Ghostface Killah - Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City
New Ghostface Review
Ghostface Killah, the murda-rap slinging, no-hook-singing, fist flinging gentleman we've known and loved for fifteen beautiful years, has decided to show us his sensitive side. (Finally!)
Well, ok, rewind for a second. It's not sensitive exactly, but Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City has a love theme. This R&B based album is a first for Ghost, but he pulls it off; Raheem "Radio" DeVaughn, Jack Knight, and the accurately named John Legend pepper Ghostdini with love choruses that nicely complement the famously slick Ghost flow.
Before we get into it, a question: how the hell does Ghost keep pumping out so much material? Rap's Peter North put out three solo albums between '06 and '07, then released Ghostdini mere months after contributing to a majority of Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2. And he's alreadyworking on both a collaboration with Rae and Method Man and another solo album. You gotta wonder if Method Man is hooking him up with some of his namesake.
Anyway, let's do track highlights for this one.
The first standout is the most blatant R&B jam of the bunch,Lonely, which features Ghostface lamenting his mistreatment of hisgirlfriend and her subsequent choice of another man, backed by a greatacoustic riff and newcomer Jack Knight on the chorus. I'm also a fan ofI'll Be That, where Adrienne Bailon spits rapidfire lines about herdevotion to--well, guess who.
My personal favorite is Paragraphes Of Love, featuring thesame Estelle of "American Boy" fame, for the sole reason that Ghostdemonstrates how to properly hit on knocked up ladies.
"Excuse me are you pregnant? Not to be rude
But if it means anything I can get you some food."
One last thing: Stapleton Sex is the most graphic sex rap since...well, ever. Complete with full sound effects and sprinkled with gems like "my slow jam dick is on Thursdays," Ghostface proves here that he is fully qualified to write for Penthouse Forums, and frequently has. I was shocked. At first. Then I used his moves on my girlfriend. Then she invited her friend over.
Disclaimer: Don't watch this. [ed: MOAR]
Not everyone's gonna like this. There's only one incident of violent crime, and love or sex is the focus of every song. But if you like Ghost and are R&B curious, pick it up.
Label: Def Jam
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Length: 56 Minutes
Tracks:
01. Not Your Average Girl (Ft. Shareefa)
02. Do Over (Ft. Raheem “Radio” DeVaughn)
03. Baby (Ft. Raheem “Radio” DeVaughn)
04. Lonely (Ft. Jack Knight)
05. Stapleton Sex
06. Stay
07. Paragraphes Of Love (Ft. Vaughn Anthony And Estelle)
08. Guest House (Ft. Fabolous)
09. Let’s Stop Playing (Ft. John Legend)
10. Forever
11. I’ll Be That (Ft. Adrienne Bailon)
12. Goner Ft. Lloyd
13. She’s A Killah (Ft. Ron Browz) (Bonus)
14. Back Like That (Remix) (Ft. Kanye West And Ne-Yo) (Bonus)
Download (71.6 MB)