Ghostface Killah

Biography

Dennis David Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele×Supreme Clientele25 January 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Iron's Theme (intro)0:472Nutmeg4:253One3:464Saturday Nite1:395Ghost Deini4:066Apollo Kids3:547The Grain2:358Buck 504:029Mighty Healthy3:2210Woodrow the Basehead3:0411Stay True1:3912We Made It4:3813Stroke of Death1:5614Iron's Theme (intermission)1:3015Malcolm4:1516Who Would You Fuck2:4417Child's Play3:3318Cherchez LaGhost3:1119Wu Banga 1014:2320Clyde Smith (skit)2:4021Iron's Theme (conclusion)1:59 (2000) and Fishscale×Fishscale28 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1The Return of Clyde Smith (skit)1:042Shakey Dog3:453Kilo4:004The Champ4:095Major Operation (skit)0:0769 Milli Bros.4:157Beauty Jackson1:328Heart Street Directions (skit)0:559Columbus Exchange (skit) / Crack Spot2:2210R.A.G.U.2:4011Bad Mouth Kid (skit)1:1012Whip You With a Strap2:5213Back Like That4:0214Be Easy3:2015Clipse of DOOM3:0916Jellyfish3:5117Dogs of War4:0418Barbershop1:5719Ms. Sweetwater (skit)0:1420Big Girl3:3621Underwater2:0322The Ironman Takeover (skit)0:0523Momma4:5024Three Bricks4:58 (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his emotional stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs. In 2006, MTV included him as an "honourable mention" on their list of the "Greatest MCs of All Time", while the editors of About.com placed him on their list of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", calling him "one of the most imaginative storytellers of our time." Q magazine called him "rap's finest storyteller". Pitchfork has stated that "Ghostface has unparalleled storytelling instincts; he might be the best, most colorful storyteller rap has ever seen." NPR has called him "a compulsive storyteller", and asserts that "his fiction is painterly."

Early life

Ghostface grew up in the Stapleton Houses housing project in Stapleton, Staten Island, New York City, helping with daily care of two younger brothers who had muscular dystrophy. The 2019 series Wu-Tang: An American Saga depicts a feud between him and fellow Clan member Raekwon; however the feud was purely fictional and never took place in reality. Raekwon and Ghostface attended junior high school together.

