Ghostface Killah
Background information
Birth name Dennis Coles
Also known as Tony Starks, Ghostdeini, Ironman
Born (1970-05-09) May 9, 1970 (age 42)
Origin Staten Island, New York, United States
Genres East Coast hip hop, mafioso rap, hardcore hip hop
Years active 1992–present
Labels Razor Sharp, Epic, Starks Enterprises, Def Jam
Associated acts Wu-Tang Clan, Theodore Unit, MF DOOM, Rakim, Sheek Louch
Website ghostfacekillah.com

Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970),[1] better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, and formerly Little Jimmy Ice, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan.[2] After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo-career with Ironman in 1996, which was well received by music critics. He has continued his success over the following years with critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.[3]

Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed[4][5] for his loud, fast-paced flow,[3] and his emotional stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.[3][6] In 2006, MTV included him on their honorable mention list of The Greatest MCs of All Time,[7] while the editors of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), praising him as "one of the most imaginative storytellers of our time."[8] Ghostface's storytelling abilities have widely been praised, with Q magazine calling him "rap's finest storyteller."[9]

Contents

Career [link]

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, including various solo projects.

In 1995, Ghostface guest-starred extensively on fellow 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 to feature this stylistic trait.

Ghostface became well known for both his up-tempo, stream-of-consciousness rap and, later in his career, for his emotionally charged raps and smooth constant flow. In 1996, he discovered that he was diabetic, a condition that would weaken his health. According to "Trials of Life", a 2007 song with fellow New York rapper Prodigy (himself a sickle-cell anaemic), Ghostface assumed he had been stricken by a sexually transmitted disease until he received the diabetes diagnosis.

Ghostface was incarcerated for attempted robbery in 1999, a situation that was never publicly commented on by the Wu-Tang Clan or Ghostface (the charge dated from 1995). It would lead to a delay in his next album in 2000 with his follow-up to Ironman, Supreme Clientele. The album was well-received by critics and was placed #2 on Hip Hop Connection's list of "The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005". It included "Apollo Kids", a popular single which featured Raekwon and had a sample of "Cool Breeze" by Solomon Burke. "Cherchez LaGhost", another single off the album, became a minor club hit. The album also notably included the sentimental "Child's Play" which brought numerous comparisons to Slick Rick. Supreme Clientele would be a turning point in RZA's influence on his sound, as only six songs are produced by the RZA, compared to Iron Man, its predecessor where every song but one is produced by him. Though he contributed fewer beats to the project, RZA personally oversaw the mixing and production of the album as a whole, contributing to Supreme Clientele's unified sound

Ghostface wasted little time in recording his next album, the heavily R&B-influenced Bulletproof Wallets, released a year after Supreme Clientele. Its feature single, Never Be the Same Again, featured Carl Thomas and Raekwon. He had another minor club hit with Flowers, which featured guest vocals from fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Raekwon, and a popular single Ghost Showers which featured Madame Majestic, who also sung on the popular Wu-Tang track Gravel Pit. It was well received, but never really matched its predecessor in popularity or renown.

Def Jam [link]

In 2003, Ghostface signed with Def Jam Records. After temporarily dropping "Killah" from his stage name, Ghostface 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.[10] 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. Ghostface also appeared on "He Comes" by De La Soul, on The Grind Date. In November 2005, Ghostface and Theodore Unit's breakout star Trife Da God released a joint project, Put It On The Line.

Ghost at the Virgin Festival in 2007.

Ghostface's son, Sun God, debuted and began regularly recording with his father as part of the unit.

In 2006, Ghostface teamed up with underground artist 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 U.S. Billboard 200 and at #2 on the R&B charts,[11] 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.

He has worked with 4Cast to produce his own action figure.[12] In December 2007 Ghostface appeared on Spinner.com's comedy show The DL[13] to do a holiday commercial for his action figure.[14]

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

In a May 2008 interview, Ghostface Killah stated that he would make an R&B-inspired album in the vein of tracks he had done before with artists such as Ne-Yo and Jodeci.[15][16] That album would become his eighth studio album Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City to good reviews. It featured singles such as "Baby" and "Do Over". In March 2009, Ghostface also recorded a song called "Message from Ghostface" dedicated to women who were abused in relationships after the Rihanna/ Chris Brown controversy.

