Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons To Die

    Aside from the ever-changing musical identity of RZA (or Bobby Digital, Prince Rakeem, etc.), Ghostface Killah has arguably been the Wu-Tang Clan’s most multifarious member as well as one of the most active. After dabbling in the R&B scene and handling collaborative efforts with east coast brethren Sheek Louch, Method Man and Raekwon, Ghost now teams up with composer Adrian Younge for a project that could have been green-lit by Quentin Tarantino.

    Built around the cinematic events of a comic book by the same name, Twelve Reasons To Die follows Tony Starks, a gangster upstart who lands himself in a deadly clash with the DeLucas. Under this guise, Younge appropriately accompanies Ghost’s narrative with embellished backdrops. “I Declare War” is a moving piece aided by swaying strings and an eerie bass line, while the calculated melody and operatic vocals of “Beware Of The Stare” captivate throughout. In that respect, the album sustains a live band design, which should bode well for touring purposes. However, there’s an element of rhythmic fortitude that’s missing. Case in point, “Enemies All Around Me.” The record oozes tension, but the overall sound feels hollowed out. Similarly, “Murder Spree” and its one-chord harmony becomes dull by songs’ end.

    While the orchestral vibe may startle some listeners, there’s no aversion once Ghost’s pipes hit the track. Sure, he’s working within the parameters of the storyline, but his lyrical disposition is as focused as it ever was. Out for blood on “The Rise Of The Ghostface Killah,” he growls, “Medusa stare, my guns bust in silence / I’m a black vigilante killer, pro violence / It’s the rebirth, born again / Rise through the vinyl spin / They took out Starks but the light shines within.” This continues on “The Sure Shot (Parts One & Two)” as his scope enlarges for a standoff his foes will regret. “I glide through the air like a swarm of bees / Shake niggas off quick like a dog with fleas / Raw meat, leave bodies slumped in the street / Revenge is the spice of life, it’s so sweet.”

    Familiar faces join Ghostface on his murderous expedition, but their inclusion becomes more of an isolated addition than solid co-star credits. “Blood On The Cobblestones” and “Murder Spree” find a respectable balance between Wu-Tang proverb and DeLucas vengeance. Then there’s a record like “The Center Of Attraction,” which suffers from a weak call and response about a sly woman’s motive.

    In the archives of Ghostface Killah’s catalog, Twelve Reasons To Die should place somewhere above his most recent releases. Unless an artist is approaching Illmatic territory, it’s difficult to glorify a project that clocks in under 40 minutes, with a third of the lyrical efforts dispensed to guests. Still, the album is a satisfying glimpse into the minds of Younge and Ghostface. Experimental is a tag few artists at his age would attempt, and yet Ghost does it with immeasurable confidence.

    213 thoughts on “Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons To Die

    1. Very generous rating. This was a tired, battered letdown… Ghostface Killah is stuck in a hamster wheel of trying to be 23 years old again. It’s not his fault, it’s the only way fans want him to be.

      It’s aiiight, but it’s not gettin’ my money.

      1. Trying to be 23 again? Dude is the best lyricist in the greatest group of all time and has dropped 10 dope solo albums.

    2. If you like hip hop you will love this album.
      To me its a movie formed into a great soundtrack!

    3. This is classic Ghostface Killah, and that is why I’m a bit disappointed with it. It still deserves 4 stars, no doubt, but Ghostface could’ve switched it up a bit. The production here was also pretty standard, had nothing special to it. Ghostface clearly outshined it. It also lacked those type of tracks where Ghostface just brings that amazing energy and snaps, like The Champ or Apollo Kids. Still, another good Ghostface album, probably one of the most consistent artists, not only in hip hop, but in all of music.

    4. People are turning this age thing into a whole different meaning lol. Wtf this is dark poetry, he aint trying to be 23 are you listening…. Like if real G’s retire lol

    5. This is sober Ghostface on this album, that’s why this is finest work to date. 100% concentration on every song

    6. Streamed it on NPR as well as listened to the Brown Tape (the album with Apollo Brown’s alternative instrumentals) sampler and it’s all great! Classic stuff.

