Sunz of Man - Part Two -

History

[edit] 1994-1996
Prior to being affiliated with Wu-Tang, Sunz were known as Da Last Future and included Shabazz the Disciple, 7th Ambassador and producer Supreme, but not 60 Second Assassin [1]. Upon their induction into the Wu-Tang family, the group became the first group signed to Wu-Tang Records. In 1995 and 1996, the group released a number of singles, including "No Love Without Hate", "Soldiers of Darkness" (a collaboration with Killarmy), "Five Arch Angels" and "Bloody Choices" [2]. These tracks were to be included on the group's planned debut album Nothing New Under the Sun, originally scheduled for release in 1996 [3]. Due to label complications, the album was eventually shelved. It has been rumored that this album was actually completed, due to the appearance of several ads featured in various Hip Hop magazines such as The Source. It has been said that this album had a much darker atmosphere than the group's later work, with the bulk of the production coming from 4th Disciple, with additional beats by RZA, True Master, Allah Mathematics, Supreme, Y-Kim the Illfigure and the late Grym Reaper. By the time the group switched record labels, Shabazz and 7th Ambassador had left the group.

[edit] 1997-2001
In 1997, the group signed a deal with Red Ant Entertainment. Their first release on the label was the "We Can't Be Touched" b/w "Natural High" single, released that same year [4]. "Natural High" was included on the group's 1998 debut album The Last Shall be First. The album featured production from Supreme, as well as Wu producers RZA, 4th Disciple and True Master, and Wyclef Jean. Album guests included Wu-Tang members Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard and U-God, as well as Killarmy's Beretta 9, Dreddy Kruger and Tekitha [5]. The album saw an impressive debut at #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts [6]. The album received moderate acclaim from critics [7], and was met with mixed reactions from Wu-Tang fans, who were expecting a darker sound similar to their earlier work [8].
Before the release of the debut, Killah Priest began to clash with Wu leader RZA, as Shabazz had earlier, both eventually cutting their Wu ties, and leaving the group for solo careers. In 1999, the album The First Testament was released, compiled of the group's earlier work, with contributions from Shabazz and 7th Ambassador [9]. A number of tracks from the album were released on singles, including "Deep in the Water", "In the Beginning..." and "The Sins of Men" [10]. However, due to heavy bootlegging, the album never saw a proper release. The group took a hiatus, while Killah Priest established his solo career.

[edit] 2002-present
Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn and 60 Second Assassin returned in 2002 with the group's second official studio album Saviorz Day [11]. The album was met with a lukewarm reception commercially [12] and critically [13]. In 2004, The First Testament saw a re-release as Elements, which featured most of the tracks from The First Testament, as well as a handful of other previously unreleased tracks [14]. Later in 2004, Hell Razah and 4th Disciple (under the prefix "Sunz of Man presents") released the album Freedom of Speech [15], which spawned the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love" [16]. In 2003, Shabazz announced a return to the group [1], but a new group album has yet to be recorded. The group's most recent release was a 2006 compilation titled The Old Testament, which features the group's early singles as well as their some of their later hits [17].

[edit] Solo careers
Killah Priest was the first SoM member to embark on a solo career, releasing his acclaimed debut album Heavy Mental a few months prior to The Last Shall Be First. He has released four more studio albums, 2000's View From Masada, 2001's Priesthood, 2003's Black August and 2007's The Offering. Hell Razah released his solo debut When All Hell Breaks Loose in 2001 and received little attention. Shabazz the Disciple released his long-delayed debut album The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz) in 2003, which included a number of his early singles, such as "Crime Saga", "The Lamb's Blood" and "Street Parables". Prodigal Sunn released his solo debut The Return of the Prodigal Sunn in 2005. Also in 2005, Killah Priest and Hell Razah, along with Royal Fam's Timbo King and New York veteran Tragedy Khadafi formed the Black Market Militia, and released their self-titled album. Hell Razah released two albums in 2007, first Renaissance Child in February, and second Razah's Ladder, a collaboration with producers Blue Sky Black Death, released in October. Razah and Shabazz teamed up with producer Ayatollah in 2008 to form T.H.U.G. Angelz, and will release their debut Welcome to Red Hook Houses on July 8.