This Saturday, April 25th, the legendary rapper and multifaceted hip-hop artist Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan is bringing his signature fast-paced, gritty, soulful, seasoned street rap sound to The Boneyard in Downtown Chattanooga.
Ghostface Killah, also known as “Shaolin” from Wu-Tang Clan mythology, was born Dennis David Coles in Staten Island, New York, and is one of the nine original members of Wu-Tang Clan, which was formed in 1992 by founding member RZA.
His raspy voice and almost chaotic style of rapping became one of the more prominent voices from the group during the early years.
Wu-Tang Clan has had an unbelievably strong cult following over the decades, and the group has become embedded in the cultural zeitgeist of America, completely redefining what hip-hop could look and sound like, as well as redefining what the model of success for the genre could be. The group’s original record deal, which was put together by RZA, was monumental, as each individual member signed as one complete group, but with the caveat that they could also sign separate solo deals with other labels.
Following the remarkable success of Wu-Tang Clan’s groundbreaking debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), which brought about the emergence of a more stripped-down, even rawer-sounding hip-hop, Ghostface Killah went on to forge an incredible solo career. Songs like “Nutmeg,” “Apollo Kids,” and “All I Got Is You,” featuring Mary. J. Blige, have all become classic hits from his solo era.
His solo debut album, Ironman, released in 1996, was very well-received and saw him utilizing other members of Wu-Tang Clan to produce a record with a sound that was steeped in a raw, street rap soundscape with an emphasis on emotional, complex, and imaginative lyrics.
Another landmark album for Ghostface Killah was Supreme Clientele, released in 2000, which is widely considered to be his masterpiece and a force of nature at the time. It’s only his second studio album, and it finds him as emotionally raw as ever, exploring hustling culture, crime, and the ups and downs of everyday life in Staten Island. The album put him in legendary status and has been described as one of the landmark albums for hip-hop at the time.
Since then, and over the last 25 years, Ghostface Killah has gone on to release a slew of albums and projects, staying very active in the music scene and even going on to produce concept albums and some genre-bending work, all while staying true to his roots and being very prominent in Wu-Tang Clan, often doing collaborations with them. In the more recent years, he has earned his status as an elder statesman of rap and is more selective with the works he puts out, all while staying active in touring.
Ghostface Killah is a part of the collective consciousness of American hip-hop, a legendary historical figure, and a fixture in helping to change the sound of rap and the way it was produced, both singularly and with the dynamic group, Wu-Tang Clan. His music is beloved by millions, and his iconic rapping style will be seasoned and as sharp as ever at The Boneyard this Saturday. Get your tickets now; they are selling out fast.
Ghostface Killah
- Saturday, April 25. 7 p.m.
- $54.63.
- The Boneyard. 26 Station Street, Chattanooga
- boneyardbar.com