If it's an appetite for pure hip-hop ingenuity with a side of freaky flair you've got, you can't do much better than the Wu-Tang Clan's individual players. Ghostface Killah's 2006 mini-masterpiece, Fishscale, elevated the faceless Clan man to the ranks of the world's greatest MCs by way of hot beats and his supremacy in integrating '70s soul into his sound. The Big Doe Rehab is his bid to hang on to his A-list achievement. Which it does, and handily: If lead single "We Celebrate!" seems pedestrian (Rare Earth's "I Just Want To Celebrate" can't be all that far back in the soul-keepers' vault), hang on till you get to "Walk Around," which reaches in further and pulls up a proper Little Milton track. Or forget about samples altogether and let Mr. Coles win you over by way of his proficiency with hooks ("Killa Lipstick") or skits (the name-checking "White Linen Affair"). Where one bag of tricks runs out, this disc's star and its producers--including the supremely skilled Anthony Acid, who steals the show here--pop up with something else to keep you feeling the Fishscale-caliber momentum. Haters will say this hot streak can't last, but the man won't be handcuffed; Killah can't be stopped. --Tammy La Gorce
Tony Starks, Ironman, Ghost Deini, Pretty Toney, Wally Champ, GFK, Starky Love, Dennis Coles: whatever you call Ghostface Killah he is one of the most supreme talents to pick up a mic, ever. In a world of disposable talent, one of the things that sets Ghost apart and allows him to tower above the rest, consistency. As a member of the Hip Hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, he takes his name from the main villain in the film "Ninja Checkmate" (aka "The Mystery of Chess Boxing"). After Wu-Tang Clan achieved breakthrough commercial success in the early 90s, Ghostface, like his clan-mates, began a solo career. His turned out to be one of the most critically and commercially successful solo careers of all the group members. Early in his career, he would wear a mask during performances and photo shoots. It was rumored this was because Ghostface was wanted by the police and that he would not publicly remove it until his name was cleared. Since his debut 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)", Ghostface has made little effort to appeal to anyone outside of his loyal New York street fan base, yet he continues to achieve surprising commercial success. His latest, The Wallabee Champ , is a collection of rarities and non-album cuts that span Ghost's entire career. Full of raw beats and flowing rhymes, the CD features guest rappers including The Wu-Tang Clan, some of his boys from Theodore Unit including Shawn Wigs and Trife Da God, and a top shelf Rap names Jadakiss, Lil Wayne, Prodigy, Beanie Siegel, Styles P and last but certainly not least, Fat Joe. This comp will be enjoyed by anyone that likes good Hip Hop music. Ghostface Killah "The Wallabee Champ"... an album not to be missed!
