Rise of a Killah - by Ghostface Killah (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The fully-illustrated, anecdote-rich story of the celebrated rapper and the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, told by one of its founding members With his fellow New Yorker RZA, Dennis Coles-aka Ghostface Killah-established the Wu-Tang Clan, the legendary hip-hop group whose flexible format (originally seven members, growing to ten, it performs in various combinations and also allows its members solo careers), danceable singles and intimate melodic lyrics have kept it at the pinnacle of rap and hip-hop from its founding in the early 1990s to today. Rise of a Killah, Ghost's autobiography, is intense rather than comprehensive, looking back at his childhood in Staten Island, his commitment to his family (including a brother with muscular dystrophy) and lifelong sidekicks, how crime and violence have affected his life, his fellow Wu-Tang members, a formative touring trip to Japan in 1997, and his art. Some of the many evocative and exciting elements in the book are Ghost's lyrics-some printed, some included as pages from drugstore black composition notebooks with his hand-written raps-from the '90s, as well as roughly-designed Xeroxed posters for the Clan's earliest performances and throwdowns, great in-concert photographs, a range of shots of limited-edition shoes and clothing, and a newly-commissioned cartoon of an attack on Ghost by an intruder slinging not bullets but bleach. Rich with both story and imagery, some of it exclusive to this book, Rise Of A Killah is both visual record and a real-feel narrative of a performer's life"--

Book Synopsis

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.

About the Author

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.