Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack)

The soundtrack of the 1999 Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai features an original score by RZA and also features hip-hop songs by such artists as Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest, and Public Enemy. Two soundtrack albums were released, one internationally and another in Japan, each with different song mixes, some of which do not appear in the film. There are many songs, however, that can be heard in the film that appear on neither soundtrack album.^{[citation needed]} It is the RZA's first fully scored film work, something he would go on to do from here.

Song soundtrack release

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai – The Album
Soundtrack album by RZA, various artists
Released	April 11, 1999
Genre	Hip hop
Label	Razor Sharp/Epic/SME Records EK 69794 (north America) 496146 (international)
Producer	RZA
Professional reviews
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RZA, various artists chronology
RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo (1998) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack) (1999) Hits (1999)

The song soundtrack features music from the film as well as quotations from Hagakure: the Book of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamoto (translated into English by William Scott Wilson) as read by Forrest Whitaker in the voice of the title character. However, the focus of this album is on the songs, not the instrumental score of the movie.

1. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
2. "Strange Eyes" – Sunz of Man/12 O'Clock/Blue Raspberry
3. "4 Sho Sho" – Northstar/RZA/Blue Raspberry
4. "Zip Code" – Black Knights
5. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
6. "Cakes" – Kool G Rap
7. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
8. "Don't Test/Wu Stallion" – Suga Bang Bang
9. "Walking Through the Darkness" – Tekitha
10. "The Man" – Masta Killa/Superb
11. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
12. "Walk The Dogs" – Royal Fam/La the Darkman
13. "Stay With Me" – Melodie/12 O'Clock
14. "East New York Stamp" – Jeru the Damaja and Afu-Ra
15. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
16. "Fast Shadow" – Wu-Tang Clan
17. "Samurai Code Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
18. "Samurai Showdown" – RZA
19. "Samurai Code Final Quotation" – Forest Whitaker
20. "Flying Birds (hidden bonus instrumental)" – RZA (only on vinyl version)
21. "Ninja Step (hidden bonus instrumental)" – RZA (only on vinyl version)

Score release

Music from the Motion Picture Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai
Soundtrack album by RZA, various artists
Released	November 20, 2001
Genre	Hip hop
Label	JVC Records
Producer	RZA
Professional reviews
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The score release, only available in Japan, focuses on the original instrumental score of the movie, featuring tracks that are not on the US release. It also includes cuts by Wu-Tang Clan and RZA that are not in the movie.

1. "Ghost Dog Theme" (with Dogs and EFX)
2. "Opening Theme" ("Raise Your Sword") [Instrumental]
3. "Flying Birds"
4. "Samurai Theme"
5. "Gangsters Theme"
6. "Dead Birds"
7. "Fast Shadow [Version 1] – featuring Wu-Tang Clan
8. "RZA #7"
9. "Funky Theme"
10. "RZA's Theme"
11. "Samurai Showdown" ("Raise Your Sword") – featuring RZA
12. "Ghost Dog Theme"
13. "Fast Shadow" (version 2) – featuring Wu-Tang Clan
14. "Untitled #8" – Not used in the film
15. "Untitled #12" (Free Jazz) – Not used in the film
16. "Wu-World Order" [Version 1] – featuring Wu-Tang Clan (not used in the film).

Other songs in the film

A number of songs appear in the film but are on neither soundtrack album release. They include the following:

• "Ice Cream" – written by R. Diggs and C. Woods, arranged by RZA; performed by Raekwon featuring Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna.
• "From Then Till Now" – written by Walter Reed, Ernest Aye, D. Black, J. Barry and W. Warwick; performed by Killah Priest
• "Armagideon Time" – written by Willi Williams and Clement Dodd; performed by Willi Williams
• "Nuba One" – written by Andrew Cyrille and Jeanne Lee; performed by Andrew Cyrille and Jimmy Lyons
• "Cold Lampin' with Flavor" – written by Flavor Flav, Hank Shocklee and Eric Sandler; performed by Public Enemy
• "Dangerous Fun" – written and performed by William Loose
• "Fire House Rock" - performed by Wailing Souls

References

• Soundtrack Collector, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
• Soundtracks for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Internet Movie Database.

External links

• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai at the Internet Movie Database
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai at AllRovi
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai at Rotten Tomatoes