WHAT YOU DOING ON OUR TURF PUNK?
I got a message for smokey...me and drama...the telepaths at night?...yeah, well...we just want to mention to him that...well...we're talking about something that might interest him...you know...like... CHAMBER #3: THE....GHOST...FACE...
Billy Johnson,
snatched him out his whip in Times Square
Took his Pumas,
nameplate, dude lost weight
Summer
eighty-eight, started a fight, that can't wait
Ask Dorothy, same
kid pussy up in Marcy
Blazin' that Ted
Rossi, up in The Marquee
He lost like a
hundred ounces, Jake rushed his houses
Had him on the
porch, ass no trousers
This souped up,
individual stuck, the new stuff
Same kid cryin on
the stand with Judge Cuffner
Kissed him with odd
numbers three to nine style
Before he left he
flashin his face like Denzel
Richard Dale took
his Beaver, off the wall pullin his whip
Mussy dropped and
split his wig with the heater
His shape-up was
all fucked up, as he had me laughin
God you see how he
was laid out, in the grass
With dirt in his
mouth, Slim woke him up told him he wild out
Blood leakin from
his teeth he smiled like he gunned out
Big bolo, stackin
his shit financed a Volvo
He copped his shit
from a small, coffeeshop in SoHo
He still pussy, he
sell his dust up on the Lower East
Posin like he
rappin out...
WILLIAM BROWN
That's ghostface at
his best for me right there...
Ghostface Killah most consistent soloist of all clan members. Possible they only clan member whose relevance increased during the late 90's and in the new millennium. Some would say at least 5 of his first 6 solo albums are classics.
DRAMA EN SABAH
That is an incredible verse.
I don't get the sense that most of Ghost's most fervent fans are big Forever
fans for some reason but there are a lot of great moments on that album. Ghost
is great on Older Godz as well. Does anyone have better opening lines than
Ghostface? from "I roll like a bat out of hell/Evil acapells" to
"Ghostface catch the blast of a hype verse/My Glock burst leave in a
hearse/I done worse" we got "We eat, fish tossed salads/and make rap
ballads" it just goes on and on. Every time Ghost starts a verse you
really want to know where it's going to end up. I had that feeling a lot on
Iron Man which to the chagrin of Ghost fans everywhere is my favourite of his
albums. Iron Man actually seems like a like a spiritual prequel to OBCL to me.
Like if OBCL was born from the nihilism of the 80's crack era. Iron Man is more
late 70's early 80's cocaine era. More soulful and little more politically
conscious than OBCL. RZA also came with a slightly modified Wu sound.
I
know your one of those that doesn't necessarily think Iron Man is his best work
though. Ghost himself thinks that album is highly flawed as he was unfocused during the making of it as he had learned he had diabetes. What's your take on the quality of his
albums? How do you rank them?
WILLIAM BROWN
YO BITCH I FUCKED YOUR FRIEND...REMEMBER WHEN I LONG DICKED YOU?...you know when i listen to any ghostface album...on first listen i
always think about 70's pussy...jackie brown comes to mind...but back...i mean...i come away from a ghostface album feeling hyped but upon subsequent
listens i'm left just hitting up a few songs...ironman might be my least
favourite solo album from that initial wu tang time period of
classics...supreme clientele would be my favourite...i liked fishscale...apollo
kids had me feeling some stuff...his recent twelve reasons to die is pretty
tight...fan of that wu block album...but i guess i'm more of a fan of his when
he's on a wu tang album or with rae on cuban linx 1 and 2...maybe his shit is
too complex and esoteric for me to sift through too much on his solo
stuff...how do you feel about his albums?...was supreme clientele big for
you?...big in toronto at that time?...you loved ironman!?...why did you love
ironman by the way?...
DRAMA EN SABAH
With Iron Man like I said I
just feel it was like a prequel to OBCL even thought it came out after. It also
had a different take on the RZA sound that I really liked. You could hear the
soul influences that Ghost would really make his own on Supreme Clientele take
root on Ironman. I like Supreme Clientele but not as much as Iron Man. Supreme
was really big though. I think Supreme is the album for Ghostface face fans. A
lot of Ironman fans were there because of the Wu but by the time Clientele came
out the Wu name wasn't enough to sell records. People thought the Wu had their run but weren't expecting much going forward. Supreme Clientele let people know
the Wu was here to stay and that Ghost was more than a product of the Wu-Tang
movement and that he could stand on his own.
