3.5/5
Tone Def.
Beef, like Ali Wong and Steven Yeun on Netflix, between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. What's it good for, like war? Absolutely nothing when it results in trespassing and harassment to spouses. And you don't need J. Cole bowing out of this big-three (not so) gracefully to see and say it again. Sure, if it's kept on wax, then what a time to be alive. But these three were keeping modern rap alive. In terms of hip-hop, it belongs to the likes of Nas, the Wu-Tang Clan and many more. Nas is no stranger to lyrical battles after ethering Jay-Z. And both he and my favourite member of the Wu, Ghostface Killah know all about the beef that took the lives of late greats Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. Nasir Jones on the 'God Son's' 'Last Real N#### Alive' breakdown talking about Big biting purple tapes and borrowing styles that were only built for Cuban lynx. Here's to the 'Guns and Roses' like Axel and Slash.
Iron Man, Ghost was the guest star on that classic chef cooked Raekwon LP that even had a super sequel. When it comes to the face of this Killah, he's a scream. From signatures like 'Supreme Clientele' to 'Bulletproof Wallets', and later greatest albums 'The Pretty Toney Album' and 'Fishscale' (not to mention 'More Fish' in possibly his greatest, or any rapper's best runs). Let's not forget all the LP's from the W and compelling collaborations with Adrian Younge (the '12 Reasons' series), BADBADNOTGOOD (the sensational 'Sour Soul') and the face off 'Ghost/Doom' that could have been with the late, great MF DOOM. Now Toney will 'Set The Tone' with his first album since 2019's 'Ghostface Killahs', setting the table with some sweet guest spots. Of course, there's Nas on the red-hot single 'Scar Tissue' (the best feature you've seen since Jones' gutter 'Ghetto Dreams' with Common) and Kanye West, reuniting after his "she ordered the Kobe beef like Shaquille O'Neal" 'Back Like That' remix on 'No Face' for you Ghibli fans. Wu brethren of the 'Wu Massacre' Method Man on the 'Pair Of Hammers' that knocks and Raekwon on the rolling 'Skate Odyssey' with October London bringing big smoke. 'Wu Block' collaborator Sheek Louch for '6 Minutes' with Dipset's Jim Jones and Harl3y, who like a Davidson also rolls through on 'Cape Fear' (with not so Fat Joe), 'Plan B' and 'Shots' with Busta Rhymes and Serani. New artists never had it so good.
Setting the tone with collaborations across the board, not to brag, but let me tell you about the three times I met Ghostface Killah. The first was back in the early 2000s, visiting a friend in Leeds University where he was randomly playing a gig. I took a photo on a disposable camera, because back then, kids, our phones weren't so smart. But damn if I didn't forget to get his autograph. I made up for that a couple of years later at a Wu-Tang Clan reunion show. The last time I saw him, for a friend's birthday, there wasn't much else to do. So stupidly I showed him our photo now imported into my phone (because, family photos and all that) and he screwed up his face in response. All before breaking out the biggest grin you've ever seen and showing one of the members of Theodore Unit, "hey, you were wearing your purple sweater." Needless to say, the point I'm making is Ghostface may be one of the hardest rappers alive (who is rumoured to have thrown 50 Cent down the stairs, and broken Pastor Ma$e's jaw), but he's also one of the nicest. And as others wage war, he brings the rap GOATs to the fore like the Rushmore you best believe he's carved in. All the way to the banging bonus track with Terror Squad's Remy Ma ('YUPP!'). The Mass Appeal looking like a mixtape on this artwork as he calls up (like Chucky Hollywood on the 'Trap Phone'), Iceman for a 'Kilo In The Safe', Benition for the united colors of a 'Champion Sound', AZ and Bee-B 'Locked In', Shaun Wiah for the Mario sampling 'Touch You', and even Ja Rule on his comeback trail (can't wait for the new album) with Trevor Jackson over a 'Bad B####'. But I've still got a bone to pick with Tone. On his first 'Skit' he asks for your top five, dead or alive cereals, and Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes doesn't even get a spoon in. Unfrosted. C'mon, man. I know you've been to Leeds. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Pair Of Hammers (Feat. Method Man)', 'Scar Tissue (Feat. Nas)', 'YUPP! (Feat. Remy Ma)'.
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