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Ghostface Killah

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Ghostface aka Ghostface Killah (born Dennis Coles, May 9, 1970, Staten Island, New York) is a rapper and member of the hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. His name is derived from the alias of the primary villain from the film Ninja Checkmate (aka The Mystery of Chess Boxing). After Wu-Tang Clan achieved breakthrough commercial success in the early 1990s, Ghostface, like his clan-mates, began a solo career, which turned out to be one of the most critically and commercially successful solo careers of the group members. Early in his career he would wear a mask during performances and photoshoots. It was rumoured this was because Ghostface was wanted by the police and did not publicly remove it until his name was cleared.

Contents

Biography

Ghostface Killah debuted on the opening verse of Bring da Ruckus, the first track from the Wu-Tang Clan's critically acclaimed debut, 1993's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In 1995, Ghostface played a significant role on (fellow Clan member) Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and contributed songs to the soundtracks to Sunset Park and Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood. His first solo LP was Ironman in 1996 (see 1996 in music), which was successful in hip hop circles and debuted at #2 on the pop charts. It had more of a pronounced soul influence (particularly 1970s soul) than previous Wu-Tang solo releases, and Ghostface's future albums would continue this stylistic trait.

Ghostface became well-known for both his uptempo, seemingly indecipherable stream-of-consciousness raps and, later in his career, for his very emotionally charged delivery (first seen on the Wu-Tang Clan track "Impossible"). His follow-up to Ironman was Supreme Clientele in 2000 (see 2000 in music), which was critically acclaimed by both mainstream critics and hip hop enthusiasts. "Cherchez LaGhost", a single off the album, became a minor club hit, and the sentimental "Child's Play" brought Ghostface numerous comparisons with Slick Rick.

Ghostface wasted little time in recording his next album, the heavily R&B-influenced Bulletproof Wallets which was released a year after Supreme Clientele. He had another minor club hit with "Flowers" (meaning rappers, people who "flow" lyrically, rather than a reference to horticulture) which featured guest vocals from fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Raekwon.

In April of 2004, The Pretty Toney Album was released on Def Jam; it featured collaborations with Missy Elliott and Jadakiss and was Ghostface's first (and so far, only) album to be credited to "Ghostface" rather than "Ghostface Killah". "Tush" and "Run", two singles taken from The Pretty Toney Album, achieved moderate success in the clubs and the charts. The album was named 9th Best Album of the Year on Pitchfork Media's end of the year list. [MMTV 2004:The 50 Best Albums]. Pitchfork. URL accessed on April 30, 2006. Ghostface also appeared on the track "On My Knees" by UK R&B group The 411 which became a hit in the UK and Australia, and released an album titled 718 with a group of his proteges, Theodore Unit. In November 2005, along with Trife Da God they released the joint project Put It On The Line. In 2006, Ghostface teamed up with underground favorite MF DOOM for an upcoming collaborative release entitled Swift and Changeable.

MF DOOM also produced several songs for Ghostface's latest album Fishscale, released under his original moniker "Ghostface Killah". The album debuted strongly, in the #4 position on the US Billboard 200 and at #2 on the R&B Charts[link]: the rapper's most auspicious chart showing since the heyday of the Wu-Tang Clan and the release of his solo debut. Ghostface also embarked on a limited-date tour of U.S. venues in support of the album, performing several of his concerts together with most members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Ghostface is also due to release an action figure of himself in the near future.[Ghostface Killah doll] 4CAST Limited. URL accessed on April 30, 2006 Besides the collaborative effort with MF Doom a second Theodore Unit album tentativly titled is rumored to be in the works.

Technique

Ghostface Killah's style was the only one of the Clan whose style had not quite developed during the recording of 36 Chambers, and has developed it throughout his career. His subject matter typically involves boasts or stories of gangsterism, braggadocio, womanizing, and the harshness of life in the ghetto. During Only Built 4 Cuban Linx he focused chiefly on imagery and the use of Wu-Tang's distinctive, half Five Percenter/half made-up slang.

Ghostface has sometimes been denoted the least readily understandable of the Clan, as his verses are sometimes stream-of-consciousness rants. He developed this and his storytelling during the course of his solo career. Ghost also typically eschews the use of punchlines or similes for metaphors (comparisons more implied than stated straight-out).

Jewelry

Ghostface has an eccentric collection of unique jewelry that he mentions frequently in verse and interviews. Items heavily referenced are his "Eagle bracelet" a golden eagle statuette worn on his forearm (which has since been melted down) as well as the "Versace Plate" medallion.

Aliases

Discography

Albums

Album Name Release Date Status
Ironman October 29, 1996 Platinum U.S.
Supreme Clientele January 25, 2000 Gold U.S.
Bulletproof Wallets November 13, 2001
Shaolin's Finest (a best-of collection) August 1, 2003
The Pretty Toney Album January 25, 2004 Gold U.S.
Put It On The Line (with Trife Da God) November 18, 2005
Fishscale March 28, 2006
Swift and Changeable (with MF Doom) 2006

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US R&B/Hip-Hop US Hot 100 US Hot RAP tracks US Hot RAP Singles
1996 "Daytona 500" (feat. Raekwon & Cappadonna) - - - Chart did not exist - Ironman
1996 "All That I Got Is You" (feat. Mary J. Blige) - - - Chart did not exist - Ironman
2000 "Apollo Kids" - - Chart did not exist #32 Supreme Clientele
2000 "Cherchez LaGhost" (feat. U-God) 42 98 Chart did not exist #3 Supreme Clientele
2001 "Never Be the Same Again" (feat. Carl Thomas & Raekwon) - - - - Bulletproof Wallets
2001 "Flowers" (feat. Raekwon & Method Man) - - - - Bulletproof Wallets
2003 "Guerilla Hood" - - - - 718
2004 "Tush" (feat. Missy Elliott) - - - - The Pretty Toney Album
2004 "Run" (feat. Jadakiss) - - - - The Pretty Toney Album
2006 "Be Easy" #91 - - No longer exists Fishscale
2006 "Back Like That (feat. Ne-Yo)" #2 #76 #2 No longer exists Fishscale

Appears On

See also

External links

Notes

Wu-Tang Clan ([http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit])
9 core members
Ghostface Killah - GZA - Inspectah Deck - Masta Killa - Method Man - Ol' Dirty Bastard - Raekwon - RZA - U-God
Albums
Affiliated artists and groups
Cappadonna - Gravediggaz - Killah Priest - Killarmy - Mathematics - others

 

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