New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Wu-Tang Official Website) - Throughout his illustrious career, The RZA of The Wu-Tang Clan, has always prided himself in discovering and working with some of the best artists in the hip hop game. One listen to the astounding RZA Presents Northstar and it's perfectly clear why the
Wu-Tang Clan mastermind gave the Long Beach-based duo of Christ Bearer and Meko a much coveted spot in the Wu family Tree. Without question, Northstar's debut ranks among the most promising West Coast releases to emerge in years alongside that of their peers and family member the
Black Knights who were once collectively known as the
Black Knights of the Northstar.
From the start, Black Knight and Northstar's decidedly East Coast lyrical outlook always perplexed some people on the West Coast even though The RZA discovered the group's talent back in 1998 during a chance encounter outside of The Beat (a Los Angeles radio station). "RZA is the father to us in the game," explains Christ Bearer, whose light, animated voice provides the perfect balance to Meko's powerful, husky tone. "He gave birth to Northstar when other people in the West Coast really didn't take on to us. The RZA was the one that really took us on. He gave birth to us and now we've got a career by the grace of Allah."
"While I was growing up I always catered to the East Coast artists but I also loved Boyz-N-The Hood and that classic West Coast sound of Eazy-E, Toddy Tee, King T," Christ Bearer explains. "At the same time, I catered to East Coast brothers all through life even through 2Pac and Biggie beefed. We always gave respect to the fathers of the music who created it and where it came from. At the same time, we both come from Long Beach so it's like we really want to rep the hood."
Northstar's name itself represents its hood and much more. "North" signifies their roots on the North Side of Long Beach, while "Star" reflects the word's significance throughout black history. "We want to let people know that you're a star when you determine you're a star," Christ Bearer says. "That's what we bring to the game."
After discovering Northstar in L.A., RZA continued to be drawn to the duo because of their musical abilities and their deep sense of self. Northstar was then featured on a number of Wu-Tang projects, including both the Wu-Tang Killa Bees albums The Swarm Volume 1 and The Sting, the soundtrack for 2000's Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai and Popa Wu's album, Visions Of The Tenth Chamber. After years of preparing for their first album the group finally dropped their self titled debut album "Booby Digital Presents...." in 2004. The group excelled on this project and showed everyone why the album was worth the wait with contributions from Armand Van Helden, Killarmy, RZA, Black Knight's Doc Doom and more. Instead of keeping the fans waiting that long for another album, the group followed up with another album "Underground Shit" which was independently released. The sales and demand for the album was overwhelming and it sold out quick despite the fact it was not commercially promoted or distributed. This prompted Chambermusik records to pick it and re-release it again commercially as "Westcoast Killa Beez....". The group dropped an online only album in 2008 entitled "For Every Will There Is A Way" in digital format.
Christ Bearer has been the most active member having released a solo EP album produced entirely by West Coast veteran Skarekrow and has gone on to feature on almost every Wu related projects from Afro Samurai soundtrack to Bobby Digital's Digi Snacks album and most recently the Wu Killa Beez compilation "The Swarm 3: Pollen". can been also be heard on Afro Samuari II, the last Bobby Digital "Digi Snacks" album.
This interview was conducted sometime in late 2009 in preparation for the West Coast Killa Beez series Wu-International had planned and on this interview Christ Bearer kept mentioning his new group Yellow Jackets which was something foreign and new to us, until this year with the release of the Killa Beez compilation; The Swarm Part 3: Pollen project. While one big family, the West Coast Killa Bee Gang is under the canopy of two main groups and foundation, Black Knigths and Northstar, and the new additions have either come in through Black Knights (Dexter Wiggle, Indovizualz, Eternal, Committee etc) or Northstar (Yellow Jackets, 71Raw etc).
So who are the Yellow Jackets, Why was Christ Bearer screaming out the group's name on almost every sentence? what is the future of Northstar? Where is Meko? find out this and more on the third instalement of the West Coast Killa Beez series. This being the first part of the Yellow Jacket's interview and the second part will be published with more insight to the formation and structure of the latest addition of the Westcoast Killa Beez headlined by Christ Bearer, Meko and Armel.
Enjoy!!!
Read Full interview following:
https://wu-international.com/misc_albums/Interviews/Christbearer%20Interview.htm
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