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
Ghostface
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
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Ghostface (I can't hear y'all!)
Ghostface! (A little louder)
Ghostface
Yo, you can catch me in Z-No's on a Friday night
Or at the Emmy's, Bentley's, Roll Royce, all white
Fresh kicks, star studded up
Soak my hands in olive oil, loyal to each, Diamond
Shoot out the clock while I'm killin' timin'
Eight-mill just to resign me
My bitches go crazy and pull they hair out when they can't find me
It's like, all he say, Mr., Mr., D.J.
Bring it back like an instant replay
Please, get these wack records off of me
I can't breath, asthma pump so I could stop the weez
It's like they love garbage (yeah), for God's sake, I'm the real artist
Hear they songs, dumb niggas father's
Under my wing like Sanford and Son
Weird sons, I'm a big gun, like Big Pun, Big L and Jason
Ghostface (yo, yo who's the boss when it comes to these songs?)
Ghostface ( I can't hear y'all!)
Ghostface! (a little louder)
Ghostface
I'm like a green and white kickball, I bounce
Spin off walls and cars, the Wizard of Clarks, Tony Oz
In the third grade, I bagged Penny
Well Butter on your burns, guess Daddy was concerned like many
Now Daddy's blowin' 'sherm and Remi
On the road toll up, bust the promoter so I can shit in Denny's
This is Tone-Tana, spangled banded with four hammers
Bangles get tangled and they cause manners
Money, don't stop, get it, get it, I'm not finished with it
Menaced out, tell your click that Dennis did it
Rock them boats and I copped them ropes
Resurging the mics, I deal with only knives and throats
Hold my tongue around fake niggas
Look at 'em sideways and pull my trees
Ask me to hit it, I'm like, nigga please, fuck outta here!
Fuck war with niggas, facin' me, fuckers, step up the gear
Ghost dough and spend it though
Plus got the pen exposed
Countin' mad money and sheep, god damn
Take a look at the radio, shit soundin' shady, yo
Everything I'm hearin' is weak
We got them long biscuits, long clip shit
Run for the hills and re-charge your shit
Come back if you think that you are-are do-do-do-don!
Ghostface (yo, yo who's the boss when it comes to these songs?)
Ghostface (I can't hear y'all!)
Ghostface! (a little louder)
Ghostface
The opening to Ghostface Killah's "Ghostface" featuring Jadakiss, opens with the repetition of Ghostface’s name being chanted. This is symbolic of Ghostface’s superiority in the music industry, and his command over the mic. He then proceeds to describe his lavish lifestyle, where he can be found at exclusive events and VIP parties. He also boasts about his success in the music industry, which allows him to live his extravagant lifestyle. Ghostface also highlights the importance of his loyal team, describing the love and respect he has for them. He calls out the lack of talent in the industry, proclaiming himself as the “real artist” and claiming that others are “dumb niggas’ fathers” in comparison to his skills. He also talks about his overall dominance in the industry, comparing himself to other revered artists like Big Pun and Big L. The overall message of the song is about Ghostface establishing and maintaining his position as the top artist.
One interesting fact about the song is that it is the first track on Ghostface’s third studio album, "Supreme Clientele", which was released on February 8, 2000. The songs on the album are inspired by the 1970s blaxploitation film soundtracks, including the heavy use of soul samples taken from that era. Another interesting fact is that the song features JadaKiss, who was a fellow member of the rap group "The LOX" along with Styles P and Sheek Louch. Ghostface also mentions "Deini" in his lyrics, referring to his previous alias "Ironman" from his appearance on the Wu Tang Clan’s debut album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)".
Line by Line Meaning
Ghostface (yo, yo who's the boss when it comes to these songs?)
Introducing himself as Ghostface and asking who is the best at making songs
Ghostface (I can't hear y'all!)
