Ghostface rematerializes
Ghostface Killah is in a hurry. He's got stories to tell, mouths to feed, and proteges' careers to launch. He's also got a record label eager to boost fourth-quarter profits. So, less than a year after releasing "Fishscale," one of the best hip-hop CDs of the year, the prolific rapper is back with "More Fish." The collection, in stores today, is a grab bag of new beats as well as leftovers from the first record, and it features Ghostface's Staten Island crew the Theodore Unit as well as the Wu-Tang Clansman's 17-year-old son. On a recent visit to Boston, Ghostface Killah sat down at the Onyx Hotel to chat about the state of his art, the future of the Wu-Tang Clan, and the perils of being a rapper-parent.
Q Def Jam is positioning "More Fish" as a sequel to "Fishscale." Was this the label's idea, rushing out another album to capitalize on the success of the first one?
A The label brought the idea. I was on the Wu-Tang tour and I was, "nah." I like to sit with my product and try to mastermind it, to see what avenue or vibe I want to go with. But I listened and I had a lot of stuff I hadn't used, and before you know it we was adding everything up and we got "More Fish." It's the same kind of vibe. It's got its highs.
Q The Theodore Unit is all over this record. Is it up to you to turn your crew into stars?
A They're men now. I don't want to be holding nobody's hand, but I'm like the parent, giving them the push. It's not like back in the day when it was word of mouth and people listening to demo tapes. In this system, people don't really get into you unless you're steaming hot. I'm trying to get these guys hot.
Q Your son, Sun God , raps on two tracks. Is this a lark for him, appearing on Dad's record, or does he want to go into the family business?
A School is first. He plays sports, football and basketball, and I would always push him to do that. This is not his first priority.
Q How would you feel if one of your kids [he's got six] wanted to make a career in hip-hop?
A This game right here is a funny game. You've got people getting killed, jealousy everywhere, who has the biggest diamond, the most girls around him. I been through hell, being shot, locked up, in the streets doing the worst dirt you can do. Any man in their right mind would never want their kids to follow in their tracks. I'll keep him in school and doing sports. But at the end of the day, you're going to be rebellious about what your parents are telling you. I just hope that no harm comes to him.
Q You seem like you have a foot in two worlds: the thug life and a more contemplative life.
A Talking about guns and crack all day, I did that back in '95. It don't put a spark on me. I just do it 'cause I got to stay in competition with what's going on. I'm good at telling stories, dealing with reality. Knowledge is infinite, and you can paint a picture of anything if you use your mind.
Q What's preventing the Wu-Tang Clan from making another album?
A There are still certain issues some brothers might have, about certain terms and how things should be run. It's business, not personal. We're straightening things out. People will receive another Wu-Tang album, eventually. We know how bad people want it.
Q Hip-hop careers are seldom long-lasting. You're 36 . What's it like for a rapper to get older?
A It's hard. Once you stop hearing yourself on the radio and see there's a new generation coming up, you tend to lose your swagger. I've seen a lot of artists go like that. I get nervous for that. But deep down it's starting to feel like I'm always going to do this. You got to change, you got to go with the times, and I'm not afraid. It'll be a new phase. I can talk about my iced-out cane.
Joan Anderman can be reached at anderman@globe.com. For more on music, visit boston.com/ae/music/blog. 
