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GHOSTFACE KILLAH

Artist profile

Dennis Coles a.k.a. Ghostface Killah

Born: May 9, 1970 in Staten Island, New York City, New York, U.S.

“Ghostface, catch the blast of a hype verse - my glock bursts, leave in a hearse, I did worse”

Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the early- to mid-1990s, each member was free to pursue solo careers. Ghostface Killah took his name from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing. GFK was raised in the Stapleton Housing Projects in Staten Island, New York.

In his autobiographical song “All That I Got Is You“, Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father who left him at the age of six. Growing up poor he experienced hard living conditions like “Pluckin roaches out the cereal box. ”

09.07-Ghostface-Killah-@-Double-Door

He debuted with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan on their 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 Hip Hop Clan member Raekwon‘s debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, appearing on almost every song. 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 KILLAH IRON MAN 1996

Ghostface became well-known for both his up-tempo, seemingly indecipherable stream-of-conscious Hip Hop rap and, later in his career, for his emotionally charged raps and his smooth constant flow. 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 weight loss he experienced and that he had “hit it raw aplenty “.

He would return in 2000 with his follow-up to Ironman, Supreme Clientele. “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 Killah 2000 Supreme Clientele

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.

The chaotic “Run” with Jadakiss and the more commercial “Tush” with Missy Elliott raised the anticipation for the rapper’s first album for Def Jam and his first under the simpler moniker Ghostface. The Pretty Toney Album hit the streets in April of 2004.

Ghostface and Raekwon “subliminally ” dissed The Notorious B.I.G. on 1995’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… skit, “Shark *****z (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 ***** 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 “. However, Ghost has gone on record praising Biggie in two later albums. On “Ghost Deini ” from Supreme Clientele he croons “Tupac, Biggie / ohh how we miss you so / We want y’all both to know / We really love you so “. Also, a bonus track featuring the late B.I.G. (as well as Raekwon) was included on Ghostface’s 2006 album Fishscale. Additionally, in the song, “I Can’t Go to Sleep ” from the Wu-Tang Clan’s The W, Ghost raps, “Technique is ill, son, watch how I spill one/Peace to Biggie, Tupac, Big L, and Big Pun. ”

The Top Ten hit Fishscale, along with More Fish, followed in 2006, but not before 718 — an album from his Theodore Unit. Always prolific, the rapper put out The Big Doe Rehab — whose release date had originally coincided with Wu-Tang’s long-awaited fifth full-length, 8 Diagrams, which RZA agreed to push back a week so as to not coincide with Ghost’s effort — in early December 2007. Ghostface returned in 2008 with a pair of compilations: The Wallabee Champ (rarities and B-sides) and GhostDeini the Great (including remixes, alternate versions, and career highlights). Influenced by R&B and focused on the ladies, his 2009 album Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry was a significant departure. The more traditional effort Apollo Kids landed in 2010 with special guests Redman, Busta Rhymes, and The Game. Another significant departure arrived in early 2013 with the release of Twelve Reasons to Die. The album was a collaborative effort with film composer Adrian Younge and was inspired by the Italian murder mystery/slasher film genre known as giallo.

Other recent releases are studio albums 36 Seasons (2014) and Twelve Reasons to Die II (2015), as well as the experimental collaboration Sour Soul (with BadBadNotGood) (2015).

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Discography

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Movies

Pharma Bro

Pharma Bro

The story of Martin Shkreli, the pharmaceutical tycoon known for raising the price of an AIDS drug 5500% overnight, buying the sole copy of ...

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Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Following a childhood tragedy, Dewey Cox follows a long and winding road to music stardom. Dewey perseveres through changing musical styles,...

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Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1

Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1

Hype's acclaim for skillfully imaginative visually intoxicating music videos, The Videos Vol. 1, features 10 videos depicting his creative a...

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Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery of Kung Fu

Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery of Kung Fu

Lyrical Assassins, Wu Tang Clan, reveal da mystery of Kung Fu in this ass kickin' dub plate presentation. The GZA, Chef Raekwon, Method Man,...

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Rock the Bells

Rock the Bells

An inside look at what it took to bring the Wu-Tang Clan together for their final performance at the Rock the Bells Hip-Hop festival....

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Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Having forged a 20-year run as one of the most innovative and influential hip hop bands of all time, the Queens NY collective known as 'A Tr...

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Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan

In the summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the slums of Staten Island, NY and took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanne...

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Wu Tang Clan: Disciples of the 36 Chambers

Wu Tang Clan: Disciples of the 36 Chambers

The Wu-Tang Clan reunites with all 9 original members to perform and headline Chapter 11 of the Rock The Bells Festival in San Bernardino, C...

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Wu-Tang Clan: Live at Montreux

Wu-Tang Clan: Live at Montreux

In July 2007 the famous Miles Davis Hall at Montreux was witness to a gathering of the Wu-Tang Clan. With the exception of the sadly decease...

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When in Rome

When in Rome

Disillusioned with romance, Beth, an ambitious New Yorker, travels to Rome for her sister's wedding, where she plucks magic coins from a spe...

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Fade to Black

Fade to Black

An intimate look at hip-hop artist Shawn Carter, Jay-Z, revealing the multiple Grammy Award winning artist as never before, from his backgro...

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You're Watching Video Music Box

You're Watching Video Music Box

The untold story of the world’s longest running video show, Video Music Box. A hip hop mainstay since 1983, VMB gave a platform to artists...

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N.Y. State of Mind Tour

N.Y. State of Mind Tour

From the slums of Shaolin Wu Tang Clan strikes again, paired with the great Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones. In this back-to-back event the Hip-Hop...

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Wu-Tang Saga

Wu-Tang Saga

Wu-Tang Saga is the story of the music super group the Wu-Tang Clan told by Cappadonna, chronicling over 9 concerts, a trip to Shaolin aka S...

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Wu-Tang Clan & Nas: NY State of Mind Tour at Climate Pledge Arena

Wu-Tang Clan & Nas: NY State of Mind Tour at Climate Pledge Arena

Wu-Tang and Nas unite once again for a joint tour along with an appearance by De La Soul. Watch the iconic hip-hop event, recorded live from...

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Black and White

Black and White

Rich Bower is an up-and-coming star in the hip-hop world. Everyone wants to be around him, including Raven and her fellow upper-class white ...

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ZEF - The Story of Die Antwoord

ZEF - The Story of Die Antwoord

South African producer / director JON DAY spent the last 5 years making a documentary about the mysterious rap-rave group, DIE ANTWOORD. Art...

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Letter to the President

Letter to the President

Feature documentary that showcases the close-knit ties between the Hip Hop Music community and America's social and political policy in the ...

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Big Pun: The Legacy

Big Pun: The Legacy

His rhymes caught the attention of millions. His flow is un-matched by any. His story is captivating and triumphant. "Big Pun: The Legacy" c...

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Pete Rock: Soul Survivor

Pete Rock: Soul Survivor

...

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Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop

Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop

With the help of record label 88rising, we look through the eyes six different artist from six different backgrounds, all within Asia, as th...

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Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys

Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys

The untold story of the man and the musician who made an immense cultural impact across just a few short years. Having gained exclusive righ...

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Coffee and Cigarettes

Coffee and Cigarettes

Coffee And Cigarettes is a collection of eleven films from cult director Jim Jarmusch. Each film hosts star studded cast of extremely unique...

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