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Rise of a Killah
The 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.
Rich with both story and imagery, Rise Of A Killah is both visual record and a real-feel narrative of a performer’s life.
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.
Rich with both story and imagery, Rise Of A Killah is both visual record and a real-feel narrative of a performer’s life.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2024
32 people are currently reading
2777 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 15, 2024
Let me start by saying this - Ghostface is my favorite Wu member. I waited a long time for him to write a memoir, so when I heard he finally wrote one, I was eager for it to come out.
Now, I’m just disappointed. This book was written horribly. I listened to the audiobook (I wish Ghostface narrated it himself, but it was narrated by someone else) ... and it just felt like someone gave Ghost a tape recorder where he could talk for a few hours, and then they transcribed his words and called it a book.
There was no structure whatsoever to this book. One chapter may start off telling a story, but then a few minutes later he’s talking about how when he’s in a plane the trees look like broccoli, and that broccoli is green. And the earth is green, and the different colors that he surrounds himself with, and ya know, like that green earth because of the trees (yes, this was an actual example from the book, but not word for word) .... This kind of thing happened over and over in the book, where it would get repetitive and he’ll say the same thing over and over 2-3 times in a row. That’s how I know this was Ghost just talking, and not actually writing and carefully planning his thoughts.
I understand writing a book may not be Ghost’s true talent, because we all know his true talent is on the mic. The man is a lyrical genius. But I wish he would have hired an author to write this for him. And if he did hire an author to write this, he should ask for a refund.
Don’t get me wrong, some parts were interesting, and it he kept real and got honest about his health issues. He also had an overall positive message about spirituality and trying to do the right thing in life nowadays. I totally respect that, and I will always have mad respect for Ghost as a rapper. But, I just feel like this book had a lot of potential, but fell very short. I expected so much more.
Now, I’m just disappointed. This book was written horribly. I listened to the audiobook (I wish Ghostface narrated it himself, but it was narrated by someone else) ... and it just felt like someone gave Ghost a tape recorder where he could talk for a few hours, and then they transcribed his words and called it a book.
There was no structure whatsoever to this book. One chapter may start off telling a story, but then a few minutes later he’s talking about how when he’s in a plane the trees look like broccoli, and that broccoli is green. And the earth is green, and the different colors that he surrounds himself with, and ya know, like that green earth because of the trees (yes, this was an actual example from the book, but not word for word) .... This kind of thing happened over and over in the book, where it would get repetitive and he’ll say the same thing over and over 2-3 times in a row. That’s how I know this was Ghost just talking, and not actually writing and carefully planning his thoughts.
I understand writing a book may not be Ghost’s true talent, because we all know his true talent is on the mic. The man is a lyrical genius. But I wish he would have hired an author to write this for him. And if he did hire an author to write this, he should ask for a refund.
Don’t get me wrong, some parts were interesting, and it he kept real and got honest about his health issues. He also had an overall positive message about spirituality and trying to do the right thing in life nowadays. I totally respect that, and I will always have mad respect for Ghost as a rapper. But, I just feel like this book had a lot of potential, but fell very short. I expected so much more.
July 6, 2024
Ghost written by a child in Ghostfaces' building or some shit
May 23, 2024
I had really high expectations since the Raekwon and U-God books were so great. Ghostface is in my Top 5 so I was really looking forward to this read.
Don't even know where to start; it seems like someone came to Ghost with the idea to write a book and it was done hastily as a quick money grab. It's obvious that someone just sat with Ghost and recorded his stream of consciousness rants about random stories and bits and pieces of his life and his philosophy and just typed it all out. There wasn't much of an insightful look at his albums or creative process and not much of a deep dive on anything. Had to skip through most of the ending of the book because he basically said a whole lot about nothing in regards to his spirituality/philosophy on life.
Don't even know where to start; it seems like someone came to Ghost with the idea to write a book and it was done hastily as a quick money grab. It's obvious that someone just sat with Ghost and recorded his stream of consciousness rants about random stories and bits and pieces of his life and his philosophy and just typed it all out. There wasn't much of an insightful look at his albums or creative process and not much of a deep dive on anything. Had to skip through most of the ending of the book because he basically said a whole lot about nothing in regards to his spirituality/philosophy on life.
