, the production and availability.
KZ: The next album is called Planet Of The Gods. That album is very personal to me and it’s just me. I’ll leave all my features for part two, but part one is just me. It’s just Killah Priest as King Zohar and it’s produced exclusively by God’s Wrath(Black Marble, Ciph Barker, J. Riverbanks) from the UK. I also got another project I’m working with 4th Disciple.
-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)
