Fishscale

Loved this album, great assorted group of producers and Killah's rhymes are something else. Also, I learned how to cut a brick of cocaine, so it was also instructional.

As someone without a lot of experience with hiphop, but no particular disdain for it, I liked this album. It's an actual album. Each song is distinct, it's not a mushy bleed-together of left-overs to pad the length. But the production is consistent and each song obviously belongs on this album. Each track has interesting things that separate them from the rest, and the production is really top notch. Production is so good it probably makes it swing above its weight class. There's nothing irritating on the album, it's all consistently good. Solid album I probably wouldn't choose to listen to again, but if it came on I wouldn't be compelled to turn off either.

We have an APB on an MC Killer Looks like the work of a Master Evidence indicates that his stature Merciless like a terrorist hard to capture The flow, changes like a chameleon Plays like a friend, and stabs you like a dagger This technique attacks the immune system Disguised like a lie paralyzing the victim You scream, as it enters your bloodstream Erupts your brain from the pain these thoughts contain Moving on a nigga with the speed of a centipede And injure any motherfucking contender!

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did considering other Wu Tang projects I've heard, but man, Ghosty just has a way with words that can drag me in to a story. The narrative-based rapping is definitely the strongest draw here, with a strong second going to the excellent production (I mean, come on, DOOM and Dilla? Spoiled!). There are too many skits IMO, and not every song is a banger, but this was definitely a good project.

5/10. He immediately tells us to fasten our seatbelts, which I appreciate because I am tired of listening to rap albums that don't care about the listener's personal safety. Also listening to this for the first time after the MCU made Tony Stark a household name, but knowing that this is older than that made the constant references to Tony Starks and Ironman a bit surprising. I liked that the skits transitioned very smoothly into the following songs in this album. I kinda liked Back Like That, I suppose because it just sounds like a pop song. I also like how when he boasts about women, these women are often intelligent in addition to having great asses etc, which is pretty fun.

Awful?

Listening again today; great production and incredibly cinematic album. Def up there with my fav hip hop albums of all time. “RAGU” and “Back Like That (feat. Ne-Yo)” have got to be some of my fav tracks of all time.

Een soort rap dat op clipping lijkt. Ambitieus maar ik weet niet of het wat voor mij is.

Another random hip hop record in the 1001 list. It is almost a joke, thinking about all masterpieces left out of the list to make some room for boring random releases like this one. An exWu Tang Klan member trying to vindicate himself. That's ok, even a few good tracks like 'Whip You With a Strap' and hilarious skits like 'Bad Mouth Kid'... but come on...

This fucks and this Aussie gives it five pairs of Blundstones out of five.

Strangely, despite loving Bulletproof wallets when I was a teenager, I hadn't listened to this much before. That has changed now, I've listened to it 4 times today! Super album, I love Ghostface's voice and delivery, and there's some really great tracks on here.

This was great but suffered from the skits and stuff.

I still don't understand skits on rap albums, but the tunes were bangers

Happy I finally have a reason to listen to this album. The production on this album was quite 50/50 but the better fifty was some of the best production on any of Ghostfaces work. Suprised that this album is on this list instead of Ironman and Supreme Clientele which are two clearly superior albums, this is still good though and Ghostface is one of the best rappers of all time. 4.2/5

The gangster thing has kind of lost its shine for me. But the art and wit of the vocal flow is impossible to deny.

The Champ

Tu peux remercier Ne-Yo

I'm not really into rap, but I did enjoy this with some standout tracks

Loved it, I didn't think I would, But every track was strong and it worked together so well.

Abso loot LUV.

I love this album. Surprised to see it on this list, but it's fantastic.

Sweet, hard-hitting rhymes with a lot of energy and genuine fun. And awesome beats!

This album doesn't miss; not even mad about the massive runtime.

