Ghostface Killah

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“Ghostface” redirects here. For the character in the Scream film trilogy, see Ghostface (Scream).
Ghostface Killah
Background information
Birth name Dennis Coles
Born May 9, 1970
Origin Staten Island, New York City, New York
Genre(s) Hip hop
Hardcore hip hop
East Coast hip hop
Years active 1993–present
Label(s) Loud Records
Razor Sharp/Epic Records
Def Jam Records

Ghostface Killah, aka Ghostface, Tony Starks, Ironman (born Denis 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

[edit] 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). Despite making little effort to appeal to anyone outside of his loyal New York street fan base, Ghostface continues to achieve surprising commercial success. He is a former follower of the 5% and now is a recent convert to Sunni Islam.

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.

In 1996 Ghostface discovered he was diabetic. According to "Trials of Life," a song with fellow New York rapper Prodigy, Ghostface assumed it was a sexually transmitted disease. This assumption was brought on by a rapid weightloss he experienced and that he had "went raw on plenty.[1]"

Ghostface became well-known for both his uptempo, seemingly indecipherable stream-of-consciousness raps and, later in his career, for his emotionally charged delivery. 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, released a year after Supreme Clientele. He had another minor club hit with "Flowers" (as water flows) 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.[2] 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 & Changeable.

MF DOOM also produced several songs for Ghostface's 2006 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[3]: 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.

In 2006, Ghostface opened an online-poker room, GFK Poker. He is planning to produce his own GFK-based action figure in the near future.

He is rumored to be working with Irv Gotti.

[edit] Technique

During Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... he focused chiefly on imagery and the use of Wu-Tang's distinctive, half Five Percenter/half slang.

Ghostface is sometimes considered the least understandable lyricist of the Clan, but also as one of the best. His verses are sometimes stream of consciousness rants. He developed his style, including his storytelling ability, during his solo career and, with the aid of a hand held tape recorder, while making drug deliveries. Ghost often eschews the use of punchlines or similes for metaphors.

[edit] Jewelry and Fashion

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. He also has an affinity for Clark's wallabee shoes. On the cover of his debut album Ironman, he is pictured with Raekwon and Cappadonna holding several pairs of brightly colored Wallies. Ghostface actually devised a way of dying Wallabees different, interesting colors, which were the height of fashion at the time. Ghost can be heard discussing this technique on the Cuban Linx record, when he describes dying a pair blue and cream. Often at shows, Ghostface will make a point to not remove his copious layers of clothing, despite the sweltering heat of the stagelights and venue.

[edit] Rivalries

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  • After badmouthing Wu-Tang at a concert, Bad Boy recording artist Mase had a run-in with Ghostface and his entourage at a club in New York City. There was some sort of physical altercation between Mase's and Ghostface's camps, and Mase left the incident with a broken jaw. Kanye West is among the rappers who have made reference to the incident, on his song "Through The Wire" "...If you could feel how my face felt// You would know how Mase felt...". In a freestyle by Shyheim, he referred to it with "The Empire State, where Ghostface retired Mase."
  • Ghostface dissed Atlanta group D4L during his 2005 tour. Ghost would mock the "snap dance" while the song Laffy Taffy was played by his DJ. However, Ghost failed to do the routine when he performed at the Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia (D4L's hometown). D4L will not respond saying they have too much respect for Ghostface and listen to songs by him and Raekwon for inspiration.
  • Ghostface & Raekwon subliminally dissed The Notorious B.I.G. in several songs, most notably on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' "Shark Niggaz (Biters)" skit, where the pair make angry reference to use of Nas' cover art aesthetics (a portrait of the artist as a young child or infant). Nas refers to this episode in his song "Last Real Nigga Alive" (on God's Son), where he confirms the tensions between Raekwon, Ghost and the Notorious B.I.G., stating: "...that's when Ghostface said it on 'The Purple Tape'/Bad Boy biting Nas album cover, wait...". (Note: On "Ice Water" off of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Raekwon says "To top it all off, beef with White (Frank White - Biggie's alias)/pullin' bleach out, tryna throw it in my eyesight". Biggie then responds on "Kick in the Door" by saying "Fuck that, why try? Throw bleach in your eye"). Biggie later claimed he was a huge fan of Wu Tang, did a song with Method Man & Rza on his debut album, and performed live with ODB.
  • Ghostface had a non publicized feud with 50 Cent in the late 90s and early 2000s. In 50 Cent's record "How to Rob" insults were aimed at many high-profile rappers including Wu-Tang. A supposed rejoinder that circulated the web in the beginning of 2001 was proven to be recorded by "The Cream Team" and not the Wu-Tang Clan, though a skit referred to as "Clyde Smith" on Supreme Clientele (2000) features a low-pitched recording of what most fans believe to be Raekwon's voice derisively making reference to 50 Cent's behavior and methods of attracting media attention to himself through publicized "beef" feuds with other rappers. There have been rumors of altercations between Ghostface and 50 Cent, however none have been proven to be 100% true. One of which describes 50 Cent be thrown down a flight of stairs by Ghostface Killah. In the early 2000s, 50 Cent had a short freestyle dissing Wu Tang Clan and at the end of the tape criticized their use of the term "god." After 50 Cent rose to fame, both he and Ghostface talked in interviews about the supposed beef, both saying that nothing major happened.

