Sunz of Man

{{short description|American hip hop group}} {{confused|Son of man (disambiguation){{!}}Sons of Man}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{notability|bio|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sunz of Man | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], U.S. | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | years_active = 1994–present | label = | associated_acts = [[Wu-Tang Clan]] [[Killarmy]] [[Royal Fam]] [[Black Market Militia]] | current_members = [[Prodigal Sunn]] [[Killah Priest]] [[Hell Razah]] [[60 Second Assassin (emcee)|60 Second Assassin]] | past_members = [[Shabazz the Disciple]] 7th Ambassador [[Supreme (producer)|Su-Preme]] | website = www.sunzofman.com }}

'''Sunz of Man''' is a New York–based [[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates|Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated]] group that currently consists of [[Prodigal Sunn]], [[Killah Priest]], [[Hell Razah]], and 60 Second Assassin. The group's first incarnation also included [[Shabazz the Disciple]], 7th Ambassador, and producer [[Supreme (producer)|Su-Preme]].

== History ==

=== 1994–1996 === Prior to being affiliated with Wu-Tang, Sunz were initially known as Da Last Future and included Shabazz the Disciple, 7th Ambassador, and producer [[Supreme (producer)|Su-Preme]], but not [[60 Second Assassin (emcee)|60 Second Assassin]],.<ref name="WI">{{cite web| url =http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm| title =Wu-Tang Clan Family Tree at Wu-International.com| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://archive.today/20120723161029/http://wu-international.com/Killabeez/wukillabeezN_Z.htm| archive-date =July 23, 2012}}</ref> Upon its 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". These tracks were to be included on the group's planned debut album ''Nothing New Under the Sun'', originally scheduled for release in 1996.<ref name="BS">{{cite web | url = https://bringyaskillz.blogspot.com/2008/01/nothing-new-under-sun-sunz-of-man.html | title = Nothing New Under the Sun bootleg mixtape release }}</ref> Due to label complications, the album was eventually shelved.

=== 1997–2001 === In 1997, the group signed a deal with Red Ant Entertainment. Its first release on the label was the "We Can't Be Touched" b/w "Natural High" single, released that same year. They also made an appearance on [[Mood (hip hop crew)|Mood]]'s debut album ''[[Doom (Mood album)|Doom]]'' on the song "Illuminated Sunlight". "Natural High" was included on the group's 1998 debut album ''[[The Last Shall Be First (Sunz of Man album)|The Last Shall be First]]''. The album featured production from [[Supreme (producer)|Su-Preme]], as well as [[Wu-Elements|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]]. The album debuted at No. 20 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart, and No. 7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.<ref name="AM">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r367842|pure_url=yes}} | title = The Last Shall Be First chart positions at AllMusic.com }}</ref> The album received moderate acclaim from critics.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r367842|pure_url=yes}} | title = The Last Shall Be First], ''AllMusic.com''}}</ref>

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.<ref name="OHHLA">{{cite web | url = http://ohhla.com/anonymous/sunofman/thefirst/ | title = The First Testament lyrics at OHHLA.com }}</ref> A number of tracks from the album were released as singles, including "Deep in the Water", "In the Beginning...," and "The Sins of Men". However, due to heavy bootlegging, the album never saw a proper release. The group took a hiatus, while Killah Priest established his solo career.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

=== 2002–2006 === Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn and [[60 Second Assassin (emcee)|60 Second Assassin]], returned in 2002 with the group's second official studio album ''[[Saviorz Day]]''. The album was met with a lukewarm reception commercially<ref name="AMG4">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r604893|pure_url=yes}} | title = Saviorz Day chart positions at AllMusicGuide.com }}</ref> and critically.<ref name="AMG5">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r604893|pure_url=yes}} | title = Saviorz Day review at AllMusicGuide.com }}</ref> 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.<ref name="AMG6">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r698033|pure_url=yes}} | title = Elements at AllMusicGuide.com }}</ref> Later in 2004, [[Hell Razah]] and [[4th Disciple]] (under the prefix "Sunz of Man presents") released the album ''Freedom of Speech'',<ref name="AMG7">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r713740|pure_url=yes}} | title = Freedom of Speech at AllMusicGuide.com }}</ref> which spawned the single "Article One" b/w "Project Love". In 2003, Shabazz announced a return to the group,<ref name="WI"/> but a new group album has yet to be recorded, and no further efforts were made. The group's most recent release was a 2006 compilation titled ''[[The Old Testament (album)|The Old Testament]]'', which features the group's early singles as well as some of their later hits.<ref name="AMG8">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r819970|pure_url=yes}} | title = The Old Testament at AllMusicGuide.com }}</ref>

=== 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 released more studio albums, 2000's ''[[View From Masada]]'', 2001's ''[[Priesthood (album)|Priesthood]]'', 2003's ''[[Black August (album)|Black August]]'' and 2007's ''[[The Offering (Killah Priest album)|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 [[Black Market Militia (album)|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 (record producer)|Ayatollah]] in 2008 to form T.H.U.G. Angelz, and release their debut ''[[Welcome to Red Hook Houses]]''.

