Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab

Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab Tony Starks aka Ghostface Killah has enjoyed a lot of success as of late. He released two critically acclaimed albums last year, he is preparing to release another Wu Tang Record and he had enough time to squeeze out another solo effort. Three albums in two years is a lot and perhaps for the first time ever people are asking "is Ghost spreading himself too thin". The album starts off really nice. "Toney Sigel aka Barrell Brothers" features Beanie Sigel and is as hard as Ghost has sounded in a while. This track is followed by "Yolanda's House" featuring his Wu brethren Method Man and Raekwon. Another hard hitting track with excellent production from Ant-Live. Next is the first single from Big Doe Rehab, "We Celebrate". The song features Kid Capri and great production from the Hitmen sampling Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate". By this point in the album every one's expectations have gone through the roof. The album hasn't missed a beat. The truth is the album doesn't miss a beat for another few tracks but then suddenly the party comes to a halt. Ghostface tends to be at his best when he's rapping over jubilant production. See his previous hits of "Biscuits", "Kilo", and "Be Easy" but Ghost also has a love for making slower R&B joints. This is where Ghost often fails. His off the wall similes and metaphors make his rhymes enjoyable and the production backs it up. Most of the time the lyrics do have the ability to carry the song without amazing production but towards the end of Big Doe Rehab, Ghost's lyrics even begin to slip. Ghost has often had a problem with consistency. Although his catalog includes classics like Supreme Clientele and Fish Scales, it also includes mediocrity like Bulletproof Wallets. Only time will tell if Big Doe is as forgettable as Bulletproof, but off hand I would say it is. It's not a bad album, just its not as good as the normal Ghostface album. Perhaps the fact that he worked mostly with Diddy's production team had something to do with it. With no production from MF Doom, Just Blaze, or Pete Rock, it maybe time for Ghost to lessen his output to be able to work with the top tier producers we've known and loved him to work with. Rating: 6.9/10 MP3: Ghostface Killah feat Method Man and Raekwon"Yolanda's House"