We haven’t heard from the mighty Ghostface Killah since the release of his 2019 LP. With little to no warning, the Wu-Tang member announced the release of Set The Tone (Guns & Roses) earlier this week. Today (May 10), we are reintroduced to Ghostface’s legacy. These 19 songs sound like a proper continuation of a storied career. Nowadays, when an icon from hip-hop’s golden age makes a return, it can be hit or miss. Some try to reignite the flame they sparked in the 90s, falling into old tricks that feel outdated and tired. Ghostface, on the other hand, welcomes the modern scene. It’s not that Set The Tone is crawling with features from hip-hop’s current giants; it’s the opposite. Appearances from Wu members Method Man and Raekwon, along with Nas, Busta Rhymes, and AZ, round out the feature list. Rather than sitting comfortably in a sound he helped coin, Ghostface explores new territory while harkening back to his past.
Set The Tone is as 90’s-tinged as a modern album can get. He takes the old formula of a classic hip-hop album, including skits, neck-breaking drums, and vicious rhyme schemes, and filters them through an open-minded maturity. Effortlessly, Ghostface returns to his old ways. His rhymes are filled with grandeur and showmanship. He sounds just as hungry as he did on albums like Supreme Clientele, although there is a noticeable difference in his delivery. The luxurious lifestyle Ghostface has always rapped about feels more authentic and withstrained. There is no need for him to hyperbolize his life. He is seemingly living the dream. This makes his words feel all more genuine as if authenticity is something he has ever lacked.
Ghostface crafted an album that dips into soulful vocal samples and aggressive drum patterns. A song like “Scar Tissue” has Nas and Ghostface rhyming with sleek guitars, while a song like “Kilo In The Safe” features hypnotic drum patterns. At the same time, songs like the latter feel forced. As much as this outing feels like a return to form for Ghostface, he can’t help but fall back into youthful habits. The transition between the sultry phone call on “Skit 2” into “Plan B,” a song dedicated to the pill, feels a little out of touch. Ghostface has always mixed in narratives like this on his albums but after a few decades and multiple albums where a one-night-stand didn’t come into play, mixing this into what should be a stellar album distracts from the highs.
Thankfully, Set The Tone has plenty of highs to compensate for the few lows. Songs like “Skate Odyssey” and “Shots” have Ghostface rhyming over danceable drums that emphasize his potent delivery. This is where the album shines. When Ghostface allows his lofty ideas to manifest, they showcase a new side to his artistry. He can unlock new flows and rhythms to deliver his braggadocious rhymes by looking to the future. The artist intertwined these experimental moments with a pure love for hip-hop. The murky minimalism of “Champion Sound” allows Ghostface’s cartoonish energy to flourish. “No Face” is a slow-burning, piano-driven track featuring some of the best rapping Set The Tone offers.
Ghostface Killah’s Set The Tone is a sprawling album with risks that give some rewards and moments that uplift the whole album. While the LP dips into songs that sound forced, the authentic tracks make up for the lost time. He shows that he can keep up with any of the modern rulers of the genre. His rapping abilities and booming delivery have matured like fine wine. Ghostface dips into nostalgia while staying present, creating a star-studded album with minimal lows and soaring highs.