November 30, 2024
I struggled with Rise of a Killah from start to finish. The writing style, heavily influenced by dialect and a non-linear narrative, made the story incredibly hard to follow. While the book starts off in what seems like chronological order, it frequently jumps around without clear transitions, leaving me lost and unsure of what I was reading.
The repetitiveness of certain sentences, combined with the disjointed organization, made it difficult to pick up the book and immerse myself in the story. I’d often think I was reading about one topic, only to realize a few lines later that it had shifted entirely to something else.
Ghostface Killah’s voice is undeniably unique, and his reflections on his religious beliefs offered some moments of interest. However, many of his ideas felt difficult to grasp—like his explanation of why water is blue, which involved mixing yellow and green based on the sky and plant life. This passage epitomized how confusing the tone and cadence of the book were for me as a reader.
Much of the narrative includes vague references that would likely resonate with long-time fans, but as someone unfamiliar with his music and backstory, I felt completely out of the loop. He frequently references celebrities I recognized, but beyond that, I struggled to connect with his perspective or experiences.
I only finished this book because I didn’t want to DNF a review copy. Unfortunately, unless you’re a dedicated fan of Ghostface Killah and well-versed in his work, this book is likely to leave you confused and frustrated.
The repetitiveness of certain sentences, combined with the disjointed organization, made it difficult to pick up the book and immerse myself in the story. I’d often think I was reading about one topic, only to realize a few lines later that it had shifted entirely to something else.
Ghostface Killah’s voice is undeniably unique, and his reflections on his religious beliefs offered some moments of interest. However, many of his ideas felt difficult to grasp—like his explanation of why water is blue, which involved mixing yellow and green based on the sky and plant life. This passage epitomized how confusing the tone and cadence of the book were for me as a reader.
Much of the narrative includes vague references that would likely resonate with long-time fans, but as someone unfamiliar with his music and backstory, I felt completely out of the loop. He frequently references celebrities I recognized, but beyond that, I struggled to connect with his perspective or experiences.
I only finished this book because I didn’t want to DNF a review copy. Unfortunately, unless you’re a dedicated fan of Ghostface Killah and well-versed in his work, this book is likely to leave you confused and frustrated.
June 15, 2024
They got my favorite MC high and had him talk into a microphone for some hours. Some of the results are great, especially when he is talking about creating his hit albums and how he wrote certain songs, but there is a bit too much "pass-it-on-the-left" type stoned talk about how we are on the Earth and it's moving mad fast and Ghostface's theories on animals development and heaven and such. This is a mixxed bag that is 75% doo-doo and 25% gold.
June 27, 2024
I loved this book! I love that it clearly came from the heart and he did it for the fans. I loved learning more about the other wutang members and understanding his creative process. I also liked how he discussed his time in Benin. I loved his loyalty to his Wu brothers and I actually liked he had other people step in sometimes to help him tell his story. Still it’s authentically Ghostface’s voice. Also give the audiobook narrator Landon Woods allllll the flowers cause he did his thing!!
July 1, 2024
..godīgi sakot, neesmu pārlieku daudz klausījies nedz Wu, nedz katru atsevišķi (ar retiem izņēmumiem), bet paklausīties šo bija interesanti. daudz gan lieka šai grāmatā, īpaši uz beigām, kad viņš stāsta par pasaules lietām un Allāhu.
January 2, 2026
Provided great insight to the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Ta g Clan and some good personal gems to structure life by.
May 28, 2024
*I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is an honest review.
I may not be the target audience, as I am not a Wutang Clan fan, but I love reading memoirs of lots of folks- people I’m a fan of and people I am not. I was initally excited to learn about someone I knew nothing about.
I was open minded throughout the whole book, even through the stream of consciousness writing that some other reviewers mention. As we passed the halfway mark however, we get into ableism, green and yellow make blue, and then eventually that instead of protests people should just go out and start killing people.
