Hell Razah | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Chron Smith |
| Also known as | Heaven Razah, Razah Rubiez, El Raziel |
| Born | (1976-10-01)October 1, 1976 (age 48) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Underground hip hop |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Babygrande Records Nature Sounds Hell Razah Music Inc. Legion of D.O.O.M. Wu Music GroupHell Razah Music, Inc. |
| Members | Sunz Of Man |
| Website | www.hellrazahdigital.com |
Chron Smith (born October 1, 1976), better known by hisstage nameHell Razah, is an Americanrapper. He is best known as a member ofSunz of Man, an earlyaffiliate group of theWu-Tang Clan.
Razah is rumored to have suffered abrain aneurysm in April 2010.[1] He was quick to recover and continue recording. He came to adopt the monikerHeaven Razah.
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 includedKillah Priest,Shabazz the Disciple,Prodigal Sunn,Supreme and 7th Ambassador.[2] 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.[3] 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".[4]
In 1995, the group adopted the moniker Sunz of Man, and signed a record deal withWu-Tang/Priority Records.[5] SoM released a number of singles on Wu-Tang Records, including "Soldiers of Darkness", "No Love Without Hate" and "Bloody Choices",[6] in anticipation of their 1996 debut albumNothing New Under the Sun. Due to internal conflicts and label complications, the album was shelved.[7] Sunz of Man later signed a record deal with Red Ant Entertainment for the release of their official 1998 debutThe Last Shall Be First, with the group's roster shaved down to just Razah, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn and60 Second Assassin.[8][deprecated source] The album was one of the most successful Wu-Tang affiliate releases, debuting at No. 20 on theBillboard 200 album chart, and No. 7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.[9]
After the departure of Killah Priest in 1998, the group took a hiatus. 1999 saw the release ofThe First Testament, which featured previously recorded material from the group, including the early tracks from Da Last Future.[10][deprecated source] Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the albumSaviorz Day, the second official Sunz of Man studio album.[11][deprecated source] 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.[2]
Razah made his solo debut in 2001, though quietly, with the independent releaseWhen All Hell Breaks Loose. The album featured guest appearances from 7th Ambassador, Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn andTimbo King ofRoyal Fam, and production from Supreme.[12] The album spawned the single "Champaigne Room" b/w "Ghetto Love".[13] 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 compilationElements, with the other half made up of tracks fromThe First Testament.[14]
Razah's next solo album,Renaissance Child, was released in early 2007 onNature Sounds Records. The album featured appearances fromTimbo King,Tragedy Khadafi,R.A. the Rugged Man,Talib Kweli,Viktor Vaughn,Bronze Nazareth,Killah Priest andRas Kass, and production fromGodz Wrath,MF DOOM,Bronze Nazareth,Krohme and4th Disciple.[15] The album was a well-received, critical success and featured the singles "The Renaissance"[16] and "Buried Alive" b/w "Project Jazz".[17]In October 2007, Razah released his next album,Razah's Ladder, entirely produced by the production duoBlue Sky Black Death.[18] The album also was acclaimed,[19] due to BSBD's soulful production work, and also to Razah's new spiritual lyrical direction, inspired by the recent death of his father.[20] The album featured guest appearances from Prodigal Sunn, Shabazz the Disciple,Crooked I,Ill Bill andSabac Red, and featured no singles.[21] Self-funded videos were shot for the tracks "Razah's Ladder"[22] and "Audiobiography", the latter directed by Sunz of Man producer Supreme,[23] and "Razah's Ladder",[22]
In 2004, Hell Razah and4th 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 fromWhen All Hell Breaks Loose.[24] The album featured the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love".[25]
In 2005, Razah, Killah Priest, Royal Fam's Timbo King, Tragedy Khadafi and William Cooper formed the undergroundsupergroupBlack Market Militia. The group released their self-titled debut albumBlack Market Militia that same year, with production from Godz Wrath and Bronze Nazareth, and guest appearances fromdead prez andAbiodun Oyewole ofThe Last Poets.[26] The album spawned the singles "Audobon Ballroom" b/w "Thug Nation"/"Hood Lullabye" and "Gem Stars" b/w "Mayday!".[27] By the end of 2005, Hell Razah had named Saul Abraham the latest addition to the line-up. Razah's next album collaboration album was with Shabazz the Disciple and producerAyatollah as the group T.H.U.G. Angelz, titledWelcome to Red Hook Houses, to be released on July 8, 2008 onBabygrande Records. Other releases came in 2008 such as solo album titledHeaven Razah, andArticle 2: Right to Bare Arms, a second full-length collaboration with4th Disciple.[28] 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 thatThe 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.[29]
Hell Razah suffered aBrain Aneurysm in 2010. After surviving that near death experience, he began to go under the nameHeaven Razah.
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,[30] the second album withShabazz the Disciple asT.H.U.G. Angelz (produced byAyatollah and4th Disciple),[31] Razah's Ladder 2 produced byBlue Sky Black Death,[32] a gospel/rock album produced by Krohme called Krohme Razahs,[33] an album withShyheim called The Verrazano[34] and the sequel toFreedom of Speech called Write to Bare Arms produced by 4th Disciple.[35] An album withKillah Priest as Thug Vaticans called The Lamb’s Supper will come out in 2013.[36] Another collaboration album, with producer Tokyo Cigar under the name Heavenly Cartel, is planned for 2013 and is called Spiritual Kung Fu.[37] He's also doing an album with producerBronze Nazareth.[38] He also started a hiphop/soul group together with producer Shroom and singer Tarone Rachamim calledThe Dutch and they are planning to release their first album in the future, which is called Music from the Heart.[39]
Heaven Razah Part 2 becameLiving After Death and was released oniTunes on March 31, 2013.[40] In May, Hell Razah announced the formal roster of his new label, Hell Razah Music Inc. to include Razah's oldest son "Heaven Sun" aka Yung Razah, Queen the Prophet, Scripture, and a few more to formally represent Razah's long time "Ghetto Govt" global movement also known as "GGO" (Ghetto Govt Officialz). The Ghetto Govt Movement has global chapters that are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities as well as in the underground hip-hop community.
Risen: The Story of Chron "Hell Razah" Smith - Documentary
Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith which is a documentary directed by Frank Meyer and stars Wu Tang’s RZA, Cappadonna and Popa Wu, Sunz of Man members Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn, 60-Second Assassin and Shabazz the Disciple, producers A. Supreme Wilder and Tom "Shroom" Johnson, rappers RA The Rugged Man and Ras Kass, industry heavyweight Randy Philips (AEG, Global Ent.), Hell Razah’s family and friends, and many more. Risen is executive produced by Digital Reacharound CEO Robert Juster, produced by film maker Paul Harb (The Expendables, Rambo, Rocky Balboa), and Esquire Network’s Michael D’Alonzo, with Cinematography by Jason Valdez. Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith is available on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and You Tube.https://www.amazon.com/Risen-Story-Chron-Razah-Smith/dp/B085RC21RB
In 2019, Razah was featured in the song "The Grandmaster" onCryptik Soul's albumKiller's Blood.
Hell Razah
Collaborations
