CHOPPIN’ IT UP WITH WU-TANG’S 9TH MEMBER, MASTA KILLA
By Khalid J. Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel
With a name like Masta Killa, one wouldn’t expect the acclaimed Wu-Tang Clan member to be an avid vegetarian who endorses the outspoken animal-rights group PETA. But during an over-the-phone interview with Insomniac Magazine, eloquent rapper Masta Killa emphasized the adage that a book shouldn’t always be judged by its cover. For instance, although his latest album, released by Nature Sounds on August 8th, 2006, is titled “Made In Brooklyn”, Masta Killa let it be known that his music isn’t confined to one particular region.
“Hip-hop is global right now. It might have started out (here), but it’s definitely a universal language,” Masta Killa explicated. “And when you go to other (countries) you see how it’s embraced and respected. I remember back in the days when hip-hop (music) was floating around, before CDs. We would fiend to get a tape of an ill (rapper) from across town. Like, ‘You got that new such-and-such tape? They’re killin’ it!’ That’s the state of hip-hop in a lot of other places that you might go and I appreciate that. (In America) we’re spoiled to a lot of things.”
All of the Wu-Tang Clan’s surviving original members, including Method Man, Ghostface and Raekwon, grace “Made In Brooklyn” with their requisite verses. Producers Pete Rock, PF Cuttin, Bronze Nazareth and the on-fire MF Doom have blessed Masta Killa’s latest LP with exceptional beats, inspiring the ninth member of Wu Tang to pen nimble lyrics. On the piano-tinged gem “Ringing Bells”, Masta Killa flows with seasoned poise:
“You take on face value how fast the light travel / it’s heaven-sent, gift from the universe / blessings, tidings, offerings; there’s no compromising the truth / it might blow the roof off, exposing the germs / tapeworm, poisoned animal-eaters you must learn”
“What you feed yourself comes back in different forms,” expounded Masta Killa on the development of his esoteric rhymes. “Knowledge is the foundation of everything. When you go into the study of things, these are the things that you may end up rhyming about or expressing in a certain form. I love science. I love to learn. It might come out in my art-form because that’s how I study myself.”
“Discipline is the key to life,” Masta Killa continued. “Discipline is something you learn from birth. If you’re striving for a great physique then you have to have the discipline to exercise every day. If you want to say something that’s going to have meaning and some kind of substance, then you have to have the discipline to go into the depths of study before you say anything.”
Like most Brooklyn natives, Masta Killa is proud of his world-famous hometown. As all-inclusive as his music is, Masta Killa still gave his beloved borough its props. When asked what qualities set Brooklyn apart from New York’s other burgs, Masta Killa didn’t hesitate to respond as he said, “Brooklyn is one place where you can go and find just about every nationality. You could (come from) wherever in the world, I bet you’ve been to Brooklyn. There’s a lot of love in Brooklyn, but it’s also serious too. Seriousness comes from discipline. You have to have discipline. If you don’t, things will be out of order; and if there’s no law, there’s no order. And Brooklyn is known for laying law and order.”
For more information on Masta Killa and “Made In Brooklyn” visit www.myspace.com/mastakilla.
For more stories and artwork by Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel visit www.supremearsenal.com and www.myspace.com/blackpacino