    7. Look, I’m not saying this guy is bad, but he is clearly stealing Action Bronson’s flow and style. This is why I don’t listen to new rappers or underground rappers. He even stole the name ghostface killer from the movie scream. Yes he has lyrics and beats, but for a debut album, this is just okay. Action Bronson’s Dr. Lecter debut album was much better. I’m still listening to Blue Chips and Rare Chandeliers, and I think ghostface killer should pay homage to Action Bronson. With all that aside, I give it a 3/5. I’m only 16 but I know real hip-hop, and this was average.

      1. For your sake, I really hope your trolling lol. Cuz if you aint, child you got a lot of reading/listening up to do.

      2. This is a class act troll who’s been trolling on HHDX for months now, he used to go by EyeControl, which is a play on words for Icantroll. Now he’s going by EyeCon, which is suggestive to Icon, or a shortened version of what he used to go by, Icantroll/Eyecontrol. Dude is clever. He knows these hip hop trends.

      3. HAHAHAHAHAHH That’s obviously a joke. But sadly there is someone who will think that. But that comment is hilarious fam.

      4. how tha hell do ghostface sound like action bonson?…ghostface been around for 20yrs killin tha game…ur 16 u dnt know shit about hip-hop

      5. i’m in my thirties and when i was a kid i loved james brown and the funk from the seventies, if you didn’t know the break and the sample you most likely were a fake clone version of a real hip hop head

    8. This album is a breath of Fresh air in a Stagnated Stale hiphop scene as of Late.. I set this up as some of Big Ghostdeini’s best work right next to IronMan! 5 mufuccin Stiiiiznars Mah G, Peasch Stun

      1. I dont think theres ever been on non-stagnated hip-hop era ever to some of you smh

        Every year its the same shit for the past 20, even back in the 90s

      2. For real every year i hear someone say hip hop is finally back if this happens every year then obviously hip hop has never died/taken a break/comma/heart attack or whatever phrase people try to say

    9. Sick album. This, “Czarface”, and Sadistik’s “Flowers for My Father” are the the best releases this year so far. Real hip hop, kids.

      1. Just because he doesn’t like this album he automatically likes Lil Wayne and Drake? Man fuck you elitist backpackers always acting like you’re better than anyone who doesn’t like the same music as you.

      1. This version is incredibly dope but the Apollo Brown version is on another level. I ordered the cassette but I hope someone puts up the MP3 version on the net ASAP.

      2. i didnt know apollo brown remixed the cassete version. I would be interested to hear it, any suggestions?

      3. what do you mean by any suggestions? it just came out give it a few days and someone will have it online for download.

    10. IANAHB 2 gets 3 stars

      12 Reasons To Die gets 4

      What is the bar for ratings and who sets it?? In DX’s logic, these 2 albums are similar in quality which is a fucking joke. SMH

    11. Incredible concept album. 4 and a half stars for the Adrian Younge version and 5 stars for The Brown Tape!

      1. Seriously kid, do your homework. Big Doe Rehab was lame. Iron Man and Supreme Clientele are classics, with 12 Reasons to Die close behind.

      2. Big doe rehab was meh, but Fishscale kills 12 Reasons to Die. Granted 12RTD is better than Ghostdini and Apollo Kids, but it’s no Fishscale and certainly no Supreme or Ironman. It’s just too short and aesthetically uniform. feels more like a track than an album.

      3. Big Doe Rehab lame???

        Wooooo….Dog… that’s some of Ghost strongest Darts… Nah kid.

