Fishscale

not for me

super hard-hitting, aged well, overall very fun and great rapping performances. this goes hard. 8/10

Not what I would normally listen to but I enjoyed it thought it was very good

A solid 3 from me. I was listening to Brother Ali a bit at this time and I got a similar vibe from this. My hip-hop friend called this 'New York' and I can see that distinction. This didn't really impress me in any way but I would be happy to hear it again if someone put it on and might recognize some of it also.

The more I listen to music, the more I realize that the classic vinyl 40-minute format makes the most sense for compilation-style albums. I don't have anything against longer records, but I think that if the required time commitment exceeds 40-45 minutes, the album needs to justify it (like having an overarching narrative/some other sort of progression, or a lot of variety). An hour of standalone songs is just a bit too long for me. And it's not like the songs here are impressive. Don't get me wrong, they're pretty good overall, but aside from The Champ, none of them are all that memorable. I would rather artists make shorter releases but focus more on quality. And interludes... Don't, just don't. 7/10

Pretty, pretty cool all round. Killah has an excellent flow, and there's shades of Arrested Development or even De La Soul in the backing. There's a ceiling to the score, because this woke white kid doesn't like hearing the N word, even if it's being reclaimed in rap. But regardless, this is a fun and funky album.

This was a pretty impressive listen. A lot of really catchy songs and good uses of features and skits. Pretty badass all around. It'd have been nice itlf there was a bit more variety song to song and less dependence on J Dilla samples but I'll definitely go back again. 3.7/5 -> 4/5

Orders of magnitude better than the near-unlistenable 36 Chambers. Here, we see Ghostface Killah's evolution into a hip-hop artist who actually knows how to place interesting instrumental loops behind his vocal. The rapping itself is not great, with Mr Killah having a pretty standard voice for the genre and the overuse of expletives leaving little room for lyrical creativity. But that's a problem with all post-1990 rap. And, like most of the genre, I've learned to mostly tune out the lead vocal, because there's nothing interesting to find there. The little I gleaned from this album was glorification of gang and drug culture, which I'm not a fan of. 9 Milli Bros, Kilo, Underwater, and most others highlight these themes in a stark spotlight. I have to give a shoutout to Jellyfish for having the most obviously terrible lyrics on the album. (I'd give an example here, but the entire song is at fault.) What of the music, the compositions, themselves? The album starts off pretty well in that regard, with the non-skit consecutive songs Shakey Dog / Kilo / The Champ / 9 Milli Bros actually making an enjoyable run of tracks. I've gotten used to the muted, "radio"-ish quality to hip-hop production from this era and it's used skilfully on the horns in Shakey Dog and The Champ. Lots of head nodding from this guy. The light guitar picking, backing vocals (especially in the chorus – it's darn memorable), and saxes in Kilo are also great. The choruses of Back Like That involves singing by Ne-Yo, which is also pretty fire. It's no wonder that this song was the biggest hit off the album, and that Ne-Yo would go on to be a much more successful artist than Dennis Ghostface. 2/5 Key tracks: Shakey Dog, Back Like That, Three Bricks

Overall pretty good. Hard to find a bad rap record on this list. I still prefer Kendrick generally, but I think record has really good flow.

WOW I could smell Staten Island Excellent

Cons Overlong, skits, overly sweary. Pros Well produced. Sime of is more Kanye than Wu-Tang. Meh

1. clyde - 0 2. dog - 1 3. kilo - 1.5 4. champ - 0 5. major - 0 6. broz - 1 7. jackzon - 0 8. heart - 0 9. ragu - 1 10. mouth - 0 11. uuhip - 1.5 12. back - 1 13. eazy - 1 14. doom - 0 15. jelly - 1 16. uuar - 1.5 17. barber - 0 18. zuueet - 0 19. girl - 1 20. uuater - 0 21. ironman - 0 22. momma - 1 23. brickz - 0

Tiene su onda. Igual, no soy nada fan del género pero no me la pasé mal.

Didn’t enjoy the skit interludes. Very, very angry album. Not my bag.

album by wu tang band member Favorite track: Champ other picks: 9 million bros, be easy, momma

Känn mi gar nüd uus i däm Musig-Genre. Natürli sind Eastside/Westside Usenandersetzig und dUshängeschilder vo de entsprächende Labels en Begriff. Spannend, wie sich d Lieder extrem verändered je nach Colab. Shakey Dog findi s beschte Lied. S ganze Album isch doch sehr kreativ.

shakey dog isch seehr geil ich lieb en hiphop beat mit changes. aso de beat wechslet irgendwie noch 16 täkt uf en andere akkord und s het uhuere effekt. kilo au wieder insaane beat. ok und er cha au reime. wiso bruchts zwüsched jedem song en skit? ha immerno freud ade beats. the champ au hammer. han irgendwie nöd d energie zum mega uf de text lose. 9 milli bros goht etz glaaaub um pistole hä? jo ok au wieder harde beat halt. und au mega en posse track jede macht vier bars und verpisst sich wieder. machts nöd kohärenter defür abwechsligsriich. back like that isch die art r&b woni nöd mag. be easy bumpt uhuuere clipse of doom au wieder harde beat, aber cha etz mit de ziit nüm soo viel mit dem ganze afange. oke s reims alles uf e da isch schono hard. jede rapper wo finnicky imne song brucht findi recht cool. heter etz uf jellyfish gmacht dasch cool. barbershop isch au wieder afoch en skit, die nerved mi langsam. ich check wölle immersiv sii und so aber sie verlängered s album sooo fest. und de effekt vo zerst tönts wie usme radio und denn hesch die voll bandbreiti funktioniert au nöd meh als 3-4 mol ufme album und wird huere schnell usglutscht. waaaaass biggie uf three bricks huere crazy. he ich glaub es isch e starks 3 oder es schwachs vier. scho z lang und mit de ziit chli streng. aber au meeega geili beats uhuere gueti reim und easy guets storytelling.

hammer skit moll hahaha ich faste mal min seatbelt, danke fürd warnig! najaaa rhe champ findi de beat sehr cool aber s passiert chli vill find de flow woner het cool aber s blibt iwie wenig hänge heart street😃 ragu het seehr en geile beat! hahah whip you with a strap isch seehr cool damn back like that richtig schön? hä entweder gets bim album en switch geh oder bi mier oder beides, uf jede fall fühlis jz easy! jz wieder chli aggr jellyfish sehr komisch sber ich hans na gern? ja wie so hüfig isches eifach viiill z lang ja am ahfang hanis nöd würkli gern gha, nach einige lieder hets aber klick gmacht iwie. füres 4i langeds aber nöd, désolé

I've liked most of the hip hop albums on this list so far, but this one was just okay. Too many skits (not a fan of those) and a lot of the songs were average. The Champ is a banger though, remember that one from WWE SvR 2007 video game.

Action Bronson definitely stole the guy's voice. I loved a couple songs but hated most of them. RAGU and Be Easy have such solid beats that you can say pretty much anything and it would sound good. That being said, I didn't care for Ghostface's flow in general. It felt like he said a lot without saying much somehow. It's a difficult one to rate for me.

this man can fucking rap damn

Impossibly too long

Not much of a rap connoisseur, but I would be way more into hip hop if this was the standard. Great production, lyrically interesting, love the cameos, and even the skits didn't bother me. If this was a few tracks shorter it would make it a little more solid.

