Career

Ghostface Killah debuted with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan on "Protect Ya Neck" and "Tearz" from the Clan's critically acclaimed debut, 1993's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). A roommate of Wu-Tang founder The RZA, Ghostface helped bring together the other seven members, and would function as executive producer on all the Wu-Tang Clan releases.

In 1995, Ghostface would guest star extensively on fellow Clan member Raekwon's debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... He also contributed songs to the Sunset Park and Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood soundtracks, which would be included on his first solo LP, Ironman, in 1996. The album, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, had a more pronounced soul influence (particularly 1970s soul) than previous Wu-Tang releases, and Ghostface's future albums would continue this stylistic trait.

Ghostface became well-known for both his up-tempo, seemingly indecipherable stream-of-consciousness rap and, later in his career, for his emotionally charged raps. In 1996 he would discover that he was diabetic, a condition that would severely weaken his health. According to "Trials of Life", a 2007 song with fellow New York rapper Prodigy (himself a sickle-cell anemic), Ghostface assumed he had been stricken by a sexually transmitted disease until he received the diabetes diagnosis. This assumption was brought on by a rapid weightloss he experienced and that he had "went raw on plenty".

He would return in 2000 with his follow-up to Ironman, Supreme Clientele, which was critically acclaimed by both hip hop enthusiasts and mainstream critics, and largely credited as reviving the waning Wu-Tang dynasty. "Cherchez LaGhost", a single off the album, became a minor club hit, and the sentimental "Child's Play" brought 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", which features guest vocals from fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Raekwon, although the album would be met with disappointing sales and reviews.

Signing with Def Jam Records, Ghostface (officially but temporarily dropping the "Killah") released The Pretty Toney Album in April 2004. The album, while containing two RZA productions, featured none of the Clan; instead, it featured collaborations with Missy Elliott, D-Block and Jacki-O. The singles "Tush" and "Run", the collaborations with Missy and Jadakiss respectively, achieved moderate success in the clubs and charts, and the album was featured on numerous "best of the year" lists, including number nine on Pitchfork Media's. 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 (after the Staten Island area code) with a group of his Protégés, the Theodore Unit. In November 2005, Ghostface and Theodore Unit's breakout star Trife Da God released a joint project, Put It On The Line.

In 2006, Ghostface teamed up with underground favorite MF DOOM for a still unreleased album entitled Swift & Changeable. MF DOOM also produced several songs for Ghostface's 2006 album Fishscale, which was once again attributed to "Ghostface Killah". The album debuted strongly, in the #4 position on the US Billboard 200 and at #2 on the R&B charts, the rapper's most auspicious chart showing since the heyday of the Wu-Tang Clan and the release of his solo debut. The album also nearly unanimously received positive reviews. Ghostface embarked on a limited-date tour of US venues in support of the album, performing several of his concerts together with most members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Also in 2006, Ghostface opened an online-poker room. He has worked with 4Cast to produce his own action figure.

On December 4, 2007 Ghostface released his seventh solo studio album, The Big Doe Rehab.

Iron Man Film

Ghostface Killah, who is a fan of Iron Man, notably naming an album after the superhero, is appearing in the upcoming Iron Man (film) in a cameo as a Dubyan.

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 lyrics.

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.

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 Wallabees. 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, where he describes dying a pair blue and cream. Often at shows, Ghostface will make a point not to remove his copious layers of clothing, despite the sweltering heat of the stage lights and venue.

Aliases

Coles' stage name is derived from the alias of the primary villain from Ninja Checkmate, also known as The Mystery of Chess Boxing (martial arts films had been a major influence on the group).

• Ghost Face Killer

His original stage name, which has undergone a number of variations:

• Ghostface Killer
• Ghostface Killah
• Ghostface
• Ghost

• Tony Starks

Ghostface's Wu-Gambino name, adopted on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995), is derived from the secret identity of the Marvel Comic's character Iron Man, Tony Stark.

• Ironman

Ghostface particularly identified with Tony Stark's reliance on the Iron Man armor for sustaining his health, particularly while Ghost was battling diabetes.

• Pretty Toney
• P Tone
• Paisley Fontaine
• Clyde Smith
• Theodore Deini
• Talk of New York Tony
• Captain America
• Starkey Love
• Wally Champ

Ghostace has a love for Clark's Wallabees shoes, as well as custom dieing them different colors, evident on the cover of Ironman (1996).

• Ghost Deini

Rivalries

The Notorious B.I.G.

