Customer Reviews

Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

R an' B ain't new in the world of Pretty Toney. He began spitting magic over several, unforgettable R-and-B influenced tracks years ago. (Check out "Bulletproof Wallets" or even "The Pretty Toney Album.")

But did we approve? Yes, sir: we loved it.

Nobody from the Wu-Tang Dynasty can pull off R-and-B-style hip-hop better than Ghostface.

Keep in mind: this man has never released a sub-standard album. He continues to release wonderful hip-hop music year after year. True, this album presents the softer side of Ghostface (which may sound contradictory when one considers he carries the KILLAH moniker). But calling this album "soft" is a great injustice. This album may display the softer side of a maturing rap artist, but it's still one of the best solo albums from the Wu-Tang Clansmen this year. (It can't all be gangster, I suppose.)

Ghostface is always on point. Each track hangs together as a concept album. Like most R-and-B hip-hop albums, the titular artist raps over the beats, while his guest-artists provide the hooks. Using this formula, every track on this album is a rewarding collaboration.

"Not Your Average Girl" and "Do Over" are both excellent tracks.

"Baby" is perhaps my least favorite track, but not because it sucks. (I just hate auto-tune sound effects.)

"Lonely" and "Stapleton Sex" are also excellent tracks.

"Stay" is a nice, smooth track. (I was bobbing my head like a fool.)

"Paragraphs of Love," "Guest House," and "Let's Stop Playin'" continue with themes of indiscretions, sexual episodes, and even romances.

"I'll Be That" and "Goner" are some of the finest, smoothest tracks on the album. The album never slips into a lull.

Auto-tune ruins the hook on "She's a Killah," but it's still a solid track. Please, Mr. Coles: never use auto-tune again. It's a popular trend in hip-hop now, but God willing, it will soon pass. Keep it bangin'; keep it Wu-Tangin'.

The album's closer, "Back Like That [Remix]" appeared first on "More Fish," but it's still catchy. (Kanye West sucks though.)

Ghostface gives the Wu-Heads another fantastic album. The lyrics are creative, the beats are true. R an' B? Soft? That shouldn't matter if you're a fan. Ghostface proves he's untouchable. The Wizard of Poetry? The man deserves nothing less.

Wu-Tang forever.

Peace.

Ghostface returns after 21 months to bring a more R&B focused album (though he raps on every song almost all of them have R&B hooks and guests on them). This is Ghostface's 9th solo (if you couny his "Hidden Darts Special Edition" album), and he has been a part of probably over 20 albums (Wu-Tang album, Rae's Cuban Linx albums, Theodore Unit, his album with Trife da God, and a few mixtapes with Rae) so the man is a hip-hop vet. The album though not his best, is still a nice one and he is one of the few rappers that can pull off an R&B based album (he has done R&B geared songs very nicely over the past 9 years). This one has 14 songs, 1 is almost a classic, 4 are ok, the other 9 are good. Guests are on 11 songs and only 2 of the guests are rappers, the rest are R&B singers. Production is pretty good as well. Sean C & LV do 4 songs, Scram Jones, Watts & Ringo, Skymark, Mahogany, Bei Maijor, Justice League, Anthony Acid, Xtreme, LT Moe and Clyde & Harry all do 1 song. A nice album for fans of Ghost Dini to have, even if it is in the bottom of the pack as far as his albums go.

#1 - 9 (f/ Shareefa -- nice beat)
#2 - 8.5 (f/ Raheem DeVaughn)
#3 - 8 (f/ Raheem DeVaughn)
#4 - 7.5 (f/ Jack Night)
#5 - 8.5
#6 - 7.5
#7 - 8 (f/ Estelle & Vaughn Anthony)
#8 - 9.5 (f/ Fabolous & Shareefa -- tight beat)
#9 - 9 (f/ John Legend -- nice beat0
#10 - 7.5
#11 - 8.5 (f/ Adrienne Bailon)
#12 - 8.5 (f/ Lloyd)
#13 - 6.5 (f/ Ron Browz with the trendy and annoying talkbox hook, Roger Troutman pulled this off well years and years ago but PLEASE stop using this on every song)
#14 - 8.5 (f/ Kanye West & Ne-Yo -- also on his "More Fish" album)