не, ну пиздатый нигга-репчик, мне нравки

Nonstop rap onslaught Of comic absurdities On tight, sampled beats

has some bangers tbh

Listened to the edited version by choice instead. Didn’t care for the skits.

3.5*

lmao no

Really enjoyed this. Some pretty catchy aspects I wasn't expecting.

Album wasn’t for me, but I can see how someone who is in to R’n’B would enjoy it. Not bad!

I can see there's talent here but it's nothing I can listen to.

Bufff, este pese a durar lo mismo que el otro se me ha hecho mucho más largo. Me gusta Wu-Tang y gran parte de la producción está chula, pero el gangsta rap de este palo no me suele gustar y este es un caso claro. No me parece nada destacable y me he aburrido demasiado para que me parezca decente. Canción destacada: Back Like That

Hip hop continues to not really be my thing. But this was enjoyable for many tracks. The skits are all bad. It’s also WAY too long. However theres some good stuff here. 3/5

Unc the album

Fairly nice to hear some still melodic rap. Fun soundscapes .

Boy there are some big names attached to this album but it just doesn't seem to hit the spot for me. Goes to prove that you can't get it right all the time.

this is my kind of hip hop

Not sure Fishscale qualifies as an album that needs to be heard prior to one's expiring, but it's solid hip-hop.

Really liked this album and I'm sorry I had no previous GK or Wu Tang knowledge previously. The samples are really good and the album is propulsive from beginning to end.

I loved this shit, Ghost is what I think about when I think New York rap. The beats are just ridiculous- there's legendary producers all over this album. There's so much swing and samples arent chopped in a way that things always feel perfect. Its right up my alley. This hits on like 2 different layers of nostalgia. The worst parts of this album were the skits and the features. Raekwon holds his own most of the time, Method absolutely kills his one appearance, and Dirt's spot is perfect, but almost no one else could hang in the pocket on some of this weird stuff like Ghost. Not counting the skits, I didn't love 1/3 of the songs, but I liked them, the other 2/3 I loved. There's a 5 star album in there that's maybe about 45 minutes long, but as a whole I'd give this a 4.6

Dope album. Who am I to give notes to Ghostface Killah?

Starting this album with "Shakey Dog" and "Kilo" is diabolical. The lyrics are incredible and the beats are outrageous. Throw in "The Champ" as the third song, and it's off and running. Unfortunately, these three set the tone for the album and it can't really keep the pace or recover. I lost interest pretty quickly. I hate hate hate the early aughts pattern of rappers throwing in unfunny skits in between songs...just give me the music. As much as I love Ghostface - probably in my top 2 or 3 of Wu-Tang, I'm a little unimpressed with this album as a whole. If the tracklist was moved around and the skits were dropped, it'd be a 4.....as it stands, 3.5 rounding down. Footnote: "Kilo" might have one of the greatest samples ever: https://youtu.be/XMOp7YXYqvc?si=9AYPQfdINDPYaO5W

Was good but like, really sexist? Also there was a lot of singing about dicks

Old school hip hop album for all fans who like rhymes.

It’s ok

Great beats, great bars. There's not much else to say.

Ghostface Killah's music can be quite challenging. Sometimes when I listen to it, I find it incredibly captivating, while other times I don’t enjoy it almost at all. There isn't much wrong with this album overall, but I wish there were more standout tracks. I feel that the skits are unnecessary almost by default. I would give this a 3, and it was likely the last time I listened to this.

Not really my thing but its ok. best bits are the samples and bits of old songs they nicked. all a bit misogynistic, gangsta and all about the cash which is very much not my vibe. sort of thing that 'cool' wanna be gansta's would make/listen to.

I love east coast hip hop and I can honestly say that this is one of the best hip hop albums from the east coast ever.

“‘Round the world today, the kilo is a measure, A kilo is one thousand grams - it’s easy to remember“ This is exactly the sort of wholesome educational content that the youth of America needs to hear more of.

The Wu Tang boys have some good names, don’t they? This one is up there but it’s no Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Vibed to this one. Simpsons: Do Wu Tang references count? Maybe.

It was alright but I didn't get into it enough for a higher score.

I honestly couldn't understand what he was saying at the start. It sounded like he was having a stroke. I don’t get the skits and don't see a need for them; these only add extra time to an already too-long album. I would rather eat the scales of 100 fish than have to listen to this again.

I kinda liked it, the skits were fun and the music was good but it didn't do a lot for me.

A kilo is a thousand grams, that’s easy to remember. “R.A.G.U” has a great beat, love the way it fades out at the end. “Whip You with a Strap” was too real. The last two songs are probably the best. Overall, I like hip-hop in general but the lyrics, I can not approve of.

Didn’t know of this album before, the cover made me expect an average album but it was better than I expected. Still not my cup of tea though.

Normally I don't enjoy rap made after I was a teenager, and it's usually the lyrics that turn me off. You'd think an album with E for explicit on every song would immediately bias me against it, and it kind of did at first, especially that first skit (ugh), but damn if the music here isn't bombastic and entertaining as hell. It even has some tracks that are actually catchy to my ear, which is rare for rap. I liked it.

A few cracking tracks on here amidst some mediocrity

Not a rap fan but this was ok

A big return to form by Ghostface, I remember this coming out and listening to it. So many great songs here, though long it doesn’t weigh the entirety of the album down.

Propulsive beats assembled from infectious high energy soul/RnB samples. The vocals are top tier - it's rip roaring raps with an emphasis on storytelling verses, tight word-play, funny lines, and great images from an all star cast of Wu-Tang affiliates. Full of drama, vision, and powerful vignettes, but nothing super catchy in terms of memorable choruses/hooks - a bit overlong too, this is a prestige TV series of an album. Favorites: Shakey Dog, 9 Milli Brothers, Back Like That

Lacks the texture and density of earlier hip-hop, and it's a tad too long, but Fishscale makes up for it by attracting a who's-who of hip-hop stars and progressing the form ever-so-slightly.

This is #day147 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this is how I learned that Ghostface Killah is a member of Wu-Tang Clan, a group I’ve never really listened to. I know Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and its place on this list, but somehow, it never was on my radar. My teenage hip-hop phase was more about Eminem, some 50 Cent, and a little Dr. Dre... I also enjoyed some alternative hip-hop like Fort Minor and still do. As for this album, it was kind of okay, but it felt too long, even for a rap record. Not sure it'll be something I revisit, though I can try to appreciate its place in the early '00s hip-hop context. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day148.

kalapaliikki.. Hän käskee heti kiinnittää turvavyöt, mitä arvostan, koska olen kyllästynyt kuuntelemaan rap-albumeja, jotka eivät välitä kuuntelijan henkilökohtaisesta turvallisuudesta. hei hei olen ghostface killeri.. anna mulle pippeli tai syötän sulle pilleri. hei katsellaan kalojen suomuja, mutta en voikkaan koska tuollapäin uomia... heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii .. jee.... jeee....... heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii ... skrrt... yea... yea... heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii heitä biittii shakey dog

It has a few decent tracks...would put it somewhere between a 2.5 and a 3

This album was really good. Too long though, and could have used fewer skits.

Like the music and flow, no denying his talent, the coke dealing street life, it’s not my world though and It’s akin to watching a movie, enjoyed but not likely to go back again.

