First of all I hate doing this because Wu-Tang is my favorite Hip-Hop collective hands down. Growing up Method Man was my favorite rapper. While everyone was going through their 2Pac phase and arguing who was the best between Biggie, Jay Z, & Nas I was with the 36 chambers. From the very first moment I was introduced to the Wu-Tang Clan my mind was totally blown. Their approach to Hip-Hop was unlike anything I’d ever heard. Having that many members in your group that all had so much flavor with their own different rhyme style was on heard of. The production itself was out of this world. This is well before any of us knew how strong any of the members would actually be as solo artist. Right off the bat Method Man and Ol’ Dirty Bastard gave us the impression that they were going to be the solo artist and personalities in this group. To be perfectly honest when the Wu-Tang debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) dropped, I wasn’t even checkin for Ghostface like that. There was so much to look at and so much to listen to from a group that had nine members. Method Man was a HUGE figure, so huge that he had a solo song on a group album. A group album where the group had nine members. I never saw Ghostface emerging as the person that would be carry the Wu torch the highest coming. Sort of like in the way that Sean Price became that bearer for Duck Down as time went on. Again, I write this not discrediting anyone from The Wu but I would like to give one of my favorite rappers his just due on his Birthday. Ghostface, not only are you the best member of the Wu-Tang Clan but you are also one of the greatest emcees of all-time.
It seems like we hear the same names over and over when people talk about the greatest emcees of all-time. Many of those names are well warranted, but what exactly makes someone a top 10 emcee? Is it mic skills? Is it hits? Is it albums? Is it longevity? Is it sales? Well, I guess I can only speak for me but lyrical skill, music catalog, longevity, and storytelling ability are high marks for me when talking about all-time great emcees. Let’s take Biggie for example, I think we can all agree that Biggie is one of the best to ever do it. Let’s stack Ghostface up against Biggie. Skill for skill is Ghostface in Biggie’s realm? I say yes. Do Ironman and Supreme Clientele stack up against Ready To Die and Life After Death? You bet they do. Is Ghostface on par with Biggie in the storytelling department? Of course he is, I believe that Ghostface is a top 3 storytelling emcee all-time in Hip-Hop. I’ve got Scarface, Ghostface, and Nas in THAT order. We won’t count longevity because that isn’t fair to BIG. This test alone should put Ghostface in the greatest of all-time conversation. If we dig even deeper Ghostface’s solo catalog is very deep and consistent. Ghostface’s B-Side bootlegs have incredible gems on them as well. Not to mention Ghostface’s work on Wu-Tang albums and the fact that Only Built For Cuban Linx is just as much of Ghostface’s album as it is Raekwon’s. To be fair Ironman is just as much of Rae’s as it is Ghost’s.
I know I mentioned that Ghost was far from the main attraction on In Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) but he more than made up for that on Wu-Tang Forever. To me as a Wu-Tang fan Wu-Tang Forever was a magic moment with many of The Clan member coming into their own. Over half of the group had released critically acclaimed solo albums at this point and were certified vets in the game. Although up to this point I believe Method Man was still the best member of The Wu, but on Wu-Tang Forever the tides started to change. Don’t get me wrong, Method Man SHINED on Wu-Tang Forever. Method did more than his job but Ghost was blossoming into the all around emcee that we got a taste of on Ironman and Only Built For Cubin Linx. The storytelling ability from songs like Impossible, the flow from Older Gods, the lyricism from It’s Yourz. It was clear that Ghostface had become a major force in The Clan. In between Wu-Tang Forever and Supreme Clientele Ghost came through with epic BARS on Pete Rock’s song The Game and Bobby Digital’s Silkworm. Then Supreme Clientele dropped, and for me at that point it was over. Me being a long time Method Man fan was willing to admit that Ghostface was the best member of The Wu-Tang. After songs like One, Ghost Deini, Mighty Healthy, Apollo Kids, Stay True, We Made It, Child’s Play, & Cherchez la Ghost it could no longer be denied. Ghost was next level, and once again hearing the B-side material that was floating around on mixtapes like Good Times made you feel like Ghost had arrived. The swagger was on 10, the beat selections was great, the stories were getting even better, he was creative, and the lyricism was at a crazy level. If we’re being fair about it Ghostface isn’t only the most consistent Wu member when it comes to solo albums but he’s one of the most consistent emcees of all-time album for album. Go ahead, put Ghost up against anybody album for album and just see if you end up with ten individuals names. Happy Birthday Ghost, you are truly one of the all-time greats in Hip-Hop.
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