1. Ghostface Killah FishscaleI know, oh, maybe three people who actually like hip hop. It’s a damn shame that the rest of you have to miss out just because of an irrational fear of “black people music.” I love Supreme Clientele, but sometimes RZA’s hazy production gets tiresome. I much prefer the variety found here. Ghostface is in full flight as he spits with precision and emotion over some absolutely huge beats courtesy of Just Blaze, MF Doom and the late J Dilla, among others. The results are nothing short of astonishing. Potentially huge singles abound with monster bangers like “Shakey Dog,” “Kilo,” “The Champ,” Back Like That” and “Be Easy” (awesomely streaming after the jump!). All that without mentioning an essential Wu Tang reunion, a duet with a beyond the grave Biggie Smalls and an MF Doom produced track that recalls the best of Ghostface’s Supreme era Dadaist rap. This is the best rap album since The Blueprint, and honestly, if it weren’t for the unnecessary skits, it would be even better than The Blueprint. (more…)