Supreme
Clientele was a massive hit in Toronto. I remember one local emcee pointing out
that Ghostface put his soul into records. It was like he was crying in his
raps. Not many emcees can convey a range of emotions like Ghost can. And while
songs like Apollo Kids and of course Cherchez La Ghost where monster tracks my
favourite on that album is One. It's just pure Ghostface to me even though up
until that point he'd never written anything quite like it. It seems like a
just a dazzling display of stream of consciousness but the more you listen to
that first verse the more you understand that Ghost is up in a weed spot
reading a letter some chick sent him.
A-yo, we at the weedgate, waiting for JakeWe want eight ravioli bags, two thirsty villians yelling bellyaches Heavyweight rhyme writers, hitting the grass that's the ripestPull out this kite from this white bitch Talking 'bout, "Dear Ghost, you the only nigga I knowLike when the cops come, you never hide your toast"
Now why Ghost is at the weed spot waiting for Jake
I don't know. Why he has letters from white bitches with him I don't know
either. Then again I'm not Toney Starks now am I? I do know that it's awesome
that he feels no need to hide his gun when cops show up. And then out of
no where you get the "The devil planted fear inside the black babies"
on the hook and you're like wow this song got serious in a hurry but then Ghost
goes back to the super intense rhymes of how cool he is only to come
back with that hook later in the song. Just incredible stuff from a guy whose
also really good at telling linear stories.
I'm sure it's out there and I'm sure I've read it
but I'm not quite sure at this point how Ghostface got the name. I know the
Ghostface Killer is the name of a character from an Old School Kung Fu movie
but I wonder why Ghost ended up with the name? Like why it fit him more than
anyone else in the Clan?
Supreme Clientele fun fact** The
version released in Canada is not the same as the version released elsewhere.
There are different songs, beats and I believe different sequencing on the
Canadian version. Some of the samples could not clear internationally so they
had two different versions. A bunch of the CD's were imported so people who got
those copies have the U.S version but if you got a cassette in Canada you
probably have the international version. I only discovered this because my room
mate had the CD and I had the cassette and we eventually noticed that they
were noticeable different but equally awesome.
WILLIAM BROWN
I LEANED BACK LIKE I'M RICH...WHEN I WAS ON TOUR HO...i mean, him
and rza used to be roommates...probably watched that mystery of chess boxin also called ninja checkmate or some such thing....roaming times square...porno or kung fu for cheap...yo...fun fact...drama and william brown wandered around times square...after hours...drama gave a heads up...young tyson kid got our eyes on us...so we booked....plus he had a bunch of outstanding warrants so he wanted to go...ghost...
As Ghost explained, several members of the group were involved in a Battle Rap event prior to becoming friends or group mates. At the event, they had to square off against each other and battle. A drug dealer put money up for the winning emcee. Guys decided to join on their own accord, never knowing how much closer they’d become after that evening.
“Me, Cappadonna, Rae, RZA, Meth, Genius [GZA], Ol’ Dirty and U-God, I remember one time we battled each other before we was Wu-Tang Clan,” Ghost shares, reminding himself of their battle at a New York nightclub. “Cap had fucked around and won the money, because he said the drug dealer’s name that had put the money up for the Rap battle. He had his name in the rhyme, and the crowd just went fuckin’ bananas when Cap said the dude’s name! He stepped off with the money though. But I never knew that one day we would become those members from Staten Island, that we’d be in one group…it was definitely crazy. It was really, really crazy.”
Funny
but ghost also mentions how the wu are a bunch of comedians and always cracking
each other up...
“Niggas is funny mothafuckas, yo,” Ghost added. “A lot of those times, we were just laughin’ and snappin’.” He recalls jokes so great that he’d dare any crew to challenge the Wu. “If anybody wanna to snap against Wu-Tang Clan, man, you’re gonna be in for some shit. Meth, Rae U-God and even RZA, niggas is funny mothafuckas.”
Good
to hear that people are having a good time...it always seems like rappers are
so fucking stressed for some reason...well i know the reasons but back to the program...and although when he was like 13 and living
in staten island...SHAOLIN!!!...he lived in an apartment with 12 fucking
relatives...including two in wheelchairs with muscular dystrophy...that shit
must've split some atoms in his molecular equation...stress right there...went
to jail for a bit and came out and the wu got popping...
DRAMA EN SABAH
I've seen that movie. I think
there are actually two movies with Ghostface Killer in it but the Mystery of
Chess Boxing is more popular. Still seems like an name odd for someone to take
on for themselves.
