Prolificity is a dangerous game amongst Hip Hop legends. It tests early work and current relevance and raises questions about consistency. Ghostface Killah is again offering himself up to those risks less than three months removed from his last album with what is now his dozenth solo release and third consecutive collaboration with a live band. Of the Wu-Tang Clan’s “upper tier” — a literal pay hierarchy that revealed itself in interviews leading up to the group’s last release — Ghostface has been the most dependable, even if sometimes perilously experimental (see the 2009 R&B effort Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City). At 44, he has a similar claim within Hip Hop as a whole and has managed to keep his public image contained almost entirely to his music.
To some, Tony Starks has been treading on thin ice, though. Last year’s 36 Seasons may have stuck a little too closely to a script of his own design to fully entice. The album took 11 days to record and sometimes, disappointingly, sounded like it. It was another full-length narration project and Ghostface admitted in an interview with Spin that concept records had become painless but he seemed complacent as much as encouraged in saying so. “When you’re doing a concept album it’s easy,” he said. “It’s like a movie, you already know what you’re dealing with.” For better or worse, listening to Ghostface is a lot like that too.
Sour Soul loosens Ghost’s narrative ambitions to single song stretches for the better, and often, as ever, his raps are delivered in zany non-sequitur form anyway. The album is only 33 minutes long as well, a twelve-track effort that includes a pair of instrumentals and four features. Ghost has leaned back and it’s easier to enjoy him like this, unencumbered by the commitment of pairing an album listening with a comic book read, for example. The Toronto Jazz band BADBADNOTGOOD’s backing helps tremendously and may be the best source material Ghost has had in this latest three album stretch. On Sour Soul the group’s musical paradigm is smooth Psych but many arrangements and build-ups nod to the likes of soundtrack great Henry Mancini, approaching Ghostface’s affinity for cinematics musically more so than narratively.
Ghostface’s rapping isn’t wordplay heavy in that he doesn’t beat around the bush or hint at meanings that aren’t immediately forward as much as uttering simple and random eccentricities into existence. His lyricism is endlessly and confrontationally anecdotal; in that way, there’s a buy-in required before listening that you grant him certain freedoms, like starting vignettes in the middle of a meaningless story. “Ayo, bitch, what the fuck? I got lint on my robes / I can’t pimp in these clothes,” he snarls to begin “Tone’s Rap,” a single verse track that ends with “pimpin’ ain’t easy but it sure is fun.” Ghostface hasn’t grown on Sour Soul and sometimes settles too quickly on predictable tropes —”Stem cell, my niggas is scientific,” or, “smoking rags on the list like Craig”— but sometimes that works best (though not in these cases). Ultimately his raps are at least approachable when stripped down like this, and even if he doesn’t offer anything revelatory, the presentation of “Nuggets of Wisdom” is where he seems most in pocket, ornamenting the music with cliches that tilt slightly askew: “Make peace not war, make babies some more / Keep a smile when you travel from shore to shore.”
Ghostface doesn’t carry Sour Soul on his shoulders though, and the pressure of filling up space is lightened by BADBADNOTGOOD’s own swelling instrumentation, which flows with a similar vibe from track to track without getting too sleepy or predictable. The music floats trippily from downtempo to acid Jazz and psych-y Soul/Funk and back, an approach to Jazz instrumentation more invested in musicality than technicality. “Six Degrees” builds a creeping staccato guitar and bass line, the kind of soundscape a ‘60s era film spy might tiptoe along to, into a smooth backdrop for Ghost and Danny Brown’s grit. “Tone’s Rap” crawls and drawls instrumentally, a shimmering guitar riff and chord progression held barely in place by Alex Sowinski’s drumming. Both in general and here specifically BADBADNOTGOOD’s music doesn’t loop back upon itself with quantized Hip Hop inflections but seeks out lazy grooves on which they build both slowly and abruptly. The effect is propellant, even if meandering, and it makes listening through the album effortless.
The inclusion of a small handful of featured emcees spices up the pot appropriately and where and when they cook are choiced well. Doom raps alongside Ghost on the most energized track on the album and Chicago rapper Tree’s restrained delivery and gruff voice are best suited to the dreamy backdrop of “Street Knowledge.” The album doesn’t belong to the features or its main rapper though, and that investment in the music itself has paid off. Ghost doesn’t hold up the project and he’s made that appear like an effortless choice instead of an uphill battle to which he’s succumbed. He hasn’t run out of things to say, but his bars can be utterly predictable and randomly swathed together. “Ghost the hockey mask, hiding the features,” he raps, “Fuck the black lagoon, watch me enable her creatures / The bleach is chemistry, teachers cooking meth.” Sour Soul isn’t meant as a thesis though, and that it’s easy to digest its charms might be its primary artifact. For some critics, Ghostface might be waning. With Sour Soul at least he’s proven it’s fitting to catch him glimpses.
