Ghostface Killah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ghostface Killah
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Ghostface Killah performing in 2010
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Dennis David Coles
May 9, 1970 Staten Island, New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Shyheim (cousin) |
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Dennis David Coles (born May 9, 1970), known as Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper. He is a famous member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group became very successful, its members started their own solo music careers.
Ghostface Killah released his first solo album, Ironman, in 1996. Music critics really liked it. He has continued to be successful, releasing popular albums like Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name comes from a character in the 1979 kung fu movie The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He also started his own music company, Starks Enterprises.
Many people praise Ghostface Killah for his loud, fast way of rapping. He tells emotional stories in his songs, often using unique slang. In 2006, MTV called him one of the "Greatest MCs of All Time." Q magazine said he was "rap's finest storyteller." Pitchfork said he has "unparalleled storytelling instincts."
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Ghostface grew up in the Stapleton Houses in Staten Island, New York City. He helped take care of his two younger brothers who had muscular dystrophy. A TV show called Wu-Tang: An American Saga showed a fight between him and fellow Wu-Tang member Raekwon. However, this fight was not real and never happened. Raekwon and Ghostface actually went to junior high school together.
Music Career Highlights
Early Music Work
Ghostface was a roommate of RZA, who started the Wu-Tang Clan. Ghostface helped bring the other seven members together. In 1995, Ghostface was a big part of Raekwon's first album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... He appeared on almost every song. Raekwon said it felt good to have Ghostface with him, as they came from similar backgrounds. They worked together to create ideas for the album.
Raekwon wanted Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... to feel like a movie. He was the "star," Ghostface Killah was the "guest star," and RZA was the "director." Ghostface also made songs for movie soundtracks like Sunset Park. These songs were later put on his first solo album, Ironman, in 1996. This album was very popular, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 music chart. It had a strong soul sound, which became a style Ghostface used in his future albums. He also often helped produce music for other artists.
In 2000, Ghostface released his second album, Supreme Clientele. Critics loved this album, and it reached #7 on the Billboard 200 chart. It included popular songs like "Apollo Kids" and "Cherchez La Ghost". On Supreme Clientele, RZA produced fewer songs than on Ironman. However, RZA still helped a lot with mixing and producing the whole album.
Ghostface quickly made his next album, Bulletproof Wallets, which came out a year after Supreme Clientele. This album had a lot of R&B influence. Its main song was "Never Be the Same Again". Another popular song was "Flowers," which featured Method Man and Raekwon.
Joining Def Jam Records
In 2003, Ghostface signed with Def Jam Records, a big music company. For a short time, he dropped "Killah" from his name. In 2004, he released The Pretty Toney Album. This album did not feature other Wu-Tang Clan members. Instead, it had songs with artists like Missy Elliott and Jadakiss. The songs "Tush" and "Run" were quite successful. Many music lists named The Pretty Toney Album one of the best albums of the year. Ghostface also appeared on a hit song in the UK and Australia called "On My Knees."
In 2006, Ghostface worked with another underground artist named MF Doom on an album that was not released. MF Doom also produced several songs for Ghostface's 2006 album Fishscale. For this album, he went back to using his full name, "Ghostface Killah." Fishscale was very successful, reaching #4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It also received great reviews from almost everyone. Ghostface went on tour to support the album, sometimes performing with other Wu-Tang Clan members.
In 2007, Ghostface sang the theme song for the Irish cartoon series Skunk Fu!. On December 4, 2007, he released his seventh solo album, The Big Doe Rehab.
In 2009, Ghostface released his eighth album, Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City. This album was inspired by R&B music. It received good reviews from music critics. In March 2009, Ghostface released a song called "Message from Ghostface." This song was dedicated to women in difficult relationships.
In May 2009, Raekwon said that Ghostface Killah was getting ready to release a new album. Ghostface appeared on 8 songs on Raekwon's album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II. Soon after, Def Jam asked Raekwon to work with Method Man and Ghostface Killah on an album. This album was called Wu-Massacre. It came out on March 30, 2010. It received mostly good reviews, though some critics felt it was too short.