I can’t get behind any of that.
Add in that I think he contradicts his own points and beliefs throughout- just not a book I could follow, get behind, or understand what my takeaways were supposed to be. Not a fan. Would not recommend.
I may not be the target audience, as I am not a Wutang Clan fan, but I love reading memoirs of lots of folks- people I’m a fan of and people I am not. I was initally excited to learn about someone I knew nothing about.
I was open minded throughout the whole book, even through the stream of consciousness writing that some other reviewers mention. As we passed the halfway mark however, we get into ableism, green and yellow make blue, and then eventually that instead of protests people should just go out and start killing people.
I can’t get behind any of that.
Add in that I think he contradicts his own points and beliefs throughout- just not a book I could follow, get behind, or understand what my takeaways were supposed to be. Not a fan. Would not recommend.
June 20, 2024
This book is basically 3 parts:
- first third, 4 stars, easily the best part of the book. He describes his upbringing and how he lived before getting into music
- next third, 3 stars, he describes a bunch of different anecdotes and stories while he was touring and making music. This part was ok, but I got lost in a lot of the stories. Some of the stories were great, but overall just ok
- last third, 2 stars, he gets philosophical. I appreciate it was genuine from his perspective, but I found most of it bizarre
I listened to the audiobook, the narrator Landon Woodson did a brilliant job!
- first third, 4 stars, easily the best part of the book. He describes his upbringing and how he lived before getting into music
- next third, 3 stars, he describes a bunch of different anecdotes and stories while he was touring and making music. This part was ok, but I got lost in a lot of the stories. Some of the stories were great, but overall just ok
- last third, 2 stars, he gets philosophical. I appreciate it was genuine from his perspective, but I found most of it bizarre
I listened to the audiobook, the narrator Landon Woodson did a brilliant job!
August 3, 2024
I’m a bit stunned. What a bizarre book. I did the audio version which was really something to hear with all the slang. The book was all over the place. Starts with a bunch of violence, ends with a lot of preaching on sins, and has stuff about performing music with JayZ, Missy, Biggie, etc in the middle. I feel like I’ve been whiplashed from another planet. Wouldn’t recommend.
January 14, 2025
I'm not sure this counts as a book? Occasionally riveting, more often incoherent. This "book" seems instead to more or less be a transcription of Ghostface talking for hours and he certainly tells some great stories along the way, but it's shocking a publisher would release it in this form. The transcription errors are often hilarious. "Lerisa" = The RZA, "Knives" = Nas, you get the idea...
June 19, 2025
This book was a pleasant surprise. Going into it, I didn’t know much about the Wu-Tang Clan, but I found myself completely drawn in. The storytelling was compelling and kept me coming back for more. As someone who enjoys a few Ghostface Killah songs, I was especially intrigued to learn more about his personal journey, and the book didn’t disappoint.
I loved the way the stories unfolded — each chapter felt like its own snapshot of a moment in time, yet together they painted a vivid picture of Ghostface’s life, the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan, and the cultural pulse of the 90s hip-hop scene. It wasn’t just about music; it was about life, struggle, growth, and evolution. I especially connected with some of the spiritual reflections he shared throughout — they added a thoughtful, introspective layer to his story that made it even more meaningful.
If I had one critique, it would be that at times the structure felt a bit scatterbrained. The book reads more like a collection of loosely connected stories rather than a fully linear narrative. That said, it still manages to come together in a cohesive and powerful way.
I would absolutely recommend this book — not just to hip-hop fans or those familiar with Wu-Tang Clan, but to anyone who appreciates a raw, honest, and well-written life story. It’s insightful, entertaining, and full of depth.
I loved the way the stories unfolded — each chapter felt like its own snapshot of a moment in time, yet together they painted a vivid picture of Ghostface’s life, the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan, and the cultural pulse of the 90s hip-hop scene. It wasn’t just about music; it was about life, struggle, growth, and evolution. I especially connected with some of the spiritual reflections he shared throughout — they added a thoughtful, introspective layer to his story that made it even more meaningful.
