INTERVIEW: Ghostface Killah Talks 'Supreme Clientele 2,' Wu-Tang, Diddy, New Music Era + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club – Ghostface Killah on 'Supreme Clientele 2,' Wu-Tang, Storytelling, and Hip-Hop Legacy

Date: August 25, 2025
Host: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Ghostface Killah

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Main Theme

This episode features legendary Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, who joins The Breakfast Club to discuss his highly anticipated new album 'Supreme Clientele 2.' The conversation delves deep into Ghostface's creative process, storytelling in hip-hop, the current state of rap, Wu-Tang's legacy, personal anecdotes, industry politics (including the rumored Diddy radio ban), and the enduring cultural impact of Wu-Tang.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why 'Supreme Clientele 2' Now?

• Fan Demand & Inspiration (03:12)

  • Ghostface reveals that, despite vowing never to make a sequel, the persistent demand from fans over the years changed his mind.
  • He’s included tracks dating back 17–20 years, creating a layered yet contemporary album.
  • “Every time I get a joint and I felt like could be supreme, I just put it in the vault, stash it… I got like, maybe like five songs from like 20 years ago, 17 and better on it.” — Ghostface Killah [03:15]

• Vibe & Authenticity

  • Emphasizes that his music is about vibes and creating emotional atmosphere, rather than chasing trends.
  • “When I create albums, I create vibes. If I could get ahead and hear it, like, all the way through, then I know I'm good.” — Ghostface Killah [04:01]

2. The Modern Music Landscape and Staying True

• Hip-Hop Evolution (04:57)

  • Ghostface reflects on how rap has shifted but stresses the importance of staying in one’s own lane.
  • “Nothing stays the same...You just got to do you. Just stay right in your lane…real music still exists out there.” — [04:59]

• Channelling the Past

  • Supreme Clientele 2 is intentionally reminiscent of the golden era (mid-80s), but not a carbon copy.

  • On fans' expectations for sequels: “If you got a baby, you can't create the same baby...But it's, you know, you first of all, these producers now, they're not making the same beats and stuff that they did before.” — [05:41]

3. Songwriting, Emotion, and Storytelling in Hip-Hop

• Beat Selection & Process (07:03)

  • Ghostface highlights that the beat drives his writing; the beat “talks to” him and sets the emotional core.

  • “Every verse I ever thrown and whatever I have to set on the beat, it's like the beat talked to me.” — [07:03]

• On Writing Timeless Records

  • Sometimes sits on songs for decades, but the music doesn’t sound dated because of the foundational emotion.
  • Notably, “Metaphysics” and “Candyland” hail from sessions many years ago. [08:04]

• Storytelling and Mentorship (10:23)

  • Advises younger artists to take their time and approach lyric writing as art. Laments that many rappers no longer “think” or use imagination deeply.

  • “This is art first...If you got an imagination, you could just go there. Just go.” — Ghostface Killah [10:45]

4. Competitive Dynamics & Group Chemistry in Wu-Tang

• Iron Sharpens Iron (17:08)

  • Discusses the intense competition within Wu-Tang; everyone wanted the best verse, but the group’s quality control pushed them higher.

  • “You're around a bunch of dogs in there that just want the same thing...if you couldn't make it, you wasn't getting on.” — Ghostface Killah [17:08]

• Creative Regret & Missing Out

  • Talk about tracks he missed out on like “C.R.E.A.M.” and solo moments by groupmates due to scheduling, abundance of his features, or group politics.

  • Reflects on how those competitive days fostered motivation and excellence (20:05)

5. Influence and Legacy of Soul & R&B

• Ghostface's songwriting is heavily inspired by classic R&B (Stevie Wonder, 90s R&B icons).
• His favorite R&B feature is on Jodeci’s “Freakin’ U (Remix)”—[22:03], though he also mentions his Beyonce collab as personal highlights.
• He explains how the vibe of R&B shapes his approach to hip-hop storytelling.

6. Emotional Honesty as Superpower

• On Vulnerability & ‘All I Got Is You’ (14:01)

  • Ghostface explains his storytelling edge comes from pouring real soul and emotion into his music, not shying from tears or sensitive subject matter.

  • “I think it's the soul. I think I know how to like to lean on on certain tracks and cry on them and just like, you know, like, just do that. Like, just dig in.” — Ghostface Killah [14:01]

  • Notes the heaviness of some songs makes them hard to perform, and how fans’ emotional reactions (tears) made him realize the depth of his work’s impact.

7. Wu-Tang’s Global & Lasting Impact

• Transcending Generations (26:00)

  • Wu-Tang’s “W” logo and music continue to influence 7-year-olds to veterans.

  • Ghostface reflects on humble beginnings, the underdog mentality, and being surprised at how huge the cultural movement became.

  • “I'm just grateful. I'm just, I'm just humbled to be a part of something that, that's living when they said it was forever.” — Ghostface Killah [27:07]

8. Industry Politics & Diddy’s Radio Ban

• Confirms rumors that Diddy (Puff Daddy) had Wu-Tang banned from certain New York radio stations following a feud, describing it as a competitive chess move.

  • "Yeah, Riz was telling us...Puff admitted to it...it just went down. Like, it. It was. It ain't even feel right no more. And. And if Puff did that, that was a nice chess move." — Ghostface Killah [37:14]

9. On Hip-Hop Representation in Media

• Ghostface feels TV and Hollywood haven't fully captured Wu-Tang’s or his own story (specifically the Hulu series).
• “My side of the story...Nah, it’s different bro. It's...I don't feel like they did that. Not with me.” — [46:28]

10. Life Reflections and Wu’s Next Chapter

• Despite RZA mentioning a “final tour,” Ghostface personally believes Wu-Tang's story isn't finished and they still have more to share with the world.

  • “In my heart, I feel like we still got more to give. I don't. I don't think it's over, over.” — [40:00]

• Candid about what life might’ve been like without music:

  • “It probably wouldn’t be good...It was either in jail, dead somewhere, or whatever the streets would have been calling for. That's what it would have been.” — Ghostface Killah [49:09]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On creative process and beats:
  “Every verse I ever thrown and whatever I have to set on the beat, it's like the beat talked to me.” — Ghostface Killah [07:03]

• On hip-hop’s competitive spark:
  “You're around a bunch of dogs in there that just want the same thing...if you couldn't make it, you wasn't getting on, you know what I mean?” — [17:08]

• On emotions and vulnerability:
  “I think it's the soul...I know how to lean on certain tracks and cry on them.” — [14:01]

• On Wu-Tang's cross-generational reach:
  “I’m just grateful. I’m humbled to be a part of something that’s living when they said it was forever.” — [27:07]

• On Diddy’s radio ban:
  “And if Puff did that, that was a nice chess move...” — [37:14]

• When asked what might've been if not rap:
  “It probably wouldn’t be good...It was either in jail, dead somewhere, or whatever the streets would have been calling for...” — [49:09]

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Important Timestamps for Segments

• Intro & Fan Demand for ‘Supreme Clientele 2’: [03:12]
• Creating Timeless Music & Beat Selection: [04:41–07:03]
• Ghostface on Storytelling and Mentorship: [10:23–11:54]
• Emotional Honesty & Impact of “All I Got Is You”: [14:01–16:23]
• Wu-Tang’s Internal Competition: [17:08–20:05]
• Influence of R&B & Classic Features: [21:08–22:23]
• Wu-Tang’s Legacy & Cultural Impact: [26:00–27:07]
• Diddy’s Wu-Tang Radio Ban: [37:02–38:02]
• Group’s Future & Final Tour Discussion: [40:00–41:56]
• Ghostface on Life Without Music: [49:09]

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Episode Takeaways

• Ghostface’s artistry is rooted in soul, authenticity, and a deep love for storytelling over superficiality.
• The competitive, collaborative spirit of Wu-Tang remains legendary and a catalyst for greatness.
• Wu-Tang’s brand and influence are timeless, and Ghostface remains humble but proud of their enduring legacy.
• Despite changes in the music industry, Ghostface champions realness and depth in art; he advocates for artists to think deeply and take their time.
• While media depictions haven't told the full Wu-Tang story, the movement’s impact is evident worldwide.
• Ghostface hints there is still more to come from Wu-Tang.

