Editing Ghostface Killah

{{Short description|American rapper (born 1970)}}
{{redirect|Ghostface Killer|the Scream killer|Ghostface (identity)}}
{{redirect|Dennis Coles|the American actor|Dennis Cole}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ghostface Killah
| image              = Ghostface Killah in 2010 (cropped).jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = Ghostface Killah performing in 2010
| birth_name         = Dennis David Coles
| birth_date         = {{birth_date and age|1970|5|9}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopscriptures.com/ghostface-killah|title=Ghostface Killah Biography|website=Hip Hop Scriptures}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Staten Island]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| children           = 3
| alias              = {{hlist|Ghostface<ref>{{cite web|first=Rollie|last=Pemberton|url=https://manzelan.com/manzelan-what-happened-to-the-old-file-downloading-website/|title=Ghostface: The Pretty Toney Album|publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]]|date=May 4, 2004|access-date=July 17, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081315/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3636-the-pretty-toney-album-as-ghostface/|url-status=dead}}</ref>|Toney Starks<ref>{{cite web|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574693/ghostface-killah-lands-cameos-iron-man-walk-hard.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206013105/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574693/ghostface-killah-lands-cameos-iron-man-walk-hard.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 6, 2011|title=Ghostface Killah's Iron Man Obsession Lands Him A Cameo In Upcoming Comic Book Flick|publisher=MTV|date=November 20, 2007}}</ref>|D-Love}}
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|record producer}}
| years_active       = 1991–present
| relatives          = [[Shyheim]] (cousin)<ref name="Lars">{{cite web|author=Lars Brandle|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5862649/rapper-shyheim-franklin-arrested-after-new-years-day-hit-and-run|title=Rapper Shyheim Franklin Arrested After New Year's Day Hit-And-Run Death|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=2014-01-09|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>
| website            = 
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = {{hlist|[[East Coast hip hop]]|[[hardcore hip hop]]
}}
| discography = [[Ghostface Killah discography]]
| label = {{hlist|[[Mass Appeal Records|Mass Appeal]]|[[Tommy Boy Entertainment|Tommy Boy]]|Starks Enterprises|[[Soul Temple Records|Soul Temple]]|Razor Sharp|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]}}
| current_member_of  = {{hlist|[[Wu-Tang Clan]]|[[Theodore Unit]]}}
  }}<!--end-module-->
}}

'''Dennis David Coles''' (born May 9, 1970),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/880887156|title=ACE Repertory|website=ascap.com}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''Ghostface Killah''', is an American [[rapper]] and a member of the hip hop group [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=ghostface-killah-p194811|pure_url=yes}} Overview: Ghostface Killah]. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved October 16, 2010.</ref> After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''[[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]]'', the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with ''[[Ironman (Ghostface Killah album)|Ironman]]'', which was well received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as ''[[Supreme Clientele]]'' (2000) and ''[[Fishscale]]'' (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 [[kung fu]] film ''[[The Mystery of Chess Boxing]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=RZA|author-link1=RZA|last2=Norris|first2=Chris|date=2004|title=The Wu-Tang Manual|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KZPODwAAQBAJ&pg=PA24|publisher=[[Riverhead Books]]|page=24|isbn=978-1594480188}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Hess|editor-first=Mickey|date=2009|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide|chapter=Chapter 6: A Black Sheep Borough, an Island of All White People: Staten Island Steps Up|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&pg=PA125|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|page=125|isbn=978-0313343216}}</ref> He is the founder of his own [[record label]], Starks Enterprises.

Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1264351|pure_url=yes}}|title=The Big Doe Rehab: Review|author=Brown, Marisa|year=2007|website=Allmusic|access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/ghostface-killah/more-fish.htm|title=More Fish|magazine=[[Stylus Magazine]]|date=December 14, 2006|author=O'Donnell, Mallory|access-date=August 6, 2009|archive-date=June 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621035236/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/ghostface-killah/more-fish.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> for his loud, fast-paced [[flow (rapping)|flow]],<ref name=newyorker/> and his emotional [[Stream of consciousness|stream-of-consciousness]] narratives containing cryptic [[slang]] and [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequiturs]].<ref name=newyorker>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/03/20/060320crmu_music|title=Ghost's World|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|author=Frere-Jones, Sasha|author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones|date=March 20, 2006|access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1178775,00.html|title=Ghost' Writer|magazine=[[EW.com]]|author=Dombal, Ryan|date=March 31, 2006|access-date=August 6, 2009|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012001542/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1178775,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, [[MTV]] included him as an "honourable mention" on their list of the "Greatest MCs of All Time",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index12.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060415190623/http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index12.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2006 |title=The Greatest MCs Of All Time |publisher=MTV.com |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> while the editors of [[About.com]] placed him on their list of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", calling him "one of the most imaginative storytellers of our time."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_5.htm |title=Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987 - 2007 - 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time |publisher=Rap.about.com |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413100544/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_5.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]] called him "rap's finest storyteller".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7031726 |title=Ghostface Killah - Fishscale CD Album |publisher=Cduniverse.com |date=March 28, 2006 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Pitchfork Media]] has stated that "Ghostface has unparalleled storytelling instincts; he might be the best, most colorful storyteller rap has ever seen."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17872-ghostface-killah-adrian-younge-twelve-reasons-to-die/ |title=Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge: Twelve Reasons to Die &#124; Album Reviews |website=Pitchfork |date=April 18, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref> [[NPR]] has called him "a compulsive storyteller", and asserts that "his fiction is [[Painterliness|painterly]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/04/22/177334335/the-ghostface-killah-rises-again |title=The Ghostface Killah Rises Again : The Record |publisher=NPR |date=April 22, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Early life==
Ghostface grew up in the [[Stapleton Houses]] housing project in [[Staten Island]], New York City,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/09/which-nyc-housing-projects-have-produced-the-most-famous-people/|title=Which NYC Housing Projects Have Produced the Most Famous People?|website=Complex|access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref> helping with daily care of two younger brothers who had muscular dystrophy.<ref name="hiphopdx_2116">{{cite web |url=https://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2116/title.ghostface-killah-says-illmatic-made-him-step-his-pen-game-up# |title=Ghostface Killah Says "Illmatic" Made Him "Step His Pen Game Up" |first=Andres  |last=Tardio |date=April 30, 2005 |website=Encyclopedia of Things |access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> The 2019 series [[Wu-Tang: An American Saga]] depicts a feud between him and fellow Clan member [[Raekwon]]; however the feud was purely fictional and never took place in reality. Raekwon and Ghostface attended junior high school together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnC8iGzgRAw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/dnC8iGzgRAw| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=Raekwon Talks 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' History, Wu-Tang Truths + More| website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early work===
A roommate of Wu-Tang founder [[RZA]], Ghostface helped bring together the other seven members. In 1995, Ghostface guest-starred extensively on fellow Clan member [[Raekwon]]'s debut album, ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...]]'', appearing on almost every song and receiving nearly equal billing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Only-Built-4-Cuban-Linx/dp/B000002WU9 |title=Only Built 4 Cuban Linx: Raekwon: Music |website=Amazon |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref> "It felt good to have my boy next to me, Ghostface, who basically comes from the same lifestyle as I come from. And we were able to sit down and concoct an idea that we both were able to respect and basically get everybody in the crew involved...", said Raekwon about Ghostface's involvement in the project. Raekwon intended ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' to play like a film, with himself as the "star", Ghostface Killah as the "guest star" and producer RZA as the "director".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.57118/title.raekwon-announces-only-built-for-cuban-linx-3-album-as-original-turns-25|title=Raekwon Announces 'Only Built For Cuban Linx 3' Album As Original Turns 25|date=August 1, 2020}}</ref> He also contributed songs to the ''[[Sunset Park (film)|Sunset Park]]'' and ''[[Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood]]'' soundtracks; both songs were included on his first solo LP, ''[[Ironman (Ghostface Killah album)|Ironman]]'', in 1996. The album, which debuted at #2 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], had a more pronounced [[soul music|soul]] influence (particularly 1970s soul) than previous Wu-Tang releases, and Ghostface's future albums would continue to feature this stylistic trait.<ref>{{cite web|author=Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghostface-killah-mn0000655746/awards |title=Ghostface Killah &#124; Awards |website=AllMusic |date=May 9, 1970 |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mymusic.com/product.asp?curr=0&myptr=ottawastart&muzenbr=215566] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718210500/http://www.mymusic.com/product.asp?curr=0&myptr=ottawastart&muzenbr=215566|date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> He readily and regularly took on the role of executive producer for many collective efforts as well along with RZA and Oli Power Grant. 