WILLIAM BROWN
GOT JERKED AT THE SOURCE AWARDS...NEXT YEAR 200 NIGGAS COMING WITH SWORDS!!!...man, ghost has had a few rap beefs in his career...
Apparently he slapped the crap out of Ma$e back when he had millions of dollars, breaking his jaw. Also, when 50 Cent was just starting to rise in popularity, Ghost allegedly pushed him down some stairs for that slick talk in "How to Rob."
DRAMA EN SABAH
No
way he broke Mase's jaw. Though I do think a friend of his did hit Mase. A lot has been made of that but how could Mase have his jaw broken and not have anyone in the media reported it. Mase was one of the biggest stars in rap. Wouldn't we have noticed if his career just stopped while he was recovering from a broken a jaw? Even though some rappers have said things that seem to legitimize the rumour. You got Kanye on "Through The Wire" saying, "If you know how my face felt/ You know how Mase felt/ Thank God I ain't too cool for the safebelt"
And Shyheim the Rugged Child said something like "From the Empire State/Where Ghost retired Mase."
But on the song Malcolm if you listen Ghost says "I-Sham punched Mase in his face." I-Sham being a Wu affiliate mentioned way back on the 36 Chambers album.
And Shyheim the Rugged Child said something like "From the Empire State/Where Ghost retired Mase."
But on the song Malcolm if you listen Ghost says "I-Sham punched Mase in his face." I-Sham being a Wu affiliate mentioned way back on the 36 Chambers album.
WILLIAM BROWN
Tony yayo let it out that some dude in rae's camp wrote all of supreme clientele...ghostface kindly disagreed and then added...But, Yayo can suck
a fat dick. Tell him I said that."
Did you know ghostfaces first "official" solo song was "winter warz" which was off the "don't be a menace..." movie soundtrack...which is funny cause when i think of that song i laugh cause i think of cappadonna...did you ever think cappa would ever stop rapping on that song!
DRAMA EN SABAH
Man if there's one thing I hate about Wu-Tang it's the song Winter Warz and the thing I like the least about the song is Cappadonna. What did they give him 48 bars?
WILLIAM BROWN
Man, we gotta get into 8 diagrams a bit...ghostface called that album "bullshit" and "wack" and that anybody that liked that album was a "yes niggas"...whatever that means...i'm a big fan of 8 diagrams...that album was big for me when i lived in nova scotia for a year there...i like that nova scotia...shouts out to nova scotia...cheap land and good people...i like that album over "w" or "iron flag"...anyway, i know you like that album too...and this shit seems to have snow balled...the ill feelings from ghost and rae from 8 diagrams is still going to this day in terms of them getting all together and doing a new album...is it money?...pride?...ego?...
I know we've long been in the days of diminished record
sales but Ghost and Rae's opinions on the 8 Diagrams album really helped kill
it from a sales perspective in my opinion. Ghostface by that time had a lot of
weight with Wu fans because he was the only one putting out consistent quality
Wu product and for him and Rae to go on in on the production values of that
album was really strange to hear as a fan of Wu-Tang especially since that
record was so much better than most products these guys have been involved. I
mean Rae hadn't even put out OBCL 2 yet. I remember RZA saying that OBCL 2 was
already done and he didn't want 8 Diagrams to be just like it so he went a
different way. Still the way Ghost's words carried is one of the reason you
know he's justified to be #3 on the list he's that important.
I remember when you were putting this list together there
was some debate on whether Method Man should really be ranked higher than
Ghostface. I felt that Meth was way too big early on in the history of the Wu
for Ghostface to be above him. To be honest Method Man could have arguably been
number 1. I'm not sure the Wu takes off without him. As time moves on what do
you thing Ghost would have to do to pass Meth. Is it even possible?
WILLIAM BROWN
I think what separates ghost from most of the other wu tang
members is his ability to show you scenes...like in a movie...he's able to
match his slang style to linear storytelling techniques...like rae has the same
level of slang but can't put together a narrative...deck doesn't tell scene
stories...cappa can but he's limited if he's on more than one verse...ghost
reminds me, in terms of his storytelling like rick the ruler...they can tell
their stories in unique ways...with their original flows and in the little fun
details they'll throw in their raps...and you can tell he throws in
layers...like a layer for those in the clan...a layer for those from his
hood...a layer for his chicks...a layer for the general fan...i would love to
read a book of ghostface's rhymes...decoded you know...where he lets you in on
everything...and you also add in his love of soul music, in terms of the samples
used in his songs and his ability to be emotional and you have a winning
combination with fans...if ironman was a front to back classic he would be in
the running with meth at least their would be a discussion...he's still
consistently putting out albums that are quality and so who knows...i was thinking that instead of ironman being his first album...what if...instead they used the concept off of his latest album "twelve reasons to die"...and rza produced all the tracks and there was more clan members on it, i think that shit would've been classic...