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Closing Note:
For hip-hop heads and Wu-Tang fans, this episode is a rich, candid journey through Ghostface Killah’s creative soul and the legacy of a musical dynasty. ‘Supreme Clientele 2’ is out now, ensuring the Wu flag continues to fly.

Transcript

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Ghostface Killah]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Ghostface Killah]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

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[Ghostface Killah]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Ghostface Killah]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

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[Ghostface Killah]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

Terms and conditions apply. Find out [e-mail] SparkCashPlus I'm Hunter, host.

[Hunter (Hunting for Answers Podcast Host)]

Of Hunting for Answers on the Blackffect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girl America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend 2016. No goodbyes, no clues. Just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ghostface Killah]

Hold up.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[Ghostface Killah]

Finish or y' all done.

[DJ Envy]

Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne tha God]

My favorite MC of all time, legend.

[DJ Envy]

The Icon. Ladies and gentlemen, Ghost Face Killer.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. What up? What up?

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling, man?

[Ghostface Killah]

Nah, we calling, we calling. King. Glad to be here right now, man. Like three times, right?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I think once, Once, Twice.

[Ghostface Killah]

Twice.

[DJ Envy]

It was twice.

[Ghostface Killah]

Twice, Twice. It was twice. Twice. Yeah. All right. I told you that I was friend at the wireless, you know, I ain't gonna lie. The man was telling me that he saw you had. You had that face on, like, yo, you know what I mean?

[DJ Envy]

Downstairs, I was like, what you want Come up here, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Everything happens. But God wanted to happen.

[Ghostface Killah]

That's what I'm saying.

[Charlamagne tha God]

This Perfect Time and Supreme Clientele 2 is out this Friday.

[Ghostface Killah]

That's right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You said you would never do a sequel to Supreme Clientele. So what changed your mind?

[Ghostface Killah]

Nah, it was. It was. It was the fans. It was. It was the fans. They kept calling for it. So I'm like, yo, for years they was calling for it. So, you know, gradually, I was just. I started back then, like, you know, I saved a couple of joints. Every time I get a joint and I felt like could be supreme, I just put it in the vault, stash it, stash it. So look, on this album right here, I got like, maybe like five songs from like 20 years ago, 17 and better on it, you know?

[Charlamagne tha God]

How do you know this body of work was it, though? This body of work should be Supreme.

[Ghostface Killah]

Clientele too, because I. I kind of felt good about it, you know? I mean, besides the skits. Remember last time I had like a few Iron man skits on it and stuff like that. But now they really. They own you now. You really can't really do it. So you gotta. You gotta just think of, like, okay, which way I'm gonna go. And that was the one of the hardest parts I had. Just trying to find, like, a theme behind it, you know? I mean, so, you know, it took me. It took a while. Took a while. But I. I got. I feel. I feel I got it, you know? I mean, but. And it's a vibe, you know, When I create albums, I create vibes. So if I could get ahead and hear it, like, all the way through, then I know I'm good. Then I got my. Got my. My man's and then my player for, you know, I don't got no yes brothers around me, you know what I mean? So if they like, yo, nah tone, like, you know what I mean? Then I weigh and judge it and feel like, I. You know what? Maybe he's right. I'll tell him like, yo, what I feel about it, you know, But I Make the end decision at the end of the day. So on this project, I just think that we got a good vibe.

[DJ Envy]

All right, now, how do you. How do you navigate the landscape today? How do you like the landscape of music and musicians today? Cause you're the guy that drops and it gets out the way. We don't see you, like, literally ghost face, like you're gone for years, but on tour. So how do you feel about the landscape today? Of music?

[Ghostface Killah]

Of music.

[DJ Envy]

Rap.

[Ghostface Killah]

Rap music? I mean, you know, I mean, it kind of shifted. It. It shifted, you know, me to another region. And I get it, you know, I mean, because nothing stays the same. You just sometimes just got to adapt to it. But I realized that you just got to do you. You just got to stay in your lane. Just stay right in your lane or whatever, you know, I mean, because for the people I came up with, you know, I mean, it's like they still there. They still out there, even though they probably got grandkids and, you know, I mean, whatever the case may be, but you noticed real music, Music still exists out there. You know what I mean? Not trying to take away from what else was. What else is going on, but you just gotta do you, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I feel like with this Supreme Clientele, too. It's not even like you channeling your era. This feel like 86 to 88.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah. Cause I'm. I'm from. I'm from that era, you know what I mean? So I love that era, you know what I mean? You know, I'm an R B dude first, you know what I'm saying? So it's like just to try to go back and get a. That's what I was telling you. Like, trying to just get a feeling. Get a feeling. Then I found it. Then I'm like, yo, you know what? Let me call Ty Boogie, you know what I mean, and get him on. Just. Just to more create that feeling, you know? I mean, because I was thinking, like, damn, what I'm gonna go with. Like, I was thinking about a lot of rappers. I'm even Lauryn Hill. I'm like, damn, she got miseducation to Lauryn Hill. And this one got that one. You know, I'm looking at 3ft high and Rising and all that other stuff. And, you know, 25 years from the last time we did Supreme Clientele, it's like, yo, some brothers is dead. You know what I mean? And it was a vibe. It was like, you know, people don't understand, like, if you got a baby, you can't create the same baby, right? You know what I'm saying? So fans be thinking that, yo, you gotta really do it, you know what I mean? Like this. But it's, you know, you first of all, these producers now, they're not making the same beats and stuff that they did before. They caught up in, like, right now. So, you know, I had to find a way, like. And, you know, like you said, God's time is the best time, so. And that's. That's why we here now.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Were you afraid to call a supreme. Well, not fear. Fear is not the right word. But did you have any hesitation about calling it supreme clientele too? Because that gives a different expectation to the body of work?

[Ghostface Killah]

Not really. You know, with me, it's like, if I got the beats and I'm focused and I got time, I could do those all day. It just. It's just a matter of the. The. The. The really. The beats that could just drag me in there. Because the beats is everything. Every. Every verse I ever thrown and whatever I have to set on the beat, it's like the beat talked to me. You know what I mean? I don't know if that makes sense, but it's just music. It just taught. Like, it. Like when I did, all I got is you. It just dragged me there, like I didn't know what I was gonna do when I got it. You know what I mean? I told Rizza, yo, I want that. Boom. I took it home and. And just went another way with it. Just what I felt. And. And that's what. A lot of tracks I make. So. Yeah. But I'm confident in myself that I know that I could do those. I could do those over and over and over again. Just give me some time. And that's it.

[DJ Envy]

You said you sat on Records for 19, 20 years.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I can't hear that in the album, though. It doesn't sound dated.

