You shouldn't be surprised if your favorite rapper's favorite rapper is Ghostface Killah. There aren't too many people that have defined originality and innovation like Ghostface. With Wu-Tang's failed attempt at a successful comeback -- 8 Diagrams was highly anticipated, yet highly forgettable -- people wondered if Ghostface would suffer the same faith of his group's last project. However, his personality and creativeness are too bright to be dimmed; The Big Dough Rehab easily picks up where Fishscale left off.
"At The Cabana Skit" kicks off The Big Doe Rehab the right way. Ghost has a knack for being a comical tuff guy, via his interludes and skits, and his personality shines bright on this one. After some light-hearted lyricism on the opening skit, Ghost gets down to business. Beanie Sigel stops by on "Toney Sigel AKA The Barrel Brothers," and the lyrical jabs from both wordsmiths are intricate and heavily dexterous. The beat is as gritty and hard as New York City asphalt, and it accentuates the song perfectly.
The album's creative apex is achieved on "Yolanda's House," as Raekwon and Method Man paint a vivid Wu Tang motion picture, '95 style. There is no compromise from anyone, as far as delivery is concerned. The Kid Capri-featured "We Celebrate" is the first single off the album. It is exciting and addictive and is the type of song that should get more rotation on the radio. The energy on this track is indescribable and the production from producer LV is superb. The hard-hitting kick and snare drums seem to have been built specifically to highlight Ghost's animated execution.
The foundation has been laid; Ghost had American Gangster-esque beats before Jay-Z was "inspired." "Walk Around" has a '70s feel and just the right tempo for the killer with no face to murk. One of the most ingenious and entertaining songs to arise as of late has to be "White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)." GFK has the ability to take his wild imagination and relay it with vivid imagery for all to see. This time around GFK narrates a scenario where he is hosting his own award show, and it's no holds barred. Not only does he narrate the story, he also plays the actual host of the award show. It's the kind of unhinged conceptual freedom that was common in the oh-so-sweet mid-90s era.
"Supa GFK" is produced by none other than Ghost himself, and, again, it has that saccharine-soul sound to it. This time the production is a bit less hypnotic, but the wordplay saves the day as Ghost spits quirky quips like, "shots blow through your meatloaf." The dramatic "Paisley Darts" features Raekwon, Sun God, Trife, Method Man and Cappadonna. This is a Wu-Tang fan's dream come true. The chemistry is keen, but that vintage '90s rawness is missing from some of the featured verses.
Ghosface's darts are still as sharp as they were ten years ago, but not even advanced articulation can save "Rec Room Therapy." Wu affiliates U-God and Raekwon bury the hatchet and make an appearance on one of the blandest songs on the project. You could have featured Jay-Z, Nas and 50 Cent on this track and the production would still sound as appealing as nails on a chalkboard. Another track that gets stuck in the mud is "Shakey Dog." Once again Ghost flies high with his delivery, but the lethargic production doesn't provide the proper landing strip. Finishing things off, "Killa Lipstick" featuring Method Man and Masta Killa, and "Slow Down" featuring the retro-resurged sounds of Chrisette Michele, should not have been bonus tracks. These two jewels are some of the best material on the entire album, and they send off the project the same way it started -- on point.
Even though GFK's sales don't project the album's true worth, unfortunately, this may be labeled just another overlooked opus. Def Jam has been deemed one of the worst labels, as far as promotion and marketing are concerned, and this may be the proof in the pudding. That being said, GFK still delivers another gratifyingly-gritty album to consumers that are sick of today's mainstream nightmare, but without a song that received the kind of radio play that his previous hit "Back Like That" (his 2006 smash with Ne-Yo) garnered, unfortunately, many fans may not even know that this album was even released. Ghost has always done a soulful joint for the ladies, collaborating with the likes of Carl Thomas, Mary J Blige and Ne-Yo, but this time around that element is missing. With that factored into the equation, this may be why the ladies aren't loving Ghost this time around. The bottom line is that if you are a fiend for grimy beats and grizzly word play, then check yourself into The Big Doe Rehab.
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