[edit] Aliases

  • Ghost
  • Ghost Deini
  • Ironman (from the comic Iron Man)
  • Pretty Toney
  • Tony Stark/Toney Starks (from the comic Iron Man)
  • Wally Champ (from the Clarks Wallabee shoe)
  • Starkey Love
  • GFK
  • Brother Starks
  • Talk Of New York Tony
  • P.Tone
  • Tone B.
  • Gee-F
  • Theodore Deini (from Bulletproof Wallets)
  • Monster Don (from Fishscale)
  • Mr. Dolidickit (from Bulletproof Wallets)
  • Captain America (when I got the bird and the robe on[DJ Kay Slay])
  • Tonetana*
  • Brotha Starks
  • Robe God
  • Clyde Smith
  • Dennis Coles
  • Phat Ghost
  • Whizface Killa
  • Clark Kent
  • Toney Knight Rider
  • Dennis the Menace
  • The Undertaker
  • Scott Kitner

[edit] Discography

[edit] 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 April 20, 2004
Put It On The Line (with Trife Da God) November 18, 2005
Fishscale March 28, 2006 Gold U.S.
More Fish December 12, 2006
Hidden Darts: Special Edition March 2007
Swift & Changeable (with MF Doom) April 2007

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US R&B/Hip-Hop US Hot 100 US Hot RAP tracks US Hot RAP Singles UK Singles Chart
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 - 11 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) 65 - - 21 - Bulletproof Wallets
2001 "Ghost Showers" 77 - - 11 - Bulletproof Wallets
2003 "Guerilla Hood" - - - - - 718
2004 "Tush" (feat. Missy Elliott) 53 - - - 34 The Pretty Toney Album
2004 "Run" (feat. Jadakiss) - - - - - The Pretty Toney Album
2005 "Milk Em" (feat. Trife/Strange Fruit Project) - - - - - Put it on the Line
2006 "Be Easy" 91 - - No longer exists - Fishscale
2006 "Back Like That (feat. Ne-Yo)" 14 61 11 No longer exists 46 Fishscale
2006 "Summertime (feat. Beyoncé)" No longer exists
2006 "Back Like That(remix) (feat. Ne-Yo & Kanye West)" More Fish
2007 "Irreplacable (remix) (feat. Beyoncé)" No longer exists

[edit] Videography

  • 1996 Daytona 500
  • 1996 All That I Got Is You
  • 1996 Motherless Child
  • 1996 Camay
  • 1996 Mighty Healthy
  • 1998 Cobra Clutch
  • 2000 Apollo Kids
  • 2000 Cherchez La Ghost
  • 2001 Never Be The Same Again
  • 2004 Run
  • 2004 Tush
  • 2004 Biscuits (Live)
  • 2006 Back Like That

Featuring Video

  • 1994 Heaven & Hell (Raekwon)
  • 1995 Shadowboxin'/4th Chamber (GZA)
  • 1995 Ice Cream (Raekwon)
  • 1995 Criminology (Raekwon)
  • 1998 Holocaust (RZA)
  • 2001 Stand Up (Charli Baltimore)
  • 2001 Supermodel (Cappadonna)
  • 2001 Knock Knock (GZA)
  • 2002 Savior's Day (Sunz Of Man)
  • 2002 Special Delivery (P. Diddy)
  • 2003 Ooh Wee (Mark Ronson)
  • 2003 Pass The Mic (Theodore Unit)
  • 2004 Live From The PJ's (X-Ecutioners)
  • 2005 The Mask (Danger Doom)

[edit] Appears On

[edit] Appears on (producer)

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] Filmography

TV Episode "Nile Is Made Into a Rapper".....Himself

TV Episode "Jack-Tor".....Himself

TV Episode "Lookalikes"....Himself

[edit] Soundtrack

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ [1]. zshare (song). URL accessed on March 21, 2007.
  2. ^ MMTV 2004:The 50 Best Albums. Pitchfork. URL accessed on April 30, 2006.
  3. ^ Ghostface Killah Billboard chart history
Wu-Tang Clan
Members

Ghostface Killah · GZA/Genius · Inspectah Deck · Masta Killa · Method Man · Ol' Dirty Bastard · Raekwon · RZA · U-God
Albums

Words from the Genius · Ooh I Love You Rakeem · Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) · Tical · Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version · Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... · Liquid Swords · Ironman · Wu-Tang Forever · Tical 2000: Judgement Day · Bobby Digital in Stereo · Wu-Chronicles · The RZA Hits · Beneath the Surface · Nigga Please · Blackout! · Uncontrolled Substance · Golden Arms Redemption · Immobilarity · Supreme Clientele · The W · Wu-Chronicles, Chapter 2 · Digital Bullet · Bulletproof Wallets · Iron Flag · Legend of the Liquid Sword · The World According to RZA · The Movement · Birth of a Prince · The Lex Diamond Story · The Pretty Toney Album · U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers · Tical 0: The Prequel · No Said Date · 718 · Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 · Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan · The Formula for the Cure · Mr. Xcitement · GrandMasters · Put it on the Line · Fishscale · The Resident Patient · Made in Brooklyn · 4:21...The Day After · More Fish · Swift & Changeable
See Also

Wu-Tang Clan affiliates · The Wu-Tang Manual
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