As a member of the venerable Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah’s credentials are cemented without even taking his solo career into account. But with Supreme Clientele everything that made Ghostface such a massive figure in hip hop were taken to the next level, delivering one of the best solo albums from the group that effectively invented modern East Coast Hip Hop sound. His stream of consciousness lyrical flow, his authoritative delivery spoken out the side of his cheeks, his vintage East Coast beats, and his unparalleled storytelling which immediately brings you into the world he’s describing are all here. It’s one of the pinnacles of East Coast hip hop and doubly so considering the consistent production throughout the course of the album– Hip Hop isn’t known for thematic consistency from a sonic perspective (it’s a genre that’s much more conducive to individual singles that vary in style and tone, similar to pop music in that vein). But Supreme Clientele bucks the trend, establishing a level of cohesiveness immediately with the “Ironman” introduction and subsequent interludes (a reference to Ghostface’s solo debut Ironman which dropped in 1996) as well as the symmetrical production style and sound he developed in partnership with fellow Wu-Tang member RZA.
The end result is an album that represents the best of the hip hop genre– strong storytelling, engaging wordplay, and an MC who can deliver bark and back it up with bite in a way that few can.
Standout Songs: “Nutmeg”, “Apollo Kids”, “Buck 50”, “We Made It”, “Malcolm”
