The past year has seen the dramatic fall of many artists who could use some serious rehab right now, but Ghostface is not one of them.
Ghostface vs. Shaolin
Ever since the Wu-Tang Clan took the music world by force in 1993, Ghostface's unique ability to turn any song into an exercise in lyricism has made him a standout force within the group. More importantly, his solo projects, often entrenched in copious amounts of esoterica, have sometimes eclipsed that of his fellow clansmen. So, it's no surprise that, while the Wu's 8 Diagrams makes for a great listening experience, The Big Doe Rehab offers more fun.
The Big Ghost Re-Up
When Ghost poured a plethora of vivid stories onto the critically acclaimed Fishscale, I feared that he may have emptied the vault on his narratives. In fact, The Big Doe Rehab proves that Ghost still has a bottomless supply of cinematic hood tales left in him. Rehab builds on his knack for imageries that mesh urban culture with measured violence.
A Mixbag of Wit and Grit
On "White Linen Affair," we're quickly reminded that humor is also an ingredient in the GFK recipe. Ghost reveals his secret celebrity crush: "Excuse me, have y'all seen Alicia Keys?/Tell her the limo's outside, she's bouncing with me," while his accomplice Shawn Wigs offers advice to Britney on how to prevent paparazzi crotch shots.Later, on the album's magnum opus"Yolanda's House," Ghost recruits Method Man and Raekwon for a harried crime tale.
Bottom Line on The Big Doe Rehab
Admittedly, The Big Doe Rehab is not quite as distinct as Fishscale. But, it's a soothing reminder that Tony Starks and his highflying stories will be around for decades to come.
Top Tracks- "Toney Sigel"
- "Yolanda's House"
- "Slow Down"
