Ironman (album)

For other albums of the same name (Eric Dolphy, Pete Townshend,...), see Iron Man (disambiguation)

Ironman
Studio album by Ghostface Killah
Released	October 29, 1996
Recorded	1996
Genre	Hip hop
Length	67:12
Label	Razor Sharp/Epic Street/SME Records EK 67729 (North America, first pressing) EK 67955 (North America, second pressing) 485389 (Europe)
Producer	RZA, True Master
Professional reviews
Allmusic [1] A.V. Club (favorable)[2] Robert Christgau (A)[3] Entertainment Weekly (B+)[4] New York Times (favorable)[5] Rhapsody (favourable)[6] Rolling Stone [7] The Source [8] Spin Magazine (7/10)[9] Vibe (favorable)[10]
Ghostface Killah chronology
Ironman (1996) Supreme Clientele (2000)
Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology
GZA: Liquid Swords (1995) Ironman (1996) Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang Forever (1997)
Singles from Ironman
"Daytona 500" Released: 1996 "All That I Got Is You" Released: 1996

Ironman is the solo debut album by American Hip-hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. The LP is slightly different to other first generation solo albums released by Wu-Tang members, owing much of its thematic scope, mythology and samples from classic 1960s and 1970s blaxploitation as well as a wider range of Soul samples. It is also notable for being considerably more open in its references to the Nation of Gods and Earths and the Clan's beliefs.

Background

Though a solo, the album is filled with Wu-Tang collaborations and only two tracks ("Wildflower" and "Poisonous Darts") feature Ghostface on his own. The two most prominently featured artists are Raekwon and Cappadonna, who accompany Ghost and have their names featured on the album's cover. Raekwon appears on 13 of the 17 tracks, with "The Faster Blade" featuring him performing solo, and Cappadonna is featured on 5 of the 17 tracks.

Contrary to the earlier Wu-Tang solo albums, in which the performers involved were believed to be infallible, Ghostface is ironically very "human" and quite vulnerable on a large majority of Ironman. This is perhaps best illustrated in the album's second single, "All That I Got Is You", essentially a song Ghostface wrote as a tribute to his mother. The rest of the album, however, contains many street oriented, and mafioso topics, similar to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... The album features more of Ghost's highly praised unique uptempo, stream-of-consciousness rhyming style, which he would go on to utilize on his highly acclaimed sophomore album Supreme Clientele. The album also utilizes a substantial amount of story-telling rap, such as the song "260." Producer RZA combines his dark keyboard tones and early-1970s soul samples, heavily used on Liquid Swords and Only Built for Cuban Linx... respectively, to engender a soulful and melodic yet dark and harsh feel that later influenced many other Wu-Tang releases, such as Wu-Tang Forever and Uncontrolled Substance, as well as numerous other East Coast artists.

In his book The Tao of Wu, producer RZA points out that Ghostface's voice sounds noticeably different on Ironman than previous Wu-Tang releases. This is because Ironman was released following a 1994 flood that destroyed the basement studio in which those recordings were made. RZA had set up individual microphone preamps and compressors for each member, which were destroyed in the flood. Thus, the vocals on Ironman had to be recorded in a different studio with different equipment and settings, slightly altering their sound. ^[11]

Reception

The album found considerably large success within the rap underground, enough to enter the pop charts number two on its release. The album has since been certified Platinum.

Rolling Stone (12/12/96, p.82) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "After defining the music's rhythm in his dusted, offbeat, signature style, RZA emphasizes simple, precise percussion and bass thuds that are augmented by moody traces of lush strings, baroque riffs and samples from ’60s soul records."

Spin (2/97, p.90) - 7 (out of 10) - "Ghostface raps a more explosive variant of the chippy, Wu-Tang rhyme combinations....This guy just sounds mean—brutal, skilled, and unpredictable. As usual, [RZA] provides awesomely dark and eccentric backdrops for the MC’s dark maneuvers."

Entertainment Weekly (11/08/96, p.69) - "The latest from the Wu-Tang Clan member finds Ghostface talking vehemently about sex, politics, and sexual politics...." - Rating: B+

Q (6/00, p.123) - 3 stars out of 5 - "More about lyrical finesse than anything else. 'Daytona 500' is a magnificent, fast-paced testing of skills with Raekwon and Cappadonna...everything is delivered with tongue-twisting Wu-Tang virtuosity that untangles with every listen."

The Wire (10/01, p.46) - "A masterpiece...Raekwon and Ghost raise the slang bar quickly, analogizing various mysterious practices to various foods."

Vibe (12/96, p.186) - "Ghostface bangs out sarcastic, street-camouflaged wildness...If Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...had you open, prepare for another gaping wound."

The Source (12/96, p.124) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "Introspective lyrics, haunting melodies and intense emotional moments...[The] RZA does another masterful job, topping himself in terms of sonic diversity..."

Rap Pages (1/97, p.25) - "Yet another tangled web of expectations-bashing yarns; an exhilarating listen...with moments to inspire both cardiopulmonary palpitations and contemplative nods...Ironman is the Wu banger to challenge your demands and ultimately win you over..."

NME (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #29 in NME's 1996 critics' poll.

Track listing

• "The Soul Controller" was removed from later pressings of the album, due to sample rights not being cleared.

Charts

References