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Biography
Use mdy dates|date=October 2011Infobox musical artist | name = Hell Razah| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Chron Smith| alias = Heaven Razah, Razah Rubiez, El Raziel| Born = October 1, 1976 (age 34)| death_date =| origin = Red Hook, Brooklyn|Red Hook , Brooklyn , New York| genre = Hip hop music|Hip Hop | years_active = 1994–present| label = Babygrande Records Nature Sounds Hell Razah Music Inc. Legion of Doom|Legion of D.O.O.M. Disambiguation needed|date=June 2011 Wu Music Group | associated_acts = Sunz of Man Black Market Militia List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#T.H.U.G. Angels|T.H.U.G. Angels Maccabeez | website = http://www.hell-razahonline.com Hell Razah (born Chron Smith , October 1, 1976 in Brooklyn , New Yorkcite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hell+Razah | title = Hell Razah bio at Discogs.com ) is an American rapping|rapper , best known as a member of Sunz of Man , an early List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates|affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan . Razah is rumored to have suffered a Brain Aneurysm in April 2010.cite web|author=Justin |url= http://kevinnottingham.com/2010/04/07/rumor-hell-razah-suffers-brain-aneurysm-in-a-coma/ |title=Rumor: Hell Razah Suffers Brain Aneurysm, In A Coma & #124; KevinNottingham.com & #124; The Underground Hip Hop Authority & #124; Hip Hop Music, Videos & Reviews |publisher=KevinNottingham.com |date=April 7, 2010 |accessdate=October 18, 2011 He was quick to recover and continue recording. He came to begin recording under the moniker Heaven Razah .
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 (producer)|Supreme and 7th Ambassador.cite web | url = http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm | title = Sunz of Man bio at Wu-International.com 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.cite web | url = http://lyrics.chambermusik.com/hell_razah/razahs_ladder/06-audiobiography.txt | title = Audiobiography lyrics at Wu-Lyricz 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 | url = http://lyrics.chambermusik.com/sunz_of_man.html | title = The First Testament lyrics at Wu-Lyricz
In 1995, the group adopted the moniker Sunz of Man, and signed a record deal with Priority Records|Wu-Tang/Priority Records .cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1153550 | title = Bloody Choices entry at Discogs.com SoM released a number of singles on Wu-Tang Records, including "Soldiers of Darkness", "No Love Without Hate" and "Bloody Choices",cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Sunz+Of+Man | title = Sunz of Man discography at Discogs.com in anticipation of their 1996 debut album Nothing New Under the Sun . Due to internal conflicts and label complications, the album was shelved.cite web | url = http://bringyaskillz.blogspot.com/2008/01/nothing-new-under-sun-sunz-of-man.html | title = Nothing New Under the Sun mixtape 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 (Sunz of Man album)|The Last Shall Be First , with the group's roster shaved down to just Razah, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin (emcee)|60 Second Assassin .cite web | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sunz_of_man | title = Sunz of Man at RateYourMusic.com The album was one of the most successful Wu-Tang affiliate releases, debuting at No.& nbsp;20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and No.& nbsp;7 on the R& B/Hip-Hop chart.cite web | url = Allmusic|class=album|id=r367842/charts-awards|pure_url=yes | title = The Last Shall Be First chart positions at AllMusicGuide | accessdate =
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 Future.cite web | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sunz_of_man/the_first_testament/ | title = The First Testament at RateYourMusic.com Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the album Saviorz Day , the second official Sunz of Man studio album.cite web | url = http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sunz_of_man/saviorz_day/ | title = Saviorz Day at RateYourMusic.com 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, though quietly, 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 Supreme.cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1007192 | title = When All Hell Breaks Loose at Discogs.com The album spawned the single "Champaigne Room" b/w "Ghetto Love".cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/720338 | title = Champaigne Room at Discogs.com The tracks "Must B tha Music", "Oh& #33; 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 | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/354312 | title = Elements at Discogs.com
Razah's next solo album, Renaissance Child , was released in early 2007 on Nature Sounds|Nature Sounds Records . The album featured appearances from Timbo King , Tragedy Khadafi , R.A. The Rugged Man , Talib Kweli , Daniel Dumile|Viktor Vaughn , Bronze Nazareth , Killah Priest and Ras Kass , and production from List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#Godz Wrath|Godz Wrath , Daniel Dumile|MF DOOM , Bronze Nazareth , Krohme and 4th Disciple .cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/927622 | title = Renaissance Child at Discogs.com The album was a well-received, critical success and featured the singles "The Renaissance"cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/700135 | title = Gem Stars/The Renaissance at Discogs.com and "Buried Alive" b/w "Project Jazz".cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/935353 | title = Buried Alive at Discogs.com In October 2007, Razah released his next album, '' Razah's Ladder '', entirely produced by the production duo Blue Sky Black Death .cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/1161653 | title = Razah's Ladder at Discogs.com The album also was acclaimed,cite web | url = http://rapreviews.com/archive/2007_11_razahsladder.html | title = Razah's Ladder review at RapReviews.com due to BSBD's soulful production work, and also to Razah's new spiritual lyrical direction, inspired by the recent death of his father.cite web | url = http://www.hiphopcrack.com/viewVideo.hhc? videoId=269 | title = Hell Razah interview at HipHopCrack.com The album featured guest appearances from Prodigal Sunn, Shabazz the Disciple, Crooked I , Ill Bill and Sabac Red , and featured no singles.cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hell+Razah | title = Hell Razah discography at Discogs.com Self-funded videos were shot for the tracks "Razah's Ladder"cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=uDelRzvwxaQ | title = Razah's Ladder video at YouTube and "Audiobiography", the latter directed by Sunz of Man producer Supreme,cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=fWXPVr838Yg | title = Audiobiography video at YouTube and "Razah's Ladder",cite web|author=om een reactie te plaatsen& #33; |url= http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=uDelRzvwxaQ |title=Hell Razah (Blue Sky Black Death) -"Razah's Ladder"-Prequel |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=October 18, 2011 Directed by Apademik .