Gimme a pen and pand

Massive energy. The backing is so full of hooks and great grooves, could listen to it spinning all day long. Lyrics are fast and furious with passion and feeling. Loved this album

LOVE me some Wu-Tang, and Ghostface might just be my favorite member. In a group with no lack of hip-hop titans, Ghostface still manages to grab the spotlight and throttle it like it stole something from him. The man's a poet, plain and simple. "Supreme Clientele" gets a lot of attention (and rightfully so--it doesn't get much better than "Apollo Kids" and "Cher Chez La Ghost"), but "Fishscale" is my favorite Ghostface album. The skits are utterly skippable (ranging from the mildly amusing "Bad Mouth Kid" to the cringey "Heart Street Directions"), but basically every track is worthy of a place in my regular playlist rotation. And it's no wonder. Not only is he a master storyteller, but his fellow Clan members back him up regularly on this album (most notably on "9 Milli Bros."), and the tracks are produced by hip-hop greats like Pete Rock, J Dilla, and MF DOOM. I could list my favorite tracks, but it'd basically just be two-thirds of the track list, minus the skits. That's how solid this album is. Casual hip-hop fans might find this album a little inaccessible, but for those who appreciate the Wu-Tang style "Fishcale" is solid gold.

Some of the best rap I've heard in a long time. Loved all of it. The flow, the samples (these guys love their comic books), the collaborations. All of it!

Perhaps the craziest thing about Wu-Tang was the number of incredible rappers and producers who were part of the crew from it's outset. Ghostface is a great example of that. He's one of the greatest rappers of all time, and yet when you list of the members of Wu-Tang who were most important to rap history, Ghostface barely sneaks into the top 5 (I'd put Rza, Method Man, ODB, and perhaps Gza in over him). Despite that, Ghostface clearly shows how well his style ages here. More than 10 years after 36 chambers, Ghostface comes in hot with Fishscale. It helps a lot that this album features some of the greatest producers of all time at the height of their careers. One of the coolest things about this album is getting to hear some of my favorite songs off of Donuts by J Dilla employed by a rapper whose style meshes well with Dilla's. I can't think of another rapper who can tell a story in verse the way that Ghostface can. His flow is incredible, but the way that he paints a picture while he does it is his true skill. I can't believe that I'm going to give another Wu-Tang rapper a 5/5 album, but here we are. This album is undeniable 5/5

Amazing.

This is the album that kept me from listening to the last 10+ days of 1001 assigned albums. This album absolutely floored me. I’ve listened to it countless times. The storytelling is so vivid, the wordplay so nuanced, and the production and sampling is just some of the best ever. I could go on…but it’s just all-time hip-hop album.

Loved this. It wasn't on my radar when it came out but this is absolutely what I loved in like 2003

sick

The Wu-Tang Clan is one of my favorite rap groups, and Ghostface is one of its most talented rappers; his flow is impeccable, and his lyrics are often great to match. While this isn’t as good as, say, Supreme Clientele, it all comes through on this album. Just take ‘The Champ’, which is such an enjoyable song just because of how he raps. Definitely viable for inclusion, though it’s reasonable that they cut it in other editions.

Man this was so good. Very well put together

top notch. cohesive record that tells a story. i loved the skits, especially heart st directions and bad mouth kid. not a bad track, features were fire, production was beautiful. rhymes and stuff all very great!!

Another solo wu tang album that is magnificently produced and has excellent flows. I still think I like liquid swords more but the first like 5 songs on this are all bangers especially shaken dog, the champ, and back like that. The sheer star power of both the features and the production are also insane and works as a great bridge between old school 90s rap and more melodic 00s stuff, back like that and it’s remix with Kanye come to mind the most. Idk if I’m getting softer with my 5s or getting a chance to listen to the album more and thus appreciate it more but after listening to this album multiple times throughout the day it’s pretty great all the way through and doesn’t really drag at all.

Kilo is a thousand grammes, easy to remember! I wasn't expecting to see a Ghostface Killah album come up, but it was definitely a pleasant surprise. I would be hard pressed to pick just one of his albums to put in this list, but I guess if I had to choose, then this would be the one. Even though there's so many guest artists and producers, this is always a Ghostface album, and all the better for it. It was always a bit of a disappointment for me that some of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan went on to pretty dull solo work, but there was still plenty of good stuff that came of the project, Raekwon and GZA spring to mind, but Ghostface was probably the most prolific and also the best for consistent quality. Easy 5 star album that was a delight to listen to again after not hearing it in a year or three. I still sing "whips me with a strap" on a weekly basis.

