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
Purified Thoughts
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
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Both of them turned green from counting the ones
Memorized by the glory, word life
Cut off niggas who killed good but couldn't do nothing for me
Shout 'em out every once in the blue
And kid yo, I never rocked with laws they keep away, we cool
I devised my own stimulus plan, I'm niggarish
I'm tired of eating those crumbs and black licorice
Let the imam pray over my head and wash
Thoughts, sterilized, purified, Godly
Watch us gift men and fetch the green like barley
If that shit happen I'll feed his whole army
Talking 'bout the angels and peeps in Somali
Try to stay humble and swallow my pride
In God I trust, now talk about the ones on your five
Crisp dollar billing, catch me in a little hut in Benin
Village style, feeding the children
Big pots of jasmine tea with Mandela
Africans chanting me on like Coachella
Ghostface Bumaye, Kumbaya my Lord
My death day, 24 karat tomb I lay
Wishing they could bury me next to the prophets
Nabi, Lut, Is'a, Musa, Hadrat Muhammad, Ibrahim
The Lord takes me, gathering speeds before winds
High currents, distance, places be forming wings
Kings offering, thrones was there
Man with the seven crowns on his dome was near
Feet walked over rose petals sold from the ghetto
Face froze in gold like the pharaoh
Adorned in glory, robe of light, a power for his cherub
As He passed the path, white doves crossed the eyes of thugs
Eternal heartbeat and the dark fire in his blood
Seven hundred books were opened
Embraced to write, then threw the crooks in the ocean
Skin brass hair like it grew from goatskin
The chosen has spoken, tablets were broken
The smoke hand grabs an omen
Gravity grabbing me gradually, dragging me through Hell's cavity
This is blasphemy, I fell where the jackals feed
God felt bad for me but cast me in the Caspian Sea
Satan gave the dragon his key, Wu-Family's the faculty
K.P., K.P
He used to sling in the stairwell
Fast to put the rap on a thinking cap, ignite your hair gel
No such thing as the fair sale
He'll put the bullet out same day, delivery airmail
And on this level a thug will sell your garbage
No refund, the only exchange from the cartridge
But the users just kept coming back with their life earnings
Ready to make a deal, soul and pipe burning
The outcome tragic, the household dramatic
Living rooms for heating spoons, basements for addicts
Support from a bean, hit the courts from a fiend
Who betrayed one, who had lit the torch for his team
So he sent them gifts, body parts per diem
In a box that held prints but too dark to see 'em
In the first verse of Ghostface Killah's "Purified Thoughts," he speaks about counting the ones and the toll it has taken on his hands. His reference to green thumbs symbolizes his experiences as a drug dealer. He states that he has cut off individuals who have killed for him but has received no benefit from them. Instead, he remembers them every once in a while out of sheer obligation. Ghostface, who is fed up with eating crumbs, has created his own economic stimulus plan he deems "niggarish." To escape his daily routine of drug dealing and taking money, Ghostface visits a mosque, where he plunges his head in water and prays for a safer, cleaner mental state. Ghostface declares that his thoughts have been cleaned up and purified in a godly manner. He ends the verse by saying that he's done something substantial to lift himself up and begin the day hopeful, unlike the previous times where he has awoken on Fridays feeling defeated.
In the second verse, Ghostface speaks about his death and what he envisions it to be. He believes that he is being taken to the Lord at breakneck speed. He discusses the arrival of a man with seven crowns and a white robe, who could be God. He describes walking through rose petals with a face that's frozen in gold, which is reminiscent of King Tut. He also mentions the white doves crossing the eyes of thugs in the area. Ghostface moves on to discuss receiving tablets that were broken and seven hundred books that were exposed. He also talks about a smoke hand that has reached out to grab him, only to be pulled to hell by gravity. He describes this moment as blasphemy and discloses his eventual end in the Caspian Sea. Ghostface mentions that the Wu-Tang Clan is like a faculty, and he is proud to belong to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my hands out my pockets you can see my thumbs
I'm showing you that I don't have any weapons
Both of them turned green from counting the ones
I've handled a lot of money and am proficient in counting it
Memorized by the glory, word life
I am inspired by my own successes and recognize them regularly
Cut off niggas who killed good but couldn't do nothing for me
I have disassociated from individuals who have done something bad to me despite having had a positive effect on my life
Shout 'em out every once in the blue
I acknowledge these people occasionally
And kid yo, I never rocked with laws they keep away, we cool
I've never cooperated with the police and have never had issues with them
I devised my own stimulus plan, I'm niggarish
I have created my own way of becoming wealthy, which is unique to me and my culture
I'm tired of eating those crumbs and black licorice
I'm sick of not having enough and having to eat bitter food
To free my mind on Friday, I cleanse in the mosque
I go to the mosque on Fridays to clear my head
Let the imam pray over my head and wash
I allow someone with spiritual authority to pray for me and cleanse me
Thoughts, sterilized, purified, Godly
I have purified my thoughts to be in line with those of a God-like nature
