Killing Them Softly: Ghostface Makes the Pilgrimage

Ye shall know a member of the Wu-Tang Clan by these signs: He will hail from New York and hold aliases aplenty. Oh, and he’ll also possess that instantly recognizable gruff and grimy style of flow. On all points above, Ghostface Killah qualifies.

Before becoming the first amongst his Clan to rock the birthplace of kung fu, the man of many names enlightened us on where they all come from, his personal Wu-Tang favorites, and the meaning behind Chinese proverbs ...

the Beijinger: How many pairs of Wallabees do you own?
Ghostface Killah: Probably owned about couple of hundred, mainly when I was getting ’em painted ’n shit.

tbj: Define your style.
GFK: My style is universal. I make music for everybody.

tbj: Why did you decide to take the name Ghostface Killah?
GFK: It was an ill name... sounds real nice, too.

tbj: Where does Ghost Deini come from?
GFK: It’s just another alias that’s sounding right with what I’m dealing with, from the Supreme Clientele era.

tbj: Why Tony Starks?
GFK: Again, the Clan was comin’ with alias names that were like gangstas ’n shit, so I wanted one that sounded gangsta but worked for setting up the Ironman album...

tbj: In the comics, Ironman becomes this Republican narc who sells out other heroes – does that affect Tony Starks at all?
GFK: I really don’t buy into politics, don’t vote, don’t believe in the system and just don’t get involved with Republicans or Democrats.

tbj: Are you a hero or a villain?
GFK: I’m a hero hopefully for God ... don’t really want to be a villain.

tbj: What's your opinion on DOOM's sending a lip-synching imposter to perform at his shows?
GFK: I never heard that ... I don’t think that’s true but you know somebody must be under the mask ... that shit’s crazy B.

tbj: What's the deal with Swift & Changeable (the MF DOOM collab)? Is it ever coming out?
GFK: I just finished all my parts to the album so sure it’ll come out soon ’nuff.

tbj: Who are some of your favorite producers to work with?
GFK: My favorites are whose beats are hot for my ears at the time. I don’t like picking favorites. But you can look at my albums – I’ve had a lot of favorites on ’em.

tbj: The favorite track you've done:
GFK: My songs are like babies. Do you have a favorite child? Me neither.

tbj: Your best guest spot was what song on whose album?
GFK: Depends. 4th Chamber, GZA. Always liked working with ODB... sometimes with a chick like Beyonce. Summertime.

tbj: Your favorite artists to collaborate with:
GFK: Always love working with my Wu Tang family, D Block … that’s about it.

tbj: Someone you'll never collaborate with again:
GFK: Cant say there is anybody that fits in that circle …

tbj: How did you hook up with the rest of the Wu-Tang?
GFK: We came up together in the same neighborhoods and RZA pulled us all together to meet and soon after record.

tbj: Favorite album by one of the other Wu Tang members:
GFK: Liquid Swords.

tbj: The best rapper in the Wu- Tang:
GFK: We are all the best in our own style.

tbj: Are you into the whole Shaolin thing, or was that something RZA and GZA pushed onto you?
GFK: Shaolin is just another name for Staten Island. Sounds nice.

tbj: Do you consider China to be your Spiritual homeland?
GFK: Wherever God is, that’s my spiritual homeland. God is everywhere.

tbj: What do you think of some of this Chinese proverb: “A fool judges people by the presents they give him.
GFK: That means a dumb man can be tricked by material bullshit.

tbj: “Women hold up half the sky.”
GFK: Woman are the reflection of a man, so if man holds half then the woman holds the other.

tbj: “We think too small, like the frog at the bottom of the well."
GFK: Most people do think small – we only use a small piece of our brain.

tbj: “There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.”
GFK: Eventually we will all answer to God.

tbj: “He who is drowned is not troubled by the rain.”
GFK: Meaning you can’t be hurt by something you already dealing with.

Ghostface performs on Saturday, June 13 (with local DJs Naughty Ray and Golden MIC) at The Star Live. Tickets at www.piao.com.cn, or call 6417 7845 or 800 810 3721. RMB 250, RMB 180 (advance). 9pm.

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