Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
November 30th, 2007 | 5:00 pm est |
In 2006, Ghostface Killah released Fishscale, an intricate, exciting album that was voted — and rightfully so — as one of the best records of the year. It was the kind of thing that showed why Ghost is so beloved by critics and fans: his rhymes were wildly detailed and inventive, his stories were vivid, and his beats (most courtesy of MF DOOM, but also with contributions from Pete Rock and Dilla, among others) were fresh-sounding and interesting, only working to improve the MC’s verses by way of their own strength. And while these attributes occasionally surface on The Big Doe Rehab, overall the record lacks the excitement, the originality, and the passion that can and has made Ghostface so compelling. A lot of this, for better or for worse, can be blamed on the production. The Diddy-associated Hitmen (here Sean C. and LV), who also worked on Jay-Z’s latest effort and are the composers of five of the tracks on Big Doe, make passable but not extraordinary beats, with short, overly simple samples that do nothing to bring attention to Ghost’s rhymes, going even so far to turn what could be pretty decent (”Paisley Darts,” for example, which also features good verses from Cappadonna and Trife da God) into something mediocre, the antithesis of what a beat should do.
Of course, when Mr. Coles is excellent, like he is on “Shakey Dog Starring Lolita,” with Raekwon, or “Walk Around,” he’s excellent — and both of these songs serve as reminders of his talent and perhaps intentionally also have the album’s best production — but unfortunately, there are too few moments of lyrical acumen interspersed among the less remarkable lines (like in the trite and tired “We Celebrate” or “Killa Lipstick,” both of which sound like they’re coming from an MC whose stories have all been told). Perhaps this disappointment stems from the inevitable comparison with Fishscale, an album which, even if you weren’t a fan of DOOM, didn’t have a weak track, but Ghost has always had a problem with consistency, anyway — think Supreme Clientele followed by Bulletproof Wallets or The Pretty Toney Album. So the question looms: is this just a misstep before another masterpiece — and “misstep” is certainly a word too harsh for The Big Doe Rehab, which is more “uneventful” than “wrong” — or is it a sign that the end is nigh?
(See: KRS-ONE)
“Paisley Darts”- “Walk Around”
- “We Celebrate”
- “Shakey Dog Starring Lolita”
The Pretty Toney Album was a solid 4-star album. I don’t know why y’all shit on that album (3-star review?).
I agree with the above review. The beats are much better on the new Wu-tang album but again Ghostface’s lyrics are a little weak on that album too. I think Ghost just feels untouchable and is trying to reach out to a new younger audience that doesn’t even care he’s there.
I’ve yet to hear Rehab but am disinclined to trust a reviewer who doesn’t like the Pretty Toney Album (Thelonius, I’d add another star to your four). If the album does turn out to be a disappointment, at least the brilliant Hidden Darts compilation will keep his batting average up for ‘07
I agree that Ghost has his missteps, but he’s also one of the few artists in a genre with a notoriously brief shelf life per product who remains as exciting and relevant as he was when he started.
So, if this new LP isn’t as good as Fishscale, I doubt it’s a holding pattern.
One look at the cover and you can see its going to be self indulgent pretentious twaddle.
You allmusic peeps gotta realize that Toney was supreme! 5 stars, no doubt. The only Ghost album that’s more supreme is Supreme.
Fishscale is an overrated album, although great still, and up there with Ironman and Supreme. Big Doe is more focused, flows great–an overall solid effort. Diddy’s production team does okay here and made beats, contrary to your review, that are simple but do, in fact, compliment Ghost’s superb flow.
I think the single sucks, but like Toney Sigel; Yolanda’s House is incredible; Walk Around: good; Rec-Room is probably my fav here; as well as Shakey Dog.
I really enjoyed listening to this album, truly a pleasure. I also understand the criticism your way; Ghost is a rapper that can flow over an array of different production styles–Doom, Blaze, Wu- signature, Dilla, etc. all do him justice–and here is a seeming step back from the sprawling Fishscale whose leftovers were similarly great in More Fish.
What?
“The Big Doe Rehab” is a great album by in my opinion the most consistently prolific artist in music. All of Ghost’s albums are dope. “Bulletproof Wallets” for example, has a load of great tracks on it. Such as “Maxine”, “Never Be The Same Again”, “Strawberry”, and “The Forest”. Anyways, His new disc is all that you can ask for. Naturally topics are going to sound less new because of the amount of material he has out there. But I love the Beanie Sigel collaboration, and how about U-God’s verse on “Rec-Room Therapy”? One thing this album has that his last few don’t is an abundance of Wu appearances. I mean c’mon, Method Man on three tracks! And two tracks stand out to me as very, very serious meditations on life; “I’ll Die For You”, and “Slow Down”. Ghost is in top form on these cuts, showing how there is so much more to him than self indulgent pretentious twaddle, Franko. So I think the real question Marisa is just what exactly do you think is hotter than “The Big Doe Rehab” that has come out in hip-hop this year? The new El-P, Hell Razah, Sean Price, Redman, Killah Priest, Aesop Rock, Common, Talib Kweli, and Dizzee Rascal albums are all dope, but Ghost’s new one is right up there with them!
Oh and by the way, “We Celebrate ” is bananas!
C’mon!
I have only heard the album once but I gotta disagree with this review! The beats are all bangin front to back and ghost is on point as always. I can see how people will be disapointed that the album is definetly aimed to be slightly more commercial and while that’s ghost descion (if you have followed the controversy surrounding the Wu album you know the man wants money) I think once this one doesn’t sell he will give us more of that raw and uncut ghostdini!
And Ms. Brown you should do your homework instead of discrediting yourself - Doom wasn’t all over Fishscale he did 4 tracks, the album had 17 real songs plus 7 skits (24 tracks total).
Ignore the above review. The Big Doe Rehab is Ghost’s tightest album since Supreme Clientale.
Whoa I can’t believe I just read the words “good” and “Cappadonna” in the same sentence! Anyway this review is dead on, this record is mediocre at best.
I think Ms. Brown should be banned from reviewing any East Coast Rap albums. Invariably, she gives an underwhelming review. Check the record. Hip Hop Is Dead, same here.
This is his best work since Supreme Clientele. Yolanda’s House alone is worth the price of admission. Ghost is one of the more consistent artists in music, especially rap.
this album lacks great production, perhaps if ghost teamed up with doom again the album wouldn’t be what it is. I give it 6/10 and to pretty toney 5/10.