Ghostface and Raekwon "subliminally" dissed The Notorious B.I.G. on 1995's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... skit, "Shark Niggaz (Biters)", wherein the pair make angry references to Bad Boy Records' use of cover art motif from Nas' debut (a portrait of the artist as a child, although Big's cover is of his then-infant daughter) for B.I.G.'s Ready To Die album. Nas refers to this episode in his song "Last Real Nigga Alive" (from 2002's God's Son), where he confirms the tensions between Raekwon, Ghost and Biggie. Despite this conflict, Biggie was a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, collaborating with Method Man and The RZA on his first and second albums respectively and performing live with Ol' Dirty Bastard on occasion. As Method Man would say in a 2004 XXL interview, Ghostface and Raekwon "don't like anybody". Despite this, perhaps out of respect for the dead, a bonus track featuring the late B.I.G. (as well as Raekwon) was included on Ghostface's 2006 album Fishscale.

50 Cent

Ghostface also had a feud with 50 Cent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but unlike other beefs involving Fifty which are typically played out in front of the media, this was not as highly-publicized. On 50 Cent's debut record How To Rob (An Industry Nigga), in which he aims insults at many high-profile rappers and R&B singers, he threatens to rob Ghostface, Raekwon and RZA of their pointed, "funny ass rings"; he would rob Ol Dirty Bastard, "but that'd be a waste of time". Shortly after the release, Ghostface, Superb, Killa Sin and others were accused of attacking several of 50 Cent's associates at the Hot 97 radio station; another of 50's associates named "Zoo" was robbed by a member of Killarmy. The Wu-affiliated American Cream Team recorded a diss, a song that was widely distributed on the Internet credited to the Wu-Tang Clan. A skit on 2000's Supreme Clientele, "Clyde Smith", features a low-pitched recording (of Raekwon) naming 50 Cent and derisively making comments on his behavior and methods of attracting media attention through publicized "beef" with other rappers. Around this time, a 50 Cent freestyle dissing the Wu-Tang Clan began circulating; in his ad-libs at the end of the song, he derides them for their frequent use of the term "god" and the poverty of their hometown Staten Island. There have been various rumors of altercations between Ghostface and 50 Cent: one describes Fifty being thrown down a flight of stairs by Ghostface. However, none have been verified. Since 50 Cent's rise to fame, both he and Ghostface have discussed the supposed beef in interviews, both saying that nothing serious had ever happened.

In July 2007, during a Spin magazine interview with 50 Cent, Tony Yayo alleged that Ghostface did not write his critically acclaimed album Supreme Clientele, but that it was written by long-time Ghostface collaborator Superb. Along with saying Ghostface had a ghostwriter, Yayo also made statements that Wu-Tang Clan's success is over, and that their creativity and lyrical skill doesn't matter anymore since it does not sell to the mainstream. 50 Cent however denied the stronger allegations: "I don't know nothing about any of that. He's the writer. I'm not gonna say he ain't write it."

In an interview with hiphopdx.com Raekwon, who also appears on the album responded saying: "[Tony Yayo] know damn well [Superb] ain’t write that fuckin’ album. I don’t even wanna get into shit like that, because it just makes me upset that muthafuckas be running they mouth all kinda ways. But at the end of the day, I think Ghost gonna have to really say what he gotta say." "tell him (Tony Yayo) he can suck my dick"