If I had one critique, it would be that at times the structure felt a bit scatterbrained. The book reads more like a collection of loosely connected stories rather than a fully linear narrative. That said, it still manages to come together in a cohesive and powerful way.
I would absolutely recommend this book — not just to hip-hop fans or those familiar with Wu-Tang Clan, but to anyone who appreciates a raw, honest, and well-written life story. It’s insightful, entertaining, and full of depth.
January 30, 2025
I've been a huge fan of Wu-Tang since Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) dropped when I was in middle school. Over the years, I’ve read books from various Wu members and affiliates—Buddha Monk’s memoir comes to mind—and enjoyed getting deeper insights into their lives and creative processes. Naturally, I was excited to read Ghostface Killah’s book, given his status as one of the most talented and charismatic figures in the Clan.
Unfortunately, this is easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read. It reads like someone just transcribed Ghost’s stream-of-consciousness rants without any attempt to structure or refine them. While there are some interesting nuggets of information buried in the text, getting to them is an exhausting process. The book lacks cohesion, often jumping erratically between topics with little sense of narrative flow.
If you're a die-hard Ghostface fan, you might find some entertainment in his raw, unfiltered voice. But if you're looking for a well-organized memoir or a deep dive into his music and life, this book is a frustrating read. I expected better from such a gifted storyteller.
Unfortunately, this is easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read. It reads like someone just transcribed Ghost’s stream-of-consciousness rants without any attempt to structure or refine them. While there are some interesting nuggets of information buried in the text, getting to them is an exhausting process. The book lacks cohesion, often jumping erratically between topics with little sense of narrative flow.
If you're a die-hard Ghostface fan, you might find some entertainment in his raw, unfiltered voice. But if you're looking for a well-organized memoir or a deep dive into his music and life, this book is a frustrating read. I expected better from such a gifted storyteller.
May 23, 2025
Well this was certainly a disappointment. It starts off good with stories of Ghost’s upbringing then going into his drug & violence fueled teens before briefly going into the Wu-Tang Clan forming.
The rest is about his solo career, complete with alot of bragging. A chunk of the braggy bits are done by his manager which comes off very transparent.
And then there is a long bit about Ghost’s religion that drones on & on at an excruciating pace. Then we get the closing bit where Ghost talks about his feelings about the other members of the Clan which is a decent wrap up & saves it from being a one star.
Sadly this book is mostly driven by Ghost’s ego. He, cleverly, lets his manager brag for him a whole lot though. If you want to know about the Wu-Tang Clan, I’d stick to The RZA’s writings & forget this is a thing.
The rest is about his solo career, complete with alot of bragging. A chunk of the braggy bits are done by his manager which comes off very transparent.
And then there is a long bit about Ghost’s religion that drones on & on at an excruciating pace. Then we get the closing bit where Ghost talks about his feelings about the other members of the Clan which is a decent wrap up & saves it from being a one star.
Sadly this book is mostly driven by Ghost’s ego. He, cleverly, lets his manager brag for him a whole lot though. If you want to know about the Wu-Tang Clan, I’d stick to The RZA’s writings & forget this is a thing.
June 13, 2024
Feels phoned in. It’s a shame because the other Wu books are all great.
March 1, 2024
Rise of a Killah is a memoir written by Ghostface Killah, Dennis Coles. In this book, he documents his life from growing up in West Brighton, Staten Island. He details his early life being raised by young parents, caring for his siblings and what it was like having to grow up quickly after his father leaves. We also learn about his health journey as Ghost suffers from diabetes. He describes his journey to Africa and the natural treatments he receives for his condition.
Readers also get a look into the early formation of Wu-Tang and how Ghost first crosses paths with his future clan members. There are also some inside looks into Ghost's solo career. His jump from smaller labels to his rise with Def Jam. Sections of the book are told from the perspective of Mike Caruso, his long time friend and producer. In these sections we get the inside scoop on their international tours and some backstage anecdotes of how Ghostface Killah came to be on Beyoncé's Summertime track. The final chapter contains small personal tributes to each of Wu-Tang Clan members. Putting many of their relationships into perspective.
