Ghostface Killah recently sat down for an interview with Vulture where he opened up about some of the issues he has with the younger generation of rappers. Considering the Wu-Tang Clan legend came up during the Golden Era when A Tribe Called Quest, JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G. and De La Soul led the charge, the 50-year-old is also thoroughly educated on Hip Hop’s foundational artists — Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Sugarhill Gang, to name a few.
But much like Lil Yachty demonstrated during a 2016 interview with Billboard when he admitted he couldn’t name five songs by Biggie or 2Pac, Ghostface has observed a lot of new rappers don’t know their Hip Hop history.
“I’m all for these young Black kids getting money and doing what they do,” he said. “But musically, I think that becoming a rapper now, you should know the history. Know now who the Spoonie Gees and Sugarhill Gangs was, the Wu-Tangs and the Biggies, all that. Grand Puba, all these guys. You need to know these people. You gotta add to that. We got bodies of work. Mobb Deep, Nas, Wu-Tang, JAY-Z, we got bodies of work. These days, you might hear one record and don’t even care about the rest of the album.”
“Some of them really got talent. You might not be able to understand that talent because that’s not the era you come from, but being an artist, you gotta be willing to listen to everything. It took me a while to start to understand these kids and their sound.”
Ghostface Killah’s point in rooted in fact. These days, the music industry is typically single-driven. An artist can have one big song and — boom! Take Cardi B, for example. Since “Bodak Yellow” blew up in 2017, the Bronx native has morphed into a Grammy Award-winning rapper and one of the most successful female artists in music history — even though she’d already established reality television fame with Love & Hip Hop: New York.
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According to data company BuzzAngle, album sales fell 18.2 percent in 2018 from the previous year, while total on-demand music streams, including both audio and video, shot up 35.4 percent. Audio on-demand streams set a new record high in 2018 of 534.6 billion streams, which was up 42 percent from 2017’s 376.9 billion streams.
Of course, Cardi B’s success isn’t an isolated event. Roddy Ricch rose to notoriety with “THE BOX,” Jack Harlow exploded with “WHAT’S POPPIN” and HipHopDX Rising Star Morray is starting to take off thanks to “Quicksand.”
If Ghostface Killah has his way, aspiring rappers, and even established rappers, will dig into the Hip Hop archives and discover the hidden gems beneath the surface.
I was just listening to wildflower which is almost 30 years old, the rap of today is so different And should be called something else. Ain’t no one even listening to new rappers songs 6 months old, never mind 3 decades
It’s funny you say that. My grade 10 classes ask who is J Cole, but the Grade 12’s always request him.
When I think about it, I think rap has came back to its roots in a way. Simple rhymes over simple beats.
They use the same tactic with actual black history too. Make it irrelevant to the kids, and then remove their self pride and marginalize them as they watch thier white, brown, asian friends grow up preserving thier history and culture. I see it every day.
Ghostface in the top 5 DOA
Knowing your history doesn’t make you appreciate it….THe music took a drastic turn in the late 90’s and it hasn’t been back. The babies are making that music that came after Pac/Biggie deaths.
I disagree….you’ll appreciate it at some point, ESPECIALLY when you aint hot more
Hiphop has been around almost 50 years. At some point things get played out an stale as it becomes more mainstream/commercial. That being said imo the essence of HipHop has survived due to TDE, Dreamville and ProEra.
And those entities you just named are more prone to know their hip hop history more than any other these gen y rap acts
The problem is Ghostface (and myself) grew up in an era where age and wisdom was respected. Gen Z hates age. They consider 35 years old as fuck. The culture change is so extreme is crazy. I try to enjoy their music for what it is, and dont worry about what it isnt.
And then they wonder why they end up being marginalized as fuck going forward.
I like Ghostface. But notice every artist he named is from New York. What if these new artists he’s talking about just don’t know you or Wu Tang’s body of work, but they know NWA, UGK, Scarface, 8Ball & MJG? He’s just as guilty of not listening to other regions. You can tell the New York rappers who actually listened to rappers from other regions and who didn’t. The ones who didn’t wonder why their sound was so regional and they didn’t move units in the South and Midwest.
Exactly, and that’s how NY rap eventually got a bad reputation, especially with the Gen Z crowd.
I think its cuz new york is the birth place of hip hop.
Thats a huuuuuuge PSA that should be taken seriously. I’m all in
well i think a lot of them do don’t they?
If they do, they are influenced not to acknowledge it
In America older rappers for the most part get no love they make more money overseas
Valid points. No dissin. That’s RHH.
People only want you to know things when it’s beneficial to them. Were you trying to help
any of these younger artist get on prob not.