Early work

A roommate of Wu-Tang founder RZA, Ghostface helped bring together the other seven members. In 1995, Ghostface guest-starred extensively on fellow Clan member Raekwon's debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., appearing on almost every song and receiving nearly equal billing. "It felt good to have my boy next to me, Ghostface, who basically comes from the same lifestyle as I come from. And we were able to sit down and concoct an idea that we both were able to respect and basically get everybody in the crew involved...", said Raekwon about Ghostface's involvement in the project. Raekwon intended Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... to play like a film, with himself as the "star", Ghostface Killah as the "guest star" and producer RZA as the "director". He also contributed songs to the Sunset Park and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood soundtracks; both songs were included on his first solo LP, Ironman×Ironman29 October 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Iron Maiden4:472Wildflower3:273The Faster Blade2:2842602:475Assassination Day4:186Poisonous Darts2:167Winter Warz4:418Box in Hand3:159Fish3:5010Camay4:3411Daytona 5004:4112Motherless Child3:4513Black Jesus4:3714After the Smoke Is Clear3:1715All That I Got Is You5:2116The Soul Controller6:5017Marvel5:10, in 1996. The album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, had a more pronounced soul influence (particularly 1970s soul) than previous Wu-Tang releases, and Ghostface's future albums would continue to feature this stylistic trait. He readily and regularly took on the role of executive producer for many collective efforts as well along with RZA and Oliver “Power” Grant.
In the year 2000, Ghostface released his second studio album, Supreme Clientele×Supreme Clientele25 January 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Iron's Theme (intro)0:472Nutmeg4:253One3:464Saturday Nite1:395Ghost Deini4:066Apollo Kids3:547The Grain2:358Buck 504:029Mighty Healthy3:2210Woodrow the Basehead3:0411Stay True1:3912We Made It4:3813Stroke of Death1:5614Iron's Theme (intermission)1:3015Malcolm4:1516Who Would You Fuck2:4417Child's Play3:3318Cherchez LaGhost3:1119Wu Banga 1014:2320Clyde Smith (skit)2:4021Iron's Theme (conclusion)1:59. The album was well received by critics, and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. It included "Apollo Kids×Apollo Kids20 December 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Purified Thoughts3:322Superstar3:083Black Tequila3:434Drama4:2852getha Baby3:016Starkology2:257In tha Park3:478How You Like Me Baby3:159Handcuffin' Them Hoes2:3010Street Bullies3:1811Ghetto4:0912Troublemakers3:41", a popular single which featured Raekwon and had a sample of "Cool Breeze" by Solomon Burke. "Cherchez La Ghost", another single off the album, became a minor club hit. Supreme Clientele marked a turning point in terms of RZA's influence on Ghostface's sound, as only six songs on it are produced by RZA, whereas on Ironman, its predecessor, every song but one is produced by RZA. Although he contributed fewer beats to the project than to Ironman, RZA personally oversaw the mixing and production of the album as a whole, thereby contributing to Supreme Clientele's unified sound.
Ghostface wasted little time in recording his next album, the heavily R&B-influenced Bulletproof Wallets×Bulletproof Wallets13 November 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Intro1:202Maxine3:473Flowers3:254Never Be the Same Again4:265Teddy (skit)1:046Theodore3:097Ghost Showers4:128Strawberry3:079The Forest3:1110The Juks4:0911Walking Through the Darkness3:2112Jealousy (skit)0:5613The Hilton4:0014Ice (interlude)1:0115Love Session3:4016Street Chemistry1:55, released a year after Supreme Clientele. Its main single, "Never Be the Same Again", featured Raekwon and Carl Thomas. It produced another minor club hit, "Flowers", which featured guest vocals from fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Raekwon, and a popular single, "Ghost Showers" which featured Madame Majestic, whose other key claim to fame is that she sings on the popular Wu-Tang track "Gravel Pit".

Def Jam

In 2003, Ghostface signed with Def Jam Records. After temporarily dropping "Killah" from his stage name, Ghostface released The Pretty Toney Album in April 2004. The album, while containing two RZA productions, featured none of the Clan; instead, it featured collaborations with Missy Elliott, D-Block, and Jacki-O. The singles "Tush" and "Run", which were collaborations with Missy and Jadakiss respectively, achieved moderate success in the clubs and on the charts, and the album was featured on numerous "best of the year" lists; for instance, it was Pitchfork's No. 9 album of the year. Ghostface also appeared on the track "On My Knees×On My Knees17 May 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1On My Knees (radio version)3:082On My Knees (radio version no rap)2:583On My Knees (Kardinal Beats remix)4:114On My Knees (Blacksmith 12" remix)4:03" by UK R&B group the 411; the song became a hit in the UK and Australia. Ghostface then released an album entitled 718 (after the Staten Island area code) with a group of his protégés, the Theodore Unit. Ghostface also appeared on "He Comes" by De La Soul, on The Grind Date. In November 2005, Ghostface and Theodore Unit's breakout star Trife Da God released a joint project, Put It on the Line.

