As one of the original members of the seminal '90s rap crew the Wu-Tang Clan,
Ghostface Killah (aka Tony Starks) made an impact before he released his debut
album, Ironman, late in 1996. Like all members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the rapper
used the group as a launching pad for a solo career, which was assisted greatly
by other members of the Clan, particularly producer RZA. Ghostface Killah had
rapped on Wu-Tang's 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang, but he didn't distinguish
himself until 1995, when he was showcased on fellow Wu member Raekwon's Only
Built 4 Cuban Linx. Ghostface received good reviews for his appearance on the
record, and his contribution to the soundtracks for Sunset Park and Don't Be a
Menace to South Central While You're Drinking Your Juice in the Hood also were
well-received. All of these guest appearances and soundtrack contributions set
the stage for Ghostface Killah's solo debut, Ironman, in late 1996. Like all
Wu-Tang projects, it was produced by RZA and was quite successful in the large
hip-hop/rap underground, debuting at number two on the pop charts upon its
release. Ironman was also the first album to be released on Razor Sharp Records,
RZA's record label on Epic Records.
Work with the Wu-Tang and their various members kept Ghostface Killah busy until
solo singles started appearing at the end of 1999 followed by his sophomore
full-length, Supreme Clientele, in early 2000. Supreme Clientele was a success,
but it was followed a year later by Bulletproof Wallets, an album that didn't
sell well and had fans declaring the Ironman had gone soft. Once again it was
back to the Wu for a couple years before the rapper would be appearing solo
again. Epic issued the compilation Shaolin's Finest in April of 2003, and by the
end of the year two new Ghostface tracks had started to appear on mixtapes. The
chaotic "Run" with Jadakiss and the more commercial "Tush" with Missy Elliott
raised the anticipation for the rapper's first album for Def Jam and his first
under the simpler moniker Ghostface. The Pretty Toney Album hit the streets in
April of 2004. The Top Ten hit Fishscale, along with More Fish, followed in
2006, but not before 718 -- an album from his Theodore Unit.
Took part in a record of “Spraypaint and Ink Pens”
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