In the year 2000, Ghostface released his second studio album, ''[[Supreme Clientele]]''. The album was well received by critics, and peaked at #7 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Ghostface killah|chart=all}} |title=Ghostface Killah - Chart history |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref> It included "[[Apollo Kids (Ghostface Killah single)|Apollo Kids]]", a popular single which featured Raekwon and had a sample of "Cool Breeze" by [[Solomon Burke]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1999-12-11/r-b-hip-hop-songs |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Dec 11, 1999 &#124; Billboard Chart Archive |magazine=Billboard.com |date=December 11, 1999 |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref> "[[Cherchez La Ghost]]", another single off the album, became a minor club hit.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2001-03-03/rap-song |title=Rap Songs : Mar 03, 2001 &#124; Billboard Chart Archive |magazine=Billboard.com |date=March 3, 2001 |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref> ''Supreme Clientele'' marked a turning point in terms of RZA's influence on Ghostface's sound, as only six songs on it are produced by RZA, whereas on ''Ironman'', its predecessor, every song but one is produced by RZA. Although he contributed fewer beats to the project than to ''Ironman'', RZA personally oversaw the mixing and production of the album as a whole, thereby contributing to ''Supreme Clientele''{{'}}s unified sound.<ref>Bonanno, Jonathan. Return of the Dragan. The Source. March 2000. P:208. Retrieved March 8, 2012.</ref>

Ghostface wasted little time in recording his next album, the heavily [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]-influenced ''[[Bulletproof Wallets]]'', released a year after ''Supreme Clientele''. Its main single, "[[Never Be the Same Again (Ghostface Killah song)|Never Be the Same Again]]", featured Raekwon and [[Carl Thomas (singer)|Carl Thomas]]. It produced another minor club hit, "Flowers", which featured guest vocals from fellow Wu-Tang members [[Method Man]] and Raekwon, and a popular single, "[[Ghost Showers]]" which featured Madame Majestic, whose other key claim to fame is that she sings on the popular Wu-Tang track "[[Gravel Pit]]".<ref>{{cite web|author=John Bush |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bulletproof-wallets-mw0000015772 |title=Bulletproof Wallets - Ghostface Killah &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=November 13, 2001 |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref>

===Def Jam===
In 2003, Ghostface signed with [[Def Jam Records]]. After temporarily dropping "Killah" from his stage name, Ghostface released ''[[The Pretty Toney Album]]'' in April 2004. The album, while containing two RZA productions, featured none of the Clan; instead, it featured collaborations with [[Missy Elliott]], [[The Lox|D-Block]], and [[Jacki-O]]. The singles "[[Tush (Ghostface Killah song)|Tush]]" and "Run", which were collaborations with Missy and [[Jadakiss]] respectively, achieved moderate success in the clubs and on the charts, and the album was featured on numerous "best of the year" lists; for instance, it was Pitchfork Media's #9 album of the year.<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/38230-staff-list-top-50-albums-of-2004/page_5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611184028/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/38230-staff-list-top-50-albums-of-2004/page_5|date=June 11, 2007}}</ref> Ghostface also appeared on the track "On My Knees" by [[United Kingdom|UK]] R&B group [[the 411]]; the song became a hit in the UK and [[Australia]]. Ghostface then released an album entitled ''[[718 (album)|718]]'' (after the Staten Island [[area code]]) with a group of his protégés, the [[Theodore Unit]]. Ghostface also appeared on "He Comes" by De La Soul, on ''[[The Grind Date]]''. In November 2005, Ghostface and Theodore Unit's breakout star [[Trife Da God]] released a joint project, ''[[Put It on the Line]]''.