        Fischscale is made over rated -could of been cut down to like 9 records…

        For Me

        IRONMAN / PURPLE TAPE OB4CL
        SUPREME CLIENTELE
        BULLETPROOF WALLETS (UNDERRATED DARTS)
        BIG DOE REHAB (UNDERRATED DARTS)
        PRETTY TONY
        APOLLO KIDS
        FISHSCALE
        MORE FISH
        WIZARD (RNB)

      4. IRONMAN / PURPLE TAPE OB4CL
        SUPREME CLIENTELE
        BULLETPROOF WALLETS (UNDERRATED DARTS)
        BIG DOE REHAB (UNDERRATED DARTS)
        12RTD
        APOLLO KIDS
        FISHSCALE
        PRETTY TONY
        MORE FISH
        WIZARD (RNB)

      1. There still some youngings that understand the rewind that tape era.

        Everyone didn’t get tripped up from the Barney days and get addicted to sing along songs. Like yourself.

    12. u best not have written a review for tygas shit and not papoose’s. what would ur existence mean? lol

      1. I’m thinking he couldn’t afford to send out promo copies of his album for review so they said fuck it.

    13. Seriously…HHDX…how are you in business?

      This is one of the greatest colabs of all time….If you can recognize that then you are small minded..

      WAKE UP PEOPLE…..this is a great colab…expand your mind and get out the box…

      This has Wu all over it…the feel..the story…the production is on point…

      You will have to listen to it a few times for it to hit you…

      4.8/5 – Reason – Was hoping to hear Rae on this…but trust me…

      Classic!!!!

    14. indeed a great concept album, production is pure. that s what makes ghostface stand out as a wu member, not his lyrical depth so much but his originality and work ethic

      1. Really? That’s what you’re going with? That was a single line in a verse that was more aimed at RZA than anyone else (the inspiration for ‘funny ass rings’ coming from a photo of RZA).

        And I heard Ghost pushed 50 down a flight of stairs for that, no idea if it’s true but I hope it is.

      2. You said the dumbest shit I ever heard.. I had to log on just to respond to your dumbass.. I like 50. but NO WAY did he kill ghostface’s career, what are u smoking??.. ghost still at the very top of his game. how he kill ghost career and ghost come out almost every year wit some new dope material. GTFOH!! pushing 50 down some stairs is a true story btw

    15. Copped today, One of the best to ever do it but is it me or is ghost losing his voice? Sounds very raspy

    16. For me this ranks only below Supreme Clientele and Ironman as Ghost’s third best joint out. I completely disagree with reviewer for knocking the album for only being about 40 minutes long, the vast majority of stuff that comes out only has 30-40 minutes of good music on it and the rest is just filler that people want to skip over anyway. Great album by T. Starks as usual.

    17. I think this was a good album, but its no where near being a classic…..stop overhyping stuff! 4/5 tho

    18. We have a few trolls in here giving this a 1 I can tell. Do yourselves and us a favor and get the fuck outta here and go listen to your faggot Lil Wayne.

    19. I gave this a 5. yes Im a real hip hop fan I know you lil fag ass niggas prefer techno, trap and pop.

    20. GFK hasn’t evolved as a rapper. He always sound the same. Im getting bored of his whining voice and coketales.

      Oh and for ya fuckers im a wu-tang fan.

    21. This album is an absolute CLASSIC!!!! Hands down!!! Nas or Illmatic ain’t got S*** on Wu-Tang or this record. Ghostface = GOAT. Y’all always critique the hell out of every classic Wu release. I bet if it was clown a** Trinidad James or Officer Ricky y’all would be “raving”….fake a** illuminati puppets. I will never support this wack a** website again

      1. I’m listening to this shit non stop, incredible music. I’ts going to be difficult to top 12RTD in 2013 for best album of the year.

      2. i just sad i can’t name anythig top EVER on the year it’s released.

        Years make this top album ever. Like the 36 chambers that shit was about 20 years and still one of the top albums ever.

    22. This shit is awesome, had no idea I’d be getting a free tape with beats by Apollo Brown. albums amazing after 3 listens, should only get better with time. maybe my fav GFK album since Ironman

    23. I realize they were trying to do something really special with the brown tape but they should have made it available to download with the deluxe. I hope you guys who have it know how lucky you are, it is killing me not being able to hear it!