Fishscale was my first real dive into Ghostface Killah’s solo work — I’ve only heard one Wu-Tang album before this — and going in blind turned out to be the best way to experience it. From the jump, this album is immersive, detailed, and sonically rich. The Dolby Atmos mix really brings it to life — the beats hit hard, the samples are layered perfectly, and Ghost’s voice cuts through with clarity and weight. The artist features are top-tier: Raekwon delivers as always, and unexpected appearances from Ne-Yo, Ice Cube, and even Ye add variety without stealing the spotlight. Ghostface holds it all together with his storytelling — “Whip You with a Strap” and “Momma” in particular feel like vivid scenes from a movie, personal and raw without ever dragging. The production is fantastic throughout. I loved the use of Biggie samples, especially on “Back Like That” — it gave off Song Cry vibes until I realized it was directly nodding to it. There’s a real sense of craft behind the sampling, not just nostalgia. “Shakey Dog” opens the album with a bang — intense narrative, killer beat — and “Champ” keeps the momentum with an energetic, funky intro that feels like vintage soul dipped in street grit. But the highlight for me? “Clipse of Doom.” That track is a monster. The energy, the flow, the instrumental — everything clicks. There’s no filler on Fishscale. It’s sharp, consistent, and packed with personality. As a first-time listener of Ghostface solo work, I couldn’t be more impressed. Five stars, easy. Now I’m wondering what took me so long. Favorite song: "Clipse of Doom"

I like Ghostface but this album is mid. 3/5

Decent. Made me revisit some Wu Tang :)

I’m not much of a rap hip hop guy. Wi tang ain’t nothing to mess with

This was a pleasant surprise. Everything about this screamed 1 star rating to me: the name of the album, the album art, the genre,... However I quiet enjoyed this. If it wasn't this long I would've probably given it a 4 star rating.

"Fishscale" is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. The album follows an organized crime theme and is named after a term for uncut cocaine. Appearances on the album include every member of the Wu-Tang Clan and Theodore Unit. There were 13 different producers including MF Doom, Pete Rock, J Dilla and Just Blaze. The album had universal acclaim with critics citing its cohesiveness, lyricism and production. Commercially, the album hit #4 on the US Charts and #174 in the UK. After a brief skit, "Shakey Dog" opens the album in a dramatic way. A repetitive sample of Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon's "Love is Blue." Killah comes in authoritatively as he describes a bank robbery gone wrong. The funk helped by the samples is brought on "Kilo." Wu-Tang member Raekwon joins in. Whoever has the kilo is the candyman. "The Champ" has a guitar riff and drum sample from Melvin Bliss' "Synthetic Substitution." Best yet, we get to a guy who sounds like Mr. T. The members of Wu-Tang Clan takes turns on the mic in "9 Milli Bros." MF Doom produced the song which also samples his "Fenugreek." They take turns dropping bodies. A gunshot ends the song. Ne-Yo helps to bring the soul on "Back Like That." A piano sample of Willie Hutch's "Baby Come Home" He's kicking her out for cheating on him. "Be Easy" features Trife of the Theodore Unit. Great rhyming and sampling of the Sylvers' "Stay Away Fom Me." Gansta talk. This is solid hip hop album and a big album at that with 27 songs. Most of the songs are gantsa and drug-themed although there are several songgs about relationships and urban living. There is a variety of styles (funky, soulful, 60's pop) seemingly based on the song samples and producers. I am curious on his Iron Man and Sponge Bob fascinations. Overall top-shelf production for sure. This is another Wu-Tang Clan member album that's worth your time.

Not my jam. I liked the sound of some of the songs, e.g. Big Girl, Three Bricks, with the strings and horns behind the rapping, but I didn't like the rapping itself. The meter, rhymes, and subject matter were not appealing to me. Reading the wikipedia page, I seem to have missed the narrative complexity of the album.

everything a girl didnt know she needed

Not my genre, but a pretty fun album

It was fine. Have heard better hip hop from this list, but didn't hate it.

Not sure what to say here. Not my bag but seemed good for what it was?

This was fun. Great beats, great features. Love love J Dilla “Donuts” should be on this list if it isn’t. Its a 3 for me because as a whole it was long and the songs that didn’t hook me were hard to get through. I also am just not a fan of skits/long intros of talking

Dope 💨 🤟

Annoying

Not my style

Enough with Tony Stark

This was a really fun rap album! I loved the theme, the vocals and the rhythm... I'm giving it 4 stars!

Not for me

It has a few good songs, but it drags for too long IMO.

Could be the greatest rap / hip-hop album of all-time but the whole "skit" thing is just baffling to me. Some cool tracks here, but just can't get my head around this particular structure of album.

My approach to hip hop, either I love it or hate it I hated this one

Meh. It wasn’t terrible, but it definitely didn’t hook me at all.

Kilo, hit me with the strap and that skit with the sweary kid caught my attention. Jellyfish was solid too, lots of little references there. And three bricks is such a great closer. Still lots of the others were forgettable 3/5

The Return of Clyde Smith (skit) n/a Shakey Dog 3 Kilo 2.8 The Champ 2.8 Major Operation (skit) n/a 9 Milli Bros. 3 Beauty Jackson 2.7 Heart Street Directions (skit) n/a Columbus Exchange (skit) Crack Spot 2.7 R.A.G.U. 2.9 Bad Mouth Kid (skit) n/a Whip You With a Strap 2.9 Back Like That 3 Be Easy 3.1 Clipse of Doom 3.1 Jellyfish 3 Dogs of War 3 Barbershop 2.8 Ms. Sweetwater (skit) n/a Big Girl 3.1 Underwater 2.8 The Ironman Takeover (skit) n/a Momma 2.7 Three Bricks 3.2 Be Easy (Remix) 3 Back Like That (Remix) 3.1 Score: 2.935

No. Just no.

There are a lot of great rappers out there and ghostface killa is a great one. Amazing MC and one of the best in the Wu. Although not as good as a wu-tang album because its the same voice and similar flow and style of that era a few great tracks that were surprising but not many. Found this time around the beats are pretty repetitive and lacking cuts to make them more dynamic. Some good sampling well thought and on the dot. Very good album maybe one of the best wu-tang members solo project but still the wu-tang goat was method man as a rapper and RZA as a producer Remember most stuff is temporary but wu-tang is 4ever

Super creative beats on this, especially the MF Doom ones.

