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Masta Killa has had the rap game on checkmate for almost two decades now. The oft-overlooked Wu-Tang member made his mic debut on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'," an unforgettable highlight from his crew's landmark first album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers. But don't think he doesn't have plenty of darts left: In December, the Brooklyn MC released Sellin' My Soul, his third solo album. The album proves he's still deadly on the mic, but that's not the only place he vanquishes his foes. Masta Killa's biggest passion—after music, of course—is chess. Here, he breaks down his five tips for the game. The Mystery of chessboxin'—solved. —Alex Gale (@apexdujeous)

1) Be Patient

Things in life might not come to you when you want it. And if you're not patient you might not see it. It could be right there, but because you wasn’t patient enough to give it time to manifest itself you never got a chance to see it. Definitely timing is everything. You got to have patience.

2) Weigh Your Options

Before you touch any piece, make sure you look at every possibility of what you’re going to do before you do it. : If someone can calculate the moves of a master, I don’t think he’s actually on his job. That’s being predictable.

3) Never Let Them See You Sweat

Even if you're position where you might feel threatened or you might feel like you're losing, never show your opponent that.

4) R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Never underestimate your opponent. Because knowledge is first. Knowledge is to respect. To not respect your opponent could mean to olerlook something, something that you might not see, which could be detrimental to you. You could lose your whole kingdom—and yourself. Always respect everything.

5) No Surrender, No Defeat

Never give up. It’s never over until it’s over. You always have a move. The chambers, they never end.

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