Awesome album from beginning to end.

I was legit sad when this album ended, it was so well produced and fit the vibe of the day perfectly. Will definitely return to this one!

Ghostface might be my favourite rapper of all time. Also great to see Americans embracing the metric system.

Dope

Just brilliant. Kilo should have a single, it would have been one of the best of the aughts.

This album is sweeping in its scope and cinematic in its storytelling. Ghostface Killah is one of raps greatest lyricists and this album puts that on full display. The narrative about cocaine running is compelling and is so detailed that it’s going to take a few listens to get all the details. The music itself spans several decades and includes doo woo, lounge music, up through funk and R&B. Overall, a fantastic album.

This was a surprise. Really good!

tour de force of an album

Best old school hip hop I’ve ever hear makes biggie sound like a first grader who just learned how to rhyme

can't believe i've never listened to this before. compare yourself to david koresh and spongebob squarepants and sing about getting rid of posers by selling them on ebay and baby you got a stew going

Rating: 9.5/10 Amazing album, my favorite album by Ghostface Killah. This album takes you on a journey and to me embodies all of Ghost's best characteristics and content matter: vivid storytelling, drug dealing stories, family issues/relationships, insane street slang, and all of this with clever wordplay, expansive vocabulary, great rhyming, and of course his iconic voice and delivery. There is an introspective and emotional aspect that this album does better than Ghost's others I think while still being amazing lyrically. The production is also great throughout, every song feels unique. Even though this album is over 25 tracks long it always passes by so quickly whenever I listen to it; a sign of a truly great album. Favorite songs: Shakey Dog, Kilo, The Champ, 9 Milli Bros, Beauty Jackson, Crack Spot, R.A.G.U., Whip You With A Strap, Back Like That, Be Easy, Jellyfish, Dogs Of War, Big Girl, Underwater, Momma, Three Bricks. Worst song: Clipse of Doom.

This album is phenomenal, I was never a GFK fan growing up and I feel like I missed out. Everything song is unique and tells a great story, there are too many skits as always but some are pretty funny and The Champ is a certified banger and goes in the general playlist.

How do you choose a single member of Wu-Tang to highlight and not then highlight every other one of them? In my opinion they’re the best collective in hip-hop. Every single rapper is a genius who helped craft the sound of 90s rap. And then how do you choose a single album in Ghostface’s enormous catalogue? He is so prolific, and really hasn’t taken a wrong turn. This album is excellent. Bring the ruckus.

I’m not much of a rap fan, but this was awesome! There’s clear talent here, and this stuff is always elevated by using real instruments.

Loved this album in 06 and still love it now. The sampling is on point! It’ll make you get up and do the Damon Dash

Like most hip hop albums... it’s a tad long. But pretty pretty good 👌

2006. Key Songs: R.A.G.U, 9 Milli Bros, Shakey Dog

Really enjoyed this one

Cocaine rap isn't my favorite thing, but the lyricism is on point. Best track: The Champ.

good

Good shit

Surprisingly good, and all-star guest appearances

This is probably tied with Inspectah Deck's Resident Patient as my fav Wu Tang solo record out there.

This was super great and a pretty vicious album! I feel like this is an album that if I listened to it when I was younger it'd have an even bigger impact. As it stands though, a really great reason why Wu-Tang ain't nothing to fuck with.

Great solo album from the clan man

Great album

One of my favourite unheard hip hop albums so far. Doesn't sound like he takes himself too seriously but hits hard all the same. Lots of solid features but surprisingly the Ne Yo hook was my favourite - especially loved Kanye's verse on the remix. Can definitely hear where Action Bronson gets his style from. The Bad Mouth Kid skit was hilarious.

Cinematic and dense. I need to listen to this again, I feel like I missed so much. The beats just felt so groovy and vital as well.

Wu Tang Forever

Ok

i don't really think i understand how to appreciate hiphop but this has an energy....a lifeblood running through it.

good album, can’t go wrong with wu tang

I like the style and flow. Enjoyable hip-hop/r&b variant of rap, with creativity, color and an attitude.