I'm going to start with this book has A LOT of explicit language. This is not a radio edit, [insert Parental Advisory sticker here]. I think I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook, assuming Ghost himself was narrating. Growing up around the music of the Wu-Tang Clan and its individual members, I could hear his words in my head, but there were still some sections that I had to reread to understand. It was interesting to hear about Ghost's encounters with Jay Z while under Def Jam, his performance at MSG with Beyoncé and the multiple stories of his hustle at first to keep his family going and later to keep himself relevant.
I expect that this book will be enjoyed by readers who are fans of Ghostface Killah and the Wu-Tang clan.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of Rise of a Killah. Opinions are my own.
Readers also get a look into the early formation of Wu-Tang and how Ghost first crosses paths with his future clan members. There are also some inside looks into Ghost's solo career. His jump from smaller labels to his rise with Def Jam. Sections of the book are told from the perspective of Mike Caruso, his long time friend and producer. In these sections we get the inside scoop on their international tours and some backstage anecdotes of how Ghostface Killah came to be on Beyoncé's Summertime track. The final chapter contains small personal tributes to each of Wu-Tang Clan members. Putting many of their relationships into perspective.
I'm going to start with this book has A LOT of explicit language. This is not a radio edit, [insert Parental Advisory sticker here]. I think I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook, assuming Ghost himself was narrating. Growing up around the music of the Wu-Tang Clan and its individual members, I could hear his words in my head, but there were still some sections that I had to reread to understand. It was interesting to hear about Ghost's encounters with Jay Z while under Def Jam, his performance at MSG with Beyoncé and the multiple stories of his hustle at first to keep his family going and later to keep himself relevant.
I expect that this book will be enjoyed by readers who are fans of Ghostface Killah and the Wu-Tang clan.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of Rise of a Killah. Opinions are my own.
April 22, 2024
I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. I also love music. My dream job (when I was younger) would have been an A&R. As a music fan, I don’t remember a time that I haven’t been a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan (both as a collective and individually). The member that I have always been most intrigued by is Ghostface Killah. Because of this, I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to read this book.
I tend to gravitate more towards fiction books; however, I do like to read memoirs when the person is one that I actually know things about. Going into this book, I thought that I would have a pretty good grasp of what was going to be talked about. I can honestly say that I was completely wrong about that.
Overall, I did enjoy getting a glimpse into Ghostface’s life, starting with his childhood. My main complaint is that, for some reason, I had a hard time getting into this book. Normally, I’m able to read books pretty quickly. With this book, I found myself re-reading chapters because I didn’t feel like I grasped it the way that I was meant to.
I really wanted to give this book five stars, but I just couldn’t. What is preventing me from giving it three stars is that, ultimately, I liked that, not only did we get Ghost’s point of view on certain things, we got the point of view of people that are closest to him. In my opinion, I feel that those other perspectives added a depth to the book that would not have otherwise been there. I do recommend that music fans (not just fans of hip-hop) read this book. You will definitely get quite a bit out of it!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
I tend to gravitate more towards fiction books; however, I do like to read memoirs when the person is one that I actually know things about. Going into this book, I thought that I would have a pretty good grasp of what was going to be talked about. I can honestly say that I was completely wrong about that.
Overall, I did enjoy getting a glimpse into Ghostface’s life, starting with his childhood. My main complaint is that, for some reason, I had a hard time getting into this book. Normally, I’m able to read books pretty quickly. With this book, I found myself re-reading chapters because I didn’t feel like I grasped it the way that I was meant to.
I really wanted to give this book five stars, but I just couldn’t. What is preventing me from giving it three stars is that, ultimately, I liked that, not only did we get Ghost’s point of view on certain things, we got the point of view of people that are closest to him. In my opinion, I feel that those other perspectives added a depth to the book that would not have otherwise been there. I do recommend that music fans (not just fans of hip-hop) read this book. You will definitely get quite a bit out of it!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
May 5, 2024
I’m a big urban fiction/urban romance fan but this year I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and get into some non-fiction reads. I was never big on memoirs unless I’m interested in the person. I love Wu-Tang Clan so I was super excited to read about the infamous Ghostface Killah.