Dennis Coles -- b. 5/9/70 -- Stapleton, Staten Island, NY
Check all my reviews

I have been a fan of the Wu Tang Clan since their 1st release. Obviously, with so many group members, they were going to release solo albums. Method Man, Raekwon, and GZA, in my opinion, would be the main members that would be expected to release the best solo material. However, over the years, the member with the most consistent CD catalog is Ghostface Kilah. His first solo CD, Ironman, was released in 1996. My favorites included tracks such as Iron Maiden, All That I Got Is You w/Mary J. Blige, Assassination Day, which didn't even feature a verse from Ghostface, Camay and Box In Hand. In the year 2000, Ghostface released my personal all time favorite of his, Supreme Clientele. The first single, "Apollo Kids" featured Raekwon. My other favorites included "Buck 50" which featured Redman, Method Man & Cappadonna, "Wu Banga 101", "Ghost Deini", "Nutmeg" w/RZA and "Stay True". Ghostface released Fishscale in 2006, which was one of my favorite rap CDs of that year. You could play the entire CD from beginning to end, unless you were tired of hearing the first single, "Back Like That" w/Ne-Yo. Anyone that has followed Ghostface, whether it's with Wu Tang or his solo CDs, knows that he always has a verse or a song dedicated to the ladies. "Ice Cream" from Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, "Wisdom Body", which was a solo Ghostface song on "Cuban Linx", "Wildflower" and "Camay" from Ironman, "Never Be The Same Again" from "Bulletproof Wallets" and who could forget Ghostface's verse on Jodeci's "Freek N U (Remix)" which also featured Raekwon. Ghostface's latest offering, "Ghostdini: Wizard Of Poetry in Emerald City" is based on various scenarios involving the ladies. Some tracks involve natural feelings he has for ladies, other tracks has Ghost doing women wrong and trying to get back in good with them and some tracks involve Ghost only wanting one thing from a particular woman. The first single, "Baby" features Raheem DeVaughn and has Ghost describing the joy of finding out that his woman is having a baby. He doesn't know if it's going to be a boy or girl, but he is just excited about the news of becoming a father again. The autotune use by Raheem may turn some people off from this song, but overall it is a good track. Raheem is also featured on "Do Over". On "Do Over" Ghost's girl finds out that he got another woman pregnant and she isn't happy about it obviously. Ghost tries to apologize for what he has done wrong and wants his woman to give him another chance. Shareefa is featured on "Not Your Average Girl". Ghost breaks down the type of woman that he is looking for and Shareefa thinks she is qualified to be that woman. "Guest House" features Fabolous as Ghostface describes an episode where he is trying to reach his wife and he is unsuccessful. After some careful investigating, GHost finds his wife in bed with Fabolous, who was the Fios guy that installed the cable in their house. "Lonely" features Jack Knight and describes Ghostface regretting not treating his woman right. His woman has moved on with another man and his kids are telling Ghost how much better that the new man in their mom's life is treating her. "Let's Stop Playin'" features John Legend and has Ghost describing a situation where him and the woman that he finds attractive are already with someone else. Obviously, GHost isn't worried about that because he wants the woman to meet him at his place at a specific time. "Paragraphs Of Love" features Estelle and Vaughn Anthony as Ghost meets a pregnant Estelle and thinks she is the "most beatifullest" woman that he has ever seen. She is about to get married soon and although she is flattered by Ghost taking interest in her, she has to keep it movin'.

Out of all 14 tracks, "I'll Be That" w/Adrienne Bailon" and "She's A Killah" will probably be the only songs that you won't want to hear everytime you listen to this CD. This is definitely what you would call a concept album but if you like past verses or songs that Ghostface has dedicated to the ladies, you won't have a problem with this CD, even if it takes multiple listens to get into it. If you only want to hear Ghost as he is 90% of the time with the Wu or on his solo CDs where he is giving you his witty lyricism you will either appreciate the CD for what its worth or hate that Ghost took a step in this direction, especially after Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2. As a man I can definitely relate to most of these situations that Ghost is referring to when dealing with women over time.


