Ghostface Killah

“Fishscale” (Def Jam)

Sounds like: RZA, Method Man, Raekwon

REVIEW: 4 / 5

In short: The legendary Wu-Tang Clan’s most consistent MC delivers his best album, as well as one of mainstream hip-hop’s finest moments in years.

In the 10-plus years since East Coast rap collective Wu-Tang Clan released the genre-defining album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” the group’s individual members have all attempted to turn the Clan’s success into solo careers, with wildly varied results.

Standing head and shoulders above his brethren is Ghostface Killah, who has done nothing but continually improve and refine his verbal skills through the course of six solo albums.

Named after a form of high-grade Peruvian cocaine, the album’s 24 tracks tell the harrowing story of a drug dealer and showcase Ghostface Killah’s knack for gritty, no-holds-barred storytelling.

Although it would appear on the surface that Ghost’s arsenal of graphic rhymes laid over old-school soul samples is a tried-and-true formula, the rapper’s smooth flow, creative wordplay and attention to detail make tracks such as “Shakey Dog” and “Clipse of Doom” stand out in a genre that often suffers from a distinct lack of originality.

Armed with a who’s who of some of the rap game’s finest producers, including Pete Rock and MF Doom, Ghostface Killah presents listeners with one of the year’s finest rap moments thus far, a seamless blend of beat and rhyme that will leave hip-hop aficianados nodding their heads in approval for the rest of 2006 and beyond.

– Joshua Haun