I will listen to this album for the rest of my life. Amazing Job Ghost
Best album of ’15. Another gem from the GOAT
production is good but gets repetitive fast
another solid album!!. Ghostface Killah has done it again.
Ghost Just keeps coming with it! 36 seasons is still on rotation. BBNG and Ghostface is a good match, it would be dope to see them perform live!!
I take offense to that 36 Seasons dig, that album was fire!
will give this a chance tho, Ghost is that dude!
He’s not THAT dude, he’s a dude.
it’s so medicore i forgot the tune meanwhile listening
I’m a big wu fan, and I love what ghost has been doing recently, constantly experimenting with new sounds and album themes, another great album, I liked big Sean’s album too but I think that deserved a 3/3.5 and this was worthy of a 4
Ghost is one of a few cats that has never let me down. This Sour Soul is official..
Ghostface most consistent mc ever top 5 no doubt not one bad album even that ghostdeni r n b one was dope for what it was. What happened to Wu-Block Hidden Gems album I preordered that shit like 5 weeks ago and it never came out lol I aint mad ghost been dropping lot of dope music the last year
Solid
smooth
you guys goes wrong again, this is 4 at least, but 4.5 IMO.
this review is reaching with tha
‘Ghost hasn’t grown, Ghost is predictable with his lyrics..” Nah, hip hop reviewers in general are just becoming predictable in their reviews. What do critics know about artistic growth anyhow, most are almost were artists.
Five.
too bad they don’t actually sell the album in store anywhere. Why announce a release date if its not available to purchase anywhere except online and its backordered 3-4 weeks hidden gems part 2! Oh well at least its on sound cloud and youtube
I’m going 4.5 stars. Smooth jazz with uber hard lyrics from Ghost and guest rappers sets this album apart from anything out in recent memory. You gotta have an appreciation for authentic jazz and real hip hop to fully grasp what Ghostface was able to pull off with this album. This album is very dope. Ghostface is consistently demonstrating a good ear for music. There is nothing in the game that sounds like this album.
Really fair, honest assessment.
I agree they did a good job with this review.
Ghost never disappoints. Quality music every time.
great
This is a really good album. I like this one better than 36 Seasons, which is not a knock on that project. Musically, this album feels a lot better, although it’s over before you know it. 4/5
I am going 4.5 stars for this album. Merging smooth jazz with uber agressive lyrics from Ghostface and guest rappers sets this album apart from anything made in recent memory. You gotta have an appreciation for authentic jazz and real hip hop lyricism to fully grasp just how brilliant this album really is. Ghostface has an amazing ear for music. Dope album and dope vision for a very unique and artful concept.
SICK! Album. BBNG and Ghostface?? You can’t be serious. Instant classic right there.
Dope
Music 5/5
Lyrics 4/5
Overall 4.5/5
My favorite album this year so far
Ghost is on a winning streak. He ended ’14 w 36 seasons and now started this new year off w another dope album. Ghost and BadBadNotGood made a really smooth disc. Features were dope and I think this album will age well. Shows how fucked up the game is tho when this gets worse reviews than Drakes throwaway album smh Support the OG Pretty Tone
How is there ZERO MENTION of one of the GOAT skill wise Elzhi who SLAUGHTERS “Gunshowers” with quotables galore. It’s easily the illest verse on the album and as much as I like Ghostface he shits on him.
irrelevent
GFK has dropped several albums recently. This one has the best production, but the weakest GFK flows. The beats deserved better.
shits alright, rhymes arent that memorable
Ayo Jay. You don’t know WHAT you’re talking about. Sure, Ghostface wasn’t on some Supreme Clientele ish but that doesn’t mean by ANY stretch of the imagination that dude was wack. If anything, it means he still has it in him to surprise people with direct rhymes that are a refreshing change of pace. His directness here is complimented by the awesome guest work by Elzhi & DOOM. Danny Brown was the weak link here & TREE was alright. BBNG, as expected, met their usual awesome standard with another worthy addition to their catalogue. Peace. A SOLID 4 from me.
sik album!!!!they need to get some real hip hop heads, newschool and oldschool fans writing these reviews.. wtf is this dickhead up 2???
Yeah……. or exactly right. (Tones) joint is hot but I agree
Beats are nice but I’ve heard better from GHOST
Am I like high or is everyone else here higher than me? I’m reading tons of reviews saying this album is “ehhhh” or “just okay”…the fuck is going on? Peoples this album is ridiculous, these other reviewers are on bath salts. I feel like I am living in alternate reality. I’ve listened to every Ghost album as they’ve come out this is easily one of the best things he has ever done. I think some of you need to re-listen, not one weak song on here. The interludes are dope too.
Ill review