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 by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper. He is a famous member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.
After Wu-Tang Clan 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 continued to have success with other popular albums like Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006).
His stage name, Ghostface Killah, comes from a character in a 1979 kung fu movie called The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He also started his own record label called Starks Enterprises.
Ghostface Killah is known for his energetic and fast rapping style. He tells emotional stories in his songs, often using unique words and phrases. Many music experts have called him one of the best storytellers in rap music.
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Early life
Ghostface Killah grew up in the Stapleton Houses housing project in Staten Island, New York City. He helped take care of his two younger brothers who had muscular dystrophy.
In a TV series about the Wu-Tang Clan, it showed that he and fellow Clan member Raekwon had a disagreement. However, they later became good friends. Raekwon and Ghostface even went to junior high school together.
Career
Starting out in music
Ghostface Killah was a roommate of RZA, who founded the Wu-Tang Clan. Ghostface helped bring the other seven members of the group together.
In 1995, Ghostface was a major guest on Raekwon's first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... He appeared on almost every song and was nearly as important as Raekwon on the album. Raekwon said it felt good to have Ghostface with him, as they came from similar backgrounds. They worked together to create an idea that everyone in the group could support.
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 contributed songs to movie soundtracks like Sunset Park and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. These songs were later on his first solo album.
His first solo album, Ironman, came out in 1996. It was very popular, reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200, which lists the most popular albums in the U.S. This album had a strong soul influence, especially from the 1970s. Ghostface's later albums would also feature this style.
In 2000, Ghostface released his second album, Supreme Clientele. Critics really liked this album too, and it reached number 7 on the Billboard 200. It included popular songs like "Apollo Kids" and "Cherchez La Ghost". On this album, RZA produced fewer songs than on Ironman, but he still helped a lot with the overall sound.
Ghostface quickly made his next album, Bulletproof Wallets, which came out in 2001. This album had more R&B influences. It featured singles like "Never Be the Same Again" and "Flowers."
Joining Def Jam Records
In 2003, Ghostface Killah 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 featured collaborations with other artists like Missy Elliott and Jadakiss. Songs like "Tush" and "Run" became moderately successful. Many music lists named this album one of the best of the year.
Ghostface also worked with his group of new artists called the Theodore Unit on an album called 718. In 2005, Ghostface and Trife Da God from Theodore Unit released a joint project called Put It on the Line.
In 2006, Ghostface worked with the artist MF Doom on an album that was never released. MF Doom also produced some songs for Ghostface's 2006 album, Fishscale. For this album, he went back to using his full stage name, "Ghostface Killah." Fishscale was very successful, reaching number 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It received almost all positive reviews from critics. Ghostface went on tour to support the album, sometimes performing with other Wu-Tang Clan members.
In 2007, Ghostface created the theme song for an Irish cartoon series called Skunk Fu!. Later that year, he released his seventh solo album, The Big Doe Rehab.
In 2008, Ghostface Killah said he wanted to make an R&B-inspired album. This album became his eighth studio album, Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, released in 2009. It received good reviews and included songs like "Baby." In 2009, he also released a song called "Message from Ghostface" to support women in difficult relationships.
Ghostface Killah appeared on many songs on Raekwon's album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II. After that, Def Jam Records asked Raekwon, Method Man, and Ghostface Killah to work together on an album. This album was called Wu-Massacre and was released in 2010. It received mostly positive reviews.
In 2010, Ghostface announced he would release two new albums: Apollo Kids and a sequel to his 2000 album Supreme Clientele.
After Def Jam Records
Ghostface released a collaborative album with Sheek Louch from D-Block called Wu Block in 2012. It sold well in its first week. In 2017, they announced they were working on a second album together.
In 2012, Ghostface confirmed that he had left Def Jam Records. He also said that Blue & Cream, the sequel to Supreme Clientele, was almost finished. In 2013, Ghostface released his tenth album, Twelve Reasons to Die. This album was produced by Adrian Younge and RZA. It was released as a CD, vinyl record, and cassette, and some versions came with a comic book.
He later announced more albums, including the Supreme Clientele sequel and a collaboration with MF Doom, but these projects did not come out at that time. In 2014, Ghostface appeared on the TV show Couples Therapy with his girlfriend. Later that year, he released his eleventh album, 36 Seasons. He also worked with the Canadian jazz band BADBADNOTGOOD on an album called Sour Soul in 2015. This album was nominated for a music award.
A sequel to Twelve Reasons to Die, called Twelve Reasons to Die II, was released in 2015. Ghostface had several tours in the UK and Europe in 2016.
In 2022, Ghostface provided vocals for the song "Purple Hearts" on Kendrick Lamar's album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. In 2023, he partnered 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.
Aliases
Ghostface Killah, like many members of the Wu-Tang Clan, used several different names when he rapped. Each name had its own meaning and influences. Some of his common aliases include:
- Ghostface Killah (sometimes spelled Ghostface Killer or Ghost Face Killah)
- 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 reference to the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man and his secret identity, Tony Stark. He even released an album in 1996 called Ironman. A song of his, "Slept On Tony With Dirt," was in the 2008 Iron Man movie. He also appeared in a scene that was later cut from the movie.
- Starky Love
- Pretty Toney, P Tone
Discography
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Filmography
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 aired on Tony Stark's private jet. (This scene was cut from the final movie 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