DRAMA EN SABAH
I agree one hundred percent. Ghost's narratives are just on
another level. I also think that while guys like RZA may have really dense
verses that you have to study to understand everything if you're not to up on
the 5%er slang, Ghost does the same thing but right out in the open sometimes
you just miss it because he has so much going on in his verse. Like if we dissect this little portion of Scary Hours...
Mussy dropped and split his wig with the heaterHis shape-up was all fucked up, as he had me laughinGod you see how he was laid out, in the grassWith dirt in his mouth, Slim woke him up told him he wild outBlood leakin from his teeth he smiled like he gunned out
That entire verse is one of my favourites but so much
happened I never realized that Ghost was laughing at the guy who got laid out
on the grass. His shape up being slang for a recent hair cut. Ghost is laughing
at this guy who just got his head cracked.
Also you're spot on with the emotion aspects of his craft.
The song Wildflower is one of the most masculine songs I can think of because
while Ghost is angry about his girl cheating on him and the emotion is present
in the song it also doesn't hide from the hypocrisy evident in many man. We
want want a lot of women but we don't think women should cheat on us. Like a
guy could cheat on is girl and get caught and she might forgive him. But if she
turn around and does the same thing that dude probably isn't going to be quite
as forgiving.
His verse on "impossible" just came to mind to go
with what we are talking about, in terms of his storytelling abilities...
Call an ambulance, Jamie been shot, word to KimmyDon't go Son, nigga you my motherfuckin heartStay still Son, don't move, just think about KeebaShe'll be three in January, your young God needs yaThe ambulance is taking too longEverybody get the fuck back, excuse me bitch, gimme your jackOne, seven one eight, nine one one, low battery, damnBlood comin out his mouth, he bleedin badlyNahhh Jamie, don't start that shitKeep your head up, if you escape hell we gettin fucked upWhen we was eight, we went to Bat Day to see the YanksIn Sixty-Nine, his father and mines, they robbed banksHe pointed to the charm on his neckWith his last bit of energy left, told me rock it with respectI opened it, seen the God holdin his kidsPhotogenic, tears just burst out my wigPlus he dropped one, oh shit, here come his Old EarthWith no shoes on, screamin holdin her breasts with a gown onShe fell and then lightly touched his jaw, kissed himRubbed his hair, turned around the ambulance was therePlus the blue coats, Officer Lough, took it as a jokeWeeks ago he strip-searched the God and gave him back his cokeBitches yellin, Beenie Man swung on HelenIn the back of a cop car, Dirty Tasha are tellinBut suddenly a chill came through it was weirdFelt like my man, was cast out my heaven now we shareLaid on the stretcher, blood on his Wally's like ketchupDeep like the full assassination with a sketch of itIt can't be, from Yohoo to Lee'sSecond grade humped the teachers, about to leaveFinally this closed chapter, comes to an endHe was announced, pronounced dead, y'all, at twelve ten
NAHHH JAMIE DON'T START THAT SHIT...there's so much i like
about that verse...it's a perfect movie scene he puts in my head...you've got
all the ghost trademarks...the slang...the narrative...the emotion...the
details are incredibly original..."when we was 8 we went to bat day to see
the yanks"..."here come his old earth, with no shoes on, screamin
holding her breasts with a gown on"...this verse gives me chills whenever
i listen to it...guys got kids...cops don't care...fuck man, no one in wu tang
can come close to writing like this...and not alot in the history of rappers as
far as i'm concerned can touch this...like when we first put this list together
i was thinking ghost might be number 2...but when we started on this ghost
chamber i wasn't feeling him as much and i was like...maybe ghost should be at
number 4...but i've come full circle again and i think he's in the discussion
for number 2 again...
ALL PRAISES DUE...
ONE
IMPOSSIBLE
SCARY HOURS
WILDFLOWER
MURDA GOONS
MIGHTY HEALTHY
"You Goddman right I fuck fans"
BLUE ARMOR