Happy 20th Anniversary to Ghostface Killah and his second album Supreme Clientele. This album would feature guest appearances from Raekwon, Method Man, Masta Killa, GZA, Cappadonna, Redman, RZA, U-God, and affiliates of what would become members of Theodore Unit and T.M.F. Supreme Clientele would not be heavily produced by RZA but also featured other producers who the RZA worked with to make the album complete. Supreme Clientele came in at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while selling 134,000 copies in its first week and was later certified Gold in sales by the RIAA.
The album featured the singles “Cherchez La Ghost”, which was number 2 on the Billboard charts and the first single “Apollo Kids” which featured Raekwon. Even though the songs received limited song play commercially, they both went on to achieve notable chart success. The most notable thing about this project was his creative lyricism and cohesive format of production the RZA has arranged. This album would feature the most RZA contribution and is often ranked as Ghostface Killah’s best album and could also be regarded as one of the best solo Wu-Tang albums with it receiving accolades for being one of the best albums of the 2000s decade.
Ghostface Killah is an original member of the Wu-Tang Clan and After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Ghostface, like other members of the Wu, went on to pursue solo careers. Ghostface was featured extensively on fellow Clan member Raekwon’s debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, as he made appearances on almost every song. Ghostface Killah then debuted his solo-career with Ironman in 1996, The album, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, got away from the Wu-Tang sound and had a new soul-influenced sound and Ghostface’s future albums would follow in this style.
Ghostface would release his second studio album Supreme Clientele and it would be considered the turning point in RZA’s musical influences on his sound with only six songs being produced by the RZA, compared to Ironman, its predecessor where every song but one is produced by him. Even Though he contributed fewer beats to the project, RZA personally oversaw the mixing and production of the album which gave Supreme Clientele a unified sound.
With songs like “Nutmeg” and the albums first single “Apollo Kids” Ghostface showed his lyrical creativity while appearing alongside fellow Wu members. While one of my favorite songs “Mighty Healthy” has Ghostface just effortlessly glide over the beat spitting venom. Ghostface even managed a club banger with “Cherchez LaGhost”, the albums second single while “One” showed Ghostface sharpen his sword spitting his witty deliver over the soulful beat. Overall Supreme Clientele was a classic album when it was released and 20 years later it’s still a classic. The album seemed sonically ahead of it’s time and still today I am trying to decipher some of Ghostface Killah’s lyrics.
Ghostface has put out or appeared on over 20 albums and is considered one of the top lyricists ever. Ghostface Killah is known for his loud, fast-paced flow, and being able to rap with a stream-of-consciousness as he narrates the street life using his own slang and non-sequiturs. The editors of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, calling him “one of the most imaginative storytellers of our time.”
Salute to Ghostface and his album Supreme Clientele on the 20th anniversary. Thanks for the classic album.
