Rise of a Killah

Rapper Ghostface Killah (The World According to Pretty Toney), a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan and prolific solo artist whose legal name is Dennis Coles, portrays in his heartfelt memoir the "sharper than cleats" youth he drew on for his rhymes. Studded with full-color snapshots, the narrative has a free-associative flow, making readers feel as if they're chopping it up with Coles as he reminisces about the painful background to such songs as 1996's "All That I Got Is You." He describes, for instance, how, as a preteen, he took care of his two younger brothers with muscular dystrophy after his parents separated in early-'80s Staten Island. Stories of the thefts, robberies, and drug deals that came a few years later are vaguer by comparison. Also featured are bracing depictions of Coles's mental health issues and struggles to manage his diabetes so he can continue to tour, which lend a poignant note to the book's triumphant conclusion ("We the Rolling Stones of this hip-hop shit," Cole says of the Wu-Tang Clan, which formed in 1992). Just as revealing are his descriptions of the writing process behind his cinematic verses, which have often been inspired by hearing bandmate RZA's production tracks ("I see things so vividly"). Devotees of hip-hop's golden age will appreciate this jagged portrait. Illus. (May)

A memoir from one of hip-hop's most inventive stylists. As a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and throughout his solo career, Dennis Coles (b. 1970), aka Ghostface Killah, has been one of the most creative rappers in the game. In this deeply personal text, the author narrates his life story through 15 of his songs. It's a testament to the richness of his rhymes to see him communicate the same thoughts and feelings in a handful of couplets as he does in a full chapter of prose. Sure, Ghostface offers more context and details in each chapter, whether he's writing about the struggles of his youth that inspired "All That I Got Is You" or his time selling drugs in "Poisonous Darts," but that is also a little too straightforward for such a creative artist. Ghostface occasionally uses graphic-novel techniques to make some points, and he turns over the narrative to friends and colleagues to make others. There is no sanitizing of his history here. Ghostface is frank about his drug use, his arrests and time in jail, and his health issues--especially how his diabetes can affect his performances and creativity. He also takes time to educate people about the problems in the music industry, what Islam means to his life and his art, and the impact of slavery and racism on hip-hop and America. "My ancestors used to get whipped, and the rest of the slaves had to sit out there and watch them get whipped until they died," he writes. "When I watched George Floyd die, it felt like that." His expansive thoughts on any number of topics are fascinating whether you follow hip-hop or not. The book is vividly designed, featuring pull quotes, sidebars, and color photos. An engaging, revealing look at the wild world of the Wu-Tang Clan and beyond. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.