      1. i bought it but i dunno how im gonna play it. only tape deck i got needs to be hooked up to a receiver and speakers which i dont have right now

    24. this album is soul stirring.

      ghostface doesn’t come lazy. focused story telling. real emotion. incredible beats. and passion.

      real music folks. let it hit you from all angles. i hear the process. the swings in the production. the vocal backing. creepy singing. warm sounds. big drums.

      WOW.

      ghost did it again.

      at some point, the finger needs to be pointed at ghostface when debating the greatest rappers of all time. he has outlasted nearly everyone and still delivers incredible music today in 2013 without sounding out of touch or tired. what a legend this guy is.

      adrian younge. you are now a player. wow. what a piece of work. 5 stars

    25. I WANT THE FRICKIN BROWN TAPE! Preferably in MP3 format, not actual cassette :[ They could have made getting the Brown Tape easier.

    26. I think it’s important to listen to this album from the perspective of a soundtrack.

      It’s a unique concept album with a haunting, cinematic album sound that marries perfectly with the imagery in comic book/cover art – it really tells a story that perfectly marries up with the tone and atmosphere created by Adrian Younges ’70s Kung-Fu infused beats.

      I can see, however, why the album didn’t receive a 5 out 5 rating. I thought some of the featured artists had less than inspired verses and found myself wishing there had instead been another Ghostface verse on a couple tracks.

      Apart from that I found it to be an incredibly well-assembled, complete album – a really solid release and great addition to Ghostface’s ever growing catalogue of albums.

      4.5 out of 5

    27. This album is great. One of the best from recent releases of anyone from the Wu.

      BTW what is this Brown Tape everyone is talking about?

      1. An alternate version of the album produced by Apollo Brown which is only available on cassette. Just as good as Adrian Younge’s version, if not better.

    28. Just curious what everyone thinks is the better album out of 12RTD or CZARFACE? Both are great projects but I’m definitely liking 12RTD more.

    29. its dope people expect too much out the guys who have been around this long tho. If any new nigga had made this people would be calling it an underground classic. Price you pay for longevity I guess

    30. The haters are all tight jeans wearing Young Money groupies… They wouldn’t know good music if it was in front of them… The rest giving this a bad review are just trolls trying to piss people off.

      This album is a 4.5 star album. Throwback 90s hip hop.

    31. Greatest thing I’ve heard in a long while. I feel like I’m 15 again and rap hasn’t deteriorated.

    32. 12 reasons to die is an amazing delve into the world of hip-hop and the appreciation of scores and live instrumentation. Captivating from start to finish it is how good Maad city should have been. Scores in film is a dying feature nowdays and this album is a gem because it is made by lovers of music period.

    33. I’m a Wu and Ghost head, but I can’t condone this album. Sounds like a demo that Ghost did while he was drunk and high one night with some of his friends. I can’t believe this is an actual album and not a mix tape. Ghost is way more talented than the bullshit that he put on this album. The beats are whack, the lyrics are lazy, and the album sounds like crap. Other than that, I guess its not bad…

      1. “The beats are whack, the lyrics are lazy, and the album sounds like crap. Other than that, I guess its not bad…”

        How can you say it’s not bad after ripping it apart? Weird how people disect music these days rather than just enjoying it for what it is. Since when did people become music critics?

    34. Best Ghost album since Supreme Clientele. Might go down as his best album and top 5 Wu albums of all time. This album is that good and is being super slept on right now. I can’t believe some of these comments I’m reading. This album is ahead of its time and won’t be appreciated until a few years from now.

    35. This Album was great. My gripes with the production is that it does seem kinda hollowed. The instrumentation and mood are totally solid and great, but I think the tempo is a bit slowed down for a hip-hop song. It shows with ghosts flow when he’s trying to ride the beat. He sounds stretched out. The album concept was cool, and maybe it was his flow again but it seemed ghost didn’t totally sell it….all that said, it was a good listen and one of the better ghost albums in a minute.

    36. Ghost has done it again. The most consistent emcee in the game has done what hardly anyone does these days, and that’s create instant classic.

      1. “The Brown Tape” has really dope beats on it and it sounds good, but Adrian Younge’s beats are grimy, dark and more Wu-Tangish. I like them both, but I give my nod to this version.