In 2006, Ghostface teamed up with underground artist MF Doom for a still-unreleased album entitled Swift & Changeable. MF Doom also produced several songs for Ghostface's 2006 album Fishscale×Fishscale28 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1The Return of Clyde Smith (skit)1:042Shakey Dog3:453Kilo4:004The Champ4:095Major Operation (skit)0:0769 Milli Bros.4:157Beauty Jackson1:328Heart Street Directions (skit)0:559Columbus Exchange (skit) / Crack Spot2:2210R.A.G.U.2:4011Bad Mouth Kid (skit)1:1012Whip You With a Strap2:5213Back Like That4:0214Be Easy3:2015Clipse of DOOM3:0916Jellyfish3:5117Dogs of War4:0418Barbershop1:5719Ms. Sweetwater (skit)0:1420Big Girl3:3621Underwater2:0322The Ironman Takeover (skit)0:0523Momma4:5024Three Bricks4:58, on which he chose to revert to the stage name "Ghostface Killah", rather than just "Ghostface". The album debuted strongly, appearing at the No. 4 position on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on the R&B charts, the rapper's most auspicious chart showing since the heyday of the Wu-Tang Clan and the release of his solo debut. The album also received near-unanimous positive reviews. Ghostface embarked on a limited-date tour of U.S. venues in support of the album, performing several of his concerts together with most of the other members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
In 2007, Ghostface provided the theme song for the Irish animated series Skunk Fu! that ran on Kids' WB. On December 4, 2007, Ghostface released his seventh solo studio album, The Big Doe Rehab×The Big Doe Rehab4 December 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1At the Cabana (skit)1:132Toney Sigel a.k.a. The Barrell Brothers3:023Yolanda’s House3:124We Celebrate4:135Walk Around3:326Yapp City3:447White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)4:078Supa GFK3:399Rec-Room Therapy3:1410The Prayer1:2411I’ll Die for You3:0612Paisley Darts5:3613Shakey Dog Starring Lolita3:0914!0:3715Killa Lipstick3:3916Slow Down2:36.
In a May 2008 interview, Ghostface Killah stated that he would make an R&B-inspired album in the vein of certain tracks he had done before with artists such as Ne-Yo and Jodeci. That album would become his eighth studio album, Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, which won good reviews from music critics. It featured singles such as "Baby" and "Do Over". In March 2009, Ghostface responded to the Rihanna/Chris Brown controversy by recording a song, "Message from Ghostface", which was dedicated to women in abusive relationships.
In a May 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Raekwon indicated that Ghostface Killah was preparing to release a new album. In response to a question asking if the Wu-Tang Clan were going to release a follow-up to 8 Diagrams, Raekwon stated, "Everybody's doing different things right now — you got Meth [Method Man] coming out with an album, you got Ghostface coming out with an album, some guys working on their projects, some guys getting into the film world, everybody is multi-tasking right now." Ghostface appeared on a total of 8 songs on Raekwon's highly anticipated release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II.
Shortly after the release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, Def Jam contracted Raekwon to work with their label artists Method Man and Ghostface Killah on an album which later received the title Wu-Massacre. Production began in November 2009. Wu-Massacre was released March 30, 2010 to generally positive reviews from music critics; this time, however, reviews were more mixed, with some critics objecting to the 30-minute-long album's rushed feel. With heavy promotion, it sold 37,900 units in its first week; it has sold 64,000 units as of May 12, 2010. It features production from Scram Jones, Mathematics, and The RZA, who produced the album's lead single, "Our Dreams".
In 2010, Ghostface confirmed that he would be releasing two new studio albums, Apollo Kids×Apollo Kids20 December 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Purified Thoughts3:322Superstar3:083Black Tequila3:434Drama4:2852getha Baby3:016Starkology2:257In tha Park3:478How You Like Me Baby3:159Handcuffin' Them Hoes2:3010Street Bullies3:1811Ghetto4:0912Troublemakers3:41 and one which would serve as a sequel to his 2000 album Supreme Clientele×Supreme Clientele25 January 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Iron's Theme (intro)0:472Nutmeg4:253One3:464Saturday Nite1:395Ghost Deini4:066Apollo Kids3:547The Grain2:358Buck 504:029Mighty Healthy3:2210Woodrow the Basehead3:0411Stay True1:3912We Made It4:3813Stroke of Death1:5614Iron's Theme (intermission)1:3015Malcolm4:1516Who Would You Fuck2:4417Child's Play3:3318Cherchez LaGhost3:1119Wu Banga 1014:2320Clyde Smith (skit)2:4021Iron's Theme (conclusion)1:59. In 2011, Ghostface Killah featured on UK artist Josh Osho's debut single "Redemption Days".

