Shaolin's finest returns

As one-tenth of Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah's latest solo release Fishscale is undoubtedly going to draw comparisons to the hip-hop super group. But where many have failed, Ghostface has succeeded, creating a name for himself outside of the gig that forever immortalized his unique lyricism. Ghostface's talent speaks for itself, and with the release of Fishscale, he continues to prove that he is one of hip-hop's premier musicians with or without Wu-Tang at his back. \nBeginning with a rather customary affirmation of how real his shit is, "Shakey Dog," kicks off the album in appropriate fashion. Ghostface's spitfire storytelling is gracefully interwoven over a raw, stripped down and dirty beat as he rhymes about an accomplice shooting a dog and liking ketchup on his French-fries. \n"Kilo" follows and we're reminded by a sexy female chorus that "a kilo is a thousand grams / Easy to remember." "Kilo" is reminiscent of your standard Wu-Tang drug track, as Ghostface rhymes about sending a runner out for baggies, all over the sound of a razor blade scraping across a mirror. Its primal horn licks and tight groove is a quick fix that will pick you up, and get you bumpin' to your 9 a.m. \nA one-two punch, the kung-fu ass-kicking track "The Champ" verbally assaults the audience until the bell rings and a crowd cheers. An opening sample declares, "He'll leave a ring around your eye / You ain't been this hungry since Supreme Clientele," referencing Ghostface's 2000 masterpiece. The horns sound as if they've been lifted from a '70s martial arts flick, and Ghostface rhymes so smooth that it's hard to not become hypnotized by his voice as it dances around like Muhammad Ali. \n"9 Milli Bros" features Wu-Tang Clan in classic form, trading lengthy lines over their trademark Staten Island sound. The R&B bump 'n' grind of "Back Like That" featuring Deaf-Jam up-and-comer Ne-Yo is easily the most dismissible track on Fishscale, but is still a job-well done if that's your thing. "R.A.G.U.," albeit brief, features Raekwon of Wu Tang fame, and flows with remarkable purpose. After the humorously crude "Bad Mouth Kid," Ghostface lets us in to his violent past as he rhymes about his mother's abuse in "Whip You With A Strap." Set primarily to a Luther Ingram sample, Ghostface raps, "Mama shake me real hard / Bad belt, yes her presence was felt." But then justifies his mothers actions in the next verse, "When I was a little dude, her son was a little rude." Then the master lyricist completes the verse with some choice words on today's youth, "Nowadays kids don't get beat / They get big treats / Fresh pairs of sneaks / punishment's like 'Have a seat.'" Damn. \nFollowing this trip down memory lane, it becomes clear that at 35, Ghostface is at the top of his game. As exciting as the prospect of a new Wu-Tang album is, and the all too predictable national tour (may O.D.B. R.I.P.), one should not overlook what Ghostface has been able to produce on his own. He's established himself as one of hip-hop's heavyweights and has just added an instant classic to an already impressive solo resume.