Collaborations
In 2004, Hell Razah and 4th Disciple released a full-length collaboration album, Freedom of Speech (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 | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/354440 | title = Freedom of Speech at Discogs.com The album featured the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love".cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/715881 | title = Article One at Discogs.com
In 2005, Razah, Killah Priest, Royal Fam's Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper formed the underground Supergroup (music)|supergroup Black Market Militia . The group released their self-titled debut album Black Market Militia (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 Poets .cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/release/569586 | title = Black Market Militia at Discogs.com The album spawned the singles "Audobon Ballroom" b/w "Thug Nation"/"Hood Lullabye" and "Gem Stars" b/w "Mayday!".cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Black+Market+Militia | title = Black Market Militia discography at Discogs.com Razah's next album collaboration album was with Shabazz the Disciple and producer Ayatollah (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 came in 2008 such as solo album titled Heaven Razah , and Article 2: Right to Bare Arms , a second full-length collaboration with 4th Disciple .cite web | url = http://www.myspace.com/heavenrazah | title = Hell Razah at Myspace 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 sometime soon. He also stated that The Maccabeez , a group consisting of himself, Killah Priest and Timbo King, were nearly finished recording their debut album. Black Market Militia are also planning for another album. 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.cite web | url = http://wu-international.com/misc_albums/Interviews/HellRazahBSBD%20Interview.htm | title = Hell Razah interview at Wu-International.com
Hell Razah suffered a Brain Aneurysm in 2010. His recovery was quick. He began to go under the name Heaven Razah in turn.
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,cite web|url= http://www.wutang-corp.com/forum/showthread.php? t=105287 |title=Heaven Razah Pt 2 – Wu-Tang Corp. – Official Site of the Wu-Tang Clan |publisher=Wu-Tang Corp. |date=February 14, 2011 |accessdate=October 18, 2011 the second album with Shabazz the Disciple as Welcome to Red Hook Houses|T.H.U.G. Angelz (produced by Ayatollah (producer)|Ayatollah and 4th Disciple ),cite web|url= http://www.twitlonger.com/show/9cet6q |title=TwitLonger – When you talk too much for Twitter |publisher=Twitlonger.com |date=March 20, 2011 |accessdate=October 18, 2011 Razah's Ladder 2 produced by Blue Sky Black Death , http://twitter.com/#!/HEAVENRAZAH/status/74554603131248640 an album produced by St. Peter called The N.A.U.,cite web|url=https://dasting.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/hell-razah-st-peter-gunz-oil-drugs-snippet-dld/ |title=Hell Razah & St Peter – Gunz, Oil & Drugs (Snippet – Dld) & #124; Da Sting |publisher=Dasting.wordpress.com |date=March 17, 2010 |accessdate=October 18, 2011 a gospel/rock album produced by Krohme called KrohmeRazahs, http://twitter.com/#!/HEAVENRAZAH/status/73572470396952577 an album with Shyheim called The Verrazanocite web|url= http://www.facebook.com/shyheimfranklin/posts/10150099368667554 |title=Confirmed: Finally... |publisher=Facebook |accessdate=October 18, 2011 and the sequel to Freedom of Speech (album)|Freedom of Speech called Write to Bare Arms produced by 4th Disciple. http://twitter.com/#!/HEAVENRAZAH/status/95185407561572352 According to Timbo King, there will be also a second Black Market Militia album. http://twitter.com/#!/timboking1 An album with Killah Priest as Thug Vaticans called The Lamb’s Supper will come out in 2012. http://kevinnottingham.com/2011/12/12/thug-vaticans-hell-razah-killah-priest-new-millennium-child-exclusive/ Another collaboration album, with producer Tokyo Cigar under the name Heavenly Cartel, is planned for 2012 and is called Spiritual Kung Fu. http://kevinnottingham.com/2012/01/02/heaven-razah-boombox-saints-prod-by-tokyo-cigar/? utm_source=twitterfeed& utm_medium=twitter& utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Kevinnottingham+%28KevinNottingham.com+%7C+The+Underground+Hip+Hop+Authority%29
Discography
Group Albums
The Last Shall Be First (Sunz of Man album)|The Last Shall Be First 1998
Sunz of Man Persondata | NAME =Hell Razah | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =October 1, 1976 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Hell Razah Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:Wu-Tang Clan affiliates Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:Underground rappers
fr:Hell Razah pl:Hell Razah sv:Hell Razah
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