It didn't sound bad but it just didn't grab me for whatever reason

There were a few moments I enjoyed, but overall this was just not for me. My standout: The Champ

Of all of the rap albums I've heard so far from this list, this might have some of the best damn beats. So many shout-outs to the producers Ghostface got for this thing — up to and including MF DOOM and J Dilla! Which, yeah, true, their contributions came from previously released albums (DOOM's SPECIAL HERBS series and Dilla's DONUTS, respectively), but still, they're good-ass beats, and regardless I'm glad they still get to be on this list in some small way. So that's me complimenting what I mostly get out of rap albums: the beats. What about the actual rapping, though? Well, to begin with, compared to the last Wu MC we got, I like Ghostface better than GZA. I like his voice better, I think his flow and lyricism is more interesting... All of that. I actually wanted to pay attention to him, unlike GZA. Now, my problem with the album: its subject matter can get a little tiresome to my ears. Like, yeah, it's a concept album with an organized crime theme, and I've heard that that's Ghostface's thing, so it's not like I wasn't expecting it. It's just that, after an **hour** of it... I'unno, I jus' got a little bored by it. There's only so much you can say about dealing drugs before I begin to lose interest. But I don't think it's really a huge problem, honestly. The beats and the way the vocals interact with them were enough to carry me through, even after I stopped paying attention to the lyrics. And I **did** last longer than I thought I would, so... Hey, y'know? Still, however, I feel like it's enough to ding this album down to a 4. It really was almost there, but... Ahh. Blame my usual preference towards albums under 60 minutes, I guess. At any rate, I'm just glad I got to hear these DOOM and Dilla beats. I wish they coulda been on this list proper instead of being relegated to this album, but, eh, whatever. I'll take what I get, and what I got is pretty dang good. Of all of the rap albums I've heard so far from this list, this might have some of the best damn beats. So many shout-outs to the producers Ghostface got for this thing — up to and including MF DOOM and J Dilla! Which, yeah, true, their contributions came from previously released albums (DOOM's SPECIAL HERBS series and Dilla's DONUTS, respectively), but still, they're good-ass beats, and regardless I'm glad they still get to be on this list in some small way. So that's me complimenting what I mostly get out of rap albums: the beats. What about the actual rapping, though? Well, to begin with, compared to the last Wu MC we got, I like Ghostface better than GZA. I like his voice better, I think his flow and lyricism is more interesting... All of that. I actually wanted to pay attention to him, unlike GZA. Now, my problem with the album: its subject matter can get a little tiresome to my ears. Like, yeah, it's a concept album with an organized crime theme, and I've heard that that's Ghostface's thing, so it's not like I wasn't expecting it. It's just that, after an **hour** of it... I'unno, I jus' got a little bored by it. There's only so much you can say about dealing drugs before I begin to lose interest. But I don't think it's really a huge problem, honestly. The beats and the way the vocals interact with them were enough to carry me through, even after I stopped paying attention to the lyrics. And I **did** last longer than I thought I would, so... Hey, y'know? Still, however, I feel like it's enough to ding this album down to a 4. It really was almost there, but... Ahh. Blame my usual preference towards albums under 60 minutes, I guess. At any rate, I'm just glad I got to hear these DOOM and Dilla beats. I wish they coulda been on this list proper instead of being relegated to this album, but, eh, whatever. I'll take what I get, and what I got is pretty dang good.

Wu-Tang Clan still ain't nothin' to fuck with, and this solo album is no exception. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump back down to a 4, but it was pretty close to going up to a 5, This is my second time hearing anything Wu-Tang related, after Liquid Swords – Ghostface Killah is pretty damn good, man. His verses and storytelling on this album are really good, and the obvious highlight. When he passes it off to the features, they’ve got high bars to reach, and only a handful of them do on this album; all the Wu-Tang members get there pretty easily, and the big surprise, for me, is Ne-Yo absolutely killing it on “Back Like That”. The reason for this getting a 4 is simply in the skits; there’s so many of them that just kill the pacing of the album for me at times. Even a few tracks without the (skit) moniker are sort of just glorified ones, in a way, getting in one short verse. Those tracks sort of ruin the cohesiveness of the album, even if a number of them do flow pretty well into the main tracks. Past that, the production on this album, despite the absolutely loaded contributions from MF DOOM, J. Dilla, Pete Rock, and others, is… a little suspect at times. It feels like some of the flows on some of the tracks didn’t quite mesh well, and the overall vision of the album, sort of driven by the storytelling device of the kilo of cocaine set so early on, feels a bit lost and muddled over the course of the whole thing. It feels like there was meant to be a more cohesive plot here, given the amount of skits and setups for future tracks, but a lot of them feel unanswered and sort of left me… befuddled, I guess. With that said, what’s here is still really good – when this album is rolling, it’s fucking *rolling*, and it succeeds in spite of my perceived flaws and nitpicks. I do think there are ways to improve upon what’s here, namely trimming down some of the “fat” of the album to cut down the runtime, and to more cohesively flow the whole together without the minor comic book, DOOM-esque narrative transitions (which are cool, but just feel a little out of place here with how short they are), but as a whole, this is just a great hour of good beats, good flows, and for 2006, it’s got pretty damn fun wordplay and some great verses. Certainly stands up there with some of its contemporaries for the time. It's a very good 4.5 that just barely doesn't get up to a 5.

So smooth.

I have to say I’m shocked. I’ve never been a huge fan of Wu-tang clan, and the solo projects have also been a little underwhelming and same-y. However, this album was so freaking good. Like the Peter Gabriel album earlier, this album is probably a 9/10, but because of how much it shocked me I’m going 5 stars.

Ihan mukiin menevä, mutta ei sillai järistyttävä 3/5

Räbälinja jatkuu. Keskimäärin vähän kädenlämpöiseksi jää kyllä tämä.

I thought this was really good. Funny, with a storyline, and all the rapping was top-notch.

Did not finish. I guess I liked it musically but. I know rap is misogynistic but it was just a lil hard to listen to.

I was not excited for this. But it turns out that the day you find out Trump is going back into office is a good day for some angry rap. But god I hate the “skits” in between. Maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention or something but they’re never good on any album.

First listen of a Ghostface Killah album. Produced fairly well and has good musical diversity throughout. Unnecessary shit ton use of the N-word though which got a bit old. Great storytelling otherwise.

Two solo efforts from Wu-Tang Clan members in the span of 3 days - it’s almost a repeat of what happened with the Beastie Boys a week ago. But it at least gave me a point of reference, as I’m not too big a fan of Wu-Tang Clan, nor was I too hot on Method Man’s debut when it generated 2 days ago (although I still liked it overall). This album, though? I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. This is somewhat of a concept album, as every song hits you with a theme of crime. Almost like Ghostface came up with 20+ screenplays for modern, completely off-the-wall, gangster movies and managed to gather a plethora of other artists and producers to join in and “guest star” in them; Wu-Tang Clan themselves, Ne-Yo, Trife da God, Theodore Unit, Megan Rochell, B.I.G, Ice Cube, and MF Doom. It’s legitimately an impressive list of all-stars. Ghostface, much like Method Man on his debut, isn’t the most technically amazing rapper out there. But he makes up for it with lyrics that speak at you with a raw honesty - and sometimes the most absurd humour. But where this album really shines is in just how eclectic it is. Ghostface is working with a wide range of producers and the tracklist is just layers upon layers of samples and instrumentation of different genres being placed over fundamentally great hip hop beats. From contemporary jazz, light rock, piano based pop, R&B, orchestral backdrops, and funk. I was honestly worried when I saw the sheer amount of tracks on offer - but the variety in styles helps to keep it engaging as hell. So while it is a slightly bloated LP, it is never boring. I had a really good time with this one. The concept, the lyrics, the production, and the variety of styles all combine to make this one of the stronger hip hop albums I have come across on the generator so far. It almost makes one want to check out the group efforts of Wu-Tang Clan; as I may have dismissed them too harshly. I don’t know. Either way, ‘Fishscale’ is a must listen for any fan of the genre. 4/5

Я не фанат хип-хоп жанра, но Ghostface Killah меня удивил. Довольно хорошая читка, сэмплы неплохо подобраны и скомпонованы в композициях, в текстах чувствуется искренность пережитого опыта, хоть и тематика меня не сильно привлекает. Но половина альбома прям совсем не зашла, так как было меньше ритма, очень много треков, скитов и проходняков, как по мне. Наличие и качество скитов в альбоме вызывает сомнения. Некоторые из них довольно хороши, но их как будто слишком много, музыкальной ценности они почти не представляют, но неплохо раскрывают темнокожую жизнь. Отдельно хочу отметить чувство ритма MC, как в компоновке семплов и подборе общего ритма, так и в читке. Отдельно для себя отметил треки The Champ, Kilo, Whip You With A Strap

Not a fan of rap but I liked the backing music and samples. Didn’t enjoy the subject matter.

