Yesterday marked 10 years since my brother Daniel “Majesty” Sanchez ascended.
Some of you knew him as Majesty. Some knew him as Gamma Ra (formerly of from Monsta Island Czars). Others knew him through Overthrow Entertainment, EOW (End Of The Weak), Legendary Cyphers, the Justice Committee, Copwatch, End of the Weak, or simply from being outside in New York City when Hip Hop was happening in real time.
I knew him as my brother.
I want to say something about Majesty as an MC that I don’t say lightly:
He was one of the greatest MCs I have ever personally known.
No disrespect to the rappers you love. But if we remove popularity, algorithms, numbers and clout from the conversation and talk strictly about skill, Majesty was elite.
Period. Wait, lemme say that again… “Periodt!” with the ‘t” at the end!!!
I ran with some absolutely incredible MCs during that era, and Majesty could stand in a cipher with anybody. But not only that, he was a stickler for MCing, not just rapping. He wanted to engage the crowd and make sure any spectators left really knowing his name. I wanted him turn the toughest crowd at BB King’s for a show were Immortal Technique headlined, into fans! And he raised the bars so high that night being the first on stage (I DJaying, Mez and DVS were hype men, Mr. Beats on camera) that some of the following acts got booed!!
He eventually joined Monsta Island Czars as Gamma Ra, but our relationship went far beyond music. We performed together, built together, walked the streets of NYC together and broke night after shows. There were nights I’d go straight to work the next morning wearing the same clothes I’d had on for more than 24 hours. 😂
Those were beautiful times.
Before Majesty left New York for Las Vegas, he even asked me to join a Zulu Nation chapter that was going to be called The Renaissance Zulus. I had already made the logo and everything.
That’s how much life we shared.
And that’s why, ten years later, I don’t simply want to say RIP.
I want people to hear him.
🎥 MAJESTY ON BET — MY24
This is the first thing I want you to watch.
Majesty wasn’t only an incredible rapper. He was an organizer, activist, community builder and somebody who genuinely believed Hip Hop could be used to change people’s lives.
This piece captures a side of my brother that bars alone can’t explain.
🎥 “CASTLES IN THE SKY”
WATCH: MAJESTY — “CASTLES IN THE SKY”
Listen to the writing.
Listen to the voice.
Listen to the conviction.
This is what I mean when I tell people Majesty was operating at an elite level.
🎥 TRIBORO TRILOGY
This is another window into that era and the level of MCing that surrounded us.
There were countless shows, ciphers, battles and late-night sessions that happened before everybody walked around with a high-definition camera in their pocket.
Some of the greatest performances I ever witnessed don’t exist online.
You simply had to be there.
🎥 ONE MORE FOR MAJESTY (Watch from 04:55)
WATCH: Majesty & MeccaGodZilla Live at Karma Lounge NYC
I could share stories about this brother forever.
I remember performing with Majesty at Brown Bag Thursdays after I’d taken roughly two years away from performing. I was nervous. I asked my ace to hold me down.
And we obliterated that stage. 😂
I remember DJing behind him when he opened for Immortal Technique at a sold-out B.B. King’s. Majesty raised the bar so high that night that some of the acts following him had a VERY difficult time. 😂
I remember the ciphers.
I remember the conversations.
I remember walking through New York together after the shows.
And I remember my friend.
As I get older, I’ve realized how important it is that we document our people.
I’ve lost several brothers from my old crew now. Some of them were extraordinary artists whose names may never receive the recognition their talent deserved.
I refuse to let that mean they are forgotten.
So yesterday, on the tenth anniversary of Majesty’s transition, I wasn’t interested in mourning only.
I wanted to celebrate him. Daniel “Majesty” Sanchez.
Majesty. Gamma Ra. MC. Activist. Organizer. Brother.
One of NYC’s greatest MCs.
If you never heard him before today, give my brother a few minutes of your time.
Listen. Watch. Remember his name.
And if something you hear moves you, pass his music on to somebody else.
That’s how legacy stays alive.
Rest in power, Majesty.
I love you, brother.
MeccaGodZilla
Love and light. ❤️
