Dennis David Coles, known as Ghostface Killah, was born on May 9, 1970. He’s an American rapper and a member of the famous hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The group gained huge success with their album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” and after that, each member pursued their solo careers with varying levels of achievement.
Ghostface Killah started his solo journey with “Ironman” in 1996, which received positive reviews from music critics. Over the years, he continued to release highly acclaimed albums like “Supreme Clientele” (2000) and “Fishscale” (2006). His stage name was inspired by a character in the 1979 kung fu movie “The Mystery of Chess Boxing,” and he’s also the founder of Starks Enterprises, his own record label.
Ghostface Killah is renowned for his energetic, rapid-flowing style and his emotionally charged, cryptic storytelling filled with slang and unexpected twists. He has received recognition from various sources, including MTV, About.com, Q magazine, Pitchfork Media, and NPR, all praising his exceptional storytelling abilities.
In his early life, Ghostface grew up in the Stapleton Houses housing project in Staten Island, New York City. He helped care for his two younger brothers who had muscular dystrophy. The 2019 series “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” portrays a fictional feud between him and fellow Clan member Raekwon, although, in reality, they attended junior high school together and were close.
Regarding his career, Ghostface played a significant role in bringing together the members of Wu-Tang Clan, thanks to his roommate and Wu-Tang founder, RZA. He was prominently featured on Raekwon’s debut album, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” in 1995, and it felt like a collaborative film project with Raekwon as the star, Ghostface as the guest star, and RZA as the director. He also contributed to soundtracks like “Sunset Park” and “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.” These songs made their way onto his first solo album, “Ironman,” which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.
In 2000, Ghostface released his second studio album, “Supreme Clientele,” which garnered critical acclaim and peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200. The album included the hit single “Apollo Kids” featuring Raekwon. His sound continued to evolve with a soulful influence. He then followed up with “Bulletproof Wallets,” which had R&B elements and featured singles like “Never Be the Same Again” and “Flowers” with fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Raekwon. Madame Majestic also joined him on the track “Ghost Showers.”
