Non-corporeal manifestation of a face

Play it: Ghostface Killah Fishscale
Play it: Essential: Ghostface Killah

Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface Killah returns tomorrow with his best album yet, Fishscale. MF Doom produces several tracks and tracks like "The Champ" and "Be Easy" demonstrate Ghostface's mad MC skillz, while "Jellyfish" is notable for it's laid back charms. And it would be criminal not to call out "9 Milli Bros," if only for the fact that the whole Wu-Tan Clan is together on the track (for the last time?) Unfortunately, only a couple of tracks are available in Rhapsody - you'd think labels would figure out to negotiate licensing for the samples for both the album and digital distribution together from the get-go.

Like many Wu-Tan Clan members, Ghostface (born Dennis Coles) found critical and commercial success as a solo act. His other aliases include Black Jesus, Tony Starks (from Iron Man comic book,) Pretty Toney, Ghost Deini and Wally Champ (from the Clark Wallabee shoe.) Ghostface never got much notice until he started working outside the clan, both as guest rapper, and contributing to soundtracks (Sunset Park, and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While You're Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.) This run up led to success as when his solo album Iron Man was released in 1996, it debuted at #2 on the pop charts. Since that time, along with his solo releases, Ghostface has continued working with Wu-Tan Clan, with the members' solo projects (RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspecta Deck, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard,) as well as guest appeared on several other rappers' releases. (Most recently, my favorite is his appearance on Danger Doom's The Mouse and the Mask, with the song "The Mask.")

2004's Pretty Tony made many end of the year lists, and Ghostface had so much material that year, he released a second album under the collective Theodore Unit from these sessions. 2006 appears to be another banner year for Ghostface, even getting his own action figure.

Previously:
Number one in the hood, g (Danger Doom, The Mouse and the Mask)

tags: playlist, music, rhapsody, hip-hop, rap, ghostface killah, ghostface, wu-tan clan