[[File:Ghostface - Highline Ballroom 2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Ghostface Killah at [[Highline Ballroom]] in New York in 2007]]
In 2006, Ghostface teamed up with underground artist [[MF Doom]] for a still-unreleased album entitled ''[[Swift & Changeable]]''. MF Doom also produced several songs for Ghostface's 2006 album ''[[Fishscale]]'', on which he chose to revert to the stage name "Ghostface Killah", rather than just "Ghostface". The album debuted strongly, appearing at the #4 position on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 and at #2 on the R&B charts,<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ghostface killah|chart=all}} Ghostface Killah Billboard chart history]</ref> the rapper's most auspicious chart showing since the heyday of the Wu-Tang Clan and the release of his solo debut. The album also received near-unanimous positive reviews. Ghostface embarked on a limited-date tour of U.S. venues in support of the album, performing several of his concerts together with most of the other members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

In 2007, Ghostface provided the theme song for the Irish animated series ''[[Skunk Fu!]]'' that ran on ''[[Kids' WB]]''. On December 4, 2007, Ghostface released his seventh solo studio album, ''[[The Big Doe Rehab]]''.

In a May 2008 interview, Ghostface Killah stated that he would make an [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]-inspired album in the vein of certain tracks he had done before with artists such as [[Ne-Yo]] and [[Jodeci]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nahright.com/news/2008/08/05/angela-yee-speaks-to-ghostface-raekwon/#more-6652 |title=Angela Yee Speaks To Ghostface & Raekwon |publisher=Nah Right |date=August 5, 2008 |access-date=August 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zshare.net/audio/16564278512b2daf/ |title=ghostface killah speaks on rb album.mp3 |publisher=zSHARE |date=August 6, 2009 |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154519/http://www.zshare.net/audio/16564278512b2daf/ |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> That album would become his eighth studio album, ''[[Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City]]'', which won good reviews from music critics. It featured singles such as "Baby" and "Do Over". In March 2009, Ghostface responded to the [[Rihanna]]/[[Chris Brown (American singer)|Chris Brown]] controversy by recording a song, "Message from Ghostface", which was dedicated to women in abusive relationships.

In a May 2009 interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Raekwon indicated that Ghostface Killah was preparing to release a new album. In response to a question asking if the Wu-Tang Clan were going to release a follow-up to ''[[8 Diagrams]]'', Raekwon stated, "''Everybody's doing different things right now — you got Meth [Method Man] coming out with [[Blackout! 2|an album]], you got Ghostface coming out with an album, some guys working on their projects, some guys getting into the film world, everybody is multi-tasking right now.''"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/14/raekwon-talks-cuban-linx-ii-return-of-the-wu-tang-clan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923235923/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/14/raekwon-talks-cuban-linx-ii-return-of-the-wu-tang-clan/|url-status=dead|title=Raekwon Talks “Cuban Linx II,” Return of the Wu-Tang Clan  : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily|archive-date=September 23, 2009|website=Rollingstone.com|access-date=March 28, 2025}}</ref> Ghostface appeared on a total of 8 songs on Raekwon's highly anticipated release of ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II]]''.

Shortly after the release of ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II'', Def Jam contracted Raekwon to work with their label artists Method Man and Ghostface Killah on an album which later received the title ''[[Wu-Massacre]]''. Production began in November 2009. ''Wu-Massacre'' was released March 30, 2010 to generally positive reviews from music critics; this time, however, reviews were more mixed, with some critics objecting to the 30-minute-long album's rushed feel. With heavy promotion, it sold 37,900 units in its first week; it has sold 64,000 units as of May 12, 2010. It features production from [[Scram Jones]], Mathematics, and The RZA, who produced the album's lead single, "Our Dreams". 

In 2010, Ghostface confirmed that he would be releasing two new studio albums, ''[[Apollo Kids (Ghostface Killah album)|Apollo Kids]]'' and one which would serve as a sequel to his 2000 album ''Supreme Clientele''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Josiah |url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=148&csid2=844&fid1=50300 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711084629/http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=148&csid2=844&fid1=50300 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=Ghostface Killah Announces The Apollo Kids for December 14, Lines Up Two More New Albums • News • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=October 12, 2010 |access-date=March 30, 2012 }}</ref> In 2011, Ghostface Killah featured on UK artist [[Josh Osho]]'s debut single "Redemption Days".