Miles better than the Raekwon album, IMO. I don’t know what makes “9 Milli Bros.” anything other than just a Wu Tang song, but I ain’t complaining. I would absolutely listen to this again.

This is a great album from start to finish. Ghostface is always great, and this is hands-down his best album.

Impressive!

Great production, overall a great listen and def up there with one of my fav hip hop albums of all time. RAGU slaps.

Mucho flow, más de lo que puedo procesar... por ahí caché letras bastante buenas, creo que el disco suena bien en conjunto y las colaboraciones son muy chidas. Especialmente me gustaron "The Champ", "Three Bricks" y el remix (con la familiar voz de Kanye) de "Back Like That". 8/10

Wasn't familiar with this (so much wu tang catalogue), but loved it.

Pretty good, I like the beats but it was long and had a bunch of boring skits. 8

This is real good. Three Bricks is an awesome closing track

Every rap album on here seems to be by a member of the Wu Tang Clan and takes about a day to listen to. This one, though, is the best. Great use of smoky soul samples, skits that actually add to the proceedings, and a genuinely brilliant couple of tracks in The Champ and Back Like That. Gonna use The Champ to get myself psyched into a killer mentality before playing badminton with my work colleagues

This album is completely out of my normal wheelhouse of rock/punk/emo, but I loved it. I wish there were less skits, but they come with the territory I guess.

Es que siento que no tengo las suficientes herramientas para la apreciación de este género. Diría que pasó sin pena ni gloria. Está okay para un ratito, pero sí me pesó una hora. Me gustaron Kilo, The Champ, y Underwater que tiene un instrumentación chidilla. Heart Street Directions es muy cagada. Mood: "it's kinda wet down there" lol

Love this album. Could still do with trimming down a bit

Not normally my thing but enjoyed that added couple of songs to my favourites.

8/10 a lot of good tracks on here, great beats and samples. i think it's a little overly long.

Liked it.

Shite at the beginning Good decent Got slower Got bored

Disco desigual, las canciones más populares creo que son las más culeras. Es mejor The Supreme Clientele. ¿Cuál es el criterio para elegir los discos? En fin. Aún así, como es tan largo, tiene chingos de rolas chidas.

great production, good flow but iffy lyrics in places... would rather mr killah spat rhymes about the benefits of recycling so knocking it down a star until he makes that change

This was actually great. Very funky / soulful. Not very Wu-Tang. Didn't catch many lyrics on first listen, but lots of effing and jeffing. Terrible skits though.

Yeah

Really enjoyed it, Ghostface a legend

buena primera escuchada jajaja me aburri un poco escuchando pero es wea mia pq si el disco es muy largo me da lata fdajkadjkf

A very solid and lyrically rich rap album. 8.0/10

Man, I listened the hell out of this back in 2006. Kilo has a great, great hook and I didn't remember anything else about the rest of the album. But I think pretty much every song on this is a gem.

Jesus this album was dope. I haven't really listened to any rap album before, and initially I wasn't that into it, but I gave myself some time and went for a promenade in the rain with this album and and felt it very much. Every now and then I wasn't that into a song, but overall it was tremendous. It definitely feels like a complete work and the songs work together. Amazing.

Great lyricism. Solid RZA production.

Ghostface Killah is peerless on this album of grimy storytelling and verbal dexterity. His taste is impeccable,with beats from underground heroes J Dilla (RIP) and MF Doom (RIP), old school innovator Pete Rock and chart topper Just Blaze. The samples are sublime - the old soul tracks gives the album a cohesion often lacking in other rappers’ efforts. If Ghostface isn’t the GOAT then he damn near gets close to claiming the crown with this record.

A high quality rap album with great rhymes and beats. The album flows through from beginning to end and it's hard not to bop your head to the beat. I thought I wouldn't like it from the first song/skit, but it drew me in and I enjoyed it until the end.

This was really really good and lyrical with amazing percussion and flow. But man the jokes are really cringe.

My type of music. Definitely some favourite yracks