Raekwon, in a May 2009 interview with Rolling Stone indicated that Ghostface Killah is preparing to release a new album. In response to a question asking if the Wu-Tang Clan are going to release a follow up to 8 Diagrams, Raekwon stated "Everybody's doing different things right now — you got Meth [Method Man] coming out with an album, you got Ghostface coming out with an album, some guys working on their projects, some guys getting into the film world, everybody is multi-tasking right now."[17] Ghostface appeared on a total of 8 songs on Raekwon's highly anticipated release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II.

Shortly after the release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, Def Jam contracted Raekwon to work with their label artists Method Man and Ghostface Killah on an album later titled Wu-Massacre. Production began in November 2009. Wu-Massacre was released March 30, 2010 to generally positive reviews from most music critics with some mixed criticism due to the album's rushed feel clocking in at a mere 30 minutes of music. With heavy promotion, it sold 37,900 units in its first week. It has sold 64,000 units as of May 12, 2010. It features production from Scram Jones, Mathematics, and the RZA who produced the album's lead single, "Our Dreams". Recently he confirmed that he will be releasing 3 studio albums with the first one out near December called Apollo Kids, the second called Blue & Cream and finally he will be releasing a sequel to his 2000 album Supreme Clientele.[18] He recently confirmed a collabo album with D-Block member Sheek Louch as well called Wu-Block.[19] In 2011, Ghostface Killah featured on UK artist Josh Osho's debut single 'Redemption Days'.

Controversy [link]

In July 2011, Coles was sued by Jack Urbont for copyright violation, stemming from the improper use of Urbont's 1960's Iron Man theme song. Urbont has also taken issue with Coles' appropriation of the Iron Man brand name.[20]

In August 2011, Coles filed a lawsuit against Universal Music for unpaid royalties.[21]

Aliases [link]

Ghostface Killah, like most members of the Wu-Tang clan, rapped under several personae, each with their own name, mythology and influences. Some recurring aliases:

  • Ghostface Killah (occasionally spelled Ghostface Killer, Ghost Face Killah, or abbreviated GFK)
  • Ghostface
His shortened stage name during The Pretty Toney Album era.[22][23]
  • Ghost Deini[24] alternately Ghostdini
  • Ironman, Tony Starks, or just Starks
Ghostface has frequently assumed the names of both Ironman and Tony Starks, a reference to the Marvel Comics character Iron Man and his true identity, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (note the variant spellings). He released a 1996 album titled Ironman. His song, "Slept On Tony With Dirt," appears in the 2008 film, and he even appears in a deleted scene on the DVD.[25]
  • Starky Love[26]
  • Pretty Toney, P Tone[27]
  • The Wally Champ, The Wallabee Kingpin[28]

Discography [link]

Studio albums
Collaborations
Compilation albums

Mixtapes [link]

  • 2006: NY's Backbone(with Theodore Unit) (hosted by J-Love)
  • 2009: RnB n Fish
  • 2011: Beat Tape Project
  • 2012: Duel of the Iron Fists (with DJ Premier)

Filmography [link]

Movie appearances [link]

TV series appearances [link]

  • 30 Rock (2006) as himself (episodes "Jack-Tor" and "The Source Awards")
  • Human Giant (2007) as himself (episodes "Mind Explosion" and "Mosh Pit!")
  • The Boondocks (2007) as himself (episode "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back")
  • Rushing Jason (2008) as Big Poppa
  • Mob Wives (VH1 Series) (2011) as Himself

Video game appearances [link]