First of all, not my jam. But did have some energy and interesting hooks that rose this effort above others that I've heard in this genre. Gives it a bonus point...

Core Memory: Senior year of college I wrote an 18 page paper on the arapaima on one Sunday because it was due the following Monday. I was on weed and Adderall but I sat in one spot and banged that shit out listening to Fishscale and More Fish by Ghostface. Lots of favorites on this one: Back Like That (Remix), Kilo, RAGU, Big Girl, and Three Bricks. Top 3 Ghostface solo records

Great album !

The production and beats on this album are immaculate. I don't think I'll ever really become a Wu-Tang fan, but this is probably the best one I've heard so far. I might return to this album again later just based on the beats Standouts The Champ R.A.G.U Clipse of Doom 4/5

5/5 for beats, hooks, themes, verses, and features

I really don’t understand the appeal of the lame ass interlude. Why do so many hip hop albums wedge this shit into their records? It’s never worth it. Like, bitch, I’m here for your music. I don’t want to hear your friends mumbling over shitty sound effects. Please kill this trend. This record is alright. There are a few fun tracks. Some is a bit same-y. Some songs are nicely mixed. Others are annoying. Mostly, it’s just kind of average. Nothing all that special. It’s frustrating. I keep waiting for it to kick off or something, but it’s just not getting there. There’s a lot of potential, but not much payoff.

Wu-Tang Clan forever.

The crazy amount of features on this one kind of saved it, because Ghostface's style is a bit much for me

Good flows, sick beats, some decent lyricism but also some dated references and obviously the sexism. As far as rap goes this is pretty good.

Not my cup of tea.

Really good!

Another day, another Wu-tang clan album. Fishscale is my second album by a member in this hip-hop group the first being Liquid Swords by GZA and unfortunately, this album doesn't hit the highs that one hit. The production, like the last album, was actually pretty good for the most part with some pretty funky beats and samples that were well put together even if they weren't as interesting as Liquid Swords'. The main thing that holds this one back though is the lyrics which are often the same format of racial slurs and sexual references. There are some smart lyrics but there are way more dumb ones which make the 60 minute runtime seem a little long. This album is not bad but not up to the standard of the other Wu-tang clan member album i have looked at. Best Song: Be Easy Worst Song: Whip You With A Strap

I don’t like this genre nor the language. He can’t carry a tune when trying to actually sing.

Too many curse words you don’t need to curse so much

I just don’t get it. You grew up slinging drugs, kept slinging drugs, started rapping bout slinging drugs and banging a bunch of chicks. WoW aReN’t YoU cOoL. Am I supposed to respect you because of this? Cause I don’t. Also why are all the trashy rap albums unnecessarily long?

can't get past lyrics-so much violence, demeaning treatment of women, language. and musically it's very one dimensional. nope, nope, nope

I kind of have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand I really don't like the violent and misogynistic lyrics on this album. On the other hand, I love how this album sounds. It flows so well and the rhymes are good. Musically, it's a very fun album to listen to. Some of the skits were kind of funny too. I think I'd give this a 3.5 but I'll round it up to 4.

Wu Tang is forever! This was a cool album. Its rough, raw, and a bit heavy with the lyrics and song elements. I really love how it flows and rolls though. The beats, dubs and samples are all really digestible. Lyrics are definitely on the heavy side tackling social issues, sexism, racism, drugs, etc. I really love this style of rap though. Its self reflective, first person storytelling and fun to have on.

A few standouts. Probably with a closer listen I would get more from it so might come back to it. 6/10

Better than expected!

Rap, 2006 -> 1

Probably like a 3.5 but I’ll round up because there are some bangers in here.

Ghostface Killah got a sense of humor. And a legit album! Shakey Dog is great, the rest of the album is good. Fades a bit and songs get similar by the end, but not bad. Enjoyed the experience. (3.1*s)

This album is decent but runs a bit long. There's a few tracks I recognize and like but a lot of it is also missable. Ghostface has some skill but this isn't an album I would necessarily put on. I do like the piano on "Back Like That" and most well-known to me "Whip You With a Strap." I don't really care for skits in any rap albums and this one's no different. It's better than all the mumble rap and it tells a decent story. 2.55.

Of the Wu-Tang crew, Ghost face is my least fave. That being said, he's still good and shows you the power of the Wu (expect a lister). When GK is amped up his flow sounds too strained, like he's on the brink of throwing a tantrum. I prefer when he slows it down so you can hear the skill. A lot of the album is typical gang-banging but there are also some tracks with deeper meaning, fun skits, great production, and collabs. My fave is the "Bad Mouth Kid" to "Whip You With a Strap" combo. All I all the Killahs killin' it...3.35.

I wouldn't consider myself a rap fan but I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. Ghostface is a little manic but it kinda works. I enjoyed the collaboration with the rest of the Wu Tang clan when they appeared on tracks. 2.68 stars

Another one that is a part of Wu-Tang. I liked it pretty much. It was quite interesting. Not a song sounded the same. Very cool and enjoyable album.

Quite boring hip hop following similar patterns of standard verses followed by high pitched chorus/riff. 2.5

This album is too long but it’s also too good. Whatareyougonnado!?! But seriously this is like the third good to great rap album out of the 500+ albums this list has put up.

Loved it. Dramatic beats, cool lyrics, great guest appearances. Highlights: Shakey Dog, The Champ, Clipse of Doom, Underwater, Three Bricks.

Felt like a Wu Tang album. & Wu Tang is forever.

Cool album, too long though

No thanks

Absolute horse shit

My favorite Wu Tang album I've listened to to date (226 albums into the project). Lots of good tracks here, in particular the sampling leads to a lot of great hooks that I find missing on so many Wu Tang albums. If there were half stars on this I'd give this 3.5.

2006 hiphop had better to offer than this

Kinda Wu tang vibes from this, not much of a fan. Middling 2.

Pretty solid rap. Flow was on point. Way too many skits, I hate those lol.

solid album, wasn’t too long and had some good tracks

I don't have enough of an ear to tell what's special here. That's on me I think and not on Ghostface.

Heart Street Directions was so astonishingly cringe it made me want to vomit. Who listens to this shit? Pure trash, just like 99% of all other "music" of similar genre.

Not my scene, at all.

Doesn't start strong, but boy does the back half hit hard, really good shit here. Unfortunately, it has the run of the mill misogyny (and homophobia if i recall correctly), so it's hard to say I love it.

This is the kind of hip hop I'd discovered when I still listened to hip hop!

Come non conoscitore dell’hip hop i primi album del genere che sono stati proposti erano fresh e una novità e li apprezzavo molto. Ormai mi sembrano tutti uguali

ma sai che c'è? mi è piaciuto. molto meglio di mille altri album hip hop che proprio non capisco, almeno questo, ascoltato da queste mie due orecchie ignoranti quando si parla di rap, si regge in piedi egregiamente.