Post Def Jam

Ghostface released a collaborative album with D-Block member Sheek Louch called Wu Block. The album was released on November 27, 2012, on E1 Music and debuted at number 73 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 8,600 copies in the United States. It fell to No. 152 in its second week selling 4,200 more copies. In January 2017, Ghostface and Sheek Louch announced on their respective social media accounts that a second collaborative album was in the works.
In an interview with Complex Magazine on November 17, 2012, Ghostface confirmed that he had left Def Jam, making Apollo Kids his last album on the label. In the same interview, he also stated that Blue & Cream, the sequel to his critically acclaimed album Supreme Clientele×Supreme Clientele25 January 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Iron's Theme (intro)0:472Nutmeg4:253One3:464Saturday Nite1:395Ghost Deini4:066Apollo Kids3:547The Grain2:358Buck 504:029Mighty Healthy3:2210Woodrow the Basehead3:0411Stay True1:3912We Made It4:3813Stroke of Death1:5614Iron's Theme (intermission)1:3015Malcolm4:1516Who Would You Fuck2:4417Child's Play3:3318Cherchez LaGhost3:1119Wu Banga 1014:2320Clyde Smith (skit)2:4021Iron's Theme (conclusion)1:59, was 80-85 percent done. On April 16, 2013, Ghostface released his tenth album Twelve Reasons to Die×Twelve Reasons to Die9 April 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Beware of the Stare3:182Rise of the Black Suits2:573I Declare War2:544Blood on the Cobblestones2:415The Center of Attraction4:056Enemies All Around Me2:127An Unexpected Call (The Set Up)2:348Rise of the Ghostface Killah3:289Revenge Is Sweet5:0610Murder Spree2:5011The Sure Shot, Parts 1 and 23:4412Twelve Reasons to Die3:14Disc 21Beware of the Stare (instrumental)3:182Rise of the Black Suits (instrumental)2:573I Declare War (instrumental)2:544Blood on the Cobblestones (instrumental)2:415The Center of Attraction (instrumental)3:486Enemies All Around Me (instrumental)2:127An Unexpected Call (The Set Up) (instrumental)2:348Rise of the Ghostface Killah (instrumental)3:289Revenge Is Sweet (instrumental)5:0610Murder Spree (instrumental)2:5011The Sure Shot, Parts 1 and 2 (instrumental)3:4412Twelve Reasons to Die (instrumental)3:14 which was produced by Adrian Younge and executive produced by RZA. The album was released in various formats such as CD, vinyl and cassette under RZA's Soul Temple Records. The deluxe digital and CD versions also came with a comic book.
He would later announce that the sequel to Supreme Clientele would be released between July and September 2013 and that his collaborative album with MF Doom would be released around Halloween 2013 though neither projects materialized. In January 2014, he appeared on the VH1 series Couples Therapy with his girlfriend Kelsey Nykole. Later that year Ghostface announced he would be releasing his eleventh album titled 36 Seasons×36 Seasons9 December 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The Battlefield3:462Love Don’t Live Here No More3:483Here I Go Again3:284Loyalty1:575It’s a Thin Line Between Love and Hate3:596The Dogs of War3:487Emergency Procedure2:428Double Cross2:209Bamboo’s Lament1:5710Pieces to the Puzzle2:3511Homicide3:2112Blood in the Streets2:0313Call My Name2:1114I Love You for All Seasons2:20 in December 2014. He collaborated with Canadian jazz band BADBADNOTGOOD on an album titled Sour Soul×Sour Soul23 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Mono0:582Sour Soul2:453Six Degrees3:404Gunshowers3:035Stark’s Reality2:126Tone’s Rap2:587Mind Playin Tricks2:378Street Knowledge3:249Ray Gun3:0710Nuggets of Wisdom2:1111Food3:2312Experience2:37, which was released in 2015 which earned a nomination for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.
A sequel to Twelve Reasons to Die, simply titled Twelve Reasons to Die II, was released on July 10, 2015.
Ghostface had a string of UK and European tour dates scheduled in 2016.
Ghostface provided vocals on the song "Purple Hearts" from Kendrick Lamar's album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers in 2022.
In January 2023, Ghostface partnered with Kano Computing to release exclusive music, videos, meetings, and concerts on the Stem Player.
In May 2024, Ghostface released his 12th studio album, Set the Tone (Guns & Roses)×Set the Tone (Guns & Roses)10 May 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks16 Minutes3:402Pair of Hammers2:363Skate Odyssey3:384Scar Tissue2:595Kilo in the Safe2:296Skit 10:417No Face4:368Champion Sound2:469Cape Fear2:5210Skit 20:5311Plan B3:2712Bad Bitch3:0313Locked In3:1314Skit 30:5915Touch You3:1516Shots3:2617Trap Phone4:3618Outro Skit0:4519YUPP!3:03.