References [link]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ghostface Killah - Biography". Allmusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p194811. Retrieved 2009-01-03. 
  2. ^ Overview: Ghostface Killah. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  3. ^ a b c Frere-Jones, Sasha (2006-03-20). "Ghost's World". The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/03/20/060320crmu_music. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  4. ^ Brown, Marisa (2007). "The Big Doe Rehab: Review". Allmusic. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1264351. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  5. ^ O'Donnell, Mallory (2006-12-14). "More Fish". Stylus Magazine. https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/ghostface-killah/more-fish.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  6. ^ Dombal, Ryan (2006-03-31). "Ghost' Writer". EW.com. https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1178775,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  7. ^ Honorable Mentions. MTV. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  8. ^ "Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987 - 2007 - 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time". Rap.about.com. 2012-01-26. https://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_5.htm. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  9. ^ "Ghostface Killah - Fishscale CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 2006-03-28. https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7031726. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  10. ^ "MMTV 2004: The 50 Best Albums", Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 30, 2006.
  11. ^ Ghostface Killah Billboard chart history
  12. ^ "GhostFace Killah Doll". Gizmodo.com. 2006-03-23. https://gizmodo.com/162637/ghostface-killah-doll. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
  14. ^ "The DL: A Very Special Ghostface Holiday". Spinner. 2007-12-20. https://www.spinner.com/2007/12/20/the-dl-a-very-special-ghostface-holiday. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 
  15. ^ "Angela Yee Speaks To Ghostface & Raekwon". Nah Right. 2008-08-05. https://nahright.com/news/2008/08/05/angela-yee-speaks-to-ghostface-raekwon/#more-6652. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 
  16. ^ "ghostface killah speaks on rb album.mp3". zSHARE. 2009-08-06. https://www.zshare.net/audio/16564278512b2daf/. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 
  17. ^ [2][dead link]
  18. ^ Hughes, Josiah (2010-10-12). "Ghostface Killah Announces The Apollo Kids for December 14, Lines Up Two More New Albums • News •". Exclaim.ca. https://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=148&csid2=844&fid1=50300. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  19. ^ "Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes". Hiphopgame.ihiphop.com. 2011-01-03. https://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/index2.php3?page=sheek%20louch. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  20. ^ perpetua, Matthew. "Ghostface Killah Sued by Iron Man Composer". Online Article. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ghostface-killah-sued-by-iron-man-composer-20110708. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  21. ^ Gardner, Eriq. "Ghostface Sues Universal". Online Article. Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ghostface-killah-sues-universal-music-222203. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  22. ^ Allmusic review of The Pretty Toney Album: "The Pretty Toney Album [is] the rapper's first under the just-Ghostface moniker"
  23. ^ Onion AV Club interview: "The Pretty Toney Album was credited to Ghostface, and Fishscale is credited to Ghostface Killah. What's the difference?"
  24. ^ "How the f--- was y'all n--- thinkin'? You think I fell off the ledge? / The legendary Ghost Deini might be dead?"
  25. ^ Introduction of Tony Starks in the song "Wu-Gambinos": the fifth verse is performed by Ghostface Killer, a.k.a. Tony Starks
  26. ^ Lyrics from "Ice Cream": "They call me Starky Love"
  27. ^ Ghostface Killah's TV.com page: "Alias Names: Ghostface, GFK, Pretty Toney, Tony Starks"
  28. ^ Lyrics from "Good": https://www.hitlist.com/lyrics/lyricresult.php?id=14303
  29. ^ Vasquez, Andres (2011-07-15). "Ghostface Killah Promises Wu-Block LP, New Wu-Tang LP & More | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. https://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15986/title.ghostface-killah-promises-wu-block-lp-new-wu-tang-lp-more. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  30. ^ NEWS: Ghostface Killah Still Reps The Wu-Block, "We'll Be On The Streets" SOHH.

External links [link]


https://wn.com/Ghostface_Killah

Call My Name (Cheryl song)

"Call My Name" is a song by English recording artist Cheryl Cole taken from her third studio album, A Million Lights (2012). It was written and produced by Calvin Harris, and released as the lead single from the album on 10 June 2012. "Call My Name" is a dance-pop song that is compared by critics to songs produced by Harris for other singers.

