Ghostface Killah Christmas & Stem Player Appreciation Thread

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Originally Posted by ta12113

I've been checking out some albums that I've overlooked through the years. I used to listen to everything, but that stopped around 07 or so. Anyway, much to my surprise, some of the albums that I've overlooked, and that seem to get hated on or overlooked by others, I've found to be pretty good, sometimes even very good. Now granted these aren't necessarily "new" albums, but in my view they are fairly "recent".

U-God - Venom - 2018 - I think overall this is his best album. The beats suit him, he spits with a hunger, and he has a few good guests. Very good album overall.

Raewon - F.I.L.A. - 2015 - I guess I couldn't get over the cover, but I finally gave it a shot, and I appreciate the approach behind this album. Rae took a pop style approach, but I respect that he did it in his own way. Yes the beats are big and flashy, for the most part. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact some of the beats I really dig (such as F.I.L.A. World). And there are still a few raw tracks on there to give it an edge. And the features are different for a Rae album, but in the context of this album I think they mostly worked. Rae simplified things a little, but still spit with his own style. Overall a different, but very respectable album.

Inspectah Deck - Manifesto - 2010 (Ok, this on is getting a little old) - I remember all the hate that I read when this album dropped. Sad to say that I never listed to it. Well overall I think this is probably his best solo album. The beats might not necessarily all sound like "Wu-Tang" beats, but they suit Deck just fine. And of course Deck spits it like he usually does. Highly underrated album.

Banks & Steelz - Anything But Words - 2016 - Is it different? Yes. Is it the best ever? No. But is it a creative, fun album? Why yes it is. This album feels like Rza and Banks were just messing around, having fun, putting together different beats and sounds, and making music. It's not going to change the game, but there are some really nice ideas in this album. Definitely a one-off type of project, but I gotta give Rza for going all-in on this project. If I want to listen to the old Rza I'll throw in Birth Of A Prince (best of his solo albums for the whip, the other Digital albums just don't hit as well). If I want to rock out, but with a strange hip-hop/electro vibe, then this ain't that bad of a choice.

My point is that the Wu still seem capable of making quality music. And I overlooked a lot of it because I was always wanting them to make music just like their original classics. But now that I've given some of their more recent work a chance (stuff from the last 10 years or so), I've found myself pleasantly surprised.

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I didn't share your mindset, I was always giving the projects around that time a chance especially since Raekwon brought the clan back with CL2. I agree with you on the Manifesto. Doesn't sound anything remotely Wu and the beats were just good enough but for some reason the album flowed very well and was cohesive. I had this in rotation for a good 2-3 months when it dropped. Deck rhymes weren't "bomb atomically" level but they were pretty solid. I think the breaking point with me was "A Better Tomorrow". After that album I just lost hope and said fuck it. If they end up dropping something good I'll check it out but everything is not that great these days. Plus these guys are in their 50's now, the level of expectations are still too high.

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Originally Posted by Sky Blue Bally Kid

Every Ghostface post on IG is some product he's attached his name to, coffee, pop up shops etc. I think dudes realise they can't make money off music alone any more, and likely don't wanna be on the road touring for the rest of their days, so are looking at other avenues I guess. The price of this and that stupid Wu dome thing are cold retarded though.

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The sad part is, they shouldn't be touring anymore. Any Wu shows need to be just out of demand and not because they still have to. Look at Roc Marci, he does like 4-5 shows a year and then goes back into his hideout until the next time he drops something. Wu is on tour constantly like they need to pay bills, at 50. It's not a good look honestly.

The hunger to create good music is just not there for the clan anymore. I get it, as that's for most hip hop artists that have been in the game for 30+ years....but then you look at Nas, and he's dropped 4 straight banging albums with Hit Boy. Maybe that's why he's the Golden Child of Hip Hop, but still, he puts his music on streaming platforms and is on his independent label. He's not doing monster numbers, but he's still extremely relevant.

As it concerns to Ghost, this was a Christmas EP and he's trying to get big bucks off of vinyls and stream downloads.....I could see if it was a project he was working on for years like Supreme Clientele 2, but that's not the case. I most definitely would have paid $50 to hear OUATIS, as long as I could have kept the tracks from the download stream.

