Ghostface is infamous for his interviews, but it’s the best kind of infamy. His colorful use of language spawned Big Ghost Chronicles, a blog devoted to his bizarre lyrical stylings and eviscerating Drake. Sample sentence: “Ayo whattup you now in the presence of the mighty Hands Of Zeus aka the grand imperial Cocaine Biceps.”
Ghost’s unique brand of stream of consciousness spills over from his rhymes into his rhetoric, spinning looping threads of “nah means” and “yah heards” through which he drops jewels. It’s pretzel logic at its flyest. In that way, he’s like Wu Tang’s mystic.
On Thursday, he’s coming to the Wilbur in support of his latest project, 12 Reasons To Die. A collaboration with the soulful producer Adrian Younge, the tour features a live band to help flesh out the album’s lush sound. Below, Ghost talks DOOM collaborations, freaking beats, the Wu tour and more. Shit is off the meat rack.
After DJ Format killed it last month, we keep the British wave rolling with special guest DJ Yoda for Fresh Produce this Saturday at the Good Life, of course. Ten-plus years since the first volume, his landmark How to Cut and Paste series is still going strong, but these days you’ll find him all over the place, from releasing a solo album last year to recording a concerto for turntable and orchestra. Q Magazine once declared him “one of the ten DJs to see before you die”; we say you can skip the other nine.
Trees’ favorite lunatic, Alex Jones, chops up all things illuminatti with Immortal Technique…who tried to holla at the Indian chic from Shaws supermarket that sucked me off in Quests office. Quite entertaining.
Watch how uncomfortable America’s supreme purveyor of Uncle Tommery gets when in the presence of grown man hip-hop. This bujois ass fashionista got kids thinking he’s live for the night. He’s a consummate cornball. Canada dry. Trinidad Lame. Coonin for caucasians. Don’t believe the hype.
1998, I”m in Vegas at the Billboard Awards with my man Papito The Barber from the BX.
I used to set up my shit in his barber shop on Valentine and rock for 12 hours a day while he cheffed heads up. Jadakiss, DJ Ekim, Lord Tariq, dude from Natural Resources, and an all star cast of Dominican coke lords were some of his more notable clientele.
I was 23 with a bangin hairline and more pussy to deal with than the JP MSPCA. When I would rock at the after hours in Mott Haven, he would be beside the boof lining heads up with his razor. That was our shtick…he told his clientele he rolled with his personal on site dj, and I told mine I rock with the best barber in New Yiddy on site. Amazing what makes sense when you’re 23.
We were steadily over-achieving. That was the year Hot97 held it’s first on-air dj contest. The caller with the best introduction to a song bagged a 4 hour slot alongside Angie Martinez. I won and brought Papito with me. S.W.V. was in the studio as I hosted my show. I asked them to step to the mic because I was such a fan. They complied. I went in. “Two questions, SWV…has Dennis Scott ran a train on the three of you, and wouldn’t Sisters With Vaginas be a more fitting monicker?” (If Faraone is reading…Dennis Scott was an NBA player married to one of S.W.V’s members.)
Angie pushes the dump button and we’re escorted out. Amazing what makes sense when you’re 23.
Back to Vegas. Papito finagled an interview with Vidal Sassoon. Not the company. The fucking guy. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t ask. Vidal flew him to Vegas and put him up in the MGM. I rolled with him. I have anectodotes for days from that one trip. From the prostitute who had a seizure in our room, to standing next to Mike Tyson on stage as he beatboxed on the mic while I tried acid for the first time…Which brings me back to Kathy Griffin.
We’re standing in line at the Hard Rock Casino for some industry party where I would do acid for the first time standing next to a beat boxing MIke Tyson. As we get to the entrance…this is no fuckin joke…I see Kathy Griffin standing next to Rappin 4-TAY.
She was on some up and coming shit at the time, but I knew who she was…and here she was at some West Coast gully ass hip-hop type shit with Rappin fuckin 4-TAY.
No joke. For a solid 45 seconds, we exchanged glances, looked each other up and down, and considered fucking each other. I know she was down. I was just stuck on being a live 23 year old BX ninja intent on baggin up Queen Pen or better.
Every time I see Kathy on tv I remember our sacred moment, and how ridiculous 4-Tay looked in his perm. If I played my cards right, I would have been Mr. David Griffin today. Damnit.
Here go Danny Brown and Asap Rocky talmbout my bitch.
Steady Leanin’ just interviewed up-and-coming producer, Beautiful Lou. Lou has produced for artists like Lil B, A$AP Rocky, Main Attrakionz, Western Tink, and more. Peep the outcome.
This is my shit. Intellectual gladiators. Two men who know millions of people are watching trying to decipher who is mentally weaker. A verbal battle of wits played out on national television. One must walk the fine line of maintaining intellectual prowess and factual dominance whilst not coming across as a bitchassnigga. Don’t get emotional. Don’t let that lip quiver. When it’s all said and done, who does the chick with the fresh weave in the cheap seats wanna fuck? Welcome to Nerd Smackdown Raw Bowl. May the best faggut win.