[Ghostface Killah]

It does.

[DJ Envy]

It sounds hard, right?

[Ghostface Killah]

Like metaphysics. Like the other one I did, that was like 20 years ago.

[DJ Envy]

That's crazy.

[Ghostface Killah]

It was. It was that. It was 20 years ago. The whole three verses was 20 years. Then I got a joint called Candyland that was the same. I just wrote the second verse on that. You know what I mean? And me. And. Me and Meth got one called you, my friend, that. That's. That's. That's one of them tear jerker joints. So it's like. That's from back then. It's a few of them. Fourth Disciple, like, you know. Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When you. You said that when you hear a beat, it takes you there. So the first time you heard impossible beat, right? What. What was your energy, like, what was going on in your. Your world that you just pinned that classic verse?

[Ghostface Killah]

It was the beat. It was the beat. It sounded like it was theatrical. So I'm like, I'm in the studio, we doing. We doing forever. So, you know, I get up in there and I just hear. Heard that beat. And I'm one of them guys that I don't just like a regular beat for the most when I'm doing that. I like for the beat to get ahead and just take me within the beat, like, break down. Just break down on certain points so I can just go ahead and just glide with it and just go with that. Go right into that pocket and slip out. And then, you know, we go here. We go here, like. And that's what it just did to me. But it felt like it talked to me like, call the ambulance. Jamie been shot. Work the Kimmy. Don't go. So you want my motherfucking heart Like. Like, it just. It just. It just. It just had me there. And I. I think I might have came back the next day and finished it because I just wrote a chunk and then I had to leave it alone. Like, don't touch it no more. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you come back and just. And get it again. Why?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Because it was too emotional or.

[Ghostface Killah]

It was all that. It was all it. But you don't want it. When you're dealing with something great and you could feel it, you don't want to just it up, you know what I mean? You just gotta like, yo, hold on. Just chill. You ain't gotta force it. And came back and just. And just finished it off.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Was that based on the true story?

[Ghostface Killah]

Some of it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay.

[Ghostface Killah]

Some of it. Yeah. My. My son's uncle had got shot, I think, on a. On around the fourth of July when I was like, mother came down holding the breast with a gown on and all that. It was like. It was like. When I was in that pocket, it was like that one was. Was real, like, you know what I mean? A lot of other stuff I just added behind it, like, you know what I mean? But the cop was real Officer Low and all this other shit. Yeah. So, you know, I just like to go places.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

What are the artists like you, who's so great at storytelling on every single song? Tell younger artists when they come to you about trying to tell stories because they're moving so fast. It's a lot Different. You take your time even in writing your music. How do you mentor the younger artists.

[Ghostface Killah]

Who don't really get that as far as writing.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

Writing. Yep. And putting it like composing an actual song from start to finish.

[Ghostface Killah]

I mean, like you said, take your time and just think. A lot of rappers nowadays, I don't think they think, you know what I mean? You know, knowledge is infinite. So it's like when you could just sit there and just. This is art first, you know what I mean? So when you could get ahead and just use your mind and just, just go, man, I don't care. Like when we did. When I rounded. When me and Slick, we did the sun but didn't make it on Bulletproof Wallets, nothing like that. Because you basically couldn't find a sample. But it's like, yo, it's just, yo, that's the sun, you know what I mean? You just gotta like. If you got an imagination, you could just go there. Just go. And I don't know how it is for other rappers, you know, because a lot of rappers is a one dimensional, you know, I mean, I'd be like, yo, give me country, let me, let me dive in there, you know, I mean, I don't care, just opera, whatever. Yo, let me just, let me just go in and. And I've tried a way to finesse that. I'm just one of those kind of guys. So when I get the R B tracks, which is my best tracks, I get, hey, I demo that. I need a story here. You need an abstract track, you know what I mean? It's whatever because I enjoy the music of it. Like, you know, I mean just the art, the art form just period.

[DJ Envy]

But I think what you said, I think the trend of I don't have to write, I think that kills it, right?

[Ghostface Killah]

Because you know what it is not to cut you off. Yeah, yeah. It be like now I'm hearing just like Jury, women, cars, bottles, you know, I mean it's, it's limited, like, you know what I mean? Like I'm not be thinking to myself, would a cream would have worked today if we would have dropped that? Like, you know what I mean? I don't know.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Only reason I think so is because I think about the artists who are really having real success. They are detailed in a way. Whether it's the Kendrick Lamar, the J. Cole, Drake. I'm just thinking about the guys from the last 15 years. They are very detailed in a way.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right. I love them. Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like they, they, they music, their lyrics do have a. Have layers but they go, oh, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

But they could all tell a story. Like Kendrick, he tells a story of some of those raps, you guys. But that's what I miss sometimes. I miss driving and. And putting myself into that story.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

You know what I mean?

[Ghostface Killah]

Right. Right Now I see it. Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You said something, man. You said when you and Slick Rick wrote the sun, you like, yo, the sun. Everybody can feel the sun. To go back to the impossible verse. Yeah, I always felt like that's. That feels like a breeze. I don't know any other way to describe it. Did you feel something like that? Like a wind almost?

[Ghostface Killah]

Nah, maybe.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't know.

[Ghostface Killah]

I just knew that it was something. I can't even. I just knew it was something like, like, and. And like the way the beat was, it was just like, okay, it just got more. It did more and more and more. Like it was like a movie, you know, and. And that was it. When I had to break it down and get ready to stop and just ended it. And that's just how. And I got a lot of verses like that. Like, they just be like movies, like, you know what I mean? So I don't know if something did. I was. When I was into it, something was. It was. God blessed me with something and it was on my back like, like, boom. And I just. I just had to knock it out, though.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When people talk about hip hop storytellers, right? Like, your name is up there with the greats, the Slick Ricks, the Nas's, the biggies, all of those individuals, what do you think separates your style of storytelling from them?

[Ghostface Killah]

Probably cause my emotions, I could spill that soul on it. Like when I did Holla, you know what I mean? Like, Old Dirty was like, yo, he's one of them. That gave me like a lot of my soul too. Besides me being in the living room, getting kicked out the living room, you know what I mean? When he was young. But yeah, it was. I think it's the soul. I think I know how to like to lean on on certain tracks and cry on them and just like, you know, like, just do that. Like, just dig in.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, did you. Did you always feel like being emotional was like your superpower? Because especially in hip hop, you know, people often glorify being like cold and detached and emotionless.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you feel like that was a superpower for you?

[Ghostface Killah]

I'm going to lead on later on. Like, even when I hear all I got is you, and I spilled that into that. Like that a lot of times it just. I don't even, like, to. I never really performed that. Like, I did for Ja Rule one time, and it was like, I had to. Like, I told him no. Like, you know me. But he was like, yeah, come on, yo, yo, yo. You know, I mean, and I. And I did it, though, like, but. Because it just bring back too much emotion. Yeah. Of that. But I think I. But later on, because even God bless the dead fat man Scoop, he was like, yo, man. He said, yo. When you did that. He said, yo, go show words. I cried. I cried because that's me. And I'm like, mad. People told me that they cried when I heard that record. So I'm like, if we not freaked me out. But it was like, I had to look and be like, yo, you making these people out here. Like, a tear is literally falling out your face over something that I went like this. Then I start recognizing, like. Like, what it was, like, the gift or what, you know, Like, I don't. I don't. I don't know. Like, you know what I mean? And, you know, it just gets deep after a while. Like, when you think about it, like.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, I always thought about. Always wondered, how did your family feel about all that? I got.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, man, I don't even know.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You never.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah. You know what I mean?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Never have those.

[Ghostface Killah]

Never ask him. Never asked them. I just did it because I'm the type that just do music and like, this album, I might even listen to it. No more. Like, I don't listen to them. I just do it and get it out the way I feel. I feel like.

[DJ Envy]

I feel like sometimes you getting there.

[Ghostface Killah]

You.

[DJ Envy]

You mad, you're emotional, the angry, you do it and be like, I'm done with this.

[Ghostface Killah]

I'm done with it.

[DJ Envy]

That's how I feel when I listen to your music.

[Ghostface Killah]

I'm done with it. Yeah, I'm done with it. I'm done with it. Like. Like, you got. I gotta hear it over and over and over anyway. But, yeah, man, it was. It just. It just. It just be that. That emotion, man. Like, I don't know. Like, you know, I mean, the things I said, especially on that record, it felt like I gave people too much. You know what I mean? Like, too much. But it just came like that. You know what I mean? So it's there. It's out in the world. You can't do nothing about it. Like, yo. But. But, you know, people take it, though.

[DJ Envy]

Do you miss the competitive nature of the group? Right when Wu Tang was. Was rocking and tight.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

You know, if Odb comes with a verse. You'd be like, I gotta eat his verse. Or meth come with a verse, you gotta eat that verse. Do you miss that element of it?

[Ghostface Killah]

Of course. Cause even to right now, it's like, if we all get in there, oh, it's a challenge, you know what I mean? It's competitive. We all trying to be better than. We want the best verse. I want it, he wants it. He wants it. So you're around a bunch of dogs in there that just want the same thing, you know what I mean? And, and I remember back in those days, like, yo, if you couldn't make it, oh, yo, you wasn't getting on, you know what I mean? Brothers say like, nah, that's, that's, that's not it. You know what I mean? So we haven't did that in a minute, you know what I mean? Even if it was right now, I, I, I know a few brothers will get emotional on something. Like, dude, you mean you telling me I can't get on that? You know what I'm saying? But that's just what it was like back then. Like, yo, like, even myself, if genius was on there like that, and he and him and decking him, and it was crazy. I can't touch it. I can't.

[DJ Envy]

Who was that one? Who was the one that you was like, I gotta eat here. That was always just coming from boss.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, man. God damn. Pause, pause, pause, pause. My God. I'm talking lyrics.

[DJ Envy]

I'm talking lyrics.

[Ghostface Killah]

Nah, nah, I know what you mean. I mean, it was if I could do it. It was everybody. It was everybody, like. Cause you want the number one spot. Like, you know what I mean? But I knew with not the touch too, like, no tone. You ain't got it right now. Let that go. And that was it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What record did you hear that on?

[DJ Envy]

Like, yeah, what's the one you missed?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I felt like cre. I always felt like Ghost should have been on Cream.

[Ghostface Killah]

Not at that time. Not at that time. No. They was just him and Deck. Deck. Deck had two verses, mighty ones. And, you know, other one to me was even better than that one.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Really?

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, yeah. He was saying something. He was, he was really inspector. For real? Real.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So what happened with that other first?

[Ghostface Killah]

I don't know. I don't think he put it out yet. Wow. I mean, no, I mean yet. But I don't even think he's gonna do it, you know? I mean, something with some rubber bands, like wrapped in rubber bands. He, I gotta ask him about that again. Like you know, I mean, but yeah, what was it again?

[DJ Envy]

What record did you miss that you feel like, damn, I missed that one.

[Ghostface Killah]

I mean, even when I did Cuban, you know, But I was on too much. So when Ray did Scarface, when I heard Scarface, it was like, it comes on chunky knock out. Yeah, yeah. And I was like. Because I wasn't there. So I'm like, yo, when did he do that one? Like. Like, yeah. But then Rizza was like, yo, nah, you just too much. You. You want too much stuff like that. He needs some solo ones. So that one. And you know, I was there when he despot rushes, whatever the case may be. But yeah, like. Like that. But I know it was mega. More tracks, though. Like, you know what I mean?

[Charlamagne tha God]

What made y' all want to remix? Can it be also simple? Always think about that.

[Ghostface Killah]

I don't know if it was the. If it was the label or whatever that called for the remix or. Or maybe Riz, I'm not too sure. But yeah, so yeah, I like. I like the dad track right there too.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I used to run around just screaming, baggy jeans, wallaby clocks, pretty women. I put it in them shot up Venom.

[Ghostface Killah]

Deadly venom. Yeah. I'm telling you, that it. And those was the days, though. Those was the. See, I missed those days because when I used to hear like, Biggie Nas and like, it made me want to go right? And I can't even run home to go right no more, you know, I mean, unless I'm hearing the locks, somebody that I really like that. Of my peers that I could, you know, that's getting busy, you know, I mean, but nowadays it's really not like that. So a lot of times I don't even listen. I listen to my more R B than I do rap, you know me. Because it's really not there for me. Like. Like, yo, you just do it because you want to do it, like, right. You know me. But I used to. Huh? No, go ahead. Oh, no, no. I'm just saying though, like brothers back like the Mob, Mob albums or Nas album drop. It was like, yo, I gotta go right? I gotta go right? I miss those days.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

I was just gonna ask, even when we were talking about the song from 20 years ago, like, what does inspire you now? Because you don't really get with a lot of the music now, rat wise and R B wise, though, what do you listen to where you're like, oh, I want to go now that you want to go right after R B? Yeah, like what R B songs?

[Ghostface Killah]

I mean, you know, you got. I love Stevie. You know what I mean?

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

So it's still the older R B. It's nothing.

[Ghostface Killah]

Older R B. And. No, and. And the Darnell Joneses and all that. The Jaheems and all that. Like, I. I'll catch a few bars. When I'm hearing that, I'll just catch bars like. Like. Like, yo. And be like, yo, you know what? I'm gonna do one of these kind of tapes or whatever the case may be and just get it. Like. Like, you know, because that's. That's. I love that. Especially 90s.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's your favorite feature on an R B record? Your. Your. Your personal favorite verse? You spit on an R B record.

[Ghostface Killah]

Favorite verse or favorite record?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Give me both. Give me both.

[Ghostface Killah]

I never even looked at it like that before.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You never thought about, what's your favorite?

[Ghostface Killah]

I don't be doing that because people ask me that all the time. Like, yo, what's your favorite, man? I got mad records.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Mine is freaking. You remix with Jodeci.

[Ghostface Killah]

All right. Yeah. All right. That was. That was a minute.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Ridiculous, man.

[Ghostface Killah]

You know what? You might be right now that you said it.

[DJ Envy]

That was.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That was.

[Ghostface Killah]

I picked that one.

[DJ Envy]

That was a hard record.

[Ghostface Killah]

I picked that one. But the best one out that I. That I. That. That. That I had, like, was the one I did with Beyonce.

[DJ Envy]

He made Summertime sound grimy.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Summertime is cool. But that freaking.

[Ghostface Killah]

No, that one might. That's number one, then. That's number one. That's more than Shay Shay to me. You know what I mean? But, yeah. Nah, we was in pocket with that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Where was you. What was the. Tell me how that record happened.

[Ghostface Killah]

We was in the studio with those guys.