===Post Def Jam===
Ghostface released a collaborative album with [[The Lox|D-Block]] member [[Sheek Louch]] called ''[[Wu Block]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/index2.php3?page=sheek%20louch |title=Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes |publisher=Hiphopgame.ihiphop.com |date=January 3, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324230831/http://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/index2.php3?page=sheek%20louch |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was released on November 27, 2012, on [[E1 Music]] and debuted at number 73 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 8,600 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22105/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-12-2-2012 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/2/2012 |magazine=HipHopDX |access-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208013324/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22105/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-12-2-2012 |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It fell to #152 in its second week selling 4,200 more copies.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22184/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-12-9-2012 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/9/2012 &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=December 12, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215115240/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22184/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-12-9-2012/ |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In January 2017, Ghostface and Sheek Louch announced on their respective social media accounts that a second collaborative album was in the works.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://hypebeast.com/2018/1/ghostface-killah-sheek-louch-wu-block-2-101|title=Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch Reveal 'Wu Block 2' Is Happening|date=January 29, 2017}}</ref>

In an interview with [[Complex (magazine)|''Complex Magazine'']] on November 17, 2012, Ghostface confirmed that he had left Def Jam, making ''[[Apollo Kids (album)|Apollo Kids]]'' his last album on the label. In the same interview, he also stated that ''Blue & Cream'', the sequel to his critically acclaimed album ''[[Supreme Clientele]]'', was 80-85 percent done. On April 16, 2013, Ghostface released his tenth album ''[[Twelve Reasons to Die]]'' which was produced by [[Adrian Younge]] and executive produced by RZA.<ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22927/title.ghostface-killah-adrian-younge-announce-twelve-reasons-to-die-lp-executive-produced-by-rza/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218094336/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22927/title.ghostface-killah-adrian-younge-announce-twelve-reasons-to-die-lp-executive-produced-by-rza |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2013 |title=Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge "Twelve Reasons To Die" Tracklist & Album Stream &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=April 8, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AdrianYounge/status/298592970670735361 |title=Twitter / AdrianYounge: @jessicalorenzo april 16 |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/the-50-most-anticipated-albums-of-2013/ghostface-killah |title=48. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele Presents... Blue & Cream: The Wally Era — The 50 Most Anticipated Albums of 2013 |magazine=Complex |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> The album was released in various formats such as [[CD]], [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] and [[Compact Cassette|cassette]] under RZA's [[Soul Temple Records]]. The deluxe digital and CD versions also came with a comic book.<ref name="hiphopdx.com"/>

He would later announce that the sequel to ''Supreme Clientele'' would be released between July and September 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/interview-ghostface-killah-sheek-louch-wu-block-tour-stories-chris-lighty/page/4 |title=Interview: Ghostface Killah & Sheek Louch Talk "Wu-Block," Tour Stories, and Chris Lighty |publisher=Complex.com |date=November 17, 2012 |access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> and that his collaborative album with MF Doom would be released around Halloween 2013<ref>{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22976/title.ghostface-killah-confirms-supreme-clientele-2-mf-doom-lps-for-2013-talks-wu-tang-clan-reunion-album |title=Ghostface Killah Confirms "Supreme Clientele 2" & MF DOOM LPs For 2013, Talks Wu-Tang Clan Reunion Album &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=February 19, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017170723/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22976/title.ghostface-killah-confirms-supreme-clientele-2-mf-doom-lps-for-2013-talks-wu-tang-clan-reunion-album |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Harling |first=Danielle |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22924/title.ghostface-killah-offers-an-update-on-his-project-with-mf-doom-tells-fans-to-prepare-themselves |title=Ghostface Killah Offers An Update On His Project With MF DOOM, Tells Fans To "Prepare" Themselves &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424125350/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22924/title.ghostface-killah-offers-an-update-on-his-project-with-mf-doom-tells-fans-to-prepare-themselves |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> though neither projects materialized. In January 2014, he appeared on the [[VH1]] series ''[[Couples Therapy (2012 TV series)|Couples Therapy]]'' with his girlfriend Kelsey Nykole.<ref>{{cite press release|title=VH1 Heads Back to the Therapist Couch with a Fourth Season of "VH1 Couples Therapy"|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/11/12/vh1-heads-back-to-the-therapist-couch-with-a-fourth-season-of-vh1-couples-therapy-294103/20131112vh101/|work=The Futon Critic|date=November 12, 2013}}</ref> Later that year Ghostface announced he would be releasing his eleventh album titled ''[[36 Seasons]]'' in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/57400-ghostface-killah-announces-new-album-36-seasons-shares-love-dont-live-here-no-more/|title=Ghostface Killah|work=Pitchfork|date=November 11, 2014|access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref> He collaborated with Canadian jazz band [[BADBADNOTGOOD]] on an album titled ''[[Sour Soul (album)|Sour Soul]]'', which was released in 2015 which earned a nomination for the [[2015 Polaris Music Prize]].

