Y'all know who Ghostface is. A distinguished Wu Tang Clan member, founder of Starks Enterprises, and most importantly one of the best storytellers in hip-hop. But who's this Adrian Younge guy featured prominently on the front of this new Ghostface album? Younge is a producer who is perhaps best known for writing the score to the hilarious blaxploitation parody film Black Dynamite in 2009.
With that being said, if you've seen Black Dynamite, you might know what to expect on Twelve Reasons To Die. Younge is a master at recreating that gritty 1970's period of film scores, typified by artists like Ennio Moricone and European funk music, while combining these sound with influences like Wu Tang Clan and Curtis Mayfield. The result is a fantastic ode to pulp cinema and B movie exploitation films. And just like in Black Dynamite, many of the plot points are sung as choruses ("Those who fear his return must face the catastrophe!") adding to the low budget movie feel of this album.
Yes that's right, I said plot points, because this album is in fact an origin story about a 1960's version of the Ghostface Killah (aka Tony Starks). I already said that Ghostface is one of the best storytelling rappers around, and his talents are in full force on this album. Along with features by various Wu Tang members, Ghostface tells the story of killer-for-hire Tony Starks who is betrayed and killed by the DeLuca Crime family. Of course, he eventually returns as the otherworldly Ghostface Killah when 12 records, pressed with the ashes of Stark's remains, are played. This whole album feels like one of the best 1970's B movie horror films that was never made. This album was even accompanied by a short, ultra violent comic book series that illustrates the story from the album. I've only read the first two issues, but regardless it's obvious that there was an incredible amount of work put into this release; including a WHOLE OTHER VERSION OF THE ALBUM with beats by none other than Apollo Brown!!
Twelve Reasons To Die is Ghostface Killah at his finest, because Adrian Younge's production encourages him to do what he does best. Ghostface's voice and his stories feel right at home in a pulp fiction cinema atmosphere. And the Apollo Brown version of this album, with its similarly film-inspired production, complete with vinyl crackling and popping sounds, is a refreshing take on the same album that's almost just as good (although I think it lacks the continuity that the film score feel of Younge's version has)
Ughhh, this album kicks so much ass! Just watch the amazing video for Rise of the Ghostface Killah below.
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