Discography

Albums

Compilations & Collaborations

Singles

Appears on

• 1995 "Brooklyn Zoo II" (from the Ol' Dirty Bastard album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version)
• 1995 Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (album by Raekwon)
• 1995 "Investigative Reports" & "4th Chamber" (from the GZA album Liquid Swords)
• 1995 "Right Back At You" (from the Mobb Deep album The Infamous)
• 1996: Sunset Park (performer: "Motherless Child")
• 1996: Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood (performer: "Winter Warz")
• 1996: The Great White Hype (performer: "Who's the Champion")
• 1998 "'97 Mentality", "Oh Donna" (from the Cappadonna album The Pillage)
• 1998 "Wu Blood-Kin" (from the La the Darkman album Heist Of The Century)
• 1998 "Spanish Fly" & "Holocaust (Silkworm)" (from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo)
• 1998: Belly (performer: "Windpipe")
• 1999: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (performer: "Ice Cream")
• 1999 "Run 4 Cover" (from the Method Man & Redman album Blackout!)
• 1999 "The Game" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
• 1999 "Da Connection" (from the Da Beatminerz album Brace 4 Impak)
• 2000 "Your Child (Kiyamma Griffin Uptempo Mix)" (from the Mary J. Blige EP Your Child: The Mixes
• 2000 "The Heist" (from the Busta Rhymes album Anarchy)
• 2000 "Walkin' Through The Darkness" (from the album "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai)
• 2001 "Super Model" (from the Cappadonna album The Yin & The Yang)
• 2001 "Cream 2001" (from the DJ Clue album "The Professional, Pt. 2")
• 2002 "Saviorz Day" (from the Sunz Of Man album Saviorz Day)
• 2002 "Silent" (from the GZA album Legend of the Liquid Sword)
• 2002 "Thrilla" (from the Cassius album Au Rêve)
• 2002: Barbershop (performer: "Love Session")
• 2002 "Special Delivery Remix" (from the Bad Boy Records album We Invented The Remix Vol. 1
• 2003 "Fast Cars" (from the RZA album Birth Of A Prince)
• 2003 "Missing Watch" & "Clientele Kids" (from the Raekwon album The Lex Diamonds Story)
• 2003 "Ooh Wee" (from the Mark Ronson album "Here Comes the Fuzz")
• 2003 "Thank U" (from the Mathematics album "Love, Hell or Right")
• 2003: Honey (performer: "Ooh Wee")
• 2004: Blade: Trinity (performer: "I Gotta Get Paid")
• 2004 "Afterparty" (from the Method Man album Tical 0: The Prequel)
• 2004 "On My Knees" (single from the 411 album Between the Sheets)
• 2004 "D.T.D." (from the Masta Killa album No Said Date)
• 2004 "Tony/Montana" (from the Cormega album Legal Hustle)
• 2004 "Face Off" (from the DJ Kay Slay album "Streetsweeper Vol. 2")
• 2004 "He Comes" (from the De La Soul album The Grind Date)
• 2004 "Live From The PJ's" (from the X-Ecutioners album Revolutions))
• 2005 "Milk 'Em" (from the Symbolyc One & Illmind album "The Art of One Mind")
• 2005 "Hideyaface" (from the Prefuse 73 album Surrounded By Silence)
• 2005 "The Mask" (from the Dangerdoom album The Mouse & The Mask)
• 2005 "Strawberries & Cream", "Real Nillaz" and "U.S.A" (from the Mathematics album The Problem)
• 2005 "New York" (from the AZ album A.W.O.L)
• 2005 "Spraypaint & Inkpens" (from DJ Green Lantern's Fort Minor mixtape Fort Minor: We Major)
• 2005: Hitch (performer: "Ooh Wee")
• 2005: The Boondocks - Granddad's Fight (episode 1) (performer: "Guillotinz (Swordz)")
• 2006: WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 (performer: "The Champ")
• 2006: Entourage - Aquamom (episode 1) (performer: "Be Easy")
• 2006 "Been Through" (from the M-1 album Confidential)
• 2006 "It's What It Is" (from the Masta Killa album Made in Brooklyn)
• 2006 "Weight" (from the Swollen Members album Black Magic)
• 2006 "2K7" (from the Dan The Automator album "Dan The Automator Presents 2K7")
• 2006 "Josephine" (from the Hi Tek album "Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip")
• 2006 "Crambodia" (from the Plastic Little (rap group) album "She's Mature")
• 2007 "You Know I'm No Good" (from the Amy Winehouse single "You Know I'm No Good")
• 2007 "Irreplaceable (Remix)" (from the Beyoncé single "Irreplaceable")
• 2007 "The Weeping Tiger" (from the Cilvaringz album "I")
• 2007 "Game" ft Napoleon (of Wu-Syndicate) (featured on 2 albums, Napoleon's "Kingpin with da Inkpen" and ORDER's "Disorderly Conduct" LP)
• 2007: Def Jam Icon (performer: "The Champ (Remix)")
• 2007: Skunk Fu (performer: "Skunk Fu! (Opening Credits)")

Trivia

• Ghostface Killah appears as himself in the fighting game Def Jam Vendetta as well as its two sequels, Def Jam: Fight for NY and Def Jam: Icon.

• Ghostface Killah's song "The Champ" is featured in the soundtracks for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007, Def Jam: Icon and NBA Live 08 .

• Ghostface Killah appeared in Maxim magazine in April 2007, where he is depicted as muslim oriented family-man. It is disputed whether a few of the comments written were actually said by him (no quotations were emphasized).

• Ghostface Killah appears in The Boondocks episode "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" as a ghost to warn Huey about Stinkmeaner's return and leave cryptic clues about how to exorcise Stinkmeaner's soul. Huey criticizes Ghostface Killah for appearing as a ghost without actually being dead.

Filmography

• 1996 - Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood......Don't Be a Menace
• 1999 - Black and White......Himself
• 2002 - Hunter Dawson......Himself
• 2004 - Fade to Black......Himself
• 2005 - Made

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

• 2006 - 30 Rock

TV Episode "Jack-Tor".....Himself TV Episode "The Source Awards".....Himself

• 2007 - Human Giant

TV Episode "Mind Explosion"....Himself TV Episode "Mosh Pit!".....Himself

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

Appears on (video)

• 1995 Shadowboxin'/4th Chamber (GZA)
• 1995 Ice Cream (Raekwon)
• 1995 Criminology (Raekwon)
• 1998 Holocaust (RZA)
• 2000 Put Ur Hands Up (Jay-Z)
• 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)