In 2007, while working on their next album, he suffered a brain aneurysm and a stroke. But surprising to everyone in his life at the time, he didn’t die from it. He was partially paralyzed on his left side and could not speak for a time. The world… his world, as he knew it was never going to be the same ever again. But at the end of the day, he survived something that 90% of people who have suffered the same trauma hadn’t.
It’s the story of a man who has to work his way back up to being a functioning human being again. It details his therapy, his passion for music, his bouts of fear and self-doubt, and his set-backs. One set-back in particular involved a blood vessel popping in his head after he learned about a professional betrayal from his “Sunz of Man” crew member, Shabazz The Disciple.
“It’s not a movie about rap as much as overcoming setbacks that life has dealt…”
But along with Razah’s personal story, we get the story of the people who know and love him. Smith’s fellow rapper and girlfriend Rachel Lombardozzi, a.k.a Queen the Prophet, was key in keeping his focus on his physical and mental health. She fought beside him through his good and bad moments, and also helped him regain his passion for rap and giving his career one more go.
Would I recommend this movie? Absolutely I would.
Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith is a universal story that anyone who has had trials and disappointments could get behind. It’s not a movie about rap as much as overcoming setbacks that life has dealt. At the same time giving a brief lesson in hip hop history. If I had any complaints about the film, it would be that it would have been interesting to learn more about the other members of the group and what direction they went down after Smith was sidelined. But ultimately, this movie is a true comeback story and will give you all the feels in the end!
"…Risen isn't a hip hop story, it's a human story."
Lo