There’s no doubt that when it comes to Ghostface Killah you’re generally in for a good show, so when Wu-Tang’s most consistent member was announced as playing a Numbers show in The Arches there was a fair buzz around Glasgow’s hip-hop following.
It’s well gone nine and there’s still no sign of Tony Starks himself and as the DJ makes a bizarre choice of Hall & Oates the crowd, packed in the small arch, is growing a little impatient; still he’s had Glasgow shows before that he’s turned up late and totally blown everyone away.
When Ghostface’s DJ takes the stage the buzz around the crowd grows to electric proportions as he blasts out a few classics while introducing the man himself.
When Ghostface does arrive on stage with hype man and long time collaborator Sheek Louch we’re all set for a top show, after all Ghostface is one of the most diverse rappers the world’s seen equally as able to hit up there with the complex lyricists as well as bring his supple flows to more fast faced and cryptic stuff, not forgetting he’s got his own renowned party tracks.
Tonight though it seems Ghost has taken a back seat as most of the rap duties fall to Louch and later on to Ghostface’s son, who joins the duo on stage later in the set.
Yes there’s a few Wu-Tang classics thrown in that lift the majority of the crowd, but it’s notable that Ghostface chooses some of the collectives tracks that he doesn’t feature on or chooses to perform someone else’s verse rather than his own, still if you’re actually here to see Ghostface’s own material you would be majorly let down.
There are a few choice cuts from Supreme Clientele on show, but for a man with solo albums around the double figures mark there’s simply not enough.
Sheek and Ghostface do take the opportunity to air some material from their collaborative album Wu Block, but even though Sheek is a more than accomplished rapper it isn’t him people have paid to see and as a result these tracks tend to be lost on the crowd who are only picked up when the Ironman intro rings round the room or another Wu-Tang hook sets things off.
It’s really something to say that the highlight of the set is when Ghost co. bring a couple of punters onstage to help perform a Wu-Tang classic and wee Glasgow tough guy called Paul steals the plaudits performing and ODB verse.
Yes there are glimmers of brilliance but although Ghostface does perform on pretty much every track it doesn’t quite hit enough; still, the crowd seem to lap up all the Wu-Tang hits but why Ironman himself didn’t choose to bring his own party tunes to fore is questionable to say the least.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Vito Andreoni
