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Hell Razah - Hell Hath No Fury
Interview By: Serge Fleury
 When the legendary Wu-Tang Clan first debuted back in 1993, they took the entire Hip-Hop world by storm. They came on the scene with a new style of rap that didn't include how big your gold chain was, or how many females you could obtain. Instead, they replaced that stereotypical subject matter with raw in your face lyricism that struck a chord with everyone that ever picked up one of their albums. But little did anyone know that during their reign, they would also give birth to a lot of affiliate groups that shared the same mentality as they did.
 One of the acts to feed off the knowledge of the Wu Gambinos was a group called Sunz Of Man. The collective featured MC's such as Killah Priest, 60 Second Assassin, Prodigal Sunn and Hell Razah. Under the watchful eye of the elder Gods, they went on to release a catalog of acclaimed albums. Some of their successful work included CD's like ''The Last Shall Be First'', ''The First Testament (Elements)'', and ''Saviorz Day'' just to name a few.
Now in 2007, one of the most lyrical associates of the group, Hell Razah has thrown his hat into the solo arena with his debut release, ''Renaissance Child.'' For some artists that have been in a group setting for a long period of time, the transition to solo performer may prove to be a difficult path. But Hell Razah lets NobodySmiling.com know there are no obstacles in his path, as he travels down the road of prosperity.
Nobodysmiling.com : Was there any particular reason why you named your album ''Renaissance Child?''
Hell Razah : Well I'm still grinding, know what I mean. It ain't even going to stop, this is just the beginning, that's why I called it ''Renaissance Child.''
Nobodysmiling.com : So that was the meaning behind it?
Hell Razah : Right because this is my first solo album. I've always done the group thing, and have been affiliated with groups from Sunz Of Man, to the Black Market Militia album that we put out back in 2004. As a matter of fact, I'm currently putting together my own group called the Ghetto Government Officials. But right now I'm just working man, I have another album that will be out by the summer. The ''Renaissance Child'' was like a breath of fresh air for me, it's not even just because it's my music; it's because I'm a big Hip-Hop fan. I felt like Hip-Hop was missing these types of albums, where it's all original, every song isn't repetitive, and it's not about making cash. I'm just taking it back to the golden era of Hip-Hop, where you had to use the rewind button a lot.
Nobodysmiling.com : Some people think the Wu-Tang empire as a whole has stumbled over the past couple of years, do you think there's truth to that?
Hell Razah : Well you got to remember, when we first came out, there was so much Wu-Tang material out there that we over flooded the system. Now, there are so many people running around, trying to do things that we did already. They're trying to recapture the flare that we had, and that's how powerful our impact was. So it was like for a minute, we had to stand back and watch some of the babies grow up. It's like we done gave birth to a lot of sh*t that's going on right now, and you have to respect your fathers. We gave birth to a lot of things, all these new groups that come into the game now and break off into solo deals, we already did that. If you come into the game now, bring something new to the table so everyone can eat. The way we come through, I might bring the bread, 4th Disciple might bring the fish, and Prodigal Sunn might bring the forks for example. It's like everyone wants to eat, but no one want to bring sh*t to the table. So with the whole Wu-Tang sh*t, some people were just missing the true music because that's how some fans are, some of them aren't loyal
Nobodysmiling.com : So what's your opinion on the current state of New York Hip-Hop?
Hell Razah : I think it's ''Sambo.'' On my album, I got a song called ''Runaway Sambo.'' I think right now, Hip-Hop is on some Sambo tap dancing and singing for the ''man'' type sh*t, and trying to satisfy everyone. All these records are either club or pop records, or on some Southern rap sh*t. Even though our historical roots trace back to the South, I feel like we bring more intellect to the game. Right now it's on some 3rd grade reading level sh*t. I'm like ''what's wrong with moving up?'' I'm trying to bring n***as to the 6th grade, and they acting like that's too hard (laughing). So right now with New York, there is too much beefing. N***as are beefing to sell records and that sh*t is whack, just make music. F**k all that beefing sh*t, it's only a matter of time before you get tired of making diss track after diss track, so just make real music. New York just needs to get back on that genuine sh*t, like when we had Boot Camp Clik, Mobb Deep, Big Pun, and artists like that, know what I'm saying. That's when New York was original, if I got to throw the mothaf**king sh*t out there to get it popping, then that's how it's going down.
Nobodysmiling.com : Have you ever felt the need to simplify your lyrics since today's audience is more concerned with beats and hooks?
Hell Razah : It's like a double edged sword, cause you can either do that and lose fans, or you can do that and gain fans. So you can lose those who were loyal to you, and gain some that won't be as loyal. So it's best to stay in your zone, and stick to your guns. It's like if you're good at fighting with a sword, then fight with a sword, don't pick up rocks. Because the next n***a might be nice with rocks, and you try to do the same thing, and you might get stoned to death; know what I saying. I'm just going to stick to my guns, like the softer Hip-Hop gets, the harder I'm going to come. The more pop music that comes out, the more hardcore I'm going to get, that's it.
Nobodysmiling.com : So are you going to return to group work after this project, or do you have more solo endeavors in store?
Hell Razah : I'm going to keep banging them with solo work, because we already have group projects that are done. Like we have the Black Market Militia pt. 2 finished, and also another project that I worked on with Timbo King and Killa Priest. So I'm going to bang out with solo sh*t because I can hold my own. So I'm saying if anyone tries to play me with a diss record, I'm going to tear that n***a a new a**hole because I can definitely hold my own. I'm in my zone right now, I'm just giving them concepts of music, and real life sh*t that we go through. N***as always talking about how they're in the streets, and they ain't never there. So my stuff is geared towards the real n***as that's locked up, and for the real O.G.'s. The real O.G.'s ain't going to tell you to go jail and all that sh*t. If you a rapper, and you to go to jail to sell records; their going to look at you like ''what the f**k is you doing in here?'' There going to be like ''you're a star n***a, that's the sh*t I wanted to do to get off the streets and you doing it backwards.'' It's like n***as are hustling backwards, know what I mean.
Nobodysmiling.com : With that being said was it hard going from a group structure to carrying the load of a whole album?
Hell Razah : It wasn't hard, because I was already doing it. I was a solo artist before I got involved with Sunz Of Man, so being a solo artist was already instilled in me. It's just that I was put on the back burner being involved with group sh*t, I just had to pay my dues. That's something I advise for all MC's coming into the game right now, to pay their dues. Don't ride of the next mans coat tail, pay ya own dues. N***as is riding off their man that went platinum, and they ain't drop two f**king records yet, and just keep putting out a bunch of mixtapes and they end up being whack. You can drop mixtapes all day but when you get on stage, you'll probably have a whack ass show. Mixtapes are like giving away music, cause some mixtapes be better than a n***as album.
Nobodysmiling.com : What are some of the things that learned by working closely with The Wu-Tang Clan?
Hell Razah : Well just to take your time and just make classic music. RZA is a f**king genius, you can never top a ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx'' or ''Ironman'' or even ''Return Of The 36 Chambers.'' Wu-Tang done touched history man, so a lot of sh*t I learned as for the business aspect is just really learning how to structure your contracts and certain things like that. There's a lot of sh*t that people don't know about that goes on behind the music. So I learned from both sided of the coin, one side music and the other side is business, so I put out my album independently.
Nobodysmiling.com : So you fell strong about the independent route?
Hell Razah : Yeah because I wanted respected. When we was bum rushing the clubs back in the early nineties, ''Protect Ya Neck'' came out on a white label so did ''Method Man''; you get more respect like that, even Jay-Z's ''Dead Presents'' was on a white label. You don't have to switch up your music when you're independent, you're paying for that sh*t. You have more control over your music, you don't have an A&R telling you what's whack. A lot of artists run to the majors and those A&R's tell them how they need to sound, what beats they need to get, and what record is hot right now, and that's the type of song they need from you. So that's why I put it out independently, to be more respected, instead of just being on a major where in the end they will probably play ya ass.
Nobodysmiling.com : What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?
Hell Razah : The biggest thing is that cats probably think that I'm a group dude, they probably be like ''he can't do an album by himself.'' I really don't give a sh*t, but I know what I've heard, like I'm a group affiliate and I'm only good for features; and sh*t like that. So after they hear the ''Renaissance Child'', I want to see what they say about that sh*t.
Nobodysmiling.com : Speaking of which, do you have any features on ''Renaissance Child?''
Hell Razah : Yeah, the only features on there are real MC's. There ain't no corny ass n***as on it. Like I have Ras Kass, Method Man, Tragedy, and Talib Kweli on there. This wasn't no sh*t where I needed n***as to sell records, cause it's not like I'm getting killed on my own songs. It's more of a unification of Hip-Hop, with the a respect of the whole game. We all came together because we have mutual respect for each other, it wasn't about the check or none of that sh*t. So any misconceptions that some may have as for as that this album, the atmosphere will definitely be cleared up. That's all I have to say, other than that, I don't give a sh*t that's just how I roll.
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