A sequel to ''[[Twelve Reasons to Die]]'', simply titled ''[[Twelve Reasons to Die II]]'', was released on July 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/ghostface-killah-adrian-younge-twelve-reasons-to-die-ii/LLA00021CD/ |title=Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge - Twelve Reasons To Die II - album stream, producer, tracklisting |publisher=Undergroundhiphop.com |access-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709145435/http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/ghostface-killah-adrian-younge-twelve-reasons-to-die-ii/LLA00021CD/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ghostface had a string of UK and European tour dates<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hip-hopkings.com/2016/04/ghostface-uk-tour-dates-2016/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160422031624/http://www.hip-hopkings.com/2016/04/ghostface-uk-tour-dates-2016/|archive-date = April 22, 2016|title = Ghostface UK Tour Dates 2016}}</ref> scheduled in 2016.

Ghostface provided vocals on the song "Purple Hearts" from Kendrick Lamar's album ''[[Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers]]'' in 2022.

In January 2023, Ghostface partnered with Kano Computing to release exclusive music, videos, meetings, and concerts on the Stem Player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/ghostface-killah-stem-player-album/|title = Ghostface Killah Is Releasing a Stem Player-Exclusive Album }}</ref>

In May 2024, Ghostface released his 12th studio album, ''[[Set the Tone (Guns & Roses)]]''.

==Lawsuits and criminal charges==
In 1995, Coles was issued an arrest warrant for robbery. In December 1997, Coles was arrested for weapons possession after being pulled over for a traffic violation whereby police claimed that Coles got out of the car and became verbally abusive. He was wearing a bulletproof vest which gave them probable cause to search him and his car where they found a [[.357 Magnum]] handgun and he was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.<ref name="mtv1">{{cite news | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/oqiiky/wu-tangs-ghostface-killah-arrested-on-weapons-charge | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206014044/https://www.mtv.com/news/oqiiky/wu-tangs-ghostface-killah-arrested-on-weapons-charge | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 6, 2023 | title =Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah Arrested On Weapons Charge | work = [[MTV]] | date = December 11, 1997 | access-date = March 24, 2024}}</ref> In February 1999, Coles was issued a 6-month sentence for attempted robbery,<ref name="mtv2">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/yv57id/jailed-ghostface-killah-to-answer-weapons-charge | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811175401/https://www.mtv.com/news/yv57id/jailed-ghostface-killah-to-answer-weapons-charge | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 11, 2022 | title =Jailed Ghostface Killah To Answer Weapons Charge | magazine = [[MTV]] | date = February 9, 1999 | access-date = March 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name="roll">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ghostface-faces-charges-104379/ | title = Ghostface Faces Charges | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]] | date = February 10, 1999 | access-date = March 24, 2024}}</ref> and later pleaded guilty to an additional charge of weapons possession and was issued five years of probation with four months of prison time.<ref name="mtv3">{{cite news | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/vhjsdj/wu-tangs-ghostface-killah-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-robbery | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808064237/https://www.mtv.com/news/vhjsdj/wu-tangs-ghostface-killah-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-robbery | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 8, 2022 | title=Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah Pleads Guilty To Attempted Robbery | work = [[MTV]] | date= January 6, 1998 | access-date = March 24, 2024}}</ref>