I've lost hope for future clan work tbh. I'd say I'm upset, but there's still been several great hip hop albums dropping every yr that fans can look forward to. JID, Curry, Gibbs, Nas, Westside Gunn, Benny, Pusha, Black Thought, Cormega, Marciano, Mayhem Lauren, Boldy James, etc etc all dropped banging albums in 2022. I no longer need to anticipate a clan member album drop in 2023. I will say that I'd be disappointed if Meth doesn't drop an official LP next year, as his feature verses have been fire. He sounds rejuvenated. Let Westside Gunn or Alchemist run the production side of things for a Meth album in 2023 and it's going to be a banger....

Pce

Everything coming out from the Wu camp been lackluster... Czarface albums are the only exception. I have to agree with Corky

Not even feeling like listening to it.

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Originally Posted by trinking

Got you. DM

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Thanks bruv.

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Originally Posted by Cilvaringz

Honest question, asking for research purposes, what do you think makes the difference to wanting to pay $1100 for a limited Mach Homey album, or a special edition Griselda release, but not for a Ghostface album. Also, would you feel different if for example it was a Ghostface & Raekwon EP solely produced by Wu-Element producers.

Let me know.

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Just wrote a reply that got lost stating that we are dealing with a Chirstmas EP that lacks story, packaging and presentation. Plus, the pricing is weird and lacks info. What format do we get the digital copy in? Why would I want an vinyl version if it is being delivered in the middle of the fucking summer? And why always the gimmicky names for the vinyl? You even want me to buy two if I have a preference for the color?

Griselda knows who they work with, like with Patta. And are pretty consistent in the quality of their output. So that would make if a much more sure bet. The outlet and everything would need to be added though.

Mach-Hommy I am sadly not yet familiar with. But sounds like an underground artist carving out his own niche and supporting his following honestly. (Like someone said on here, Ghost just seems to do promo's online.)

A RAGU EP with Wu-Elements would be different because we have Rae & Ghost, still a bit or a rarity. We have them on Elements, also a bit of rarity. This could work, because we know they bring out the best in each other. And the elements together have proven to work thanks to PR and Bugsy. Now in order for it to work, this would need some hype, so the bar is up. It would need a story, it would need proper packaging and pricing. Not like this christmas EP. (Everyone I show it asks if this is real. I wonder if there was even a budget for it or if they forgot.) So work with Danny Hastings again for example or Jonathan Mannion. Ilja would probably also love to do it for you, hehe. But you get the idea.

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Originally Posted by Cilvaringz

Keep the faith bro... faith is everything... everything is everything, reality and keep your mind on everything, cause everything you see ain't reality, it's just illusions.. word

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Co-sign this.

What's up with the DAO anyway?

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Originally Posted by portis24

If Ghostface had just dropped SC or Fishscale and then tried to drop an ep like this more people would be willing to buy it. What has he put out recently thats been universally loved??For him to drop this now makes no sense and to charge $50!!. If he was putting out unreleased music from the late 90's or early 2000's than yeah ill pay $50 for that easy.

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This was also a point I made in my lost reply. Last two times was Lost Tapes knock off and Ghostface Killah. Both sounded uninspired to me. And I doubt many people even know about those releases outside of wu-fans. Even the 25th anniversary of Ironman was just meh. Just the remix of one single on there? There must be loads more to share. Like the Tekitha version of All That I Got instead of this, or the usual instrumentals.

By the way, does anybody know who owns the masters to Ironman, Supreme, BPW? Did he really had such a bad deal that he needs to continue touring & all these side hustles to make up for that? I'd almost advise him to take a few steps back and become the Ghostface again, and get some more peace and reflections.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEQ5VgMuMLE

^Need to give it a proper listen but I don't think any of those tracks are worth over $8 :/

Track 3 goes hard

The first track is Ghost trying to be a mumble rapper lmao.... what in the fuck ?

That’s $8.33 worth of a mumble track. Peace

Now he sells it for a 36% discount. Saw it on instagram.

The 36 thing has become so corny. 36 this, 36 that ...

So tired of that gimmick. I'd have thought the generals themselves would have tired of it too by now but nah

Listened to it. Kinda pathetic to talk about the same, dumb ghetto shit in your 50's as you did in your 20's. I expected some growth from Ghost. Only Supreme Clientele 2 can redeem him now.

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Originally Posted by ShaDynasty

https://youtu.be/bA1URUxniIA

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Scram Jones been dropping nothing but fire for the last two and a half years, somebody from Wu needs to link up for a full album.
Would love a full album from these two. J Hood and Shyheim are doing a full album together.

Agree with Kutman 100 percent. Like I get it, if u r on a Griselda track then that’s the type of rhymes we will get from Ghost. But he still talks/dresses/acts/rhymes like a 23 year old most of the time. Do we see this from like Nas? Nah not even close, that’s y Ghost is selling hot chocolate. Peace

It's because he's only still rapping for the sake of it. Of course he's not gonna have anything interesting to rap about.

