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Ghostface Killah - Beats, Bars and Wallabees
Now here is an artist who it gives me huge pleasure to write about, an artist who not only have I been a massive fan of now for over twenty years, but an artist who I have even had the pleasure of touring with back in 2017 (see link below). The rapper who’s career I’m about to celebrate in this article not only stands out with his skill and high energy rap style, but the guys charismatic, larger than life, personality has helped endear him to real hardcore hip hop fans worldwide.
Born Dennis Coles, May 9th, 1970, Ghostface Killah burst on to the hip hop scene in the early ’90s with the iconic crew, The Wu-Tang Clan. Despite the Wu being a nine-man crew packed with a collection of lyricists of the highest caliber, plus each with his own stand out personality and character, Ghostface was one of the instant standouts from the jump. Ghostface has a voice and style that will stand out no matter who he’s rapping with, but the fact that he remained a man behind a mask for some of Wu Tang’s early days, only helped to make him a more intriguing character from the start.
Before the release of his own first solo project Ghost featured heavily on Raekwon’s classic first solo album, Only Built for Cuban Linx The whole nature and style of the project enabled him to show a totally different dimension to himself has an artist, supporting and complementing Raekwon in a fashion similar to how Styles P and Jadakiss, form the perfect foil for each other in terms of rap styles and content.
Fast forward to 1996 and the release of Ghostface Killah’s first solo album, Iron Man, which for me still remains a hip hop classic. Just like most of the Clan’s early work Iron Man was produced by the Rza, mostly, who managed to create a totally different sound and vibe to all the work the Wu had previously put out. Not only did Ghost get to show the world more of himself and his dope character on this project, but it also helped establish him as one of the Wu-Tang Clan’s main artist, who at the time were blowing up. Ironman even debuted #2 on the USA billboard 100 album chart, which is a fantastic achievement for a hardcore hip hop album of its nature.
By the time ‘Supreme Clientele’ was released in 2000, Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks by now had taken his whole rap style up a level or two and was using street slang in his verses that I think only him and Raekwon understand at times. But just like he once said in an interview, ‘you might not understand it’ but you sure know it sounds super fly. The album itself is arguably his best and if it is not his best, for me, has some of his best tunes. And you have to bear in mind when this album dropped it was at a time when the Wu Tang’s grip on hip hop had slightly slipped, but in ‘Supreme Clientele’ Ghost brings it back to that good old Wu Tang style but fresh and updated.
When you breakdown, Ghostface Killah, aka Tony Starks, aka Petty Boy Tony has a rap artist it’s easy to underestimate him has the all-rounder he is. When it comes to storytelling, Ghost is in his own lane. Hip Hop has had some phenomenal storytellers, but none with the delivery and the same kind of passion and feeling like this Wu-Tang Clan's man. When you go back and look closely at his body of work you’ll see, everything from the beats, his rap style, and the subject matter are varied, especially when it comes to what I consider to be his best tunes.
Although the “Ironman’ has sold a very respectable amount of records has a solo artist, it’s not the mainstream where he receives the acclaim and the well-earned respect this one in a million hip hop legend deserves. It’s those of us who love that real, those who embrace the real essence of hip hop and appreciate the real craft. Those of us who love, swagger, raw energy and pure passion, we really know what time it is when it comes to Ghostface Killah and his contribution to hip hop. It’s been almost thirty years he has been blessing us with a brand of hip hop that is real and authentic in a style he can truly say is his own. So, on behalf of all real hardcore loving hip hop fans around the world, for your contributions to hip hop has a solo artist and has part of the mighty Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, aka The Wallabee champ, we salute you.
Wu Tang Clan Impossible - Ghostface Killah
Call an ambulance, Jamie been shot, word to Kimmy
Don't go son, nigga you my motherfucking heart
Stay still son, don't move, just think about Keeba
She'll be three in January, your young God needs ya
The ambulance is taking too long
Everybody get the fuck back, excuse me bitch, gimme your jack
One, seven one eight, nine one one, low battery, damn
Blood comin out his mouth, he bleedin badly
Nahhh Jamie, don't start that shit
Keep your head up, if you escape hell we gettin fucked up
When we was eight, we went to Bat Day to see the Yanks
In Sixty-Nine, his father and mines, they robbed banks
He pointed to the charm on his neck
With his last bit of energy left, told me rock it with respect
I opened it, seen the God holdin his kids
Photogenic, tears just burst out my wig
Plus he dropped one, oh shit, here come his Old Earth
With no shoes on, screamin holdin her breasts with a gown on
She fell and then lightly touched his jaw, kissed him
Rubbed his hair, turned around the ambulance was there
Plus the blue coats, Officer Lough, took it as a joke
Weeks ago he strip-searched the God and gave him back his coke
Bitches yellin, Beenie Man swung on Helen
In the back of a cop car, Dirty Tasha are tellin
But suddenly a chill came through it was weird
Felt like my man, was cast out my heaven now we share
Laid on the stretcher, blood on his Wally's like ketchup
Deep like the Paul assassination with a sketch of it
It can't be, from Yoo-hoo to Lee's
Second grade humped the teachers, about to leave
Finally this closed chapter, comes to an end
He was announced, pronounced dead, y'all, at twelve ten