In July 2011, Coles was sued by [[Jacques Urbont|Jack Urbont]] for copyright violation stemming from the "improper use" of the 1960s "[[Iron Man in other media|Iron Man]]" theme song, which Urbont claimed as his own. Urbont also took issue with Coles' appropriation of the Iron Man brand name.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|title=Ghostface Killah Sued by Iron Man Composer|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ghostface-killah-sued-by-iron-man-composer-20110708|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 29, 2011|date=July 8, 2011}}</ref> Coles was granted summary judgment on the lawsuit in April 2015, which stated that [[Marvel Entertainment]], owners of the Iron Man character and brand, owned the "Iron Man" theme song, not Urbont.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.33543/title.ghostface-killah-sony-music-win-lawsuit-over-iron-man-theme-song|title=Ghostface Killah & Sony Music Win Lawsuit Over "Iron Man Theme" Song|author=HipHopDX|date=April 22, 2015|work=HipHopDX}}</ref>

In August 2011, Coles filed a lawsuit against Universal Music for unpaid royalties.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|title=Ghostface Sues Universal|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ghostface-killah-sues-universal-music-222203|magazine=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 29, 2011|date=August 11, 2011}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Like fellow Wu-Tang Clan member [[Raekwon]], Coles is a convert to [[Islam]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mideastdynasty.com/?p=9703|title=Ghostface Killah discusses his reversion to Islam & more in exclusive Montreality interview|work=mideastdynasty.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/17/ghostface-killah-plans-album-allah|title=Ghostface Killah plans to record 'positive album' about Allah|author=Sean Michaels|work=the Guardian|date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> having converted in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=527|title=Ghostface Killah Interview|author=Amanda Seales|work=AllHipHop.com through WuTangCorp.com|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723025913/http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=527|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ghostface is the father of rappers Sun God and Supreme,<ref>{{cite web |date=2015-07-22 |title=Ghostface Killah's ruckus with Action Bronson is a classic Wu-Tang moment - Music - The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/22/ghostface-killah-action-bronson-beef-video-teddy-pendergrass |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQy7o82Uw7s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/GQy7o82Uw7s| archive-date=2021-10-28|publisher = YouTube and ForbesDVDPromo|title=Ghostface Killah's Sons (Sun God And Supreme) Spit A Freestyle! (Shots At Meek Mill) - YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and singer Infinite.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/aesthetic/aesthetic-infinite-coles/ |title=Infinite Coles on self-acceptance and growing up in the shadow of the Wu-Tang Clan - Crack Magazine | publisher=Crack Magazine}}</ref>

==Aliases==
{{redirect|Tony Starks|the comic book character|Tony Stark}}
Ghostface Killah, like most members of the Wu-Tang clan, rapped under several personae, each with their own name, mythology and influences. Some recurring aliases:

:*'''Ghostface Killah''' (occasionally spelled '''Ghostface Killer''', '''Ghost Face Killer''', '''Ghost Face Killah''', or abbreviated '''GFK''')
:*'''Ghostface''' (shortened stage name during ''[[The Pretty Toney Album]]'' era)<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r688203|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review of The Pretty Toney Album]: "The Pretty Toney Album [is] the rapper's first under the just-Ghostface moniker"</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522004741/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/48535|url-status=dead|title=Home|archive-date=May 22, 2006|website=Avclub.com|access-date=March 28, 2025}}</ref>
:*'''Ghost Deini'''
:* '''Ironman''', '''Tony Starks''', or just '''Starks'''
:: Ghostface has frequently assumed the names of both Ironman and Tony Starks [sic], a reference to the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Iron Man]] and his true identity, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. He released a 1996 album titled ''[[Ironman (Ghostface Killah album)|Ironman]]''. His song, "Slept On Tony With Dirt", appears in the 2008 film ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'', and he also appears in a deleted scene on the DVD.<ref>Introduction of Tony Starks in the song "Wu-Gambinos": the fifth verse is performed by Ghostface Killer, a.k.a. Tony Starks</ref>
:*'''Starky Love'''<ref>Lyrics from "Ice Cream": "They call me Starky Love"</ref>
:* '''Pretty Toney''', '''P Tone'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/ghostface-killah/person/531464/summary.html |title=Ghostface Killah |publisher=TV.com |access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Ghostface Killah discography}}
{{See also|Wu-Tang Clan discography}}
<!-- Per [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians/Article guidelines]], The discography section of the musician's primary article should "provide a summary of the musician's major works." -->