[DJ Envy]

International stuff.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, we was in there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, y' all knew y' all was gonna do a record up.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, we was coming in to do the remix, whatever, you know what I mean? But I know that beat was that chunky, though. You know what I mean? When we got in there and then they just put it on and it was just crazy in there. They was in here drinking that. Some red. Some aftershock. Is this. Yeah, aftershock. Some. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to tell you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah.

[Ghostface Killah]

You about to shave or some? So. So I'm like. But he was bent, you know what I mean? And he was just. It was just on there. So just me and Ray. Ray caught his lines. While he's catching his lines, we're catching my lines. And long story short, we just went and did it like he did he laid his. I laid mines and it just came out the way it just came out.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hey, yo, sit back, kick your feet up on the glass table Grab the remote, baby, check my on cable I got the hey Love album plus Jody said roll it up the easy riders in the ashtray Full moon skunk we up all up in the room. You got the munchies, ice cold milk and Lorna dunes How you like it, baby? I like it on the sink. You freak me butt naked and alarm me. Oh, my God, man, power you on study Islam play it off if my wife calls. You're my cousin, Don. That was crazy, man.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yankee. Yo, those were those days, yo. I don't know. It was something in the air at that time, man. It was just. It was just something like. And then we was young, you know what I mean? So your mind is like. It's open. It's like, to whatever. It's just adapting. To what?

[Charlamagne tha God]

How did it feel performing it on Apollo?

[Ghostface Killah]

Oh, it's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah, we just. It was a moment. See, those was moments. Like the same thing when I did with Beyonce at the. At the whatchamacallit at the. The Garden. Forgot my verse right before I went on. Like, I'm scared to death.

[Charlamagne tha God]

The building was shaking. I remember you say that on the dot, yo.

[Ghostface Killah]

Nah. Yeah, it was like that, but I just forgot the verse. Like. Like, I knew it prior, but I just forgot it. Like, you know, I mean, Slick Rick over there throwing chains on and this and that and the third, you know what I mean? But then I'm like, she's singing it already. It's like, yo, I asked my manager like, yo, what's my verse? You know what I'm saying? Like, yo, Mike, what's this? He. He don't know. He's just a manager. I'm like, oh, snap. Like, yo, I'm scared to death. Like, I don't want to do this in front of 20, 000 or whatever it is. I start walking up those steps, and I saw Dame Dash, like, right there from this, like, looking down. He must have seen all the truck up, you know? I mean, he like, oh, I just seen his mouth say, oh, boom, boom. It's coming closer. But I'm scared, like, what the. But I gotta go out. Don't. You know what I mean? God just smacked me, Bow, yo, just like, it just. I just spit it up. Just as soon as the. It was my turn for the verse. It just like, bow. And that's. And it was over. That Was it?

[Charlamagne tha God]

And that was. That wasn't an official remix, right? You did that on your own, right?

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, because my man Tom Larocque, when I was doing Pretty Tony album, he was out there. He was, he was out. He live out there. So he's like, yo, Tone, like, you know, DJ Time, the rock, whatever. You're like, yo, yo, I got this joint, yo. It was Beyonce joint. I'm like, yo played it for me. It was fire, you know, I just went and laid it immediately and I gave it to God Bless the Dead. K. Slay just gave it to him like Maryland. And it was on from there. And I was still out there while I was getting played out here. So I came back from there after like doing my thing and it was. Was popping.

[DJ Envy]

Do you ever look back and. And really think about and take it all in? The success of Wu Tang, the biggest group, that logo. I mean, we have Pete Davis in here. He has, he has it tattooed on him, right?

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

Like superheroes.

[DJ Envy]

But it's not only that. It transcends through generations. Like it' not just 50, 60, you got 30, 20 year old teens that still know that logo and still know.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Y' all at superhero Walmart T shirts.

[Ghostface Killah]

Like, y' all look. You ever look back and be like.

[DJ Envy]

Jesus just, yeah, some kids from Staten island is just like, we gonna find.

[Ghostface Killah]

A way get older. It hit you, you know what I mean? I started seeing it like that when I, when I got older. When I was young, you just in the mix. But when you look be. When you try to put yourself on the outside looking in, it's like, yo, because I didn't know it was gonna be like that. I just knew that we was coming in to do damage. I said, yo, ain't nobody playing with us. Ain't nobody, ain't nobody. We just too ill. Like, boom. But then after a while, it just turned into some cold, you know what I mean? And. And then you still hear like, like, I seen a lot of my favorite. Like, like not. Oh, I like saying old school rappers, but you know that you. Once you look up to. It's like, yo, we still selling out right now. And then my best year with these guys was like the tour that we just did. Like, like, like yo, like, like, you know, I mean, it's met 30 something years later, so. But yeah, nah, it's a. It's an amazing yo man. And I say to myself, I'm like, yo, like, I know there's people that went to the grave with that W. Yeah, you know what I mean like I'll be in Australia. One kid pooped down his pants. It was like, yo. So thigh was old Dirty Bass's face like yo. You know what I mean? Like yo. And I'm like, yo. Wow. Like. Like I'm just grateful. I'm just, I'm just humbled to be a part of something that, that's living when they said it was forever. And you know, I guess the universe took it like that because I'm seeing like 7 year old kids in the, in the stands, you know what I mean? Little ones even. Little what? In that. With shirts on. So I'm like, damn. Like it's still going like, you know what I mean? So I don't know. I'm just here to keep that flag, to raise whatever flag I could raise and just keep it, the movement going like.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's why it's so interesting that you drop a supreme clientele two at a time like this. Because back in 2000, when you.

[DJ Envy]

There's something special about folks who come through without being asked. Like your coworker surprising you with your favorite coffee just because. Or your friend handing you the aux cord the moment you get into the car. No debate, no fight, just positive vibes. That kind of love, it just hits different. And that's exactly the energy. AT&T is on with their new guarantee. If there's ever a network interruption, AT&T will proactively credit you for a full day of service. No calls, no emails, no jumping through hoops. It's just handled. It's like the universe saying, I got you. Except this time it's not the stars aligning, it's your network. And let's be real, that connection is everything. Whether you're holding down the group chat, checking in on your parents scrolling TikTok, your network's gotta come through. And if there's a problem, AT&T is on the case. No stress, no drama, just real backup when it counts. No credit for Fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guaranty for full details. AT&T connecting changes everything.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

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[Hunter (Hunting for Answers Podcast Host)]

I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered Black women and girls in America. There are several ways we can all do better at protecting Black women. My contribution is shining a light on our missing sisters and amplifying their disregarded stories. Stories like Tameka Anderson. As she drove toward Galvez, she was in contact with several people talking on the phone as she made her way to what should have been a routine transaction. But Tameka never bought the car and she never returned home that day. One Podcast, One Mission Save Our Girls Join the search as we explore the chilling cases of missing and murdered Black women and girls. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place or even a relationship? I'm Emily Tish Sussman and on she Pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers.

[Ghostface Killah]

I'm Gretchen Whitmer. Jodi Sweetin.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

Monica Patten. Elaine Welteroth. I'm Jessica Voss. And that's when I was like, I gotta go. I don't know how, but that kicked off the pivot of how to make the transition.

[Ghostface Killah]

Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

Your life is gonna be full of them. Every episode gets real about the why behind these changes and gives you the inspiration and maybe the push to make your next pivot. Listen to these women and more on she Pivots now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Drop supreme clientele it was a lot of people that was like, yo, that saved the Wu Tang brand in a lot of ways. Like, I really kept that flag held high. Did you feel that pressure when you were making it back then or you just were in a.