        I just play them both, one after the other, and jam because they are both damn good.

    37. It’s mind-boggling the heart wants it, the mind rejects it
      Fuck the past, let’s put the present in perspective
      That’s my lady, she would never back-stab or cross me
      Stand butt-naked in the storm, sippin’ the frosty
      Force me to choose, I’mma follow my heart
      She was there from the beginning, but I tore ’em apart
      No more Delucas, straight Killa Bee on the swarm
      And when it’s time to get big, she put her game face on

    38. Top five storytelling MC of all-time; one of the most consistent rappers in the history of the game. This is classic material. I can’t wait to cop the brown tape.

    39. It’s clear some of the peeps here been listening to ghostface for the first time or something. Younge is a refreshing producer who doesn’t do the “same beat loop for whole song” formula that dominates hip-hop. And ghost is ghost, delivering his unique flows and jargon that usually takes multiple listens to decipher. Tony Starks just keeps on deliverin

    40. I got about halfway when I was like “who gives a shit!!!!!???” Honestly I keep hearing about the DeLucas and I really found it hard to care about someone who is just talking about being a black gangster and how much of a killer he is. The beats sucked ass and the story was boring as shit. FUCK THIS ALBUM

    41. Huge ghostface fan but this album sounds like a bunch of b-sides…it is just kinda boring even depressing…its trying too hard to be avant garde. Hiphopdx is so predictable with its 4 stars. I mean in the mid-90s, this album would have signalled the fall of the wu-tang. They just such dickriding backpackers…Just because u have some pseudo-intellectual images and weird chord progressions that don’t make it a dope album. But this next madvillian and it sounds butt…the truth is Supreme Clientele was ghost’s last indisputable classic (maybe one of the greatest albums of all time)…as far as ghost lately, up to fishscale, we had some dope moments…the rest of his stuff after fishscale has been really meh…I means he’s losing it man..he needs to go back to supreme clientele seriously..

      1. WORD. especially on comparing this to Madvillainy and Supreme Clientele being his last indisputable classic. Fishscale is extremely overrated. Sure it had its moments (RAGU) but it’s no Clientele that’s for sure.

    42. Best album I’ve heard in years. Ghost at this storytelling best and the full band sound from Younge behind GFK is dope as fuck.

      1. Ya’ know, after listening to The Brown Tape a couple times in succession, I think I might actually like the Brown Tape more than the original.

        They both have pros and cons, but both bang hard. Apollo just has that knack for making the type of beats I love.

    43. THATS NOT THE BEST GHOSTFACE ALBUM IN A LONG TIME. THE BEATS ARE ALL GOOD BUT THE LYRICS ARE MORE THAN NOTHIN. LOOK AT THE ALBUM COVER AND LISTEN TO THE SONGS. GHOSTFACE IS A DANGER TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. HE AINT AN INSPIRATION. I HOPE HE GET HIS ISH DONE AND RELEASES SOMETHING INSPIRATIONAL COZ A LEGEND LIKE GHOSTFACE SHOULD STEP HIS GAME UP IN THE AGE OF 42!!!!!!!!!!! 2 of 5 stars only for the beats!!!

    44. one of the greatest wutang albums of all time. i bought 2 albums. i think u god’s album is next. wutang forever mother…..

    45. “I got about halfway when I was like “who gives a shit!!!!!???” Honestly I keep hearing about the DeLucas and I really found it hard to care about someone who is just talking about being a black gangster and how much of a killer he is. The beats sucked ass and the story was boring as shit. FUCK THIS ALBUM” It’s called a concept album, you idiot, it is implied that it is not real. Go back to school and learn something this time around.

