loosie: words: The Wally Champ Returns

The Wally Champ Returns

Loosie reviews "Bulletproof Wallets."

by Douglas Passion | 2002.10.19

Over the past few years, Ghostface Killah's willingness to expose his emotional nerve endings and penchant for off-the-wall culinary similes has garnered him a Kool Keithish cult following. But along with the critical acclaim came charges from more obtuse listeners that Tony Starks was doing little more than spouting gibberish -- he was accused of rhyming for the sake of riddlin'.

With the public split between devoted interpreters and confused lunkheads, the only song off his majestic "Supreme Clientele" to achieve commercial success was the unapologetic disco jack "Cherchez le Ghost". It was obvious that the references to "rhymes made of garlic" and "rap like ziti, strawberry kiwi" had proved too esoteric for the post-Puffy hip-hop community to digest.

With "Bulletproof Wallets", Ghost has attempted to retain his core audience while proving to the skeptics that his rhymes are more than just the ramblings of a gastronomically inclined madman. The seemingly illogical hooks and "Duncan Hines monument cakes" metaphors have been replaced with the crooning of Carl Thomas and straightforward crime saga storytelling. The slightly unnerving weirdness of Rza's "Supreme Clientele" guest verses has been exchanged for conventional, (yet extremely enjoyable), appearances by Raekwon as well as members of Ghost's new crew of disciples.

Make no mistake about it, however, "Wallets" is still vintage Wally Champ material. His talent for bizarre narration is demonstrated beautifully on the emotionally charged "The Watch", where he engages in a heated conversation with his timepiece regarding Ghost's place in current hip-hop. "You son-of-a-bitch, I oughtta break you to pieces, make your heart stop ticking" he threatens after his watch has taunted him for being a washed up rapper. Not content to argue with only his chronometer, on a later track, Starks admonishes his jewelry for blinding an old woman and for provoking the audience at rap shows. On the stellar xylophone-infused "Theodore", Ghost annihilates the opening verse ("Slim body in the G.Y.M., G.Y.N., fuck bitches and their friends") before inviting a few members of the Starks family to join the festivities.

On "Wallets", the traditional sped-up vocal samples and sinister strings of the Wu-tang sound have been supplemented by Blaxploitation era breaks and a little R&B saccharine. But don't fret, Starks devotees, Tony still shreds the quiet storm beats with the strength of a tsunami as he proves again that no emcee on this green earth can match his ability to discuss the fairer sex. On the sentimental "Detroit Heavenly", an ode to a long-term girlfriend, he tells his bride-to-be, "at the wedding, I'm biting off you, I'm wearing white too".

For listeners who did not enjoy dissecting the apparent lunacy of "Supreme Clientele", the more focused lyrics and accessible production of "Bulletproof Wallets" will be well received. And for his stalwart fans, Ghost remains so enigmatic and captivating that he still outshines 99% of his competition even when relatively subdued. "Bulletproof Wallets" maintains Ghostface's stature as one of the most entertaining and consistent artists on hip-hop's largely barren landscape.