[Ghostface Killah]

We were just zoning out because you know what happened. Remember how I be saying like, yo, Iron man was like, they only gave me like a few months to get ahead and to do that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, you bug. Every time I hear you say that, I'm like, are you bugging? You'll be like, yo, you didn't like that album?

[Ghostface Killah]

You know what? I just rolled over Cuban Links. I just wrote. I just skated on it and they get ahead and you know, I got rushed with a contract. I'm young like, you know what I mean? So it's like when you're gonna hit me with like 4 or $500,000 but I gotta hurry up and do it in like, like two months, like 60 days, something like that. It's like I had to make a decision, you know, right then, you know, you be like, hold on G. But that's that. How is that? I took that. You know what I mean? But I was under pressed under the gun and my best friend just. He done got caught for something that a body that he even commit. It was dog. Diabetes is on you. You know what I mean? So it was just, it wasn't, you know, it was just, it was gloomy for me. Then I'm shooting it out with the Del Phonics. It's just bad things going on, you know what I'm saying? It was just mad. It was just crazy. But I gotta sit there and, and, and, and try to whatchama, try to get this thing done. So it was like. Only thing I really liked about it, it was a couple of songs I put. All I got is you, you know, I mean. But the album cover was the probably Fly7 album cover ever did. But. And that's, that's it. But I'm just saying I skated on links, right? But then it, it was like, okay, I didn't, you know, I wasn't satisfied. So when we got the supreme clientele, it was like, okay, I had more, more time, you know what I mean? Well, I think I might have did like quick six months, real quick if I'm not mistaken, then came back and finished it off. Right. But yeah, it was, it was just, it was just something that I knew that I always could do because at first I was going to name my first. I was going to name that Supreme Clientele, you know what I mean? But they was like. Or Iron Man. Which one? So I had to ask. I asked RZA Ray and them. They just went with Iron man first.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Iron man was classic, yo. I don't care what you say. I've heard you say that. I heard, I heard you on Drink Champs. I'm like, what? Yeah, man, it's a classic record. Wildflower can made, Daytona 500. Nutmeg. No, nutmeg was on Supreme Clientele.

[Ghostface Killah]

That's pre.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, yeah, but. God dang.

[Ghostface Killah]

I get it. But it was just, it was just. Maybe because it was just a spirit. It was. It was kind of like dark and. And cloudy to me. Like, like even rap wise. I wasn't really like, like, like there with it. I had to hurry up. And I don't like being rushed. So that's why I don't get deadlines no more. If I'm doing music, I don't want no deadline. Like, let me go.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, the first time I met Ghost, I was drunk as hell at a party, some party Wendy Williams was throwing. And I ran up on him outside and started rapping wildflowers.

[Ghostface Killah]

I remember that. I remember that somewhere.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. Yo, I your friend. Yeah, you stink, ho. I seen her on the elevator. Honey, grab my Kango.

[Ghostface Killah]

Word. Yeah, you did tell me back then. I. Yo, yo, you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You're my favorite rapper ever, man.

[Ghostface Killah]

Exactly. Now I respect that. Respect that. Absolutely. Word. Because sometimes I write a couple of bars, a couple of songs and I might think like, I might think of you. Like, you know, I mean, like, I wonder what he gonna think about this. You know what I mean? Like, yo, like, you know what I'm saying? So. Nah, that's love right there though.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, in the, in the press release for the Supreme Clientele too, it says a real rap. No gimmicks.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right?

[Charlamagne tha God]

It's like you don't, like, you don't like gimmicks and rap.

[Ghostface Killah]

What do you say? What you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I saw a press release and it was like this. Supreme Clientele is about real. Supreme Clientele 2 is about real rap. No gimmicks.

[Ghostface Killah]

Oh, okay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But when you will walk, when you had the, the stocking mask on back in the day.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right, right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And you were Ghost face killers. Did you consider that a gimmick?

[Ghostface Killah]

No, I didn't kiss. No, no, I wasn't even thinking like that. It was just like, yo, it was his ghost face. It was like, you know, when I got the name from Mystery of Chess Boxing, you know what I mean? The guy, you know, it was Ghost Face. Oh, Ghostface Killer. You know, he came back after 20 years and just started, like, doing what he do. But I just felt for some reason at that time, I thought that name applied to me, you know what I mean? So, you know, I threw the mask on, you know, I mean, but I took the mask off. I took the mask off because I ain't really have no other masses. Like, I had stocking cap on. You know what I mean? So it's like, you know, you can't really rap all day with a cap on like that, so you couldn't breathe, you heard? So I'm like, yo, now this gotta go, man. You know what I mean? But, you know, as time went on, like, now, you know, they got things like that where you can throw a mask on and, you know, do what you want to. If I would have kept that mask on, I've been crazy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That made y' all mythical figures even back then, because, you know, you. You'd be talking like, yo, yo, what's wrong with Ghostface? People like, y' all think his face is disfigured now. He's on the run. He got on the run.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, I heard the run. Yeah, I heard all that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know what I wanted? It was just.

[Ghostface Killah]

It was just Ghostface.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's what you wanted to do?

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, just Ghostface.

[DJ Envy]

You know, during the recent interview, there was always a rumor in New York that Puff banned y' all from radio. That was like, a big rumor for years and years and years, right? And you kind of confirmed that, so that was true.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How you acting like you don't know you was a dj?

[DJ Envy]

I didn't work at that.

[Ghostface Killah]

During that time.

[DJ Envy]

I was doing mixtapes, okay?

[Ghostface Killah]

Yo, Nah. Cause, yeah, Riz was telling us. He was like, yo. He said, yeah. Puff admitted to it. Like, he was talking. And I think Riz asked him the question, and Puff agreed to it. You know what I'm saying? And I'm like. Because it was just like, after that Hot 97 thing, it just went haywire. It just went. Things just went down. Like, it. It was. It ain't even feel right no more. And. And if Puff did that, that was a nice chess move. Like, you know what I mean? Because he told Rizza. He said, yo, but y' all was just too, like, coming up, you know? Hold on. Did Dirty. Did that. Did Dirty do that before that or. That was after Dirty did they at the Grammys.

[DJ Envy]

He did it.

[Ghostface Killah]

That was after, after, after.

[Charlamagne tha God]

He did it after that. Had to be like, 98. When Dirty did that.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I think it was.

[Ghostface Killah]

All right. So we did forever in 97. Right? Right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. Y' all were nominated for album of the year. It was a rap. No Way Out, Life After Death, Wu Tang Forever. I forgot what else was in that category, right?

[Ghostface Killah]

So, yeah, so he was like, yo. He said so. I'm like, yo, Puff is like, saying that. Yo, y' all was. I guess we was just competition, you know what I mean? And. Yeah, and. And it just was on at that time right there. So we. Yeah, they. They banned us. I guess we should have just stayed on Raised against the Machine and you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

How did that make y' all feel back then when you saw, like, even now, but when you saw all of those white people embrace Wu Tang? Y' all were so pro black still now, though, so militant. White people loved Wu Tang.

[Ghostface Killah]

They started coming. I don't know. I always think. I think about that, and I just think that might have been the knowledge we was. I mean, first of all, you got non members. We up there like Earth, Wind and Fire, man. Everybody is just different, Unique in their own way. And I don't think. I don't think they probably ever seen nothing like that. And then, especially when you got brothers speaking the truth and you know, like, like, like, like. Like people, when you hear the truth, you become attracted to that, like, you know what I mean? And everything else. So I think it's a few things that got the whole world just to come in. Not just blacks, Latinos and stuff like that. So. Yeah, man. And it's funny because when we go overseas, it's like mania. Oh, shit. Like, you get more. I say more love, but it just feels like they just on it.

