I've been thinking about this post for a few weeks now. Ever since I picked up R.A.G.U. I really wanted to express my true feelings about Ghostface Killa. Honestly he's probably one of the most consistent (THE most consistent of Wu-Tang period) rappers ever. Considering his career spans almost 18 to 19 years now, he's put out more stream of consciousness albums and songs than any other nonsensical MC ever (maybe MF Doom trumps him there that guy has like 3 albums a year).
When Wu-Tang bombarded the scene in 91 Ghostface was seen as further down the ladder rungs when stacked against the rest of the crew due to his unintelligible rants. But as time rolled on and other members of the founding Nine put out continual mediocre releases (Deck, Meth, Rza, Gza's second album, anything after Return to the 36 by Dirty, Raekwon never sounded as good as he did on Linx...did Golden Arms ever put out an album?) Ghostface never stopped doing the same crazy shit he always did. While his flow was way advanced for the early nineties only after Supreme Clientele did people even kinda understand (ok Bulletproof Wallets sucked). Lyrically he has evolved, it may be subtle but he has become much better. He screams alot less that's for fuckin sure.
The best part about Ghost is that technically he can be seen as rather "mainstream," but he keeps it madd underground and dirty as hell. Whenever he has a new album at least one song gets decent radio play, but the rest of the album is still way Wu Tang soul. His affinity with old Soul songs is to such an extreme that occasionally he doesn't even bother to sample it, he just buys the fuckin song, let's it play and raps over it. He associates with practically everyone from De La Soul to Planet Asia, and he has an incredible relationship with Mf Doom whom he has nothing but respect and love for. As a member of what once was the largest rap conglomerate ever he does have beef, albeit short lived. 50 (whom apparently gets into it with everyone) and Yayo even spurred a song from the whole clan "Who The Fuck Is 50 Cent?," they killed him btw (There have been "allegations" that Ghost threw 50 down some stairs and Ghost and Rae robbed 50 at gunpoint wtf?). There was solid tension between Chef, Ghost and Biggie. And Mase got his jaw broke by Ghost after he dissed Wu on stage, I think ghost did some time for that shit too. The man rocks a giant gold eagle on his wrist for fuckssakes, why would you mess with him?
He has the capacity to be crazy scarface gangster, sensitive family man, underground mic handler, and angry shaolin pimp all at the same time. My love for him has no end, I know some people just can't feel him and that's fine. But DO understand how talented this man is, he resides in a world where most rappers sound synthetic and similar. Ghostface is too big for that world, he's in like eight different rap worlds at the same time.
I had a really hard time deciding what songs to put up, due to the sheer volume of shit this man has put out it's impossible to choose only a few songs. Especially with early Wu Tang, the albums are by far more expressive as a whole than singular songs. I still maintain that Ironman was the best of the Wu's first wave of solo albums. Even if Linx practically INVENTED cocaine gangster rap, and Liquid Swords inspired a generation of underground Mc's. Anyways here's some guest spots and some straight classicos for your ass. Please, please respect Wu.
Iron Maiden is probably one of my favorite songs by any Wu affiliate. Stick with it past the intro it's worth it. 260 uses another Al Green sample and it's also off Ironman. Ghost took the name Ironman because he felt a kinship with the character. Ironman had to depend upon his mechanized suit to survive his heart condition in the same way the Ghost had to when he discovered he was a diabetic (and Pretty Tony has quite a ring to it).
Iron MaidenIron Maiden (Instr)260Only built For Cuban Linx is classic, sometimes referred to as The Purple Tape it's fucking monumental. Ghost is practically a leading star on the album even though it's a Raekwon album and Ghost is a "guest star." Verbal Intercourse is some smoky shit that has that other dude Nas who despite thinking he's god's gift to rap nowadays (just cause you got one of the best rap albums of all time does NOT mean you're prolific or above the rest motherfucker remember, It Was Written wasn't all that, I Am... sucked, Nastradamus was trash, Stillmatic was hardly the comeback everyone said it was, and Street's Disciple was 80% filler, Hip Hop was pretty ok though, and Kelis is bangin). Guillotine (Swordz) is so fucking raw it's retarded. For me, I never do karaoke but there are a few songs I would get in front of a drunk crowd and give it my all (others include; Double Trouble - The Roots, Da Rockwilda - Redman and Methodman, Tony, Toni, Tone - Lay Your head on My Pillow, M'Lady - Sly and the Family Stone, and Ignition (remix) - R. Kells the god). Let me do Deck at the beginning and Gza to close and for reals we'll kill it (Isom, you gotta be there to drop all the N bombs for me I doubt that I could get away with it even for reasons of artistic purity).
Verbal IntercourseGuillotine (Swordz)To the present! More Fish followed Fishscale (which if you're wondering is slang for that new shiny shit), Fishscale was a total departure from Pretty Tony which kinda reached for radio play more than usual. Fishscale was all soul, it's obligatory radio track was fucking awesome (Back like that), and was full of nasty beats, Family Affair is ghost playing both sides of a relationship on the precipice it's my favorite track off Fishscale (yo sweetheart, pass me the 40 out the frigerator/Ghost all you do is burn weed and read papers). More Fish was a collection of shit that could have gone on Fishscale. It also had that Amy Winehouse track that blew my fucking mind when I heard it. Ghost Is Back, is over Don't Sweat the Technique, it's bananas. The best fast rap track of all time and Ghost doesn't sweat shit and kills it (she's a brain therapist/girl you can't kiss/open up her legs like ooh i smell fish HA!). Josephine was also a track off of Hi Tek's second album but with more Ghost and less other people that Tek shouldn't be producing for.
Family AffairGhost is Back (edit)Josephine Here's some rare shit. In the Parks, and Milk Crates use classic breaks that would never have a chance of coming out on an actual album, they're short (under a minute each) but they're cool nonetheless. And the Sun with Rza and Slick Rick is so odd, it's a song about...The Sun? For real, how many other artists would do this and let alone pull it off? And a slick Cherzchez La Ghost remix that should be getting more attention but it won't. These shits used to be harder to find but they all just came out on Hidden Darts, so I slapped some album art on there and track numbers (that are hopefully correct).
In The ParksMilk CratesThe SunCherzchez La Ghost (remix)Well that's an assload of songs for you, I have almost all of Wu's shit if there are requests for anything (future posts included, just in case someone is paying attention) hit me up with some feedback bitches!