      1. Look, asshole, I know it isn’t real. I know what a concept album is. And this concept was boring as a motherfucker. Ghostface constantly like, I’m on the rise and I blast on the DeLucas was half assed dumb bullshit. It seemed like the story of an ignorant cunt, at war with ignorant cunts. At least make your character likeable for fucks sakes. At least make the beats bearable. To say this was great hip hop, is what I hate about hip hop hipsters. Just because he can string a story together and can have some witty lines (and there weren’t fucken many) DOESN’T make your album great. Oh and next time read the fucken comment you ignorant fuckwit. You’ll notice I used the word “story”. But no, you just wanna jump on my shit because I thought that this overblown piece of shit was an overblown piece of shit. Well, not in the way of sales, but in the way you “cool” hiphop fans chow down on the dick of anyone who was ever “lyrical”. Now, why don’t you tell me I must love Lil Wayne because I don’t like this album and was horribly disappointed by it. Because that is probably your stupid go to insult isn’t it?

    46. i pre-ordered this shit over a month ago and i still havent got it or even an email saying if its been shipped or not. starting to really regret doing business with Soul Temple Records

      anyone else still waiting for theirs?

    47. I give it a 3.

      It’s like lounge hop.. there are no 808’s, and ALL the best WU beats had 808s, they were so muddy you might consider it a kick, but they were hidden amoung the STACKS of samples that were intracately spliced together. This sounds boring and contrived… I’m partial to the sound tho… i understand it… so I give it a 3, but if I heard this when 36 chambers came out… it wouldn’t of been something that would drawn me in…

      it’s not gritty enough, and you can tell no one is hungry, it’s just heads with the position, and they have an aesthetic to protect and profit from. More power. I know rza has always been trying to get where adrian younge is at from a technical standpoint, but it was when RZA didn’t know exactly what he was doing, and he just knew he was on to something when he sounded best. Kind of a fucked situation, so this decision to roll with Adrian is a good business move.. All in all, it keeps what they got going, and that’s better than falling totally off the map.

      Message to the yung bulls: make RAP BY SAMPLING RECORDS, that will ALWAYS be the key to getting that raw sound. Why? cause you have to layer multiple samples which fucks with the brain in a good way. Things also are sampled out of traditional song keys, slightly detruned further creating your brain to work in ways that it doesn’t when instrments are all tuned and you’re playing a song straight through.. Adrians production is a left brained production like all production, so as it can give you an idea of something, it is missing that intriguing element that sampling brings. And to be fair to adrian, most traditional composed music suffers from this lack of intrigue that sampling brings.

      Maybe if adrian composed and played the music, and RZA, and other producers took those samples, and made the final beats, it could work…. cuz producers are gonna make sure HIP HOP BEATS BANG by layering the damn kicks and 808s, so we can wild out… we need that conigac music over here, not the sipping aged wine shit… adrian did a good job sounding like an old record, but the best rap aint rapping on old records, it’s rapping over NEW beats made from old records….

      TBH

      1. totally agree. and the funny thing is that what you’re saying is so obvious. yet hip hop producers try to sell us snake oil by going to the hipster cash-grab route.

    48. This is the best hip hop album of the year so far. I loved hearing Ghostface rap over live instrumentation. The story is well structured and Ghost strays away from his more abstract lyricism so that the concept is easily followed. The guest spots on this album deliver as expected. BUY this album if you like REAL hip hop.

    49. Ghostface proves he’s still on top with this masterpiece album. I love the whole album and he’s dropping like 7 more albums in the next 3 years so get ready industry. Oh yeah to all of you fuck boys trying to put the legend down, pull your pants up and turn your fucking night lights on before you sleep in bed with mommy tonight you fucks. This is real hip hop so go listen to some drake and let him put you to sleep tonight you non hip hop mother fuckers dare to even say the words hip hop. go get your radio and listen to your bullshit commercial radio rap which is why your so poisoned in the mind you losers. To all those showing love, much respect to you. That is all.

    50. Well almost 4 months later and i still dont have this album even though i paid for it on april 5th! FUCK SOUL TEMPLE MUSIC. FUCKING CON ARTISTS PIECE OF SHIT. I DONT EVEN FUCKING WANT THIS SHITTY ALBUM ANY MORE IM NEVER BUYING ANOTHER GHOST OR WU ALBUM AGAIN THANKS TO SOUL TEMPLE!

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