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Killarmy
OriginSteubenville, Ohio
Staten Island, New York
GenresHip hop
Years active1995–present
LabelsWu-Tang/Priority/EMI
Loud/Relativity Records
Members9th Prince
Killa Sin (incarcerated)
Dom Pachino
Islord
Kinetic 9
Shogun Assason
4th Disciple

Killarmy (/ˌkɪləˈɑːrmi/) is an American hip hop group that is affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan.[1] It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates[1] along with Sunz of Man.

Killarmy's music consists of lyrics and songs focused on the themes of military combat, war, terrorism, conspiracy theories, and the teachings of the Five-Percent Nation.[1] The group's instrumentals are usually somber with ominous dark undertones and a raw, gritty production style provided by 4th Disciple.[2]

Career

Originally consisting of New York rappers 9th Prince (RZA's younger brother[1]), Islord, Dom Pachino, Killa Sin, and Ohio-based producer 4th Disciple; it added Beretta 9 (a.k.a. Kinetic 9) and Shogun Assason to its membership in 1996, also from Ohio.[2]

Killarmy released numerous singles from 1995 to 1997, including "Swinging Swords" and "Camouflage Ninjas" and appeared on the Sunz Of Man collaborations "Wake Up" and "Soldiers of Darkness". The group's debut album, Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars, was released in 1997,[2] just after the release of Wu-Tang Clan's second album and a 12-inch single containing two tracks from the album, which were "Wu-Renegades" and "Clash of the Titans."

In 1997, the group's manager General Wise was shot dead in Steubenville, Ohio, (where several members and Wu-Tang Clan members such as the RZA had spent time in their youth), but the group pressed on undeterred, appearing on the Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm compilation and each making numerous appearances on other Wu-Tang Clan projects, Wu-Tang affiliates' projects, non-Wu-Tang Clan-related albums such as ONYX – Shut 'Em Down; Vordul Mega – Verbal Relaxation; and movie soundtracks such as Soul in the Hole.

The group's second album, Dirty Weaponry, was released in 1998,[2] and its third album, Fear, Love & War was released on September 11, 2001. In 2010, 9th Prince confirmed that a new album was in the works between the five remaining members (besides Killa Sin) with the first single to be called "The Sound of Gunz" produced by Bronze Nazareth dropping that June. However, production problems and inner dealings have not allowed for the album to be completed. In April 2011, Killarmy released a new single called "One Shot" produced by 4th Disciple. A greatest-hits album was released weeks later by the Wu Music Group label.

In March 2019, Killarmy member, Kinetic 9, was featured in the song "Death 13" on Cryptik Soul's album Killer's Blood.

In January 2020, Kinetic 9 and ShoGun Assason released a seven track EP called “The Truth is Even Darker” with San Francisco-based producer Sticky Ricardo.

In 2020, Killarmy released its long-awaited fourth album, "Full Metal Jackets", which was produced by 9th Prince and featured Prodigal Sunn, Killah Priest, and 60-Second Assassin (Sunz Of Man); Timbo King (Royal Fam); Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan); La The Darkman; Reverend William Burk; Ill Bill (Non Phixion); William Cooper (Black Market Militia); Stic Man (Dead Prez); Masta Ace; Planet Asia; Ras Kass; Willie the Kid; and El Camino.

In February 2024, Killarmy released a new single, "Winter Wars 2", which was produced by 9th Prince and features Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan), La The Darkman, Killah Priest, Shyheim, and Young Dirty Bastard.

Discography

Group Discography
Album Title Album Info
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
  • Released: August 5, 1997
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #34[2]
  • R&B/Hip Hop chart position: #10
  • Singles: "Swinging Swords", "Camouflage Ninjas"/"Wake Up",
    "Wu-Renegades"/"Clash of the Titans"
Dirty Weaponry
  • Released: August 11, 1998
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #40[2]
  • R&B/Hip Hop chart position: #13
  • Singles: "Red Dawn"/"Where I Rest At", "The Shoot-Out"
Fear, Love & War
  • Released: September 11, 2001
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #122
  • R&B/Hip Hop chart positions: #34
  • Singles: "Street Monopoly"/"Monster", "Feel It"/"Militant",
    "Nonchalantly"
Full Metal Jackets[3]
  • Released: April 10, 2020
  • Billboard 200 chart position: TBA
  • R&B/Hip Hop chart positions: TBA
  • Singles: "Musical Terrorist", "The Shoot-Out Pt. II"

Videography

Videography
Artist(s) Album Info Video Title(s) Release Date
Sunz of Man 12" Single Soldiers of Darkness (featuring Killa Sin, 9th Prince, various Wu-Tang Clan cameos) 1995 Wu-Tang Records
WU All Stars Soul in the Hole (Motion Picture Soundtrack) Soul in the Hole (featuring Killa Sin, Dreddy Kruger, Shyheim, Timbo King, Tekitha) 1997 Loud/RCA/BMG Records
Killarmy Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars Swinging Swords
Wake Up (featuring Hell Razah, Prodigal Sunn and various Wu-Tang Clan cameos)
Fair, Love & War

Wu-Renegade

1997 Wu-Tang/Priority/EMI Records
Killarmy Dirty Weaponry The Shoot-Out (featuring Rza) 1998 Wu-Tang/Priority/EMI Records
ONYX Shut 'Em Down The Worst (featuring Killa Sin, Method Man, Raekwon, Shyheim, X-1) 1998 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
Killarmy Fear, Love & War Feel It 2001 Loud/Relativity Records
Bizz Realist Spittin (featuring Kinetic 9) 2009 Blakglobe

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "WU-International.com – 9th Prince Interview". wu-international.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 218. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  3. ^ Ivey, Justin (March 29, 2020). "Killarmy Announces Comeback Album 'Full Metal Jackets'". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_9