He speaks on his childhood, his health and bad habits. He also speaks on how the famous group Wu-Tang clan came about. He really spoke about a lot and gave a glimpse on a lot in his life. I don’t want to spoil it but if you are a Wu-Tang fan you would definitely love this.
Chapter 13 had to be my favorite chapter of this memoir. You got to see the real Dennis Coles and not Ghostface Killah or Tony Starks. I also loved hearing him speak about his clan members and it also showed how they all was in their own way.
Overall I give this 4 stars because I did enjoy getting to see the real him. Seeing the photos from back in the day was cool too but I also had a hard time understanding and there was a lot of repetition. I really hope there is a audiobook version in his voice because it would definitely give a better insight and more enjoyable for readers and fans.
This book is set to release on May 14, 2024.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an digital advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
He speaks on his childhood, his health and bad habits. He also speaks on how the famous group Wu-Tang clan came about. He really spoke about a lot and gave a glimpse on a lot in his life. I don’t want to spoil it but if you are a Wu-Tang fan you would definitely love this.
Chapter 13 had to be my favorite chapter of this memoir. You got to see the real Dennis Coles and not Ghostface Killah or Tony Starks. I also loved hearing him speak about his clan members and it also showed how they all was in their own way.
Overall I give this 4 stars because I did enjoy getting to see the real him. Seeing the photos from back in the day was cool too but I also had a hard time understanding and there was a lot of repetition. I really hope there is a audiobook version in his voice because it would definitely give a better insight and more enjoyable for readers and fans.
This book is set to release on May 14, 2024.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an digital advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2024
First off, I am a huge fan of Ghostface Killah. He might be my favorite MC in the amazing Wu Tang Clan. I bought his debut album, Ironman, the day it came out in 1996, it was the theme music of my Junior year in High School. His music is classic, timeless. All that said, this book, unfortunately, is a rather slapdash effort. It reads like they just took recordings of Ghost talking and entered them into voice to text and published them without any editing. Telling by the huge amount of errors, the voice to text program couldn't understand Ghost's impenetrable NY accent. For example, he talks about Cappadonna leaving their borough of Staten Island traveling around to other parts of NY and it reads "He'd be up in the Bronx, fall rocks", not an exact quote. I can guarantee Ghost said "Far Rocks" which is slang for Far Rockaway.
Ghost's partner in rhyme, Raekwon' autobiography, From Staircase to Stage, is a masterpiece and is so better written than this book. Ghostface's all over the place, stream of thought, densely slang filled mind makes for excellent rap lyrics, but he really needed a good editor to make this a good read. I am glad this book exists, but it is unfortunate that the publisher put it out in this seemingly slapped together way.
Ghost's partner in rhyme, Raekwon' autobiography, From Staircase to Stage, is a masterpiece and is so better written than this book. Ghostface's all over the place, stream of thought, densely slang filled mind makes for excellent rap lyrics, but he really needed a good editor to make this a good read. I am glad this book exists, but it is unfortunate that the publisher put it out in this seemingly slapped together way.
June 4, 2024
Ghostface Killah is one of my top 3 members of the Wu-Tang Clan, so I was excited to learn about his book. I enjoyed it for what it was: Ghost's retelling of his life events that have shaped the man he has become. To be able to enjoy his memoir, some prior knowledge of Ghostface regarding his upbringing, his contributions to the Wu-Tang Clan, his solo discography, and his persona are essential. With that said, while I was disappointed that the memoir wasn't structured like a typical "tell all" autobiography, I came to appreciate the authentic stream of conscious flow that mirrors Ghost's rap delivery and conversations. I like how he opened up about his brothers and their muscular dystrophy, his own battles with diabetes, and his views on spirituality. I did read this via audiobook, and I will only say I wish Ghost took this effort one step forward and narrated it. While short and a bit abrupt in ending compared to the memoirs of his Wu counterparts, I didn't mind because I realize not everyone is meant to tell their story in extensive prose. This is worth the read for any true Wu fans and hip hop enthusiasts.
