Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith (Documentary)
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 as 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.
Source: Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith
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.”
-Frank Meyer
Source: Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith
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