[DJ Envy]

You said you made more money in the last couple of years than you made before Torn, right. With the new group or with this group? I know there's always problems with the group. Would y' all consider keep going on tour? Because y' all made more than y' all ever made. And I know sometimes the groups is the most difficult thing. Everybody got a schedule. Everybody got emotion, a feeling.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right?

[DJ Envy]

Would that continue to happen? What's your thoughts on it?

[Ghostface Killah]

I mean. I think so. You know what I mean? Like, when RZA said. He said. He said a couple of years ago, yo, we gonna do this Vegas thing, and then we going, we gonna just do. Do a tour. Then we ended it off right there. But then it, like, that's. It just flew by. So when he was up here, Telling y', all, like, yo, that was a shocker to me. Like, hold on. What are you talking about, bro? You know what I mean? And, you know, Final Chapter, this and that and the third. And I'm like, I ain't here about. I ain't know that it's right now. You know what I'm saying? King? I know it's right now. Like. Like, yo, so. So. But in my heart. In my heart, I feel like we still got more to give. I don't. I don't think it's over, over. But I just didn't understand the fact of, like, yo, like, damn, the Final Chapter. It's like, we still selling out, right? Right? Regardless. Like. Like. Like, you didn't have to call it that. You know what I'm saying? All that's just something else. Like, like, you know, and. But, you know, whatever it was. It was beautiful.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

Have y' all talked at all. Have y' all talked at all about continuing after this final tour?

[Ghostface Killah]

Once that was done, we left that last tour, everybody was like, pune. We ain't. You know what I mean? We just. Everybody just went. I think we might got some dates coming up in Europe, probably that they trying to do or whatever, but not to really be like, yo, all right, where we going from? Where we going from here? You know what I'm saying? But like I said, in my heart, I feel like we gonna. I feel it, ain't it. I mean, when you got Bruce Springsteen and these Beetle cats still going and sharing all these, it's like, what? It's money. Go get that.

[DJ Envy]

But y' all got so many records together solo, like, y' all be on.

[Ghostface Killah]

Stage for four hours. Yeah, we do. Yeah. And it'd be hard to pick sometime from the records from, like, that or whatever. Then you got some brothers with less records. That's like, yo, now you can't do all that because, you know what I mean? These guys gotta, you know, whatever, Whatever. So it always be like that. That's one thing about us, though. Like, we can never make a straight decision.

[Charlamagne tha God]

There's too many.

[Ghostface Killah]

Too many. Yeah. You know, I mean, you know me. I want to bring a white furry couch out on stage, do all this other than, yo, come on. No, we gotta step our wardrobe up, yo. We can't be out here looking like we 93. Like, back in 93. This and that and the third, yo, because I seen them. I seen bell biv devoeing them. Matter of fact, the whole new edition in at New Orleans. Hey, yo, Flies. They changed their Outfits all together. Yes. I'm like, yo, that's supposed to be us. I'm telling Ray, like, yo, look, look, look. Boom, boom. You know what I mean? But then when you bring it back to the guys, you'll be excited. But then it's like, nah, nigga, I'm not throwing that on this net. And the third, so I'm like, once you get three and four saying they not doing it, that whole idea is a rap.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I always felt like Wu Tang and New Edition were like. Like cousins. Because when you look at Wu Tang and you look at New Edition, they both essentially did the same thing. You can't name a group where damn near every member had individual success like that. Like, they come together as a group and have super success, but then they break apart and do BBD and.

[Ghostface Killah]

Right. Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Y' all ever had conversations about that?

[Ghostface Killah]

No. I wanted to go on the road with them. You know what I mean? Like, yo, let's see how that'll go. You know what I mean? But, yeah, no, we never really, like. I mean, I know I was in the conversation. There was, though.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But, you know, you know the endless thing about Wu Tang. I've read all of y' all books, right? I've read Ray book. I read your book. You God.

[Ghostface Killah]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Y' all was so deep in the street, but that's not what y' all put out there in the music. Y' all chose to talk about the lessons and, you know, talk about God and, like, give people something of substance. Was that intentional? Because y' all could have been the screen super street rappers if y' all wanted to.

[Ghostface Killah]

I. I think in all reality, I think with us, I think we just. I mean. I mean, besides the street stuff and stuff, I think we just respectful. We just good dudes, man. That. That when we was young, you know, you were surrounded by a bunch of. Not a bunch, but, you know, certain people that was intelligent, that was giving you mathematics and hit, trying to guide you in the right direction. You know what I mean? And then, you know, Wu Tang is like. Like, mainly all God body, You know what I mean? So when you. When you want to bus traveling, you know, them lessons start getting pulled out and this and that and the third, it just. It just shapes you, you know what I mean? So a lot of that, like, my seeds run with his seeds, marry his family. You know what I mean? All that is, like, part of that. It just. It just. It just. It just where your mind was at, like. And, you know. And you. You know, we dipping that we mix it up with that. Mix it up with that, you know? You know, but yeah, for the most part, that's, you know.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you ever. Did y' all ever have conversations about. Yeah, we could rap about busting our guns. We could rap about robbing people. I know y' all do, but not like the. The over glorification of people. Like now. Like nowadays, you got people that just lead with that and probably never even.

[Ghostface Killah]

Oh, yeah. Yes. Nah, nah, man. We just. We just. We just do what we do, bro. Just, you know, I mean, whatever. If that track is like that, if it calls for certain, a little bit of that. Whatever, whatever, you know, I mean, we throw a few of that in there. Hit him with this, hit him with that. And, you know, a couple lines, you know, you got Riz in them. They visit like a doctor, bro. You know, I mean, so that's why his dogs be like, all scientifical, you know what I mean? Even genius, like, you know, I mean, that's why, you know, when I was saying, like, yo, Nas and Jeans is like my favorite rap is like, yo, it's like, you know, and he's smart. He's a genius for real. Real. So it's like. And I learned a lot from him, you know what I mean? So. From all of them, mainly. But yeah, he's just one that really sticks out. Like, if I had his words and it'll be different. That's crazy. His words, like his vocab. I. I was in school, I really listened, you know what I mean? Like, you know, I mean, it was just. I'm in school, but. But the vocabulary. If the vocabulary was more, it'd be trouble.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Have you ever heard yourself, man, what are you talking about?

[Ghostface Killah]

Like, I'm talking about.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Listen, I get what you're saying with genius, but damn.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, like, them. It's like. It's just on another level. And how I look at rap, it's like I. I just. I don't know, Ken. It's just a certain way how I see it. So I know, like, if I was just throwing around the words that. When he be throwing around like that, but putting it, applying it to how I do. Oh, it's just this, this. This right here be a field day.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Damn, that's heavy praise coming from you.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, man. Come on, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When you look at the documentaries and the TV shows about Wu Tang, do you feel Hollywood has ever told the full story, right?

[Ghostface Killah]

No, I mean, basically not. Not. Not for the Hulu series, you know, I mean. I mean, not for me. I Can't speak for that. I can't speak on it. For me, like, the Tony Stark story, like, you know, I mean, I didn't get a chance to tell nobody my story. Like, my side, you know what I mean? But, you know, whatever RZA had, did, or whoever was the writers for that, whatever the case may be, you know, they did what they had to do. Like, you know, I mean, and I'm glad he did it because it just opened us up to, like, a whole new audience. Like, you know what I mean? But. Yeah, but my. My side of the story. Nah, it's different, bro. It's. It's different. So I didn't. I don't feel like they did that. Not with me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Why didn't you get to get to the studio to get on the Heaven record, man, on Jay Z? Magna Carta.