In early 2019, Hell Razah was featured in the song "The Grandmaster" on Cryptik Soul's album ''Killer's Blood''.

=== 2019–present === In 2019, Sunz of Man returned and released its third official studio album "''The Rebirth",'' which featured Cappadonna, Planet Asia, La The Darkman, 12 O'Clock, Makeba Mooncycle, Chi King, Shaka Amazulu VII, and Tristate.

== Discography == {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan=4 | Sunz of Man (Group) |- ! Album title ! Album Info |- | '''''Nothing New Under The Sun''''' | * Released: Unreleased, planned for 1996 * Label: [[Priority Records|Wu-Tang/Priority Records]]/EMI * Singles: "Soldiers of Darkness"/"Five Arch Angels", "No Love Without Hate", "Bloody Choices" |- | '''''[[The Last Shall Be First (Sunz of Man album)|The Last Shall Be First]]''''' | * Released: July 21, 1998 * Label: Red Ant Entertainment/V2/BMG * Singles: "Natural High", "Shining Star"/"Cold", "The Plan"/"Collaboration '98" |- | '''''The First Testament''''' (Bootleg) | * Released: January 31, 1999 * Label: Red Hook Records * Singles: "Deep in the Water"/"In the Beginning..."/"The Sins of Man", "Who are the Sunz of Man?"/"The Valley of Death"/"Bring Back the Mike"/"Valley of Kings" |- | '''''[[Saviorz Day]]''''' | * Released: September 3, 2002 * Label: D3 Entertainment * Singles: "Savior's Day" |- | '''''Elements''''' ('''''[[The First Testament]]''''' re-release) | * Released: July 13, 2004 * Label: X-Ray/Cleopatra Records * Singles: "Deep in the Water"/"In the Beginning..."/"The Sins of Man", "Who are the Sunz of Man?"/"Bring Back the Mike" |- | '''''[[The Old Testament (album)|The Old Testament]]''''' (Compilation) | * Released: April 4, 2006 * Label: Green Streets Entertainment/Nature Sounds |- |'''''The Rebirth''''' | * Released: August 2, 2019 * Label: X-Ray/Cleopatra Records |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan=4 | Sunz of Man Singles |- ! Track title(s) ! Producer ! Release date |- | Soldier of Darkness (with [[Killarmy]]) b/w Five ArchAngels | [[4th Disciple]] | 1995 Wu-Tang Records |- | No Love Without Hate | [[Supreme (producer)|Su-Preme]] | 1995 |- | Bloody Choices |4th Disciple | 1996 |- | We Can't Be Touched b/w Natural High | Ray Roll & Tony Touch b/w RZA | 1997 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | Shining Star b/w Cold | [[Wyclef Jean]] b/w [[4th Disciple]] | 1998 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | Shining Star (remix) b/w Intellectuals (featuring [[Raekwon]] and [[U-God]]) | [[Wyclef Jean]] b/w [[True Master]] | 1998 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | The Plan b/w Collaboration '98 (featuring [[Method Man]]) | [[4th Disciple]]/[[True Master]] | 1998 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | Deep in the Water/Writing Rhymes With a Liquid Pen b/w In the Beginning .../The Sins of Man | | 1998 |- | Who are the Sunz of Man?/The Valley of Death b/w Bring Back the Mike/Valley of Kings | | 1998 |- | Rosewood b/w Hell's Inmates | | 1999 |- | Savior's Day | | 2002 |}

== Videography == {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan=4 | Sunz of Man Videography |- ! Artist(s) ! Album Info ! Video Title(s) ! Release date |- | '''Sunz of Man''' | '''12" Single''' | Soldiers of Darkness (featuring [[Killarmy]], various [[Wu-Tang Clan]] cameos) | 1995 Wu-Tang Records |- | '''[[Killarmy]]''' | '''[[Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars]]''' | Wake Up (featuring [[Prodigal Sunn]] and various [[Wu-Tang Clan]] cameos) | 1997 Wu-Tang/Priority/ENIRecords |- | '''Sunz of Man''' | '''[[The Last Shall Be First (Sunz of Man album)|The Last Shall be First]]''' | The Plan | 1998 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | '''Hell Razah''' | '''The Razah Code: Underground Hip-Hop Vol. 1''' | Hell Razah DVD | 2004 Threat/Red Ant/Wu-Tang Records |- | '''Hell Razah''' | '''[[Renaissance Child]]''' | Renaissance (featuring [[Tragedy Khadafi]], [[Timbo King]], [[R.A. the Rugged Man]]) | 2007 Nature Sounds |- | '''Hell Razah & [[Blue Sky Black Death]]''' | '''[[Razah's Ladder]]''' | Razah's Ladder | 2007 Babygrande |- | '''Hell Razah & [[4th Disciple]]''' | '''Freedom of Speech''' | High Science | 2009 X-Ray/Cleopatra Records |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== See also == *[[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunz Of Man}} [[Category:African-American musical groups]] [[Category:Five percenters]] [[Category:Hip-hop groups from New York City]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]] [[Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn]] [[Category:Wu-Tang Clan affiliates]]