Asking the crowd to speak louder
Ghostface! (A little louder)
Asking the crowd to be even louder
Ghostface
Repeating his name as a way to assert himself as the best rapper
Yo, you can catch me in Z-No's on a Friday night
Describing where he can be found during weekends
Or at the Emmy's, Bentley's, Roll Royce, all white
Listing fancy events and cars where he may also be seen
Fresh kicks, star studded up
Wearing new and flashy shoes with many diamonds
A ounce of Gertest to hold me til them Theodore and Deini's roll up
Holding some weed until his friends with whom he smokes weed, Theodore and Deini, arrive
Soak my hands in olive oil, loyal to each, Diamond
Taking care of his diamond rings by soaking them in olive oil
Shoot out the clock while I'm killin' timin'
Shooting at a clock while waiting for something to happen
Eight-mill just to resign me
Saying he was worth eight million dollars to renew his contract
My bitches go crazy and pull they hair out when they can't find me
Saying his women get really upset when they cannot locate him
It's like, all he say, Mr., Mr., D.J.
Saying he often hears the DJ announcing him
Bring it back like an instant replay
Asking the DJ to rewind the song and play it again
Please, get these wack records off of me
Asking to stop playing bad music
I can't breath, asthma pump so I could stop the weez
Using an asthma pump to relieve his breathing problems caused by bad music
It's like they love garbage (yeah), for God's sake, I'm the real artist
Saying people are enjoying bad music while he is the real artist
Hear they songs, dumb niggas father's
Saying that the authors of the music he dislikes are unintelligent
Under my wing like Sanford and Son
Saying he takes care of younger artists like a mentor figure
Weird sons, I'm a big gun, like Big Pun, Big L and Jason
Saying he is a great rapper, like other famous rappers who have passed away
I'm like a green and white kickball, I bounce
Comparing himself to a kickball that bounces around
Spin off walls and cars, the Wizard of Clarks, Tony Oz
Saying he moves fast like a character from The Wizard of Oz and wearing Clarks shoes
In the third grade, I bagged Penny
Remembering when he started dating someone named Penny during third grade
Well Butter on your burns, guess Daddy was concerned like many
Describing how he would apply butter on his injuries and his father was caring
Now Daddy's blowin' 'sherm and Remi
Saying his father is now addicted to drugs and alcohol
On the road toll up, bust the promoter so I can shit in Denny's
Saying he would destroy a concert promoter's office to defecate in a Denny's restaurant
This is Tone-Tana, spangled banded with four hammers
Referring to himself as Tone-Tana and wearing four watches
Bangles get tangled and they cause manners
Saying wearing too many bracelets and watches can become a nuisance
Money, don't stop, get it, get it, I'm not finished with it
Saying he will continue to get more money
Menaced out, tell your click that Dennis did it
Saying he is dangerous and taking credit for something bad
Rock them boats and I copped them ropes
Buying expensive jewelry that looks like ropes
Resurging the mics, I deal with only knives and throats
Saying he only deals with rap music and violent lyrics
Hold my tongue around fake niggas
Saying he avoids saying disrespectful things around people he does not respect
Look at 'em sideways and pull my trees
Saying he gives suspicious looks and smokes weed in front of fake people
Ask me to hit it, I'm like, nigga please, fuck outta here!
Saying he refuses to smoke weed with certain people
Fuck war with niggas, facin' me, fuckers, step up the gear
Challenging other rappers to compete with him
Ghost dough and spend it though
Referring to his money and saying he spends it easily
Plus got the pen exposed
Referring to his ability to write good lyrics
Countin' mad money and sheep, god damn
Counting a lot of money while being frustrated
Take a look at the radio, shit soundin' shady, yo
Saying that radio plays bad and shady music
Everything I'm hearin' is weak
Saying that all music he hears is not good
We got them long biscuits, long clip shit
Saying he has long guns with long clips
Run for the hills and re-charge your shit
Encouraging other rappers to leave or improve their music
Come back if you think that you are-are do-do-do-don!
Mocking other rappers who may think they are better
Ghostface (yo, yo who's the boss when it comes to these songs?)
Repeating the first line as a way to remind everyone who is the best rapper
Ghostface (I can't hear y'all!)
Asking the crowd to speak louder, again
Ghostface! (a little louder)
Asking the crowd to be even louder, again
Ghostface
Repeating his name one last time to close the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Darrell Branch, Dennis D. Coles, Kurt Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind