Wu Tang Clan affiliate Hell Razah has always been a heralded MC,
known for his sharp lyrics and intricate flow. A founding member of the
group Sunz Of Man — who tackled the Billboard Top 20 with their 1998
remake of “Shining Star” alongside Earth Wind & Fire, Wyclef and Ol’
Dirty Bastard — Razah was discovered and mentored at 14 years old by Wu
Tang leader RZA and groomed for success. Later dubbed “Heaven Razah”
when he went solo in the mid-2000s, the rising, young MC made headlines
when he was struck with a brain aneurysm in 2010.
As a result of this tragedy, Hell Razah has spent the last 5 years
slowly recovering from this near-fatal incident, which left him in a
coma and unable to use his left side. As Razah has been struggling to
learn how to walk, talk and rhyme again, filmmaker Frank Meyer has been
documenting his journey every step of the way. The Director and Hell
Razah go way back, as Meyer was Sunz of Man’s publicist back in 1997,
and he filmed Razah for his G4tv web series Freestyle 101, which
featured Ice-T, The Game, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, Cypress Hill, and was
recognized by Steve Jobs at an Apple podcasting conference. The
resulting documentary film Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith
is the result of 5 years of filming, and 17 years of friendship.
“Razah’s story is one everyone can relate to,” says Meyer. “He was a
talented kid from the streets who worked hard and nearly achieved all of
his dreams before this tragedy struck. Now his life has been completely
refocused. A lot of rappers will tell you about how they have been shot
9 times, but they won’t let you see them struggling through the rehab
process or questioning their future.”
Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith will provide an
uncompromising look into the world of rehabilitation and redemption, the
likes of which hip hop has never seen before. From Razah’s physical
therapy to his spiritual journey, from his quest to rap again and desire
to love again, audiences will rise and fall with this charismatic kid
from Red Hook Housing Projects who almost had it all, and is now
fighting to rebuild his life.
Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith is currently wrapping up
principal photography, and stars Wu Tang’s RZA, Cappadonna and Popa Wu,
Sunz of Man members Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn, 60-Second Assassin
and Shabazz the Disciple, producers A. Supreme Wilder and Tom “Shroom”
Johnson, rappers RA The Rugged Man and Ras Kass, industry heavyweight
Randy Philips (AEG, Global Ent.), Hell Razah’s family and friends, and
many more.
Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith has TBA 2016 release via Digital Reacharound in Association with Idiom Pictures.
Risen!
“…never has there been such a Hip Hop biopic that has garnered such
success as Straight Outta Compton. Chron Smith, more commonly known as
Wu-Affiliate Hell Razah of the Sunz of Man…is about to unleash his story
entitled ‘Risen’… about his sword swinging comeback from a Brain
Aneurysm. If it was to rupture, it could cause a stroke, or worse –
brain damage or death…”
Director Frank Meyer and Razah go back as far as 1997. Razah was
apart of the web series Freestyle 101, which has featured such artists
like The Game, Cypress Hill & Ice-T. With their long-standing
friendship, it was only right that Meyer was the perfect choice for this
feature film.
Razah’s story is one everyone can relate to; He was a talented kid
from the streets who worked hard and nearly achieved all of his dreams
before this tragedy struck. Now his life has been completely refocused. A
lot of rappers will tell you about how they have been shot 9 times, but
they won’t let you see them struggling through the rehab process or
questioning their future.”
Source:
http://www.hellrazahdigital.com/documentary/