Wtf kinda help could ghostface do to put on these snot noses?? He is talking about these ones that are ALREADY on.
fair point
The roots of real rap came from the heart and soul yeah ghost face names of east coast rappers but he forgetting the west and south so he need educated also I dig some wu tang bit I prefer the west coast but I agree with him these new age rappers need to I guess know there roots of were rap came from idk I’m a metal dude lol so I might be wrong what I said ,but I do love the art of any type of music and so love me some hard hitting gangsta rap.
True, but giving ghostface the benefit of the doubt, those NYC rappers were the genesis of everything preluding the south and west
My young adult children know the artists that I played around the house and they love the classic R&B even from the 60’s and 70’s. They like some of the hiphop from the 80’s and 90’s but not a lot of it. Classic movies that feature the music is another way to introduce the younger generation to the music also.
He didn’t bring up one rapper from the South, Midwest or West Coast. Typical Ghost face
thinks everything revolves around N.Y.
It does, it was the birthplace of hip-hop……but he could’ve included scarface, goodie mob, outkast, bone and n.w.a.
How about going way back like the last poets and X clan?
That’s typical Yorkers vibe they don’t give any Coast respect except their own side. West West y’all
Ain’t no next-gen bothering with no grand puba sugahill run DMC. In all honesty shit is boring.
You must be high thinking a juug addict wrappa gon listen to or study to memorize the shit simply put they’re a lazy narcissistic immature generation. Good luck with them demands though LOL!
But yet ballbags like you cum on yourself when you watch superhero origin stories. Fuck outta here.
Learn how to spell my dude. Obviously you bores you because you dumb ass hell boy. You ain’t shit
Im a big wu tang fan but ghostface’s lyrics are trash. I remember him in an interview by tiga at yo mtv raps was asked to breakdown a line he used on a song and he couldnt even explain it. Cringeworthy
You’re a big wu fan but ghost is trash? Ghost is a fucking LYRICIST. He doesn’t do that simple simon dr suess bullshit you little kids love so much. Take a seat pissboy, you’re brain is trash.
Yes all day these legends speak wtf real life situations went through and what’s going on today .. aye ghost face I was just bumping yo shit as we speak all that I got is you my shit love my legends
Your a joke lmfao imma wu fan but ghost is trash your not no damn wu fan your a joke that thinks he is tho lmfao.
Bro you the biggest hypocrite on this comment section. Ghostface’s lyrics has always delivered heavy bars that even other rappers complimented on. Most of the Wu Tang Clan still battle each other in ciphers(always comparing styles) so I agree with Chef. You gotta respect the people who built this culture. Without them, Hip hop would not have Cardio B, Kendrick Lamar, Cole and Young Dolph.
Agree w “Chef” you bozo Chef is Rae u dumbass. Get your nicknames correct b4 u try to school sum1. Ghost rhymes be like: “James chased Theresa w a hatchet on Easter” WTF kind of space rap is that bullshit
Ya momma’s face is cringeworthy
I come from the old skool area and think ghostface is mos def one of the best that bless the Mic b.u.t we are in a area that’s lost and with no hopes of ever coming back I’m one who adapts so am a wutang head but I also am a nipsey hussle fan I am drawn by realness so I think if u a artist and can’t adapt too all u wack ….
I appreciate where Starks is coming from but frankly, what’s the point? This generation is lost beyond hope. Leave them to their mumble rap and their drug overdoses.
Bruh, these clowns don’t remember/know the original legends that paved the way. The Wu was always ?. Even when The East Coast West Coast shit was happing… Stayed Solid! Before them you got Rakim, KRS 1, NWA, Sugar Hill Gang Ect…. All the beats you young Kats sample is off of all their original movement in Hip Hop. Sit down and study some shit before you talk. It used to be about pressing play and letting the album run… Not this single bullshit. God I miss the days. Ghost is 1000% right! Learn something
I really appreciate you Sir Ghostface, this the way to go now.Big brothers never loose hope on their younger ones those who will come back will n those who will not will perish in their foolishness. Young generations Must learn to recognize and respect their founders/legends and fathers n what they went through in order to bring up Hip hop in to life
Real Talk O’G
Daz Dillinger boss DPG.
New artists definitely need to be educated on hip hop cultures history especially when they are claiming to be the best to ever spit yet their shit sounds like a Dublin junkie looking for some spare change for some gear. Zero talent nor do I know a fuck what you saying!
I think Ghost needs respect his elders. Theres people way before any of those crackheads who were rapping.
Wtf you talking bout??? Ghost is one of the elders…He just named a couple of four fathers…Who do you got in mind…if you don’t mind me asking…Inquisitive minds would like to know…
What in the hell you smoking making this asinine comment?!?! You obviously did not read the part where Ghost paid hommage by naming a few hip hops legends who came BEFORE him. Boy bye!
Damn shame cats have info right in their faces & still add up to 0. Ghost gave u examples & u come with crackheads as if syrup x-os & bars any better. That’s the reason those GODS will be played 4eva & today’s shit is already forgotten?
Ay them old heads need to know about ChiefMaster WinGuru.