Watch us gift men and fetch the green like barley
I and those around me make money easily and rapidly by using our skills
If that shit happen I'll feed his whole army
If I become extremely rich, I'll be able to help a large number of people
Talking 'bout the angels and peeps in Somali
I'm discussing the people and the angels in Somali culture that have impacted me
Try to stay humble and swallow my pride
I'm attempting to remain level-headed despite my success
In God I trust, now talk about the ones on your five
I believe in God, now tell me what influential figures influenced your own beliefs
Crisp dollar billing, catch me in a little hut in Benin
Despite my wealth, I am still simple and humble
Village style, feeding the children
I enjoy simplicity and helping others, especially when it comes to children
Big pots of jasmine tea with Mandela
I enjoy the simple pleasure of drinking tea with political heroes such as Nelson Mandela
Africans chanting me on like Coachella
In this context, people are recognizing and praising me in the same way that festivalgoers at Coachella praise their favorite musical acts
Ghostface Bumaye, Kumbaya my Lord
My name is Ghostface, I'm a fighter and a believer
My death day, 24 karat tomb I lay
When I pass away, I will be buried in luxury
Wishing they could bury me next to the prophets
I wish I could be buried alongside the most revered religious figures
Nabi, Lut, Is'a, Musa, Hadrat Muhammad, Ibrahim
These are some of the most respected figures in Islamic culture and I desire to be buried with them
The Lord takes me, gathering speeds before winds
I believe that when I pass away, God will take me quickly
High currents, distance, places be forming wings
I believe that powerful entities will lead me to my resting place, wherever it may be
Kings offering, thrones was there
People of influence and power will offer tributes to me, again referencing my wish to be buried with religious icons
Man with the seven crowns on his dome was near
This man represents the ultimate, powerful entity
Feet walked over rose petals sold from the ghetto
I believe that even though I came from humble beginnings, I'll be remembered as a powerful and successful individual
Face froze in gold like the pharaoh
I'll be remembered with gold and power like an ancient pharaoh
Adorned in glory, robe of light, a power for his cherub
I will appear glorious and powerful in my final resting place and will be protected by powerful forces
As He passed the path, white doves crossed the eyes of thugs
Even the most hardened and tough individuals will recognize God's power when I am buried
Eternal heartbeat and the dark fire in his blood
I have a passion and a drive that will never leave me, even after my death
Seven hundred books were opened
Many stories and truths were exposed at my burial
Embraced to write, then threw the crooks in the ocean
The secrets told at my burial were written down and then disposed of, never to be seen again
Skin brass hair like it grew from goatskin
I'm describing my physical appearance as dark-skinned and luxurious
The chosen has spoken, tablets were broken
My place in the world has been secured, and many changes and secrets have been revealed
The smoke hand grabs an omen
I believe that something powerful is in the works
Gravity grabbing me gradually, dragging me through Hell's cavity
Death is slowly and steadily taking over my body
This is blasphemy, I fell where the jackals feed
I'm deliberately breaking taboos and then being punished for it
God felt bad for me but cast me in the Caspian Sea
Even though God may feel pity for me, He has still cast me to a difficult fate
Satan gave the dragon his key, Wu-Family's the faculty
I attribute some of my success to worldly, negative forces that have given me power
He used to sling in the stairwell
I used to sell drugs in a specific place
Fast to put the rap on a thinking cap, ignite your hair gel
I can easily switch between illegal and legal activities
No such thing as the fair sale
I don't believe in drug sales that are fair or ethical
He'll put the bullet out same day, delivery airmail
I'm capable of quick and efficient actions, even violent ones
And on this level a thug will sell your garbage
Even someone with violent tendencies like myself is willing to do things of a lesser nature in order to make money
No refund, the only exchange from the cartridge
Once a violent action has been taken, there is no turning back and no way to undo it
But the users just kept coming back with their life earnings
Despite the danger and cost, people still come back to me to purchase drugs
Ready to make a deal, soul and pipe burning
People desperate for drugs are willing to give up their very soul to obtain them
The outcome tragic, the household dramatic
The result of drug addiction is always tragic and can bring a lot of drama to the family
Living rooms for heating spoons, basements for addicts
Addiction can cause people to use drugs even in the unlikeliest of places, including their own homes
Support from a bean, hit the courts from a fiend
People will support drug addicts in many ways, even though it may cause problems in the long run
Who betrayed one, who had lit the torch for his team
It's frustrating when someone whom you've helped betrays you
So he sent them gifts, body parts per diem
As a result of feeling betrayed, the individual took his revenge in a violent way
In a box that held prints but too dark to see 'em
The evidence of this violent act was hidden, making it difficult for it to be discovered
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: ADAM KING FEENEY, DENNIS DAVID COLES, GARY E. GRICE, WALTER REED, WILLIE JAMES CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind