Masta Killa

Considered the ninth member of <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Wu-Tang Clan</a>, Masta Killa (b. Elgin Turner; aliases: High Chief, Noodles) recorded his first rhymes at the end of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" from <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Clan</a>'s 1993 seminal debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). He had never seriously written rhymes, let alone rap before then. However, under the tutelage of <a href="spotify:artist:6ns6XAOsw4B0nDUIovAOUO">the GZA</a>, he developed a steadily paced flow that accentuated his intellectual lyrics -- although equally distinctive were his smooth voice and understated demeanor. Because Killa was incarcerated at the time, his closing verse on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" was his sole contribution to the album, but he always remained in the fold on the set of <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> solo records that ensued in the mid-'90s, including <a href="spotify:artist:6ns6XAOsw4B0nDUIovAOUO">GZA</a>'s Liquid Swords, <a href="spotify:artist:2yQf6b8hxahZaT5dHlWaB1">Raekwon</a>'s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and <a href="spotify:artist:6FD0unjzGQhX3b6eMccMJe">Ghostface Killah</a>'s Ironman. There was no questioning his status in <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">the Clan</a> after the release of their 1997 album, Wu-Tang Forever, where Killa contributed to numerous tracks, particularly his standout lines on the lead single, "Triumph."

Nonetheless, similar to the plight of <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> member <a href="spotify:artist:4OBbOrkD4geIjOLrICN3wO">Inspectah Deck</a>, Killa worked on his solo material for many years before it would actually come out. After two more <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> full-lengths and a second string of <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu</a> splinter projects, his solo career finally began with No Said Date, released via underground rap label Nature Sounds in 2004. Staying in-house with producers <a href="spotify:artist:4iCwCMnqsNZ6atvRiADgtn">the RZA</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6T7ap0aCwj4aJVj3bJ0EWh">Mathematics</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:41gTa5cSf7Zg5eErVb0aOS">True Master</a>, the album was one of the few <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu</a>-related releases post-Wu-Tang Forever that received critical praise, particularly by <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a>'s loyal fan base. Killa returned in 2006 with Made in Brooklyn, working with a more diverse array of underground producers, including <a href="spotify:artist:2pAWfrd7WFF3XhVt9GooDL">MF Doom</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4VhYUWpDsLraUG6Sd8g9TF">Bronze Nazareth</a>, and the legendary <a href="spotify:artist:3BeQqzKdlARoOd6y30kCO2">Pete Rock</a>. His third album arrived in 2012. Selling My Soul featured guest spots from <a href="spotify:artist:6NyJIFHAePjHR1pFxwisqz">Kurupt</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:50NoVNy9GU1lCrDV8iGpyu">Ol' Dirty Bastard</a>, as well as production by <a href="spotify:artist:4s8ZGMVf3OiPktSP4ulpqU">9th Wonder</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6T7ap0aCwj4aJVj3bJ0EWh">Mathematics</a>, and PF Cuttin. Another long gap followed before Killa released his fourth studio LP, Loyalty Is Royalty, in 2017. <a href="spotify:artist:34EP7KEpOjXcM2TCat1ISk">Wu-Tang</a> members <a href="spotify:artist:0dS5xeDefwoUNasLUHnCjR">Cappadonna</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4VmEWwd8y9MCLwexFMdpwt">Method Man</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4iCwCMnqsNZ6atvRiADgtn">RZA</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6ns6XAOsw4B0nDUIovAOUO">GZA</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4OBbOrkD4geIjOLrICN3wO">Inspectah Deck</a> joined other guests like <a href="spotify:artist:7xTKLpo7UCzXSnlH7fOIoM">Redman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2x6jz70u3sZq75tW10akUW">Sean Price</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1GwxXgEc6oxCKQ5wykWXFs">Prodigy</a>, and KXNG CROOKED on the album. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi