Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.
Ghostface Killah was raised in the Stapleton housing projects in Staten Island, New York. In his autobiographical song "All That I Got Is You", Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father, who left him at the age of six. Apparently, his mother had nine children.
His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.
He was also a close friend of the three founding members of Wu-tang clan
Cartel Gathering
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up top gated up, big tables got the reserves on
Blowing on saxophones, the band is rough
So much ice on looks like my wrist been cut
And we just made it back from Beijing
Seen my jeweler, told him melt the bird down to eight rings
And the music stopped, Jada stood up (yeah)
Before the speech, he had everybody raise they cups
"Don't drink the Cris', Ghost might to pissed in it"
Romanian dude, black down, pouring the Saki
Face slumped to the side like Rocky
Then Strahan came through, with his bullshit ring
He said yikes, when I pulled out my monster bling
Don't be afraid of the New York street talk
I switch gear all day bro, like you do on your peach porch
The chairs is suede, the walls is velvet
Marquise ballroom, so live I felt it
Fat asses in fishnets, shaking they pelvis
Playing with they pussy, middle finger dripping, I smelt it
Poker tables, crap joints just for rap niggas
Me and Sheek, walking around bitch-slapping niggas
There go Rae, there go P
Yo Chop what up what up?
Sam Cooke writing hand, all of my lightning, damn
Used to rob niggas in Sam's, buy shams
For my dude's baby shoe or booster baby, rolling with steel
Eating Jamaican food under the wheel
You know the deal, book something then blow
When from a O to a low, little apartment in Brookdale
Gold was my motto, lotto numbers is what?
Had it in me, rolled down cooling with coke
That's the 90's, Chef era take over America
Bag Ugly Betty up, make her Ms. Guerrera
Pinky wench in sweaters, cortex burning the mic booth
Travel right past my heritage
Them old school niggas is me
Taught me how to read, get skee'd, everybody missing a ki
Yo I do this with a natural movement
Catch me by the munition Venetian scope on me, fuck it I'm losing it
Uh, yeah, yo
I did it my way, lights off on the highway
Greek statues on both sides of the driveway
Word to the stamps on the diesel
The way these niggas is looking either they got cramps or they evil
One go we all go, D-boy fresh but hard dough
Cashmere and suede cargoes
On top of the beige Wallo's
45 government edition clippers, straight hollows
My 'Clientele is Supreme' and it's proven
That I'm 'Only Built 4 the Link' if it's Cuban
I'm a pioneer, I'm not a vet (uh-uh)
"Last Kiss" is a French one, it's not a peck (uh-uh)
Moving powder, piff and a lot of wet
You're gonna die, that's a promise, not a threat
Yeah, but I ain't with the chattering
'Cause I'd just rather splatter them
This is a Cartel gathering, what?
The lyrics to Ghostface Killah/Jadakiss/Raekwon's song Cartel Gathering describe a luxurious gathering of four or five individuals, dressed in furs, sitting at big tables with reserves on them, and enjoying the music of a band with saxophones. The group appears to have just returned from a trip to Beijing, during which they decided to melt down a bird into eight rings. When Jada stands up to make a speech, he warns the attendees not to drink the Cris, as Ghost may have already pissed in it. The group is surrounded by velvet walls and suede chairs, with a marquise ballroom and poker tables reserved for rap niggas. The lyrics also include references to robberies, Jamaican food, cocaine, and taking over America.
The song's purpose is as an expression of the lavish lifestyle and invincible confidence of the rap group of which the MCs are all members. However, unlike other rap songs about luxury, Cartel Gathering is not about flaunting wealth or extravagant possessions. Instead, the lyrics speak to the splendor of the event, and the air of excitement and danger that surrounds it. Therefore, the lyrics may suggest that the rappers are well aware of the precariousness of their success, while still enjoying it to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay yo we four or five niggas with furs on
We are a small group of people wearing fur coats
Up top gated up, big tables got the reserves on
We are at a VIP area with expensive tables reserved for us
Blowing on saxophones, the band is rough
We are listening to live music and the band is playing energetically
So much ice on looks like my wrist been cut
I am wearing so much jewelry that it looks like my wrist has been cut
And we just made it back from Beijing
We have recently traveled back from Beijing, China
Seen my jeweler, told him melt the bird down to eight rings
I saw my jeweler and asked him to combine several pieces of jewelry into eight rings
And the music stopped, Jada stood up (yeah)
The music suddenly paused and Jadakiss stood up
Before the speech, he had everybody raise they cups
Before speaking, Jadakiss had everyone raise their cups in a toast
He said, I been in spots where I can't even mention it
Jadakiss revealed that he had been in certain places that he cannot talk about
"Don't drink the Cris', Ghost might to pissed in it!"
Jadakiss warned everyone not to drink the Cristal champagne because Ghostface Killah might have urinated in it
Romanian dude, black down, pouring the Saki
A man from Romania is serving black Saki
Face slumped to the side like Rocky
Someone's face is leaning to one side like the boxer Rocky
Then Strahan came through, with his bullshit ring
Michael Strahan arrived wearing a fake ring
He said yikes, when I pulled out my monster bling
Michael Strahan reacted surprised or frightened when I showed him my large and impressive jewelry
Don't be afraid of the New York street talk
Don't worry about the rough and direct language of New Yorkers
I switch gear all day bro, like you do on your peach porch
I can adapt to different situations very easily, like you driving on your familiar street
The chairs is suede, the walls is velvet
The chairs are made of suede and the walls are covered with velvet
Marquise ballroom, so live I felt it
We are in a Marquise ballroom with great ambiance
Fat asses in fishnets, shaking they pelvis
Women with big buttocks are wearing fishnet stockings and dancing provocatively
Playing with they pussy, middle finger dripping, I smelt it
They are touching themselves intimately and I can smell their arousal
Poker tables, crap joints just for rap niggas
There are tables for playing poker and other casino games intended for rappers
Me and Sheek, walking around bitch-slapping niggas
My friend Sheek and I are walking around and hitting people in the face
There go Rae, there go P
I see Raekwon and Prodigy
Yo Chop what up! What up?
I am greeting someone named Chop
Sam Cooke writing hand, all of my lightning, damn
I have excellent handwriting like Sam Cooke
Used to rob niggas in Sam's, buy shams
I used to steal from people at Sam's and then buy fake jewelry
For my dude's baby shoe or booster baby, rolling with steel
I invested the stolen money in my friend's baby's needs and used a gun for protection
Eating Jamaican food under the wheel
I am eating Jamaican food while sitting in a car wheel
You know the deal, book something then blow
You know the routine, make a deal and leave quickly
When from a O to a low, little apartment in Brookdale
I went from having a lot of money to living in a small apartment in Brookdale
Gold was my motto, lotto numbers is what?
I was obsessed with gold and had a habit of playing the lottery
Had it in me, rolled down cooling with coke
I had the courage and the ability to sell cocaine
That's the 90's, Chef era take over America
This happened in the 90s and the era of Raekwon's music was taking over America
Bag Ugly Betty up, make her Ms. Guerrera
We would make an unattractive woman our assistant and give her a new name to make her sound more attractive
Pinky wench in sweaters, cortex burning the mic booth
A woman with a small pink car and a big vagina is rapping in the recording booth with great skill
Travel right past my heritage
My heritage is being left behind as I am traveling to a new place
Them old school niggas is me
I am one of the old school rappers
Taught me how to read, get skee'd, everybody missing a ki
They taught me to read and to cheat while playing dice, everyone is losing money
Yo I do this with a natural movement
I am doing this effortlessly
Catch me by the munition Venetian scope on me, fuck it I'm losing it
Find me armed with a telescopic sight for aiming, I am losing my mind
I did it my way, lights off on the highway
I did things according to my own rules, driving at night with the lights off
Greek statues on both sides of the driveway
There are Greek statues on each side of the driveway
Word to the stamps on the diesel
Acknowledging the printing on the diesel fuel tank
The way these niggas is looking either they got cramps or they evil
These people are giving unpleasant looks that either indicate physical discomfort or ill-intent
One go we all go, D-boy fresh but hard dough
If one person in our group goes, we all go together, we may be young and fresh but we have lots of money
Cashmere and suede cargoes
Wearing expensive cashmere and suede pants
On top of the beige Wallo's
Standing on top of the beige walls
45 government edition clippers, straight hollows
Using high-powered guns with hollowed-out bullets
My 'Clientele is Supreme' and it's proven
My fans are the best and they have proven it
That I'm 'Only Built 4 the Link' if it's Cuban
I am only interested in Cuban cigars if they are of high quality
I'm a pioneer, I'm not a vet (uh-uh)
I am a trailblazer, not someone who has been in the game for a long time
"Last Kiss" is a French one, it's not a peck (uh-uh)
The "Last Kiss" that I am talking about is a French one, not just a simple kiss
Moving powder, piff and a lot of wet
I am dealing drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and liquid ecstasy
You're gonna die, that's a promise, not a threat
I am making a serious statement, not just an idle threat
Yeah, but I ain't with the chattering
I don't like to talk without action
'Cause I'd just rather splatter them
I prefer to harm or kill them instead
This is a Cartel gathering, what?
This is a meeting of a powerful criminal organization
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Jason Phillips, Steve Thornton, Dennis David Coles, Corey Todd Woods, Edward Ferrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Quintana
Jada’s line-My Clientel is Supreme and it’s proven that I’m only Built for the Link if it’s Cuban- is so fucking sick because it’s referring and in homage to Ghosts and Rae’s albums🔥
C4oUre
this is probably one of my favorite Ghost verses of all times lmao..DONT DRINK THE CRIS GHOST PISSED IN IT
LifeLearner
That beat climax at beginning and end wow. This beat is so solid. The drums, bass wow!!!
Joel Joseph
Dope beat
TK Alphonzo
We another joint like that Jada... Hands down ‼
ChillyWillMD
0:29 best part. lol
Erick Johnson 1994
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
MR J
Still listen to this
Mil Russell
Kiss just different 🐐
Michael Bell Jr
Don't drink the Cris, Ghostface pissed in itttttt