Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon, a third of the Wu-Tang Clan, go for the kill in the bloody video for “Our Dreams,” the first single from their Wu-Massacre album, due March 30.

Tweet this link to @RapUp and enter for a chance to win a Wu-Massacre skully.

Just in time for Halloween, Ghostface Killah scares us with a ghost story about midgets on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” WTF is he talking about?

Ghostface Killah has collaborated with some unusual suspects on his eighth solo album, Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, but there’s one in particular he’s yet to work with.

“I love Pink,” the rapper told The New York Times when asked who he’d like to record with. “She don’t give a [damn] about [anything].”

The Wu-Tang Clan member also shared his love for legends like Bruce Springsteen (“He got that voice”), Billy Joel (“Remember ‘Uptown Girl’? I loved that”), and Bob Dylan (“He had a nice joint, he had lyrics”).

The self-described “old head” added that one of his favorites beats as of late is Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.” “I love that. That beat might be one of the best beats I heard in years.”

Ghostface Killah is a sensitive thug in the video for “Baby,” his new single with Raheem DeVaughn from his rap-meets-R&B album Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City (Sept. 29), featuring collabos with John Legend, Lloyd, Estelle, and Musiq Soulchild.

Thursday night at the NOKIA Theatre in New York City, the Footprint in Hip-Hop Tour stomped through Times Square bringing nothing but feel good hip-hop to a sold-out crowd.

The show featured enlivened performances from Ghostface Killah and duo Method Man and Redman, with the Wallabee Champ taking the stage after radio personality Peter Rosenberg introduced him as one of the most “consistent” MCs of all time. Rocking a Coca-Cola rugby tee and a matching red fitted, Tony Starks ripped through classics from his decades-spanning oeuvre, swinging a towel around as he performed crowd favorites like “Be Easy,” “Mighty Healthy,” “One,” and “Cherchez LaGhost.” Surprise guest Raekwon appeared during the set to help him out with “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit” and “Incarcerated Scarfaces” before handing it back to Ghost, who even let his son kick a verse before snatching back the spotlight and rounding out his performance with “Back Like That.”

The air turned hazy when Red and Meth took the stage, setting off an hour-long set with the energetic “Da Rockwilder” as two DJs spun side-by-side behind them. With the crowd at their command, Funkdocta Spock and Tical focused the first half of the show on fresher material from their recently released sophomore album Blackout! 2, working the stage as they performed “Errbody Scream,” “Hey Zulu,” “City Lights,” and their Pete Rock-produced single “A-Yo.” Halfway through the set, the dynamic duo brought it back to the ’90s, taking turns running through their respective classics. Meth got the crowd hyped during “Method Man,” “Bring the Pain,” and “All I Need to Get By,” while Red flipped up his hoodie during “I’ll Bee Dat” and “Tonight’s Da Night” before teaming back up with his partner in rhyme for “Dat’s Dat Shit” and both versions of “How High.”

The two followed by paying tribute to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, enlisting the crowd to sing the classic hook on “Got Your Money” before bigging up attendee Cedric the Entertainer and bringing out Meth’s son. And a party wouldn’t be a party without a rendition of “Rapper’s Delight,” to which the rappers exited the stage after letting the thinning crowd know that a sequel to their cult film How High is currently in the process of being finalized. But by then, the two had already left a big enough mark on the New York stage, making for yet another successful performance by some of Wu-Tang’s sharpest killer bees.

–Steven J. Horowitz

Photos by Cassidy “Sparrow” Maldonado for Rap-Up.com

There is nothing new about rappers venturing into fashion, acting, or even penning novels. Ghostface Killah joins his fellow rappers-turned-published authors with his latest endeavor, the graphic novel Cell Block Z.

The Wu-Tang affiliate collaborated with illustrator Chris Walker and writers Shauna Garr and Marlon Chapman to portray the life of Cole Dennis (Ghostface’s birth name reversed), a heavyweight contender framed for a crime he didn’t commit. While imprisoned, Dennis learns inmates are set to be turned into bio-weapons. In an effort to stop the madness, he transforms into his alter-ego, Ghostface Killah, and unleashes a reign of righteous terror.

How does one get into the frame of mind to draw a hip-hop icon? Chris Walker knows. The renowned New York visual artist and filmmaker, whose artwork has been used by Marvel Comics, didn’t just “hop up out the bed” and turn his illustrator swag on. It was a painstaking process. Here, Chris, whose résumé includes crafting iconic characters such as Spiderman and Batman, reveals the five ways he did his homework in order to craft a rap legend.

Pump Up the Volume
“One of the things you need to do is to desperately listen to their music and the lyrics and get inspired by it. I listened to the song ‘Run’ by Ghostface Killah when writing the opening scene where Cole Dennis is running from the cops.”

Practice Makes Perfect
“Practice drawing the person as much as possible. You also really want to capture the look of the person, especially since Ghostface Killah didn’t draw the characters with me.”

Dive Into the Genre
“You really have to think about hip-hop and try to make this book feel like it’s a part of the culture. You really want to give it a feel that you really like hip-hop.”

Read Between the Lines
“You have to pay a lot of attention to the story—really working with the story and make sure what you’re drawing goes along well with what the writers wrote.”

Make the Rapper Shine
“Try to make sure it’s something the rappers themselves would really be proud of. You want them to say, ‘Man this is a really good project. This really captures who I am!’”

Six lucky Rap-Up.com readers will win a copy of Ghostface Killah’s Cell Block Z. To enter, answer this question: What is the title of Ghostface’s debut solo album?

Send in your entry along with your full name, age, and mailing address. Six winners will be randomly chosen from all correct entries received. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. One entry per person. Contest ends Sunday, August 2, at 11 p.m. PST.

–Natelegé Whaley

Here’s a third remix to Mariah Carey’s “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time” featuring the same rap from LL Cool J as the Drawzilla remix, but this one has a different beat and a new verse from Ghostface Killah.

Mariah Carey f/ LL Cool J & Ghostface Killah – “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time (Remix)”

The-Dream’s cover for his debut album Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter (Dec. 11) featuring the hit single, “Shawty Is a 10.”

Ghostface Killah’s The Big Doe Rehab hits stores December 4th.

Last week at Sony Studios in New York, Def Jam hosted an exclusive album listening event for Ghostface Killah, whose new album, More Fish, is set to hit stores on December 12th. The Staten Island native rapper explained this album to be more of the street stories that fans got on his previous joint, Fishscale. Keeping with the trend of evolving hip-hop, Ghostface has offered a taste of something for everyone on this album, with upbeat bangers like “Good” which will be the first single.

The theme of the party was crystal clear, with platters of sushi available for guests among other food. On the tables that were scattered with sample CDs, there were miniature bowls with colorful fish swimming around inside. After guests ate, drank, and mingled, tracks from Ghostface’s new album began blaring on the sound system. Theodore Unit, as well as Ghostface’s son (Sun God), who’s featured on More Fish, announced tracks on the album as the crowd of music connoisseurs bobbed their heads in approval.

After a few songs, Ghostface himself arrived and circulated throughout the room, greeting guests and stopping for a few camera appearances. The listening session for the album opened up with “Miguel Sanchez,” a track featuring Sun God as well as Ghostface’s protégé rapper Trife, which was well received by most. As difficult as it is to analyze the quality of an album from a crowded listening party, it was apparent that this album contains some more beat heavy, faster tracks than Fishscale, without sacrificing that Wu-Tang bred quality.

Reported by Rajul Punjabi