The track received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Although many thought it was catchy, it was thought to be generic when compared to other songs played on the radio, and is noted for being a departure from Cole's previous works. "Call My Name" achieved commercial success on Cole's main markets, reaching the top spot of the charts in Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom. The song also became her first and only chart entry in New Zealand, peaking at number 13 and earning a Gold certification in the country.

The accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler, and features Cole performing an elaborate dance routine with backup dancers. The release of it was promoted with two teasers, until the full video premiered on 2 May 2012. To promote the song, Cole performed the track on The Graham Norton Show, Stand Up to Cancer, Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012, T4, The Voice Denmark, and The Voice UK. It was reported by various media outlets that Cole had lip synced her performances of "Call My Name".

Call My Name (The Brilliant Green song)

Call My Name is The Brilliant Green's eighth single, released in 1999. It peaked at #12 on the Oricon singles chart.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Tomoko Kawase, all music composed by Shunsaku Okuda.


References

Podcasts:

Ghostface Killah

ALBUMS

PLAYLIST TIME:

All I Got Is You

by: Ghostface Killah

Intro One: [some movie]
What dey gives you blood
Three months man
Whatchu doin in here anyway You oughta be home with your momma
How old are you boy
Thirteen
Thirteen Damn, the bastards must be runnin outta niggaz to arrest
Intro: Ghostface
Yeah, ohh yeah, this goes out
to all the families that went through the struggle
Yeah, from the heart
It was from the heart, everything was real
[Mary J.] All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through
[Ghostface Killah]
Yo, dwellin in the past, flashbacks when I was young
Whoever thought that I'd have a baby girl and three sons
I'm goin through this difficult stage I find it hard to believe
Why my old Earth had so many seeds
But she's an old woman, and due to me I respect that
I saw life for what it's really worth and took a step back
Family ain't family no more, we used to play ball
Eggs after school, eat grits cause we was poor
Grab the pliers for the channel, fix the hanger on the TV
Rockin each others pants to school wasn't easy
We survived winters, snotty nosed with no coats
We kept it real, but the older brother still had jokes
Sadly, daddy left me at the age of six
I didn't know nuttin but mommy neatly packed his shit
She cried, and grandma held the family down
I guess mommy wasn't strong enough, she just went down
Check it, fifteen of us in a three bedroom apartment
Roaches everywhere, cousins and aunts was there
Four in the bed, two at the foot, two at the head
I didn't like to sleep with Jon-Jon he peed the bed
Seven o'clock, pluckin roaches out the cereal box
Some shared the same spoon, watchin saturday cartoons
Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill
In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
And there was days I had to go to Tex house with a note
Stating Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke
So embarrasin I couldn't stand to knock on they door
My friends might be laughin, I spent stamps in stores
Mommy where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper
Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor
Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats
Two brothers with muscular dystrophy, it killed me
But I remember this, mom's would lick her finger tips
To wipe the cold out my eye before school wit her spit
Case worker had her runnin back to face to face
I caught a case, housin tried to throw us out of our place
Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky
And ask myself was I meant to be here... why
Yeah, yo
[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through
(repeat 4X)
Word up mommy, I love you
Word up
It was all you, word, you brought me in like this
[Mary J. Blige]
I sit and think about
All the times we did without, yeah
I always said I woudn't cry
When I saw tears in your eyes
I understand that daddy's not here now
But some way or somehow, I will always be around, yeah
All things that I did from this to them
Oh from drugs to being there
Being down and out and I love you always
[Poppa Wu]
Yeah, you say
You see the universe, which consists of the sun moon and star
And them planets, that exist in my space
Like man woman and child
You understand
We got to keep it real, and what reality
and reality will keep it real with us
I remember them good ol days
Because see, that's the child I was
What made me the man I am today
See cause if you forget where you come from, heheh
You're never gonna make it where you're goin, aheh
Because you lost the reality of yourself
So take one stroll through your mind
And see what you will find
And you'll see a whole universe all over again
and again and again and again and again
Heheheh, yeah heheheheh ahaheheheh




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