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The story of the celebrated rapper and the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, told by one of its founding members
Dennis Coles—aka Ghostface Killah—is a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip hop group who established themselves by breaking all the rules, taking their music to the streets during hip hop's golden era on a decade-long wave of releasing anthem after classic anthem, and serving as the foundation of modern hip hop. An all-star cast who formed like Voltron to establish the pillars that serve as the foundation of modern hip hop and released seminal albums that have stood the test of time.
Rise of a Killah is Ghost's autobiography, focusing on the people, places and events that mean the most to him as he enters his fourth decade writing and performing. It's a beautiful and intense book, going back to the creative ferment that led to Ghost's first handwritten rhymes. Dive into Ghost's defining personal moments, his battles with his personal demons, his journey to Africa, his religious viewpoints, his childhood in Staten Island, and his commitment to his family (including his two brothers with muscular dystrophy), from the Clan's early successes to the pinnacle of Ghost's career touring and spreading his wings as a solo artist, fashion icon, and trendsetter.
Exclusive photos and memorabilia, as well as graphic art commissioned for this book, make Rise of a Killah both a memoir and a unique visual record, a "real feel" narrative of Ghost's life as he sees it, a one of a kind holy grail for Wu-Tang and Ghost fans alike.
"A memoir from one of hip-hop's most inventive stylists. … An engaging, revealing look at the wild world of the Wu-Tang Clan and beyond." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Studded with full-color snapshots, the narrative has a free-associative flow, making readers feel as if they're chopping it up with Coles …Devotees of hip-hop's golden age will appreciate this jagged portrait." ―Publishers Weekly
This information about Rise of a Killah was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Ghostface Killah is a founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Their breakthrough debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) forever changed the rap genre, and was followed by the epic Wu-Tang Forever, just to name a few. Ghost's solo career gave birth to classics like Ironman and Supreme Clientele. Born Dennis Coles, the rapper took the name "Ghostface Killah" from a character in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He lives in Staten Island, New York.
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