June 15, 2024
Quick Read, Quick Money
First off, I am a huge Ghostface Killah fan. Next to ODB, he is probably my favorite Wu Tang member. He is a heckuva artist, an abstract thinker, and as genuine as they come. When he raps, I believe him because he has that type of credibility. However, the book was not very well transcribed. The information was cool to learn, but it was not necessarily autobiographical. It was haphazardly put together, typos and everything included. It's almost as if the transcriptionist just let the voice to text do the work without proofreading it at all. In the age of fast money, this seemed like a way yo capitalize off Ghost's name and also like a compilation of his interviews rather than a serious attempt at writing a book. It doesn't diminish my view of Ghost at all, but it does make me look at his team a little differently. I gave it four stars because he's my dude, and overall, the book was pretty cool to read.
First off, I am a huge Ghostface Killah fan. Next to ODB, he is probably my favorite Wu Tang member. He is a heckuva artist, an abstract thinker, and as genuine as they come. When he raps, I believe him because he has that type of credibility. However, the book was not very well transcribed. The information was cool to learn, but it was not necessarily autobiographical. It was haphazardly put together, typos and everything included. It's almost as if the transcriptionist just let the voice to text do the work without proofreading it at all. In the age of fast money, this seemed like a way yo capitalize off Ghost's name and also like a compilation of his interviews rather than a serious attempt at writing a book. It doesn't diminish my view of Ghost at all, but it does make me look at his team a little differently. I gave it four stars because he's my dude, and overall, the book was pretty cool to read.
May 30, 2024
Let me preface this review with this: I am old and I don’t really listen to music. I do, however, really enjoy reading about other people, how they started, what they did, and how they got to where they are today. I found this fascinating when I could figure out what was going on. There was absolutely no structure to this, just streams of consciousness that were difficult to follow. I needed more of a traditional biography to get to know him better but felt like I was just getting bits and pieces and I wasn’t sure how and where they all fit. This might be a good read if you already have the basics. I may revisit this again once I get a good feel for who and what Dennis Coles/Ghostface Killah is.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
Yo. This is Kate’s Review in Rap:
Thank God this is finished,
Cause my brain cells got diminished
When Ghost said green and yellow make blue
And viruses are new
(Earthquakes and tsunamis too. Yo, yo, that shit ain’t true.)
Un stresses it was wrongful conviction
But admits his other misbehavior wasn’t fiction
So I think it’s not unfair
That cops are always there
Following a man who puts bullets into the air without care.
Mr Killah prides himself on innovative words and rhymes
But his book used the word, “Yo,” 290 times.
Future authors, you want to avoid my deprecation?
Choose school over drugs, yo, get that education.
(Yes, I counted the number of times he said “Yo.” Only in the narrative, not the spotlighted lyrics.)
Thank God this is finished,
Cause my brain cells got diminished
When Ghost said green and yellow make blue
And viruses are new
(Earthquakes and tsunamis too. Yo, yo, that shit ain’t true.)
Un stresses it was wrongful conviction
But admits his other misbehavior wasn’t fiction
So I think it’s not unfair
That cops are always there
Following a man who puts bullets into the air without care.
Mr Killah prides himself on innovative words and rhymes
But his book used the word, “Yo,” 290 times.
Future authors, you want to avoid my deprecation?
Choose school over drugs, yo, get that education.
(Yes, I counted the number of times he said “Yo.” Only in the narrative, not the spotlighted lyrics.)
August 8, 2025
I don't know who gave this book a green light or who in their right mind decided to publish it. It is hard to even call it a autobio/memoir because there was literally no thought put in to it structurally, absolutely no research, and zero editing. It is like a bad episode of a podcast that was transcribed yet there was no host to guide the interview in a meaningful way. Amateur hour stuff. Which is sad because he does talk about how he always wants to put the time in to make his verses perfect but clearly did not put any time in this "book." Some sort of cash grab or something. Ironman is my favorite Wu project out of their whole collection, go back and listen to it 4 times instead of wasting your time with this.
