Killah Priest

Killah Priest, born Walter Reed on August 17, 1970, is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York, closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan and its extended family of artists. He first became known in the mid-1990s through a series of memorable guest appearances before releasing his debut solo album, Heavy Mental, in 1998. That record established him as one of hip hop's most distinctive lyricists, known for dense, allegorical writing steeped in religious and mystical imagery.

Over a career spanning more than a decade, Priest has released eleven studio albums and several mixtapes, building a catalog defined by spiritual searching, apocalyptic themes, and Afrocentric and biblical references. Tracks like «B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)», «One Step» and «Tai Chi» exemplify his dense, sermon-like verses layered over dark, atmospheric production typical of the Wu-Tang orbit.

Beyond his solo work, Priest was part of the short-lived supergroup HRSMN alongside Canibus, Ras Kass and Kurupt, further cementing his reputation as an MC's MC. Although his lyrics have often referenced groups such as the Five Percent Nation and Black Hebrew Israelites, Priest has since identified as a secularist, even speaking at a 2015 atheist conference, reflecting the intellectual restlessness that runs through his music.