More Than A Pretty Face
It’s good to see that the individual members of the Wu-Tang Clan are still putting out strong records after all these years. Since 1996, Ghostface has been pumping out songs that do so many things right, and The Pretty Toney Album is no different. With strong beats, intelligent street-smart lyrics, and Ghost’s talented vocal style, this album does what many other hip-hop albums out there aren’t – it makes you feel it.Starting with the intro, the album shows that Ghostface hasn’t changed, even though he’s now on Def Jam. Tracks like “Biscuits” are just waiting to get on the radio, making subwoofers bump like no one’s business. The contrast of horns, pianos, and other instruments found in this eighteen track album show definite music ability, as well as some great producing by M. Caruso and Kevin Liles.
Since the Wu-Tang emerged from Long Island, Ghostface has been a lyricist who doesn’t mince words, and Toney shows this yet again. His lyrics are hard and heavy, not allowing fame to make them sound hollow, with his unique vocal style making a strong contrast to the beats amnd rhythyms.
In a time where hip-hop is so cookie-cutter and boring, Ghostface manages to strike with an album that is undeniably his. He raps about what he knows and where he comes from, without glorifying it or making it something to strive for – it’s just his reality. He manages to describe pictures that, although disturbing, have such a beautiful presentation that one can’t do anything but listen.
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