March 10, 2025
Book 15 of 2025.
Not sure what to say about this book. Love Wu Tang, and Ghost is phenomenal in the group and as a solo artist… not much of a writer though!
There were some really good parts to this book, and some not so good parts, but I still think it is worth checking out if you are a Wu/Ghost/Rap fan…
I really liked the part in the end where he talked about each member, and how he felt about them!
Not sure what to say about this book. Love Wu Tang, and Ghost is phenomenal in the group and as a solo artist… not much of a writer though!
There were some really good parts to this book, and some not so good parts, but I still think it is worth checking out if you are a Wu/Ghost/Rap fan…
I really liked the part in the end where he talked about each member, and how he felt about them!
January 1, 2025
I am a big fan of Dennis Cole's body of work, both as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and as a forever experimental solo artist. I was eager to go behind the scenes and into the mind of yet another Clan member. However, as revered a storyteller Ghostface is, the book didn't meet my personal hype.
Rise of a Killah is strictly business. We learn about Ghost's humble beginnings and how he ultimately came to fit into the Clan. Outside of RZA, Ghost only offers surface thoughts on other members. Actually, there are few mentions of ANY individuals outside of those with professional ties. Even the bulk of his family references only deal with his past, such as flashbacks to his mother and brothers and only when he began to start a family of his own. A highlight of the book for me was witnessing the evolution of his business model and acumen that has allotted him as top 3 spot amongst Clan member earnings, based nearly on his catalog alone. The downside to Rise of a Killah is that is was written in Ghost's diction, and almost felt like a verbatim writing, with multiple rehashings. I don't have a personal issue with Cole's diction, but it's not the easiest read. I was able to put my mindset into that of an interview to make it easier. This actually would have been a great choice for audiobook, as I love to hear subjects read their own biographies, but alas it is read by actor, Landon Woodson.
If you're more than a casual Wu-Tang Clan fan, then Rise of a Killah won't offer much information or stories that you aren't already familiar with. What it DOES offer is more of what you already like and for some, that is enough...
Rise of a Killah is strictly business. We learn about Ghost's humble beginnings and how he ultimately came to fit into the Clan. Outside of RZA, Ghost only offers surface thoughts on other members. Actually, there are few mentions of ANY individuals outside of those with professional ties. Even the bulk of his family references only deal with his past, such as flashbacks to his mother and brothers and only when he began to start a family of his own. A highlight of the book for me was witnessing the evolution of his business model and acumen that has allotted him as top 3 spot amongst Clan member earnings, based nearly on his catalog alone. The downside to Rise of a Killah is that is was written in Ghost's diction, and almost felt like a verbatim writing, with multiple rehashings. I don't have a personal issue with Cole's diction, but it's not the easiest read. I was able to put my mindset into that of an interview to make it easier. This actually would have been a great choice for audiobook, as I love to hear subjects read their own biographies, but alas it is read by actor, Landon Woodson.
If you're more than a casual Wu-Tang Clan fan, then Rise of a Killah won't offer much information or stories that you aren't already familiar with. What it DOES offer is more of what you already like and for some, that is enough...
January 30, 2025
I’m giving it a 3.8 so it rounds to 4. This read more like a graphic novel/oral history rather than an autobiography/memoir. It’s a bit vague too. But it was nice reading Ghostface’s lyrics from some of his songs passing through each chapter. As always, my review will be on my Instagram soon (@ChyanneDiaries)
March 14, 2025
Very entertaining, poorly written. It’s kind of obvious that they gave Ghostface a mic and the computer did all the typing. Overall it didn’t feel like an autobiography but more like his thoughts on the world both past and present. He should’ve got someone to be more involved with the writing process
December 30, 2024
Rise of a Killah is the interesting autobiography of Ghostface Killah, a former member of the Wu-Tang Clan. From his humble beginnings to his rise to fame, Ghostface details his life story and what led him to make many choices. It's a very interesting read with a lot of cultural significance.
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