This is Ghostface Killah a member of The Wu Tang Clan and one of the most slept on MCs in the game. After supremely hot albums Ironman and Supreme Clientele, Ghostface disappointed some with Bulletproof Wallets and he was disappointed with the marketing and promotions of the album so when the opportunity came he signed with the big boys, Def Jam and this is his first album The Pretty Toney Album. The album features typical Ghostface, hot rhymes over 60’s and 70’s grooves as well as some surprises. Like no to Raekwon, but yes to Missy Elliot! This album maybe a slow riser to Ghost’s fans but to everyone (eventually) you will find this a more than solid debut for Mr. Tony Starks on the Empire of the Rap game.

The album starts out with “Biscuits” featuring Trife of the Theodore Unit where Ghost talks about his squad and their ability to get theirs no matter what even if meant using the big biscuits and putting some holes in someone. With horns and a piano beat courtesy of True Master, a normal Wu contributor, this track will have you cruising on the strip.

The RZA comes with that “Kunta Fly Sh**” production and Ghost comes at one guy who thinks he is hot and doesn’t know where he is at. A simple drum and kick beat with a cymbal, Tony goes off about keeping home safe at any costs.

“Beat The Clock” sounds like a car chase scene thanks to a racy Minnesota beat and the twinge in Ghost’s voice. On the track Ghost talks about why he is the best in the game and how he will never stop. The beat has a sample of “Since I Fell For You” performed by Laura Lee and will make you watch the speedometer on the car. Remind me of "Daytona 500" but different.

One of the best songs features the horns of a Black College Marching Band and two members of D-Block, Styles and Sheek joining Ghost in “Metal Lungies”. Of course the beat is hard and aggressive and all three kill the track. When talking about Metal Lungies they are talking about bullets, and we all know these three know a little about that. The No I.D. (of Chicago fame) did the beat and it and the bridge are like an old New Jersey slogan: “perfect together”

The Killah called Ghostface likes to talk about the ladies in many facets and he does so in “Save Me Dear”, a self produced track that uses the meaningful sounds of Freddie Scott’s “(You) Got What I Need”. Ghost talks about those ladies that hold the struggling men down despite their mistakes.

On the track “It’s Over” Starks talks about changing things for the better and worse. Going over situations like when he got knocked for selling drugs and things don’t go the way you hoped. Ghost tells those people who don’t walk the line of life tight to watch out over a beat done by K Def who uses an interpolations of “I’m Afraid The Masquerade Is Over” to convey the message.
Keisha’s House is a skit about just sitting outside with the fellas and checking out the scene. Ghost spits for a minute about several things from the ladies to the happening on the block.

“Tush” is the fast tempo collaboration with Missy Elliot that by no coincidence is the first video from the album. The song is hot and Missy does a great job as she is as nasty as Ghost is but the chorus is lacking. You can definitely rock this in the car and the club as the sample of “Naked Truth” by the Best Of Both Worlds makes the chorus tolerable.

“Last Night” is a brief song that uses “Last Night Changed It All” as Ghost talks about what happened when he called a female and she doesn’t pick up.
“Holla” uses one of the best songs ever “La La (Means I Love You)” by the Delfonics and sets talks about the ladies and letting us know when they are trying to let us give a shout out personally. The self produced track is smooth and makes you get your sing on- during and after the song!

Digga uses an interpolation from the composition “AJ Scratch” to hit people in the head on “Ghostface” as Ghost tells people his name and his game. All over the place, Ghost tells about his theories on dealing with the men and ladies as well as how to kill a track.

An old Billy Stewart cut, “(We’ll Always Be) Together sets up the song “Be This Way” a song about changing what is wrong on the block, in the hood, in the world. While some thing happening around us are beautiful we need to get the rest cleaned up because we have to be prosperous in this new century. Ghost points this out on a hypnotizing Nottz beat complete with a horn break.

“Tooken Back” will surely be the next single off the album as newcomer and Jackie-O go back on why she should get another chance to make Ghost happy. Jackie talks about we she does and what she needs to stay. The beat produced by Nottz features a sexy voice from the cut “Take Me Back” by The Emotions to let you know how bad you want to come back and will be a radio banger for a couple weeks.

“Run” is the super hot cut that many heard months ago on the mix tape circuit featuring Jadakiss and a beat by The RZA. Of course both of these rap masters do divine justice to the beat and let people know they are to of the most slept on MCs in the game period. The two talk about running from the police and not giving up cause “Cops got guns”. From the building to throwing the evidence away to the car chase these two are two of the best storytellers in the business.

“Love” is the “Can’t I All Be Simple” track of the album. This is the track that will make you reminisce of good and bad times and how love helped you persevere through it all. Musiq and new K.Fox do their things on the No I.D. beat and Ghost comments on his family, friends and mentors and why he is happy to be living. This is a great song to let go of the album on.

The album is hot, features solid production that aren’t usually on Ghostface’s work. Songs like “Metal Lungies” and “Run” are mix tapes standouts and “Tooken Back” and “Hush” will have the radios on blast if things are fair. The meat songs of the album are songs like “Beat The Clock”, “Holla”, “Biscuits” and “It’s Over”. These songs will leave you with that familiar feeling that Ghost has made his trademark. While not Supreme Clientele this album fits right in with Ironman and a little below Bulletproof Wallets. Besides a couple of choruses, some of which were lacking creatively the album was hot. Ghost’s penchant for finding old grooves and spilling venom on them is that niche that makes him unique and special.
I’ll give it 4 globes

Any questions, comments, suggestions email Clayton Ruley at clayton@geoclan.com.