In an industry in which every artist feel they are super human, very few can actually stand the test of time. Ghostface Killah is one of the few who not only last in this ever changing game, but he constantly steps his game up with every album.
1996 saw the release of Ironman. Ironman was Ghostface Killah’s solo debut and proved that Pretty Toney was a force to be reckoned with, whether he called in his Wu-Tang family or if he is rolling solo. This debut was exactly what we could have expected from GFK. Gritty RZA beats, Kung Fu samples mixed in and highly memorable features from his Wu comrades. Ironman was the first building block in what turned out to be a legendary career for Toney.
This album is an experience, not just a CD. Ghostface perfectly paints pictures for the listeners and shows us all the many sides of this extremely talented mind. Raekwon kicks the album off and sets the tone for what shapes up to be a classic. “Iron Maiden” is one of the albums strongest tracks and was a genius choice for the opening track. “Poisonous Darts” is another standout selection due in large part to GFK’s ability to vividly walk us through the music. “Winter Warz” lets us relive the 36 Chambers for a second. Every emcee perfectly laces there verse and it shows just why we want Wu-Tang back for more! Ghost shows us an introspective side with “All That I Got Is You”. Mary J Blige assists Ghost on this beautifully crafted song as he walks us through his upbringing and his struggle!
Toney’s lyrical prowess is a true gift. He offered the world an unpolished and sometimes rushed flow that would have caused a lot of emcee’s to fold, but Ghostface Killah proved to be stronger and sicker than your average rapper. A storyteller whose work is often unmatched and underestimated but never doubted. Who would have thought that almost 12 years after the album originally dropped that we would still be marveling over the foundation Ghostface set for his career?
Ghostface Killah: A lyrical superhero amongst a universe of wannabe emcee’s!
Overall score: 4.3/5
Standout Tracks:
“Iron Maiden”
“Poisonous Darts”
“Winter Warz”
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Welcome to the fam, Beads, and thanks for a dope review!
This is just the beginning! and its my honor to be part of the team!!
Nice review! Good way to start things off. Cappa rips “Winter Warz” for 2 mins and 13 seconds.
“Black Jesus” was/is one of fav’s.
Now THIS is right up my alley! Thanks for the stellar review, Ironman has always been one of my favorites! I love how Ghost interrupts the chorus in Winter Warz…”My technique alone blows doors straight off the hinges!!” Illness. Can’t wait for the rest of your reviews and welcome to the team!
I appreciate that. I am in the process of getting a Ghostface interview, but since he is on the Rock The Bells Tour, reaching him is damn near impossible
thorough review. I like the way you pointed out that listening to ghost is an experience. There was so much life crammed in his bars that even if you were’nt a project cat you could still relate to it on some level.
“wildflower” was the soundtrack to when this chick stunted on me and real talk i done dopped tears to “all that i got is you” when i went through some dram with mom dukes.
Another important thing about this album to me is the fact that apart from the Rza remix to AZ’s doe or die this was the album that raekwon became a lot more abstract in his verses. rae’s darts on cuban linx were mad detailed and striking but this was the joint that he really started throwing lines like “asiatic holding power like a craftmatic” and “using this just like an adverb/ action words flowing like a blackbird”.
This was also the joint that showed a perfect balance with Rza’s dusty sound of old and the cleaner sound he would showcase on Wu tang forever and albums after that.
Great job with the review kid.
One
I heard DJ Premier once say that you have to know how to listen to Hip-Hop. you have to check the wordplay. This lp had some of illest wordplay ever. cinematic soundscape at it’s best.