Topic: Ghostface review
- Mar 30, 2006 10:12pm by nadia
(Just to highlight how ill last night's KRS-One show was, here's the totally on-point Star review from a not-so-fresh show a week earlier, by Jenee Osterheldt.)
Ghostface Killah with M-1 of Dead Prez
March 14 at the Granada
Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," was one
of the grittiest street albums that year and still remains a classic. Wu,
comprising nine lyricists, established itself as one of hip-hop's most
cherished crews and then started to spin off solo projects.
The most popular members were Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon,
Ghostface Killah and the RZA, who made some of the illest beats in hip-hop.
Ghostface Killah has arguably been the most consistent, so fans expect him
to put on one fresh show. Or not. After enduring about 20 minutes of
Theodore Unit, his lyrically feeble crew, Ghost appeared around 12:25 a.m.
He walked on stage, New York swagger intact, wearing as much bling as Mr. T,
but his gigantic gold eagle bracelet was noticeably missing. And he also
left his luxurious robes that make up his "Pretty Toney" look at home. He
kicked the show off with "Ghost Deini" and a Wu gem, "Ice Cream," putting
the crowd in the palm of his hand.
But it wouldn't last long because Ghost lazily ran through about 18 songs.
When heads screamed for the coveted "Black Jesus," he hit them with the
likes of "Nutmeg" and "Child's Play" instead. Maybe he was tired from flying
back and forth from New York earlier that day to tape "Rap City," or maybe
he really has forgotten the words to "Tearz." Whatever the case, Ghostface
wasn't the killer emcee onstage that he is on wax and in videos.
He ripped through a lot of fan favorites, from "Biscuits" to "Triumph" to
"Run," but there were so many tracks he skimmed over. The soulful
"Motherless Child," "Camay" and other Ghost classics went unperformed or
half-done. Even the charming soul tribute a la Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover"
and "La La Means I Love You," by the Delfonics, got a little junky when
"Holla" came into play.
At least the Ol' Dirty tribute rocked. But more times than not, the sound
system came off like a big boom box in a gymnasium, and Ghost was acting
like a high school amateur.
He seemed to be relying on the crowd to do most of the work for him, and
soon after a malnourished recital of "Can It Be All So Simple," things took
a turn for the barbaric. Ghostface decided it was time to bring the "ladies"
onstage.
The stage soon became a playground for groupies and drunk college girls gone
wild; some stood still, others did their best "BET Uncut" stripper
imitation. Dollar bills and pocket change got thrown onstage.
This mess went on for nearly 20 minutes. Maybe if he would have balanced
this catastrophe by performing "Ice Cream," "Tush" "Never Be the Same" or
even "Holla," this scene would have made more sense. But he didn't do much
rapping while the females were onstage. He just danced around and talked a
whole lot of nothing over the microphone.
At least he ended on a high note, around 1:25 a.m., when he mustered up
enough energy to give his all to the mighty "Cherchez La Ghost." However,
the lyrics of that song say, "Toney's his name, the undefeated champion, now
he's alone, just the king of his throne."
But the champ of this stage was M-1 of Dead Prez, kicking enough rebel music
to have the government tapping the walls of the Granada.
It was just after 11 p.m. when he took the mic. He delivered about 20 songs,
getting the crowd hype with revolutionary remixes of commercial hits. He
ripped Black Rob's "Whoa" and made it into "War," flipped Aaliyah's "We Need
a Resolution" into "We Need a Revolution," and his female singer, Ray, did a
mean makeover of "Something in the Way," by Stephanie Mills.
M-1 kicked enough knowledge for an entire class syllabus. His lessons
included "One Shot," "Til We Get There" and "5 Elements" off his solo album,
"Confidential," released earlier this week. There was also a Biggie tribute
of sorts a la "Juicy." And he couldn't rock a show without rocking Dead Prez
treasures "R.B.G.," "Hell Yeah," and "Hip-Hop" - a song so powerful that it
really should have been saved for the finale. But "Walk like a Warrior" was
just as satisfying.
Too bad the audience that needs to be tuned into M-1's message wasn't in
Lawrence that night, and if it was, it was probably getting hyphy to E-40 or
waiting for Ghostface and his entourage of groupies.
- Mar 30, 2006 10:39pm by Lucidialect
That sucks about the Ghostface show. I guess I'm not surprised, but its still a shame. Ghostface is one of my favorites on wax, maybe he just doesn't have it on the live performances. The Wu Tang performances I've seen video of have all been just crowds of Wu members all busting the lyrics so chaotically you're liable to forget who's verse it is they're supposed to be spitting. In that way I think they all kind of got lazy at just busting their own music, or coming at it fresh and energetically...
...or maybe it was an off show. Either way, the KRS show last night was the hotness! Haha!
- Mar 31, 2006 05:11pm by DEMENCHA
Yea that KRS show was awesome
- Mar 31, 2006 05:30pm by StikFiga - "i could never be a thug, they dont dress this well"--Malice of the Clipse
[quote="nadia
Too bad the audience that needs to be tuned into M-1's message wasn't in
Lawrence that night, and if it was, it was probably getting hyphy to E-40[/quote]
REALLY?
- Mar 31, 2006 06:41pm by phism
i think it's probably a different audience that needs to learn about politics and economics than those who get hyphy to e-40.
- Apr 1, 2006 12:02am by Mr.Mafesto
yea...i think ive seen enough to feel that i will not be able to bring myself to go to another solo wu performance. Which is a shame if it was just an off night for "face".If they can get themselves together to do a WUTang show.....then maby if its within 100 miles(Worth a road trip) But on the other note KRS STILL RULES!! That show and the CesCru/Reach/Sounds Good show at Liberty Hall were off the hook. (U aint lived till you see JoeGood slide across the stage like "TahDahhh"!!) Classic!
- Apr 2, 2006 06:21am by Hex
Hmm....I'm sort of confused. Well, for a couple reasons.
First off, this Ghost performance didn't sound very good, which is weird because I've read pretty much every interview/review/whatever for numerous Ghost shows recently and no one had anything negative to say about him. Ah well, everyone has a bad night, I guess Ghost was just "off" that day.
Secondly....how is asking girls to get up on stage "barbaric"? I mean, I wasnt't there, so I dunno. Regardless, he was probably just trying to see some ass, which is human and hardly barbaric.
People forget Ghost is not a "nice" rapper....he came into the rap game hiding his face because the cops were after him....went to jail for a while, punched a few rappers in the face, was up on robbery at one point....and was at one point a dust head...and all sorts of other things that aren't talked about that often. He is not really a "gentleman" type dude, never was, and I don't mean that as a diss to Ghost.
Fred.
- Apr 2, 2006 06:31am by phism
barbaric is a dumb word anyway. unless you're actually referring to the barbary coast.
my biggest beef was the sound. just because it's a hip-hop show doesn't mean you should have all bass and nothing else. my second biggest beef was that he didn't do too many actual songs, and didn't really seem to be too thrilled about being in kansas. or, i'm never thrilled about being in kansas, but that's because i'm from missouri and i'm a hater, but it's wack to perform without some respect for your audience for coming to see you and i think a lot of artists do that. meanwhile, a lot of people i know who go on tours have good experiences in unexpected places and bad experiences in major places so whatever. maybe it's all about the $$$.
