Comments on: Ghostface Killah: “Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City”

By: Shop

Shop — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:54:39 +0000

It’s true that Ghost nails every track–but I disagree that his fans won’t listen to–or be interested in slow jams filled with funktastik Ghost-tunes. This album is Ghost-Dini, after-all, right? Kind of like Bobby Steels, I mean, Bobby Digital on some crack-smack-oxycontin blend of beetle paste.

By: JK

JK — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:21:00 +0000

I agree completely with Sach. The production didn’t do it for me, neither did the “who? Oh this is why I don’t know them” singers.

The best moment for me on this album is “Guest House”. It has a soulful feel and cuts out the vanilla singing completely.

I also have to agree that the whole thing has a low budget feel. If Ghost had those breezy, soul-sampled beats Rick Ross had on his last album? It would probably be a contender for best hip hop album of the year.

By: Sach

Sach — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:35:32 +0000

” typically, R&B is, by default, “by-the-numbers””

Really? Tell that to Isaac, Sly, George, James, Norman, Prince, Ronald, Stevie, R Kelly, Erykah, Mary, Aaliyah…Even at it’s most conventional, good R&B pushes forward musically while retaining the boy-girl subject matter (not that it’s in any obligation to do that)

You’re not wrong though, I thought the album could have been better and I am disapointed but given Ghostface’s track record, I don’t think that’s unfair. A Love Supreme Clientele? Maybe not. But a something to the level of The Pretty Toney album which is as soulful as this record but with more twists and turns? That’d have been nice.

By: hl

hl — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:49:30 +0000

Whoa! Who said we didn’t want R&B versions of Nutmeg? I don’t really think Beyonce/Mary J/etc would have added anything much different than the rest of the Def Jam roster, but at the same time I’m not sure how this album would stand up against a compilation of older Ghostface/R&B collaborations which those artists were a part of. Guess time will tell. I like what I’ve heard of the album and I think its cool for Ghost to experiment with this type of record. Its pretty brave for someone with such a strong underground following. I actually can’t imagine anyone else doing this without suffering a monsterous backlash, which may have still happened if this album would have been released without warning.

By: Flowers

Flowers — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:41:28 +0000

RE Sach: typically, R&B is, by default, “by-the-numbers”–which is why it’s one of the more palatable genres. Also, I’d bet that a Janelle Monae or a Solange would race their counterparts just to be on a Ghostface record just for bragging rights.

Furthermore, I’d be willing to bet that if Ghostface would have tried to take the “twist and turns” route, this album would have taken a few more years to see the light of day, which, in turn, could have potentially included Ghostface taking another retreat to Africa to compose a few illuminated, R&B versions of Nutmeg (however that would sound). No, we don’t want that. We wanted a sincere, easy approach to girl-boy stuff, as told by our favorite “Wizard of Poetry”.

To me, you were looking for “A Love Supreme Clientele”, and you didn’t get it, and now you’re cock-blocking.

By: Sach

Sach — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:55:28 +0000

RE Flowers: You can’t honestly believe that an A-list star (Rhianna, Beyonce, Alicia) or even a talented up and commer/b-lister (Janelle Monae, Solange) would get within 50 feet of the production on tracks like Lonely or I’ll be that. What makes the collaborators second-rate is their distinct lack of personality and what makes the songs second rate is the distinct lack of catchy hooks, interesting production and attempt to do something beyond R&B-by-the-numbers.

I give Raheem DeVaughn his props, Do Over is a great song (and Baby’s alright) but this album lacks the kind of exciting twists and turns I’ve come to expect from Ghost and that’s in large part due to his being confined with collaborators who couldn’t see beyond the idea of simplistic rap & Bullshit collaborations.

And yeah, John Legend is A-List. He’s also sort of boring.

By: Deen

Deen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:21:51 +0000

When Ghost screws the pooch, its someone else’s fault. Yeah.

By: Chef Rae

Chef Rae — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:50:14 +0000

Wasn’t Bullet Proof Wallets his R&b album?

By: hl

hl — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:41:04 +0000

I agree with Flowers. Just judging from the tracklisting, Def Jam supported Ghost with some big names and good talent. Haven’t heard the album yet but I’ll definately be picking this up.

By: Flowers

Flowers — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:19:21 +0000

“but it’s also impossible to listen to without the nagging doubt that it was compromised by poor A&Ring and industry constraints”

Really? You listen to albums and think about A&Rs? Also, what “second-rate collaborators” are you referring to? Multi-platinum selling John Legend, or Raheem DeVaughn, who’s following and reputation can vouch for his first-rate singing, song-writing and consistency? The other ones you speak of–what makes them “second-rate”. I didn’t hear anyone falter here, other than Faboulus’ unconvincing party crashing.