Ghost is back! But didn’t he just release the critically acclaimed, Fishscale, a few months prior to More Fish? Two albums in one year is either a really good thing or a sign of rushed material and an attempt at a quick pay day. C’mon, this is Ghostface Killah we are talking about, so you know that this is a gift to us. More Fish is a collection of songs that didn’t make Fishscale, more or less, and is just as enjoyable as any GFK album to date.
Just like every other Ghostface album, this one starts off with a bang! “Ghost is Back” is a great way to lead off this album. Who actually forgot Ghost was here? Nonetheless, he puts it down and reminds us that the Staten Island God Emcee hasn’t gone into any kind of slump. The next couple of songs, “Miguel Sanchez”, “Guns N Razors” and “Outta Town Shit” all shine on this project. Great music with even better storylines about gritty drug tales and the streets. “Street Opera” is great, a father and son collab for the ages. Not many emcees can hang with Ghost, so why not let his own seed try? The downside to this album tends to be ample mic time other less worthy emcee get. Trife Da God shines but everyone else tends to sound amateur. Through all the drug dealing and blazing pistols, this album hits a song that really shows us why Ghostface Killah is one of hip-hop’s best story tellers and picture painters of all time. “Josephine” is as good as it gets. This type of track has been done plenty of times but never in this fashion. Ghost’s vivid wordplay actually puts you in a position to feel bad for the young female turned dope fiend. Not many songs allow us to gain a connection to the content, but Ghost makes it so damn easy! Oh yeah, there are a few notable remixes on here as well, “You Know I’m No Good” and “Back Like That”.
Six albums down and Ghost has shown no signs of letting up. It’s amazing to think that an emcee has been through so many changes and yet is still the same after it all. Ghost is a perfect example that progression and longevity doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sell out. More Fish suffers a little bit due to the features but Ghost did exactly what we always want the big act to do, show some love to his camp! So often the entourage gets overlooked, so Ghost let them be heard. Not the best results, but that’s the risk you take. More Fish proves to be a worthy follow up Fishscale and leaves us wanting more!
Overall score: 4/5
Standout tracks:
Ghost Is Back
Street Opera
Josephine
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Good review. Before I read it the first thought that crossed my mind was every one outside of Trife and Sun God didn’t bring it.
This album probably is towards the end of my favorite Ghost albums, but it has its spots. No Raekwon is a minus to me.
Yeah it was dope as hell, but I agree, outside of Sun God and Trife the others are so-so. Rae should be there
Wasn’t this album more or less just leftover tracks from Fishscale?
“Gunz n Razorz” is one of Ghost’s illest joints. I was MAD AS HELL at Doom for initially wasting this beat on his album. When i heard it on “special herbs” i remember thinking that Wu would sound incredible over this beat. Then when i hear “mmm…food” i was heated that Doom used a beat this incredible for a food skit instead of ripping it down. Then my man Ox came through with an advance copy of “more fish” and when i heard Ghost spitting over this track I LOST IT. No really, i lost it. I was spazzing out to the point he had to stop the track and tell me to calm down. I was like ghost rescued that beat, plus it was great to hear Cappa and Killa sin ( hold your head up in the beasts son ) kill it too.
The rest of the album was really good to me as well. I kinda see it as a superior sequel to 718. “alex” is hella creative and “street opera” is beautiful yet melancholic at the same time. Powerful stuff. Overall a very solid release. A few of the joints did’nt hit me but the pro’s far outweighed the cons.
I totally agree with the rating you gave this one beads. Defineately a solid 4/5