Ghostface Killah - The Pretty Toney Album

There's no Wu Tang Clan MC, outside of Ol' Dirty Bastard, who raps for broke like Ghostface, as if each album might be his last. Ghostface continues this tradition of flipping the most indescribable, gritty, grimy, and painfully honest rhymes imaginable. Ignoring current rap trends--i.e., Kanye West-style sampling and speeding up of old soul loops--Ghostface doesn't mask his samples or up the b.p.m.'s. On the choice cuts "Holla" and "Be This Way," he spits fire over great old-school Delfonics and Billy Stewart samples. Of course this is not surprising considering Ghost often says he doesn't care much for contemporary rap music. His flows magically capture the full range of human emotion on "It's Over" and the RZA-produced "Run." Don't be fooled by the relatively frail single "Tush" (featuring Missy Elliott) because it's not at all indicative of how strong the album is. --Dalton Higgins Amazon.com

 Ghost emerges as Pretty Toney
Welcome to another different time in hip hop 2004, a year where Ghostface dropped his 4th album, The Pretty Toney Album. I wasn't anticipating this release like I did his first three albums, but I still bought this album the first day it came out. Needless to say, I enjoyed it very much when I first played it, but lets see if time has been kind to this album.

Rating System
***** Awesome material, worthy of repeated listening
**** Pure excellence
*** Decent
** Ok, but nothing special
* Poor, no redeeming qualities

Biscuits ****
Kunta Fly S*** **** (Hot beat, poor length)
Beat The Clock ***
Metal Lungies ****
Save Me Dear ***
It's Over ***
Tush *
Holla ***
Ghostface ***
Be This Way ****
Tooken Back ***
Run ****
Love ****

RZA, True Master, No ID, Nottz, etc, came through on this album with the production. As you can, Ghost spares no expense as far as production goes with his albums. Like I said above, when I first played this album, I thoroughly enjoyed in on first listen, but years and many plays later, I don't think time has been kind to this album, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It's not a bad album, but it could've been better. Tush, now when I think about it, this has to be Ghostface's worst song ever, with a blatant attempt @ a slight crossover w/ Missy Elliott, sort of in the same way that Nas' worst song ever is You Owe Me w/ Ginuwine. I respect where Ghost and Missy going, but it didn't work. All in all, a fairly decent album from Ghost, but it could've been much more. Slightly recommeded.

December 26, 2007

 Possibly His Worst LP...And It's STILL Sick (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4.0 stars)
Yeah I said it. This might be Ghostface Killah's worst album, but that isn't saying much because of the fact that all of his albums have been very consistent. He has yet to drop a wack album, and the fact that this was his first album on Def Jam Records made no difference. "The Pretty Toney Album" is probably a slept on gem from Ghostface.

The VERY exact reason why I bought this album, was because I was blown away by the song "Holla" as he rhymed over the exact original beat by The Delfonics "La-La (Means I Love You)". My dad used to play the original song into the ground when I was a kid, so hearing that mix right there was great. Everytime I hear Ghostface rhyme, he is very consistent with his lyrics. In fact, it would be very hard for the common listener to find any of his rhyme sub-par on this album. Even when he has fun rhyming like on songs "Beat The Clock" and "Keisha's House", and "Last Night" (I don't think those are skits because he rhymes on most of those tracks). And there are time when he can get serious like on "Biscuts" with Trife Da God from Theodore Unit, and "It's Over". Even with the Missy Eliott assisted song "Tush" (or "Push"), Ghostface still has versatility no matter what the subject is.

This album isn't perfect though. The only tracks I found forgettable were "Be This Way" and "Tooken Back" with Jackie-O (who ironically drops a decent verse). All problems with this album end there. And this isn't a problem for me, but there are no contributions from the Wu except a couple of beats from RZA. That kind of threw me off a little bit.