James' Top 5

Guest House w/Fabolous
Lonely w/Jack Knight
Let's Stop Playin' w/John Legend
Do Over w/Raheem DeVaughn
Paragraphs Of Love w/Estelle & Vaughn Anthony

Honorable Mention:

Forever
Stay
Baby w/Raheem DeVaughn
Not Your Average Girl w/Shareefa
Stapleton Sex

I was stoked to get the new Ghost album, but some of the negative reviews had me anxious. What if he sold out? What if he's all autotuned up, singing corny ringtone jingles? Could it be? Ghost gone soft? Ha, you're dreaming!

Ghost is still as real as it gets, adding a touch of sophistication like "pardon my gangsta" and bringing a whole new sound that is catchy, deep, rich, and honest at the same time. The production is top notch - the horns bring that layer of class and polish, and the singing collaborations are spot on. Crooners like John Legend, Raheem and Lloyd smooth things out, while Ghost keeps it hard and potent.

Ghostface described this album pretty accurately in a recent interview - imagine a song like the old Ice Cream joint (french vanilla butter pecan chocolate deluxe), take it to the next level, and create a whole package, a complete album that explores various romantic themes and scenarios from the sophisticated gangster's point of view.

If you only like punch you in the face, grimy staircase crack rap, you probably won't dig this album. But if you understand that The Wu is not limited to one style or one sound, and have enjoyed the clan's soulful side in the past, this album will quickly become a new favorite. Just let the man speak for himself:
"You know how I do when I come through, shut the whole block down like I got something to prove"

Man, for the people sayin this is just a R&B album with a rapper....whatever man, It is what it is! I'm definitely feelin this record. The production is on point...really diggin the laid back sh**. Somethin to come down on, numtumbot? Blowin big & takin swigs, man really goin down,man

...once you step through the gates, your walking on gold! Ghost bends R&B to make it his own, laced with soulful beats and his on-point "Poetry". The only track that doesn't seem to fit in this city is "Stapleton Sex", the others are worthy.
I wouldn't call this a dissapointment from Ghost by any means, but I hope his next move is another rap epic with the likes of "Supreme Clientele" and "Fishscale"!

It's about time we had a hip hop album approach women and issues of love in a possitive light. I'm not an emotional guy, but I could truly relate to the songs on this album. Ghostface is known for good music, and this album doesn't disappoint.

GHOSTFACE IS PRESIDENT!... DINI DROPPING SCIENCE UNDER THE ORIGINAL "WHITE FACE!" NON STOP LYRICAL BRILLANCE!

For years, Ghostface Killah mulled over the idea of doing an R&B album. Dabbling in R&B is nothing new to Ghostface, after all on his 1996 debut album "Ironman" he collaborated with Mary J. Blige and the Force M.D.'s. On the one hand, this was a theme that was prevalent in his music, as he worked with Amy Winehouse, Ne-Yo, Jodeci, Musiq Soulchild and Carl Thomas. On the other hand, people were understandably skeptical being that everyone knows what happened the last time a rapper made an R&B album (The atrocity known as Big Daddy Kane's "Prince Of Darkness" comes to mind).

In 2009, he releases the album "Ghostdini: The Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City", a heavily influenced R&B album that comes as a surprise to no one. The album has a wide range of guest appearances such as Raheem DeVaughn ("Do Over" and "Baby"), Fabolous ("Guest House"), John Legend ("Let's Stop Playin'"), and even Adrienne Bailon of The Cheetah Girls ("I'll Be That")!!! Even Lloyd makes an appearance on the album sounding rather Michael Jackson-esque on the song "Goner". There are a couple of setbacks on the album, however. The club ready "She's A Killah" is the musical equivalent to fingernails on a chalkboard and the three year old remix to "Back Like That" (Which was origianlly featured on his 2006 album "More Fish")is unnecessary. The amusingly raunchy "Stapleton Sex" seems out of place and temporarily ruins the flow of the album. For the most part, it's a good album from Ghostface, a lot better than I thought it would be.

I am loving this album. I am a huge GFK supporter, he is still my favorite Clansmen. Buy the album, you won't be disappointed.