Albumi #47, 13.09.2024 Wu-Tang Clan -jamppa Ghosface Killahin viides sooloalbumi ilmestyi vuonna 2006.

Slow burner, but really picked up as the album went on. Loved the skits, great flows, sick beats. Overall great.

This was a bit of a blast. Not huge on records full of skits, but it's cool. Favourite tracks: Kilo, 9 Milli Bros, Whip You With A Strap, Back Like That, Clipse of Doom, Back.

I know Ironman and Supreme Clientele but for some reason never got around to Fishscale. As someone from Staten Island, grew up a big Wu-Tang fan. How did I miss this? Definitely will be keeping this in rotation for more listens.

It's fine but the songs all get repetitive really quickly. Lyrics are a bit corny by today's standards. Highlight of the album was the chorus of Kilo. "A kilo is a thousand grams, it's easy to remember." A+ lyrics right there. Best song on the album was "The Champ" but I prefer the extended version without the voiceover.

Favourite song - back like that

Day247 - sucks to call this classic old school rap but it’s so much better than 2024 rap. forget kendrick lamar give me the wu tang clan in the super bowl halftime show

Just ok

Adictivos

Large hip-hop album with a bunch of skits. Was ok. Stand-out: Back Like That (Remix)

Idk why but Ghost’s voice over these beats will never get old, no matter how many times I hear it. Classic voice, classic underrated album and shoutout to Ne-Yo for the classic hook!!

2/5

I nearly gave up on this on track one which was a godawful skit However I’m glad I stuck with it as there are some great songs on this if you skip the skits

Another complete surprise choice for any Top 1000. I know the name, heard a few songs over the years.

This came up in the randomizer in a surprisingly timely fashion. There's a commercial that's been airing during the US Open set to "The Champ", and it's the rare commercial that I want to turn *up* every time it's on. So of course I put the album on a couple of days ago, and of course it holds up. It will rightfully go down as the Last Great Wu-Tang Album, the final major peak of the collective's career of joint and solo records. There's a good chance it's the best album from 2006, even.

There's another coke-rap opus from 2006 I like more than this one, but the fact that I can say "coke-rap opus from 2006" to describe more than one album remains nothing short of incredible. Fuck it, it's a 5.

I don't really like skits, but the beats on this are great Ghostface is probably my favorite from wu tang.

my favorite of the rap records so far

Honestly not the greatest, but has a lot of iconic moments. Ghost is a top 5 rapper in my opinion, so it has to be great, but it's not even his best. Everyone will point at Ironman and Supreme Clientele, but check out bulletproof wallets. Still features great production from some G.O.A.T.s. RIP DILLA , RIP DOOM, RIP ODB, LONG LIVE GHOST and WU TANG FOREVER.

Groupe inconnu. Une vrai purge après mon premier 5 étoiles. Musicalement aucun intérêt, les morceaux sont terriblement répétitifs. Je ne suis pas allé au bout. =>1/5

the skits are goofy ofc but that's pretty much always the case (something to be said for the inanity/levity of the skits in contrast with the heavy narratives of the actual songs—necessary in order to maintain some kind of emotional equilibrium?). i really really liked this, more than i ever would have expected honestly!!! i actually knew "whip you with a strap" from the j dilla album but other than that this was entirely new to me which was exciting too. a lot of solid tracks, engaging lyricism, nice beats...idk what else do you want from a rap album. more like a 4.5 because i hated that ne-yo feature so much. deeply unserious man. fav tracks: shakey dog; kilo; be easy; jellyfish

That was reeeeally good. I usually don't like albums longer than an hour but this felt so quick because of how much variety in the songs there is. The samples and features were great, the skits were entertaining even if a little ridiculous sometimes, and just overall really enjoyable.

The best thing that came out of this album was Heart Street Directions

This one's better than I remember. People really get down with Ghost as a story teller, but songs like "Be Easy" are just straight swagger and so good. I will forever give Ironman five stars, but this one runs a close second or third.

I don’t know that I’ve listened to a Ghostface album. He’s always been a feature on other tracks, but this album isn’t bad! He’s got a really good flow. I could do without all the skit tracks and it’s a bit long, but I enjoyed it.

Alla fine é una questione di gusti.

could not listen - link no good. Get to together!

Ghostface is one of the best to ever do it. This is an excellent record all around.

I was very happy with this, this feels so much more cohesive than other wu tang clan members projects.

More songs about motherfuckers and bitches.

Very explicit. A little conform.

I really tried. Sorry, not my thing at all.

It was pretty good all the way through. There was a lack of variety that did make the whole thing feel a bit labored, but overall it wasn't hard to get through.

When I was a young Killer B, it was all Meth and RZA for me. Age and wisdom have shown me it was Ghostface all along.

Ghostface's flow is still great. I love the references to old school (pre-MCU) Iron Man and general nerdery.

To all the Americans who write reviews about twee British Indie music that they think shouldn't be on the list; this is my version of that. I like a fair amount for rap, but this seems to bring very little to the genre. Boring skits, bitches and hoes, some fair beats. I've heard it before 100 times and don't see the value here.

# 298 : meh! Rap is STILL not my thing. Shakey Dog

Unlistenable

Fishscale is a mixed bag. Despite elite production from Dilla and DOOM, the 24-track runtime feels bloated. Great highlights like "Shakey Dog" and "The Champ" are buried by skits and radio filler and as a complete record it severely lacks the grit and cohesiveness of other solo albums by Wu members like Liquid Swords, Tical, or Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

7/10. Some good, some ok. Added a couple of songs to the playlist.

Any member of the Clan gets an auto bump just because. Another solid effort from one of the Wu Tang. 3.5 maybe a 4

Wu-Tang forever. Great album.

First reaction to a mid 00s rap album that's almost definitely over an hour long is usually oh no. Then I remember Ghostface is Wu Tang so I hope it's going to a funky, well produced and fun album that rewards close listening. And this is! The Champ is an absolute banger. Record goes a bit uncomfy with the 'humour' in the middle but it's still exquisitely produced lol. Ah yeah, Be Easy, remember this one. Similar vibe to The Champ, just pure fun.

Ghost is always a classic in hip hop. One of the few Wu members whose solo records are mostly all quality. I’m more of an Ironman and Supreme Clientele guy myself, but Fishscale has its highlights. Taking production from Dilla and Doom is certainly a couple of those highlights. Guest appearances in full strength too. Solid Ghost record.

Ghostface does a good job creating some interesting stories, and is very talented lyrically. I just feel like the gansta rap thing had kind of run its course by this point, and this one starts to wear out its welcome partway through.

Bangers back to back

I didn't really care for this album.

Some really nice grooves. More diversified and more listenable than other hip hop stuff. But a full hour of hip hop is still too much for me. 🤷‍♂️

This one is full of heavy hitters in every sense of the word, tracks, rappers and producers. Anytime you have MF Doom and J Dilla producing on the same album it’s going to be good. There was a lot to like from this album at the front and back end but I also get the feeling the middle third was phoned in. Songs get more lethargic than anything. The ends more than make up for it though to make for a really solid album.

A mí no me gusta

Some Hip-Hop/Rap again. Usually not my style, but this was fine.

