Ghostface Killah

"Ghostface Killer" redirects here. For the Scream killer, see Ghostface (identity).
"Dennis Coles" redirects here. For the American actor, see Dennis Cole.

Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah in 2010
Born
Dennis David Coles

(1970-05-09) May 9, 1970 (age 54)[1]
Staten Island, New York City, U.S.
Other names
  • Ghostface[2]
  • Toney Starks[3]
  • D-Love
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1991–present
Children3
RelativesShyheim (cousin)[4]
Musical career
Genres
DiscographyGhostface Killah discography
Labels
Member of

Dennis David Coles (born May 9, 1970),[5] better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.[6] 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 (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing.[7][8] He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.

Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed[9][10] for his loud, fast-paced flow,[11] and his emotional stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.[11][12] In 2006, MTV included him as an "honourable mention" on their list of the "Greatest MCs of All Time",[13] 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."[14] Q magazine called him "rap's finest storyteller."[15] Pitchfork Media has stated that "Ghostface has unparalleled storytelling instincts; he might be the best, most colorful storyteller rap has ever seen."[16] NPR has called him "a compulsive storyteller", and asserts that "his fiction is painterly."[17]

  1. ^ "Ghostface Killah Biography". Hip Hop Scriptures.
  2. ^ Pemberton, Rollie (May 4, 2004). "Ghostface: The Pretty Toney Album". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  3. ^ Reid, Shaheem (November 20, 2007). "Ghostface Killah's Iron Man Obsession Lands Him A Cameo In Upcoming Comic Book Flick". MTV. Archived from the original on February 6, 2011.
  4. ^ Lars Brandle (January 9, 2014). "Rapper Shyheim Franklin Arrested After New Year's Day Hit-And-Run Death". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  5. ^ "ACE Repertory". ascap.com.
  6. ^ Overview: Ghostface Killah. AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  7. ^ RZA; Norris, Chris (2004). The Wu-Tang Manual. Riverhead Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-1594480188.
  8. ^ Hess, Mickey, ed. (2009). "Chapter 6: A Black Sheep Borough, an Island of All White People: Staten Island Steps Up". Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 125. ISBN 978-0313343216.
  9. ^ Brown, Marisa (2007). "The Big Doe Rehab: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  10. ^ O'Donnell, Mallory (December 14, 2006). "More Fish". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  11. ^ a b Frere-Jones, Sasha (March 20, 2006). "Ghost's World". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  12. ^ Dombal, Ryan (March 31, 2006). "Ghost' Writer". EW.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  13. ^ "The Greatest MCs Of All Time". MTV.com. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on April 15, 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987 - 2007 - 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time". Rap.about.com. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  15. ^ "Ghostface Killah - Fishscale CD Album". Cduniverse.com. March 28, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  16. ^ "Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge: Twelve Reasons to Die | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. April 18, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  17. ^ "The Ghostface Killah Rises Again : The Record". NPR. April 22, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.