Monday, March 27, 2006

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)

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4 comments:

Shawn Anderson said...

Ghostface Killah Fishscale

01. The Return Of Clyde Smith
02. Shakey Dog
03. Kilo
04. The Champ
05. Major Operation
06. 9 Milli Bros
07. Beauty Jackson
08. Heart Street Directions
09. Columbus Exchange
10. R.A.G.U.
11. Bad Mouth Kid (Skit)
12. Whip You With A Strap
13. Back Like That
14. Be Easy
15. Clipse of Doom
16. Jellyfish
17. Dogs Of War
18. Barbershop
19. Ms. Sweetwater
20. Big Girl
21. Underwater (
22. The Ironman Takeover (Skit)
23. Momma
24. Three Bricks

Shawn Anderson said...

Essential: Ghostface Killah

* "Winter Warz" - Ghostface Killah
* "Bring Da Ruckus" - Wu-Tang Clan
* "All That I Got Is You - (featuring Mary J Blige)" - Ghostface Killah
* "Metal Lungies" - Ghostface
* "The Champ" - Ghostface Killah
* "'88 Freestyle - (featuring Ghostface/Trife)" - Theodore Unit
* "Chercherz Laghost" - Ghostface Killah
* "Glaciers Of Ice" - Raekwon
* "Never Be The Same Again" - Ghostface Killah
* "Be Easy (Radio Edit)" - Ghostface
* "Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)" - Wu-tang Clan
* "Child's Play" - Ghostface Killah
* "Cobra Clutch" - Ghostface Killah
* "Daytona 500 - (featuring Raekwon/Cappadonna)" - Ghostface Killah
* "Ghost Showers" - Ghostface Killah
* "Paychecks - (featuring Ghostface/Trife)" - Theodore Unit
* "Apollo Kids" - Ghostface Killah
* "The Mask (w,Ghostface)" - Danger Doom

Anonymous said...

all the tracks should be in rhapsody.

sc

Shawn Anderson said...

the tracks are there for purchase, just not for subscriber listening, unfortunately...