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Studio albums
* ''[[Ironman (Ghostface Killah album)|Ironman]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Supreme Clientele]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Bulletproof Wallets]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Pretty Toney Album]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Fishscale]]'' (2006)
* ''[[More Fish]]'' (2006)
* ''[[The Big Doe Rehab]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Apollo Kids (album)|Apollo Kids]]'' (2010)
* ''[[36 Seasons]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Ghostface Killahs]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Set the Tone (Guns & Roses)]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Supreme Clientele 2]]'' (2025)

{{col-2}}
;Collaboration albums
* ''[[718 (album)|718]]'' <small>(with Theodore Unit)</small> (2004)
* ''[[Put it on the Line]]'' <small>(with Trife Diesel)</small> (2005)
* ''[[Wu-Massacre]]'' <small>(with [[Method Man]] and [[Raekwon]])</small> (2010)
* ''[[Wu Block]]'' <small>(with [[Sheek Louch]])</small> (2012)
* ''[[Twelve Reasons to Die]]'' <small>(with [[Adrian Younge]])</small> (2013)
* ''[[Sour Soul (album)|Sour Soul]]'' <small>(with [[BadBadNotGood|BADBADNOTGOOD]])</small> (2015)
* ''[[Twelve Reasons to Die II]]'' <small>(with [[Adrian Younge]])</small> (2015)
* ''The Lost Tapes'' <small>(with [[Big Ghost|Big Ghost Ltd.]])</small> (2018)
* ''[[Czarface Meets Ghostface]]'' <small>(with [[Czarface]])</small> (2019)
{{col-end}}

==Filmography==
===Movie appearances===
* ''[[The Show (1995 film)|The Show]]'' (1995) as himself
* ''[[Belly (film)|Belly]]'' (1998) cameo appearance
* ''[[Black and White (1999 drama film)|Black and White]]'' (1999) as himself
* ''Hunter Dawson'' (2002) as himself
* ''Big Wigs'' (2002) as himself 
* ''[[Fade to Black (documentary)|Fade to Black]] '' (2004) as himself
* ''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]'' (2007) as himself
* ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'' (2008) as himself; also appearing in a music video aired on Tony Stark's private jet. (Cut in post-production, his cameo can be found in the DVD's deleted scenes section.)
* ''Big Pun: The Legacy'' (2008) as himself 
* ''Up and Above'' (2008) as himself 
* ''[[When in Rome (2010 film)|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 (30 Rock)|The Source Awards]]")
* ''[[Human Giant]]'' (2007) as himself (episodes "Mind Explosion" and "Mosh Pit!")
* ''[[The Boondocks (TV series)|The Boondocks]]'' (2007) as himself (episode "[[Stinkmeaner Strikes Back]]")
* ''Rushing Jason'' (2008) as Big Poppa
* ''Mob Wives (VH1 Series)'' (2011) as himself
* ''[[Couples Therapy (2012 TV series)|Couples Therapy]]'' (2014) as himself
* ''[[Luke Cage (TV series)|Luke Cage]]'' (2018) as himself (episode "[[All Souled Out (Luke Cage)|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<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Soundtrack {{!}} WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Guides |url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/guides/svr2007/wwe-smackdown-vs-raw-2007-soundtrack |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=The SmackDown Hotel |language=en-gb}}</ref>
* ''[[Def Jam: Icon]]'' (2007) as himself
* ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars]]'' (2009), created the theme music

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0315932}}

{{Ghostface Killah}}
{{Wu-Tang Clan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghostface Killah}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:Def Jam Recordings artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:African-American Muslims]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam]]
[[Category:Tommy Boy Records artists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rappers from New York City]]
[[Category:Wu-Tang Clan members]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:Muslims from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Rappers from Staten Island]]