Lawsuits and criminal charges

In 1995, Coles was issued an arrest warrant for robbery. In December 1997, Coles was arrested for weapons possession after being pulled over for a traffic violation, whereby police claimed that Coles got out of his car and became verbally abusive. He was wearing a bulletproof vest, which gave them probable cause to search him and his car, where they found a .357 Magnum handgun. He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In February 1999, Coles was issued a 6-month sentence for attempted robbery, and later pleaded guilty to an additional charge of weapons possession and was issued five years of probation with four months of prison time.
In July 2011, Coles was sued by Jack Urbont for copyright violation stemming from the "improper use" of the 1960s "Iron Man" theme song, which Urbont claimed as his own. Urbont also took issue with Coles' appropriation of the Iron Man brand name. Coles was granted summary judgment on the lawsuit in April 2015, which stated that Marvel Entertainment, owners of the Iron Man character and brand, owned the "Iron Man" theme song, not Urbont.
In August 2011, Coles filed a lawsuit against Universal Music for unpaid royalties.

Personal life

Like fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, Coles is a convert to Islam, having converted in 2004. Ghostface is the father of rappers Sun God and Supreme, and singer Infinite Coles.

Aliases

Ghostface Killah, like most members of the Wu-Tang clan, rapped under several personae, each with their own name, mythology and influences. Some recurring aliases:

Ghostface Killah (spelled Ghost Face Killer until 1995, occasionally spelled Ghostface Killer, Ghost Face Killah, or abbreviated GFK)
Ghostface (shortened stage name during The Pretty Toney Album era)
Ghost Deini
Ironman, Tony Starks, or just Starks
Ghostface has frequently assumed the names of both Ironman and Tony Starks [sic], a reference to the Marvel Comics character Iron Man and his true identity, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. He released a 1996 album titled Ironman×Ironman29 October 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Iron Maiden4:472Wildflower3:273The Faster Blade2:2842602:475Assassination Day4:186Poisonous Darts2:167Winter Warz4:418Box in Hand3:159Fish3:5010Camay4:3411Daytona 5004:4112Motherless Child3:4513Black Jesus4:3714After the Smoke Is Clear3:1715All That I Got Is You5:2116The Soul Controller6:5017Marvel5:10. His song, "Slept On Tony With Dirt", appears in the 2008 film Iron Man, and he also appears in a deleted scene on the DVD.
Starky Love
Pretty Toney, P Tone

Movie appearances

The Show (1995) as himself
Belly (1998) cameo appearance
Black and White (1999) as himself
Hunter Dawson (2002) as himself
Big Wigs (2002) as himself
Fade to Black (2004) as himself
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) as himself
Iron Man (2008) as himself; also appearing in a music video aired on Tony Stark's private jet. (Cut in post-production, his cameo can be found in the DVD's deleted scenes section.)
Big Pun: The Legacy (2008) as himself
Up and Above (2008) as himself
When in Rome (2010) as Guggenheim DJ
Purple Tape Documentary (2016) as himself
You're Watching Video Music Box (2021) as himself

TV series appearances

The World According To Pretty Toney (2005 - 2007) as himself
30 Rock (2006) as himself (episodes "Jack-Tor" and "The Source Awards")
Human Giant (2007) as himself (episodes "Mind Explosion" and "Mosh Pit!")
The Boondocks (2007) as himself (episode "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back")
Rushing Jason (2008) as Big Poppa
Mob Wives (VH1 Series) (2011) as himself
Couples Therapy (2014) as himself
Luke Cage (2018) as himself (episode "All Souled Out")

Video game appearances

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (1999) as himself
Def Jam Vendetta (2003) as himself
Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004) as himself
Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover (2006) as himself
WWE Smackdown VS. Raw 2007 (2006) Coles had his song "The Champ" on the soundtrack
Def Jam: Icon (2007) as himself
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009), created the theme music