Sick flow.

3.5/5

loved this album. ghost face killah never has had a whack verse or bar in his career.

It's good for what it is, but I just don't care about it.

Op zich wel cool, goede Wu-Tang vibe, maar ook weer niet geweldig, of baanbrekend

Ik had hier zoooooo geen zin in. En ja hoor, meteen begint het geklets weer. Toch is er enige afwisseling, en zowaar dezelfde grap als ooit gemaakt in de Stratemakeropzeeshow: 'Kunt u mij het Drollenpad wijzen? Nou, dan moet u daar de Piessteeg door, dan het Poepjesplein, dan de Lulletjesbrug over en dan Kutjesstraat rechts...' Ghostface Killah is de Aart Staartjes van de hiphop! Probleem: ook dit album is weer veeeeeeel te lang. De begeleiding (of: de collectie gejatte samples) is nog enigzins funky. Dus om nou Frans Bauer op te gaan zetten, da's ook weer zo wat. Een heeeeeel mager tweetje.

Hiervoor kreeg ik Common geserveerd. Ongeveer het tegenovergestelde van de schijf van vandaag. Common was braaf. Dat kunnen we toch niet van Ghostface. Er wordt toch echt teveel getierd. Natuurlijk, hij laat soms merken dat het allemaal een grapje is. Maar wel een heel puberaal grapje dan. Common was heel eentonig. Nu een punt in het voordeel van Ghostface. Want eentonig kunnen we dit niet noemen. Als Wu-Tang-lid ben je wel in het voordeel natuurlijk. Hulptroepen zat. En dan kan er ineens een pop-nummertje als Back Like That tussen staan. Uiteindelijk zijn de losse nummers niet bijzonder goed. Maar is het die afwisseling die het interessant houdt om een keertje te horen.

F* dit, N* dat.. Het begint al gelijk goed. Als Roel al niet bij voorbaat bij de naam van deze artiest was afgehaakt, dan is hij dat wel binnen een minuut na die skit. Spookgezicht laat gelijk horen dat we waarschijnlijk weer een kinderachtig plaatje vol stoerdoenerij en borstklopperij voorgeschoteld krijgen namelijk. Laat ik dus maar niet te veel naar de teksten luisteren en meer naar de flow en de samples. Wie weet dat er dan nog enige plezier aan beleefd kan worden. Spookgezicht staat wel al met 2-0 achter, benieuwd of meneer de moordenah dat nog goed weet te maken in het restant van de uiteraard weer veel te lang durende plaat. De muziek: ik hoor wel aardige samples. De flow is een beetje zoals (Kan)Ye, dus daar is op zich niks mis mee. Er komt een keer een scratch voorbij, een gitaarlickje, een breakbeatje, een basloopje. Ook allemaal niks mis mee. Het is eigenlijk best wel leuk haha. Ik moet toegeven dat ik me er aardig mee vermaak. Er zit echt genoeg muzikaliteit en afwisseling in. En het lijkt ook wel enig plezier uit te stralen. Spookgezicht weet er met zijn Wu-Tang vrienden toch een vermakelijke 3 uit te slepen nog.

What? More unlistenable vulgar misogynistic (c)crap. Racist with no talent.

I have no real way to evaluate if this is a good hiphop album since I am not a fan of hiphop. The gunshot made me flinch since I was outside listening to this. Takeaways: Drugs. Objectifying women. Numerous puzzling references to Tony Stark. I’m sure I just don’t get it.

Killah teki töitä... hyvä..

What a record. Musically perfect end to end - first time listening to it and it blew me away.

Still not my taste

Kilo Be Easy Dogs of War What a great album to hear so many great artists on. I’d consider this a passive listen. Got a good vibe but it didn’t draw my attention too much so I could kinda zone out listening to it

This is the best album of former Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. Great rap album with lots of contributions of famous (Wu-Tang Clan) rappers (Raekwon, Trife, Cappadonna, RZA, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Ol' Dirty Bastard, The Notorious B.I.G.). Some rappers improve with age.

I liked this album. As with 99% of rap albums that indeed skits, they were of course absolute shite. Enjoyable throughout though.

American hip hop shit

Bit of fun eh

This is the kind of hip hop that I have always dismissed. The name "Ghostface Killah" just sounds silly like he's trying too hard to be cool, and the best way I can describe the album cover is that it has a very "shiny" feel to it, which a lot of commercialised hip hop of this era has. But you know what, it's a tad rough around the edges but this goes way harder than I expected. Great flow, great rhyming, and really good social commentary and political messaging that's more than just blindly hating the police.

One of the finest voices in rap. Everything from flow to storytelling is on point.

Was good

As a group or individually wu tang and it’s meme era are the best to ever do it

I enjoyed this album overall, but it's a little uneven. There are a couple of tracks that I didn't think really fit with the rest of the album, but all in all, it was pretty good.

Lot of fillah. Absolutely no Killah.

it’s hard for me to look past how gross and stupid so much of this sounds

Very enjoyable music; not down with messages though.

j dilla and mf doom production on the same album is crazy. over all though it's alright

Interesting, great in places, average in others

fish

It was alright Rating: 2.8

Not really my thing. But Ghostface Killah has a way with building up a narrative that's impressive. Musically it's fairly diverse and moves along at a brisk pace. Way too many skits and short tracks that don't really add value to the album.

Having experience from the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah knows how to make a good album. The MF DOOM produced tracks are sublime. "Fishscale" has a lot of classic guest artists like the rest of Wu-Tang. GK's verses are often brilliant. The skits aren't terrible either. 5 stars for this endeavour.

Mids

Rocky III gets some love. Respect.

Inferior to his counterpart GZA

I can’t relate to this, it’s like music for criminals

Me: ChatGPT, write a positive review of the Ghostface Killah album "Fishscale" in the narrative style of Ghostface Killah's raps. ChatGPT: Yo, yo, yo, check it, check it, yo, This is Ghostface Killah, comin' straight at ya With that Fishscale vibe, yo, listen up! Picture this, yo, it's a cold winter night Streets lit with neon lights, everything's right I pop in Fishscale, let it spin, let it ignite Ghostface on the mic, yo, it's outta sight From track one to the end, it's a lyrical thrill Flow so smooth, it's like I'm movin' in silk Each verse like a story, each beat like a thrill Got me nodding my head, can't stand still "Shakey Dog" got me gripped, like I'm in the flicks Riding shotgun with Ghost, dodging all them hits Then "Kilo" comes in, with that smooth-ass mix Talking 'bout the streets, the hustle, the tricks "Underwater" got me diving deep in the zone Ghostface paintin' pictures with words, on his throne And "Back Like That"? Damn, that beat's so prone To make you move, to make you groove, on your own Don't even get me started on "Be Easy" That track's like a masterpiece, making it look breezy Ghostface Killah, man, he's never sleazy Just droppin' truth bombs, making it look easy So if you're looking for a ride, a lyrical thrill Ghostface's Fishscale is the pill To take you on a journey, to give you the chills Yo, Ghostface Killah, he's the real deal! Okay then...

