Metal Lungies

It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for…

Today’s honoree: Masta Killa. Checking out Parts 1-3 should go without saying at this point. Scroll down for ’em, there’s been a lot of posts ’round these parts lately.

Download: Masta Killa – “The Day After” (off Nature Sounds Presents The Prof. In… Convexed, 2003)

‘Nuff respect to Nature Sounds, who, with ’07 releases like Havoc’s The Kush (a few bangers on there) and Strong Arm Steady’s Deep Hearted (check our review from earlier this year), are slowly moving up the ranks along side Koch and Babygrande as the top hip hop major label alternatives. They put out No Said Date, Made In Brookyln, and this compilation, which featured this short-but-sweet non-album cut from MK.

Download: Wu-Tang Clan – “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'” (off Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, 1993)

I’ve tried to avoid making the fairly-obvious picks (for example, don’t expect me to pick “Triumph” for Inspectah Deck, that’d be too easy), but I can’t help but pay homage to MK’s closing verse on “Chessboxin'”, his only verse on the Clan’s debut. On the bonus DVD that came with No Said Date, Killah Priest was interviewed and said that it had been decided that either he or MK would close out “Chessboxin'”. They were both in the studio writing when Priest decided to take a nap — when he awoke, the song was done. Sure, there have been plenty of great verses in the history of the Wu, but how many actually changed the scope of their history?

Download: Inspectah Deck – “Friction” featuring Masta Killa (off Uncontrolled Substance, 1999)

When I first heard MK’s closing verse, I had to double-check the liner notes because I could’ve sworn it was Method Man. Now, I’ve never claimed to be the brightest knife in the shed or nothing, but I’ve got years of experience at identifying Wu-Tang Clan members on the mic, and MK threw me for a loop here.

Download: Public Enemy – “Resurrection” featuring Masta Killa (off He Got Game, 1998)

In a recent video interview on UGHH.com from backstage at the New York Rock The Bells show, Flava Flav said that he, RZA, and Ol’ Dirty are cousins — and not on some “What up, cousin?”-type-shit. With that in mind, it’s kind of surprisingly that there weren’t more collaborations between Public Enemy and the Wu — all I can think of is this, and Flava Flav’s ad-libs on “Soul Power” from Iron Flag. But, by the same token, both crews have had legendary careers without much outside assistance.