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Fishscale is the fifth solo album by Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. The name is a reference to a potent form of cocaine named Peruvian Fishscale. It was released by Def Jam on March 28, 2006. The single "Back Like That" reached #39 on the US hip-hop charts, while "Be Easy" reached #100.

A sampler was released at the end of January 2006 that contained full versions of "Be Easy", "Back Like That", and "Kilo", as well as shortened versions of "Big Girl" and "Charlie Brown" (the latter of which was produced by MF DOOM and did not end up on the album). Upon release, the album received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The album contains many collaborations with Theodore Unit and the Wu-Tang Clan members, however, it is the first Ghostface album to not use any RZA production, although the RZA (as well as the rest of the clan) appears on 9 Milli Bros.

It should be noted that J Dilla's productions are taken from his album Donuts, and that MF DOOM's productions are taken from his Special Herbs series of albums.

Critical acclaim

Critics received the album extremely positively. Many cited Ghost's near-surgical wordplay and frantic yet careful flows as being in top form on the album. Much acclaim was also directed towards the variety of topics Ghost addresses, from grand crime dramas based on the lives of drug kingpins (as in "Kilo"), to the frantic lives of street hustlers ("Shakey Dog"), childhood ("Whip You With a Strap"), love ("Back Like That", "Jellyfish"), and pure surreality ("Underwater"). The album also ventures into genre exercises, approximating a club banger with "Be Easy" and battle rhymes with "The Champ."

Critics also cited the album's heavy reliance on soul samples, and Ghost's comfort in their context, as a great strength. Production credits include the late J Dilla, MF Doom, and Pete Rock among others. Finally, many thought the guest spots on the album, particularly from long-term collaborator Raekwon, gave the album a stirring chemistry.

As with all of the acclaimed Wu-Tang solo releases, Fishscale renewed enthusiasm for other future Wu projects, including upcoming albums from Raekwon, Masta Killa, and Method Man. Though there is typically a steady interest in Wu-Tang projects, interest had lulled as many critics and fans considered recent efforts by other members of the Wu-Tang conglomerate as somewhat lackluster.

Track listing

"The Return of Clyde Smith" (Skit) – 1:04
"Shakey Dog" – 3:44
"Kilo" featuring Raekwon – 4:00
"The Champ" – 4:09
"Major Operation" (Skit) – 0:06
"9 Milli Bros." featuring Wu-Tang Clan – 4:14
"Beauty Jackson" – 1:32
"Heart Street Directions" (Skit) – 0:54
"Columbus Exchange" (Skit) / "Crack Spot" – 2:21
"R.A.G.U." featuring Raekwon – 2:39
"Bad Mouth Kid" (Skit) – 1:10
"Whip You With a Strap" – 2:51
"Back Like That" featuring Ne-Yo – 4:02
"Be Easy" featuring Trife – 3:19
"Clipse of Doom" featuring Trife – 3:09
"Jellyfish" featuring Theodore Unit (Cappadonna, Shawn Wigs & Trife) – 3:50
"Dogs of War" featuring Raekwon & Theodore Unit (Trife, Cappadonna & Sun God) – 4:04
"Barbershop" – 1:56
"Ms. Sweetwater" (Skit) – 0:14
"Big Girl" – 3:35
"Underwater" – 2:03
"The Ironman Takeover" (Skit) – 0:05
"Momma" featuring Megan Rochell – 4:49
"Three Bricks" (bonus track) featuring The Notorious B.I.G. & Raekwon – 4:58

Production

Tracks 6, 15, 16 & 21 produced by MF DOOM
Tracks 10, 14 & 17 produced by Pete Rock
Tracks 7 & 12 produced by J Dilla
Track 2 produced by Lewis Parker
Track 3 produced by MoSS
Track 4 produced by Just Blaze
Track 9 produced by Crack Val
Track 13 produced by Xtreme
Track 18 produced by Studio Steve
Track 20 produced by Ghostface Killah
Track 24 produced by Cool & Dre

External links

Fishscale ⚠ "mbid" is missing! at MusicBrainz

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 '''''Fishscale''''' is the fifth solo album by [[Wu-Tang Clan]] member [[Ghostface Killah]]. The name is a reference to a potent form of [[cocaine]] named [[Peru|Peruvian]] [[Fishscale cocaine|Fishscale]]. It was released by [[Def Jam]] on [[March 28]], [[2006]]. The single "Back Like That" reached #39 on the US hip-hop charts, while "Be Easy" reached #100.
-A sampler was released at the end of January 2006 that contained full versions of "Be Easy", "Back Like That", and "Kilo", as well as shortened versions of "Big Girl" and "Charlie Brown" (the latter of which was produced by [[MF DOOM]] and did not end up on the album). Upon release, the album received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The album contains many collaborations with [[Theodore Unit]] and the [[Wu-Tang Clan]] members.
+A sampler was released at the end of January 2006 that contained full versions of "Be Easy", "Back Like That", and "Kilo", as well as shortened versions of "Big Girl" and "Charlie Brown" (the latter of which was produced by [[MF DOOM]] and did not end up on the album). Upon release, the album received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The album contains many collaborations with [[Theodore Unit]] and the [[Wu-Tang Clan]] members, however, it is the first Ghostface album to not use any RZA production, although the RZA (as well as the rest of the clan) appears on 9 Milli Bros.
 It should be noted that [[J Dilla]]'s productions are taken from his album [[Donuts (album)|Donuts]], and that [[MF DOOM]]'s productions are taken from his Special Herbs series of albums.