Some of these guys should take a leaf from Gza. He clearly lost interest in rapping, so he stopped putting music out. I'm sure if we ever get Dark Matter it'll be because he actually found inspiration to work on it.

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Originally Posted by noel411

It's because he's only still rapping for the sake of it. Of course he's not gonna have anything interesting to rap about.

Some of these guys should take a leaf from Gza. He clearly lost interest in rapping, so he stopped putting music out. I'm sure if we ever get Dark Matter it'll be because he actually found inspiration to work on it.

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Isn't he just rapping for money? Or do you think he is really rapping for the sake of it. This is what he knows, so he keeps working that angle?

Also, lately I started wondering if Dark Matter is not a joke played by GZA. Because it may or may not exist.

A bit of both. Obviously he does it for money. But I think also it's just what he does and he keeps on doing it because that's what he does. I don't think there's any real inspiration or intent behind anything he's done in a very long time. He's very prolific and nothing I've heard from him since SC is remotely note worthy or memorable. He knows how tho. Not like meth or deck, who just don't know how to put together good albums. I just don't think he's had the inspiration or natural creativity to make anything worthwhile for a very long thyme.

I don't think he knows how to operate as an 'elder statesmen', and you can see it in the results we get. At this point you should be working to preserve your legacy, which is why we get reasonable behavior from Nas and even Method Man to an extent, but not really from Ghost. I also think he has an unbelieveable stupid team that he has way too much confidence in.

They're all (including Ghost) trying to milk his career for the last penny remaining which is sad but it's whatever. BUT if that's their intention, why is it that every member of The Breakfast Club regularly wear Ghostface T-shirts, they put him on their top 5 all the time, the mention him when mention doesn't even make sense, and he's yet to show up there and peddle his dumb ass coffee? This is the biggest hip hop platform with an on and off line presence. If they really want to make money, the 'moves' they make are jokes. The only major platform ghost has been on was Drink Champs. Even look at the cover of the dumb ass christmas album. You can't look at that and not think these people hate themselves. It's always NFTs, some dumb ass toy, a bullshit ass 'venture' like t-shirts and coffee etc.

He's considered a top 5 rapper but operates like Troy Ave. Those Krusty the Klown style cross over gimmick 'businesses' they keep using to embarass him cannot make a total of $2000 annually.

Got to say that BPW is still a very fine album. After that it become sort of self conscious. Ghost doing Ghostface stuff, he became more aware of his image and status. And maybe not to his long term benefit.

When Ghost went and did 12 Reasons To Die, Sour Soul & 36 Seasons, he seemed to be more in his place. Don't know what it was, maybe the production. But I was seeing him stepping into a new era of him being the older god. Especially with the concept of 12 Reasons, I could have seen that become much bigger than it was. The latter outings with Lost Tapes & Ghostface Killahs, those just sounded like uninspired retreads of earlier outings. Really rapping just for rapping.

Now factor into this that Ghost has been touring for pretty much all of the last 10 years if I'm correct. He was always on the road, which was also the reason for us for getting that Wu-Block album. Just touring might take you all over, but after doing it so many times, that hardly seems like an inspirational journey and more like a normal job. Personally, I don't see a lot of inspiration or creativity coming from that same routine for years. Sometimes you just need to take a step back.

I remember listening to Nasir and just being appalled by the content Nas was spitting. It was just off for someone of his age. But I believe he has done a bit better nowadays. And like you said TSA, the same for Meth. Meth really knows his position within hip hop, and that may be the sole reason why people like J.I.D and Conway featured him on their albums with some very amazing verses. And like RZA, he has found a good place within film/television.

Interesting what you say about all these endeavours of Ghost. It almost seemed that he jumped on something new every other week. It was
- Wu-Honey CBD or something with Priest. they even released a track together.
- The coffee with a shop in SI right? My question is: What is Ghost his personal link to coffee? Style P for example went all out with his juice bar and his personal motivation for setting it up. This coffee thing lacks that in my opinion and seems to be just a rebranding of an existing product.
- The cryptocoin called C.R.E.A.M. Did that ever launch? Or did they cancel it because the SEC was becoming heavily involved, and most of them were scams/rug pulls? Never did I see them mention why this would be a better coin than the rest and what the purpose was going to be. Same for DirtyCoin, what happened to that?
- NFTs of unreleased lyrics. Well that market crashed together with the above again. Anybody know if those actually went on sale? And why did they not scour this lyrics for some unreleased recordings so you could make a proper Lost Tapes. Also what am I going to do with a contract with a link to some lyrics? Can't even find the website these are sold on. Which begs the question if your NFT goes down with the website as with FTX.