[Ghostface Killah]

Studio? Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I thought you were supposed to be on the Heaven record with J.

[Ghostface Killah]

He. He. They did. I think I might have. I think I might have did that. I think I might, maybe. I think I might writing to it. You know what I mean? And I don't know if they use it or maybe I didn't. I can't remember, man. Maybe I didn't. You know, he check. Maybe I didn't. You know what I'm saying?

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

He didn't make it, or he wrote and he didn't use it.

[Ghostface Killah]

Didn't make it.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, he said, no, he didn't make it.

[Ghostface Killah]

Did I. Did I write to it? You got to beat Ray. Ray. Ray was on his way up there, too, and stuff like that. Oh, you didn't make it. I don't know. I don't remember what happened, but I know you didn't make it up there. I remember shooting them correct corn to go up there. I think Ray made it up there. You didn't make it up there. Did Ray do it?

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, Ray. Not on that record either.

[Ghostface Killah]

They weren't on parade on it unless you were on, right? Oh, I. Yeah, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Always the first time I ever heard Heaven, I'm like, yo, this sound like a rhythm beat. And, you know, Jay starts it off. Arm, leg, I'm head. I was like, yo, Ghost. And Ray would have been crazy on this. And then I heard, hold on.

[Ghostface Killah]

I caught bars to it, though, right? Yeah, but you never went up. You. You never made it up to lay it down. Oh, okay. I know I did something to it. He was right into it. Yeah. All right, cool.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Cuz. I always, always wanted to hear you and Jay on the record ever since the do it Again Video. When you and Cap and Video.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I always wanted to get busy with Jay, you know what I mean? But, you know, J.J. you know, I guess.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What makes you not show up to the studio?

[Ghostface Killah]

I don't know what I was doing that day. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I can't. I really can't remember. But it was. It was something, though. But I would have did it, though, if I was writing to it. I would have did it. I don't know. Probably just one of those. I don't know, man. I. I just. You know damn well.

[DJ Envy]

Ghost.

[Ghostface Killah]

Ghost.

[DJ Envy]

Got to go.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hold on. If Ghost never picked up a microphone, where do you think Dennis Cole's would be right now?

[Ghostface Killah]

Don't say that. It probably wouldn't be good. It wouldn't be good. Wouldn't be good because we was out there doing it. We was out there still, you know? I mean, I was. I mean, R. Had to tell me, like, yo, listen, man, you can't really. You can't mix pork with beef, bro. You know what I mean? I'm hearing what you're doing at this. Whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever. And I had to make a decision, you know what I mean? So that route that I was in, it was. Yeah, it was either in jail, dead somewhere, or whatever. Whatever the streets would have been calling for. That's what it would have been. So that's why I say it wouldn't have been good.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, let's get into a joint off the album. What you want to hear?

[Ghostface Killah]

Go.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You want to do rap kingpin? You want to do the joint with meth? You. You, my friend. What you want to do?

[DJ Envy]

What you want to hear?

[Ghostface Killah]

I mean, you can do both. I forget, dude, do that, then. You know, Join me. Do that then.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, let's get into it now.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, you gotta hear the pause get, too on. Go south.

[Ghostface Killah]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hold on now, because, yeah, man, the pause is the pauses. It's like, yo, yo, I begin here with the pause. Like, yo. And, you know, we from the era when we just talk like, yo, where's that?

[DJ Envy]

I'm 10 songs and I hear that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, like, you ain't hit a pause, kid. No, come on.

[Ghostface Killah]

When you get to. When you hear the albums, all the way straight through. All right. You'll be like, oh, snap. All right, yo, this is gliding with that poor skit. I had to do it because it's like, yo, everybody pausing me, you know, this is. You know what I'M saying, like, this is how I talk, bro. You know what I mean? Like, yo, like. Like I said when I told y', all, blow your head off. Yeah. Serious. Yeah. You know what I mean? But, yo, it got. You know, the pause game is too much right now. I don't even think I ever told somebody. Pause like, pause, like. No. You know what I mean? But. But I've been going at it all the time with the pause. I'd be like, yo, he crazy, man. Yeah, man, I can't write my rhymes, like, you know what I mean, without the engineer telling me. Cause he's younger than me. Yo, yo, yo. I don't think that's a good. You know what I mean? I mean. What you talking about? You don't mean. That's. That's good. This is my. I'm talking like this, yo, but you know, this. Then he got me thinking, you know what I mean? So now I gotta change it up. Like, I'm not used to that, yo.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Nah. The dude on the skit said, nah. We let you live for a long time. You know, back in the day, you said, yo. We eat fish and tossed salads.

[Ghostface Killah]

Make rap balance. He said, yo, It's a fucking. I said, yo. You know what I mean? That's a fresh salad. It's a fresh salad. You know, we call tor salads back then. Fresh out, but still. I mean, I'm a jail this, man. The third. What a salad gotta do with ass. What you gotta do with ass. And just continue from right there, though. But, yo, man, yo, nah, it's. It's. The game is crazy, man. We appreciate you, brother.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[DJ Envy]

Album is out right now.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yes. Ghost Face, Jab City. Hold on. My brother Dre right here. We can do this compilation, this Jab City. Yeah. Come on, King.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What up?

[Ghostface Killah]

You in the club right now. Yeah, yeah. We got that Yap City compilation coming up next, so we just want y' all to look out for that. We got soul thing on the album as well. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

The artist or.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah, okay. Yep. That's the label. So we on. We on Ghost Album supreme, too. Soul thing. And we got other. He said, so he's talking about the record Soul thing with. That's. That's. That's all. You know him Reek the villain pills.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, yeah.

[Ghostface Killah]

My two sons on there. You know what I mean? Nims. Yeah, yeah. You know, Iceman, Bronx, man. You know. Yeah. So. Yeah, yeah, he's up. He's. He's. You're talking about the. On the record. Record on the record. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But Aisha hall on. She on the label, too?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[Ghostface Killah]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Pick up that album.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Supreme clientele too.

[DJ Envy]

Skull's face Killer. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Ghostface Killah]

Hold up.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[Ghostface Killah]

So y' all done?

[Hunter (Hunting for Answers Podcast Host)]

I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult, but it happens all the time to people just like you and people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the hosts of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust Me. New episodes every Wednesday on. Exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

I'm NOAH and I'm 13. And I started this podcast because, honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now you know, with Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence. Who's got it, how they use it, and what it means. For the rest of you, it's not the news, it's what the news should be if someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it. Politics is wild and I'm definitely not here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw Know with Noah de Barrasso on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Various Podcast Hosts (Emily Tish Sussman, Lola Blanc, Megan Elizabeth, Janae aka Cheekies)]

Hey, guys, it's Janae, AKA Cheekies from Cheekies and Chill Podcast. And I'm bringing you an all new mini podcast series called Sincerely, Janae. Sure, I'm a singer, author, businesswoman and podcaster, but at the end of the day, I am human. And that's why I'm sharing my ups and downs with you in real time and on the go. Listen to Chickies and chill on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Host (Various iHeart Podcast Hosts)]

This is an iHeart podcast.