In 2010, Ghostface said he would release two new albums. One was Apollo Kids. The other was a follow-up to his 2000 album Supreme Clientele. In 2011, Ghostface Killah was featured on a song called "Redemption Days."
After Def Jam Records
Ghostface released an album with D-Block member Sheek Louch called Wu Block. It came out on November 27, 2012. It reached number 73 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In 2017, Ghostface and Sheek Louch announced they were working on a second album together.
In November 2012, Ghostface confirmed he had left Def Jam. This made Apollo Kids his last album with them. He also said that Blue & Cream, the sequel to Supreme Clientele, was almost finished. On April 16, 2013, Ghostface released his tenth album, Twelve Reasons to Die. Adrian Younge produced this album, and RZA was the executive producer. The album also came with a comic book.
He later said that the sequel to Supreme Clientele would be released in 2013. He also mentioned his album with MF Doom would come out around Halloween 2013. However, neither of these albums were released at that time. In January 2014, he appeared on the VH1 TV show Couples Therapy with his girlfriend. Later that year, Ghostface announced his eleventh album, 36 Seasons, would be released in December 2014. He also worked with the Canadian jazz band BADBADNOTGOOD on an album called Sour Soul, released in 2015. This album was nominated for a music award.
A follow-up to Twelve Reasons to Die, called Twelve Reasons to Die II, was released on July 10, 2015.
In 2022, Ghostface provided vocals for the song "Purple Hearts" on Kendrick Lamar's album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. In January 2023, Ghostface worked with Kano Computing to release special music and videos. In May 2024, Ghostface released his 12th studio album, Set the Tone (Guns & Roses).
Personal Life
Like his fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, Dennis Coles became a Muslim in 2004. Ghostface is the father of three children: rappers Sun God and Supreme, and singer Infinite.
Stage Names and Aliases
Ghostface Killah, like many members of the Wu-Tang Clan, used several different names when he rapped. Each name had its own story and influences. Here are some of his common aliases:
- Ghostface Killah (sometimes spelled Ghost Face Killer or Ghostface Killer, or shortened to GFK)
- Ghostface (a shorter name he used for a while)
- Ghost Deini
- Ironman, Tony Starks, or just Starks
- Ghostface often used the names Ironman and Tony Starks. This is a nod to the Marvel Comics character Iron Man and his secret identity, Tony Stark. He even released an album in 1996 called Ironman. One of his songs, "Slept On Tony With Dirt," was in the 2008 Iron Man movie.
- Starky Love
- Pretty Toney, P Tone
Discography
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Film and TV Appearances
Movie Appearances
- The Show (1995) as himself
- Belly (1998) cameo appearance
- Black and White (1999) as himself
- Hunter Dawson (2002) as himself
- Big Wigs (2002) as himself
- Fade to Black (2004) as himself
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) as himself
- Iron Man (2008) as himself; also appearing in a music video. (His scene was cut but can be found on the DVD.)
- Big Pun: The Legacy (2008) as himself
- Up and Above (2008) as himself
- When in Rome (2010) as Guggenheim DJ
- Purple Tape Documentary (2016) as himself
- You're Watching Video Music Box (2021) as himself
TV Series Appearances
- The World According To Pretty Toney (2005 - 2007) as himself
- 30 Rock (2006) as himself (episodes "Jack-Tor" and "The Source Awards")
- Human Giant (2007) as himself (episodes "Mind Explosion" and "Mosh Pit!")
- The Boondocks (2007) as himself (episode "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back")
- Rushing Jason (2008) as Big Poppa
- Mob Wives (VH1 Series) (2011) as himself
- Couples Therapy (2014) as himself
- Luke Cage (2018) as himself (episode "All Souled Out")
Video Game Appearances
- Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (1999) as himself
- Def Jam Vendetta (2003) as himself
- Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004) as himself
- Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover (2006) as himself
- WWE Smackdown VS. Raw 2007 (2006) Coles had his song "The Champ" on the soundtrack
- Def Jam: Icon (2007) as himself
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009), created the theme music
See also
In Spanish: Ghostface Killah para niños