Am I missing anything here?

LMAO at the Krusty the Klown comment. dead because it is true. It is. Just look at the Christmas EP with its 36% discount, again harking back to 36 Chambers. It really would be something if his team actually got him on The Breakfast Club to talk about the coffee, that would be real exposure. Instead we are left with one business after another. I can only imagine how much of a strain so many businesses are on Ghost to keep up with. We are already having problems with it. His Ghostface Killah Pretty Toney doll does not seem like such a weird choice any more. But it also looks like everything went downhill from there.

That being said, I do no wish him ill or anything. It would be nice to see him getting a good venture of the ground. It only would make sense for that venture to be in something he is invested in personally in some sort. And not just riding wave after wave. Soon enough we have a Ghostface craftbeer brewed in SI. Something that would seem completely out of place with Ghost his history of drinking, depression, and his diabetes. Much better would be healthy beverage and books on nutrition and...fuck. He actually started a Non-Profit called Making Diabetes Ghost in 2011. Now that makes sense and sounds awesome.

https://hiphopdx.com/news/ghostface-...um-stem-player

The Saga continues (insert eye roll). Peace

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Originally Posted by ShaDynasty

https://hiphopdx.com/news/ghostface-...um-stem-player

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I seriously doubt Ghost has the stamina to deliver on all of those promises.

New ghost track 6 minutes on the stem player site. Just put ya email in and itll play for you

https://www.stemplayer.com/preview/a...3-bc0b3622ef16

This was bound to happen (from the point of view of the stemplayer), and the idea of releasing stems to a track is interesting. But, Donda 2. Nobody cares or is/was talking about that shit any more. Heck, I even forgot about it on multiple occasions. Just imagine if RZA had done the same type of deal with Boombotix. Even less people would have listened to that (ABT) album.

Now I wonder how much people would put their money down for this one. (Looks like 200 for the player and 40 for the Ghost music. Or the exclusive black one of which there are only 360, which is $360.) Hopefully Ghost makes a nice pay day. But more focus would be nice with all these projects. Just imagine if all this energy and time was put into SC2. . .

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Originally Posted by Rev Jones

I seriously doubt Ghost has the stamina to deliver on all of those promises.

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You mean the videos, concerts, meet ups. When reading up on the NFT's for Ghost, because I missed that part, I read that Styles P has some kind of bland NFT project like all the other collectable generic picture things. But the project holds the promise that having an NFT would give you exclusive access to music and stuff. And maybe even discounts. Is there anybody in marketing, retail, sales that could shine some light on these kind of bondings with customers or fans? Does this actually work? And if it works, is that only centered on the US?

edit:
Going by the reactions on Reddit, where people are calling the album 10x platinum on SLSK, P2P and Mediafire, not many people are in for it.

Fuck this corny shit... Its just greediness with wack shit...

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Originally Posted by ShaDynasty

https://hiphopdx.com/news/ghostface-...um-stem-player

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lmao 5 tracks for $240, 10 tracks for $360! I noticed the Christmas EP was being given away for free already if you purchase from Ghost's online store lol. Wu just straight alienating their fans at this point.

Next year Ghost is gonna sell Christmas cards painted with his left foot. Collect all 36 of them, put them next to each other and see a big ass snowy W appear. Only $50 a card!

smh

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Originally Posted by 3rdEyeVizion

Thought GFK was a muslim

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Lol

this ep was aight

Did anyone on here pay for this? Not asking this so I can attack, just genuinely interested to know

Don't Ever Disrespect Me official video. https://youtu.be/5JMt_oOQZBs

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Originally Posted by josborne3680

Yeah prices on his site are f#cking absurd. One of the bundles is 850 bucks, maybe u get to sleep with Ghost. I’ve always supported by copping the physicals. But I have my limits. Peace

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Hhahahahaha

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Originally Posted by Sky Blue Bally Kid

Did anyone on here pay for this? Not asking this so I can attack, just genuinely interested to know

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Fair question. Also wondering what the actual sales numbers are of this release. Next to the more obvious question, who forgot about this album?

By now, I also think it is safe to say that the Stemplayer collaboration never amounted to anything besides the song that was later released on his Mass Appeal album.