Lyrically, this album is incredibly stereotypical, and perhaps one of the last instancies of an album I would describe as vulgar for the sake of being vulgar. It feels stuck in the 90s, berating women, slinging drugs, murdering fools, all with the same guests seemingly on all the Wu-Tang albums. I know they were all in a group together, but jeez, find new people. However, the production on this album is fantastic, with appearances from some of the greats like J Dilla and MF DOOM (unfortunately, only producing, no raps from the mad villain here) and it really sells the entire album. I mean, there are whole songs here that purely live off their beats, and it really elevates the whole experience into something pretty enjoyable. It's too long, not a single joke hits, and it's just relatively icky, but if you wanted to show the powerhouse of production going around in the mid-2000s, this album exemplifies that fantastically. That being said, it's a sick joke that this the closest the 1001 Albums gets to, again, MF DOOM or J Dilla. That's an entire sin of its own, albeit not one that is this album's fault.

eh if i wanna check out more hip hop i can find better one also cba listening to more "woo drugs thugs we ogggg" songs NNN

Best Song: Back Like That. Smooth as butter, sweet storytelling, killer chorus. Action Bronson wishes he could. Worst Song: Beauty Jackson. It feels like a weird inversion to have a song function as the setup to a skit, instead of vice versa. Overall: This was really good. Ghostface's flow is so smooth, lyrically everything is on point. The features are great, production is high. Will definitely return to this one.

A very strong album. Lots of different contributors give it a very varied feel.

Extremely creative story arcs and imagery. Great flow and beats.

wu-tang club really isnt my vibe. from liyrics to vocals to production everything is ass. maybe with a different cultural background I would like it more.

Призраколикий убивец. Окей... рыбья чешуя... окей... жанр -- хипхап... океееей....... Я уже настроен скептически, а вступление уже лоупитчем бухтит ЙОУ СЛЫШ БРАЗА ТЫ НЕ ПОПУТАЛ КОРОЧЕ СЛЫШ Я РАЗЪЕБУ ТЕБЯ СЛЫШ. И чего и что.

GHOSTFACE KILLAHHH 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 one of the best to ever do it absolute classic 5/5

Best Wu album this side of 2000. Getting Dilla and DOOM is was absolute genius and Ghost face sails round the beats like the prizefighter he pretends to be early on on the album.

It took me three days to get through this album. Now I'm behind and resentful. On the bright side, I can say that it didn't glamorize the drug trade for me whatsoever.

I found this album mostly easy to listen to. Of the solo efforts from Wu-Tang we have heard, I think this one might be my favorite...so far (are there more?)...

Goodness, I thought that might never end. It's fine.

Rap isn’t my genre and this is harder-core than I usually would listen to, but it was more listenable than I thought it would be. Some interesting stories on here and good performances and samples. Went on a bit too long for me but I can see why this is album is well-regarded.

No va.

Nothing here for me other than one more entry in the over-representation of rap on this list.

4.0

I quite enjoyed this album, and I do like the genre of Gangsta rap. I had never heard this album before and didn't know Ghostface Killah was a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Solid listen!

This one was enjoyable - not an album or artist I think I'd heard before (except in Wu-tang Clan). I don't think it'll get much of a repeat listen from me - the lyrical content is still very much out of my wheelhouse of interest, though it's a little more nuanced than some of the gangsta style rap we've had in the 1001 list so far.

starts of bad, gets decent for a couple of songs, then back to bad

Snore

Soft 5

LOL no

I'm not a rap guy, but this is pretty good.

Great rapper, great album. 4.5 🌟

it’s about time wu-tang showed up in this list…

A new album for me. This hits on all fronts with powerful lyrics and Wu-Tang additions throughout.

Not my favorite Wu Tang solo album, but it was ok. While nothing really rubbed me wrong, it just didn’t hold my interest, so I probably wouldn’t listen again.

Good album. I like this more than Supreme Clientele by a mile. 3.5/5

This is no Supreme Clientele, a little too mid-aughts rap/R&B for my taste, but it’s still Ghostface and has great parts throughout. Especially surprised to hear Ne-Yo go as hard as he does with his verse. B

Ganske bra album egt

So much energy that at times felt very action-focused. Wasn’t sure what to expect, and I’m still very surprised.

He’s the motherflipping Ghost!

didn't particularly enjoy it, but not a rap fan in general.

Favourite tracks: the champ; whip with a strap; be easy; kilo; shaky dog; back like that; clipse of doom

Not my thing, but I appreciate the depth

This is a pretty creative album and felt very intentional and cohesive. Great raps, good storytellimg, lots of cool hooks. I dug it.

It's not bad. I guess I don't love the whole "Wu Tang" thing. But there are a few bangers on this album.

I didn’t realize Ghostface did Back Like that. Also that he had so many albums? Definitely has that WuTang sound

Love the beats on this, and of all the WTC alum, Ghostface might be the rawest.

a kilo is a thousand grams, it’s easy to remember!

i greatly preferred this to the GZA album i got a while back. love his flow, catchy beats, excellent storytelling and atmosphere. not a huge fan of skits in general but they were okay here.

Had a couple moments I got into the vibe but overall a pretty average album for me. 3.5

"Liar, liar, pants on fire, you burnin' up like David Koresh" I can recognize the talent, but I don't much care for this style of Rap & Hip Hop.

OK musically save for a few tracks with monotonous, never changing beats behind the lyrics.

You know, I'm kind of surprised it took this long to get an album from a Wu-Tang Clan member given that there are five albums from the Wu-Tang Clan and its members on this list. Oh well, it's time to talk about Fishscale. This is a solid album. I like the variety in the songs. I think a big reason for this is because of how many producers are on here. There's quite a few of them on here, perhaps the most notable of which is MF DOOM. Given that he doesn't have any of his own albums on here, I'm happy to see that he has some representation on this list, even if this album did get removed from later versions of the book. I'm not a fan of skits in hip-hop albums as a whole, but the ones on this album aren't too egregious. Ghostface Killah's rapping is alright. I can definitely hear how he and other East-Coast rappers like Nas are cut from the same cloth. The album is a bit long, but I didn't really feel like it dragged too much. The writing is pretty good for the most part. Overall, while this is not my favorite hip-hop album I've gotten, it's still pretty decent. High 3/5.

I don’t think I was in the mood for this one, but I don’t know what the right mood would be.

Wu Tang & Staten Island, a lot going on…at the least, I now know how to get to Heart Street. For a first & probably last listen, it could’ve been worse.

Great production. Killer flows. I enjoyed most of this

East coast hardcore hip hop. I'm pretty mixed on this album. Like I love the energy and aggressiveness but sometimes I kinda find that the beats take a backseat, which was a big reason I liked the Wu-tang album. Ghostface's lyrics and flow were all really good most of the time, and I actually enjoyed a lot of the features. The album itself is quite long and bloated with skits and other stuff that just makes it feel so incohesive. The first half was really good but it really runs out of steam. I like variety usually but the album was mostly just all over the place which made for a big clash in sounds sometimes. That being said, I did have fun listening to it and enjoyed every song to some extent. A solid album. Probably won't revisit save for a few tracks. 3.5/5

Some nice beats here and there, almost too good for the album. It would be so much better as instrumental record, instead there is too much of bad style rapping all over it. Pretty hard to to listen to the whole album in one go.

Didn't stand out much to me.

Skit skit skit Shakey dog - great Momma - good Too many skits, too long, pretty good 3

Meh.

I'm getting caught up because Album Generator says "my friends miss me."

I liked some of the songs, but some of them were pretty boring.