"The Pretty Toney Album" is an excellent album from Ghostface. If you're used to hearing how Ghost sounds, this album should be no different. I always admired Ghostface for his skills behind the mic since he appeared on "The Cuban Linx Album". This album still shows that Ghost can still hold his own down, and I recommed that you check this one out.

Lyrics: A
Production: A
Guest Appearances: A
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: Biscuits, Beat The Clock, Metal Lungies, Save Me Dear, It's Over, Tush, Ghostface, Run, Love

Personal Favorite Track: Holla
Honorable Mention Track: Last Night, Keisha's House

Favorite Ghostface Albums From Best To Worst (no less than 4 stars):
1. Supreme Clientele
2. Fishscale
3. Ironman
4. Bulletproof Wallets
5. The Preety Toney Album
6. More Fish (only because it sounds like a Theodore Unit Compilation album)

Haven't Heard:
1. Put It On The Line (Ghost & Theodore)
2. 718 (Theodore Unit)
3. Hidden Darts (Which was just released recently)

Peace Everyone!!!
April 4, 2007

 Ghostface Killah - The Pretty Toney Album
Now signed to Def Jam, Ghostface Killah releases the follow-up to his third solo album in 2004 with "The Pretty Toney Album." Spawnning the hits "Run" and "Tush," Ghostface got some mainstream appeal and even got played on B.E.T. for a brief time period. Can Ghostface keep it street enough to make another solid album or will he dumb down his lyrics and such to sell more records?

1. Intro - No Rating

2. Biscuits (Featuring Trife Da God) - 5/5

3. Kunta Fly S*** - Too Short - No Rating

4. Beat the Clock - 4.5/5

5. Metal Lungies (Featuring Sheek Louch & Styles P.) - 4/5

6. Bathtub (Skit) - No Rating

7. Save Me Dear - 4.5/5

8. It's Over - 4.5/5

9. Keisha's House (Skit) - No Rating

10. Tush (Featuring Missy Elliot) - 3.5/5

11. Last Night (Skit) - No Rating

12. Holla - 4.5/5

13. Ghostface - 4.5/5

14. Be This Way - 4.5/5

15. The Letter (Skit) - No Rating

16. Tooken Back (Featuring Jackie-O) - 3.5/5

17. Run (Featuring Jadakiss) - 3.5/5

18. Love (Featuring Musiq & K. Fox) - 4/5

Overall:

50.5/60

4 Stars

Another good album by Ghostface, probably his weakest one so far but still great nonetheless. The album started out great and continued to impress until the last couple tracks which lacked severly. Ghost tried too hard to appeal to the mainstream on a couple of them but does keep it street for most of the records. Still check it out, Ghostface just can't be stopped. November 16, 2006

 Different label, same music.
Ghost's fourth solo project, but the first he would be releasing on Def Jam. Ghost returns to prove all the doubters wrong and come out with the intense, raw and emotional styles of rap that we all came to recognise over a decade ago. Ghost's rapping hasn't changed much during his absense in the rap, I feel Ghost only improves with age, with cuts like "Biscuits" and "Metal Lungies", Ghost seems more hungry than ever to go head-to-head with the best of 'em. With cuts like "Save Me Dear", Ghost shows his love for women. Also Ghost comes back to takeover the club jams with "Tush" featured with "Missy Elliot". Also RZA shows up for "Run" with Jadakiss. The album shows Ghost leading the Wu-Tang to the right direction and sooner or later they will be back to smash the world! May 18, 2006

 Hot
What I like about Ghost more than anything, he spits like his life is in danger. Personally I think GZA spits bars the best but Ghost is more consistent. THe production is solid on this joint. Blazin beats, the guest appearnaces is alright. I just dont really like female rappers. Missy is an exception but all these other hoes all sound the same. Other than that this album is fire.

FAV tracks
Run feat. Jadakiss
Metal lungies feat. Sheek and Styles( these n8ggas ill as always)
Kunta fly s***
Biscuits
Ghostface April 16, 2006

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