Ghostface Killah - 'The Big Doe Rehab' (Def Jam) Released 03/12/07

With the new Wu-Tang Clan album due for release any day now, December seems to be the month of the Wu. But while many fans are questioning the quality of the new album from the Shaolin collective, due in part to the online squabble between a few of the group’s members, do they also need to worry about the new album from Ghostface Killah?

Often referred to as "your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper", the announcement of a new Ghost project tends to spark off the type of excitement amongst real rap heads usually reserved for the likes of a new Rakim or KRS One release. And even though ‘The Big Doe Rehab’ doesn’t sound quite as watertight as his flawless debut, 1996’s ’Ironman’, Wu-Tang fans, Ghostface fans, and generally fans of what can only be described as the untarnished art form known as hip-hop, will undoubtedly enjoy this hardcore offering from the killer with no face.

Kicking ‘The Big Doe Rehab’ off is the Beanie Sigel accompanied ‘Toney Sigel A.K.A. The Barrel Brothers’. Both boasting an inextinguishable flow, the two MC’s set fire to the guitar dipped backdrop and sets the tempo for the rest of the album at a steady but non-conforming pace. Keeping things going but playing a game of celebrity association at the same time, ‘White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)’ hears Ghost namedrop a host of artists attending his very own award ceremony. Concentrating on strings, the beat and interjection between award announcements and organisational moments work nicely without breaking up the track unnecessarily.

Wu favourites Method Man and Raekwon pop up on a few cuts, the best of which is Meth’s appearance on bonus track ‘Killa Lipstick’, as well as Ghost’s crew the Theodore Unit. But Ghost stands out as the man in charge. His verse on ‘Paisley Darts’ is a highlight in itself. His traditional flow is a reason enough for kids these days to put the bullshit down and pick up ‘The Big Doe Rehab’. With the only thing letting the side down being a few incorrect beat choices, there’s really nothing negative worth pointing out with this release.

‘The Big Doe Rehab’ is an old skool album for the new skool head with relevant subject matter that leapfrogs the ringtone rap fad by miles.