While most music fans today would rather snap their fingers and bend their bodies whichever way the newest dance commands them to, it’s probably a safe assumption to say the Wu-Tang Clan is the last thing on their mind. Even a release from their most consistent artist, Ghostface Killah. After three albums that will forever be in Hip-Hop lore (Ironman, Supreme Clientele, Bulletproof Wallets), the Wallabee Champ inked a deal with Def Jam to hopefully get some commercial success to go along with all that street cred. Unsuccessful as of late, at least the quality of his music has remained intact as he bangs out yet another batch of hyperbolized escapades that continue to push the creative envelope on The Big Doe Rehab.

Ghostface Killah Big Doe Rehab Album Cover

Where previous installments in Ghost’s catalog were heavy on street-related capers intertwined within dark and menacing orchestrations, Big Doe… takes on a more cinematic, almost surreal anatomy, with the score being inspired from old 70′s blaxploitation flicks which finds Ghost sticking heads in vices, surviving shootouts in Spanish Harlem, and walking the streets like some ghetto superhero among other delightful fabrications. The spectacular “White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)” features Brother Starks bum rushing the show—Ol’ Dirty style—as he details the scenery to the smallest ruby while shouting out all the celebrities in the house. Raekwon and U-God show up on “Rec-Room Therapy” to triple team Baby Grand’s sporadic hybrid of bubbling bass and light flutes in true Wu-Fashion. And through all the excitement, Ghostface still finds time for seriousness as he addresses the ultimate act of loyalty on the solemn “I’ll Die For You” and the reflective “Slow Down” featuring Chrisette Michele.

But even Oscar winners forget their lines from time to time. Big Doe… sacrifices some of its originality when Ghost rocks the mic on “Supa GFK” and “Killa Lipstick” which feature beats previously mastered by Redman, EPMD, and Kris Kross respectively. And the bottle poppin’ on “We Celebrate” is slightly bogged down by a generic chorus and Kid Capri’s pointless appearance. Creative lapses like this are only temporary however, as the transitional tale of “Yolanda’s House” plays out like a split screen mini-movie and paints the picture vividly for the listener to recap.

Although the Wu-Tang Clan as a collective aren’t the cohesive unit they once were, their legacy will always live on through the original member that continues to further his career without ceasing to bring something new to the table. Not only are Ghostface albums directly linked to the Clan, but also his own clique has shined over the years, especially Trife Da God, who constantly delivers standout verses throughout. In an era where hollow Hip-Hop is being embraced instead of being put in the back seat, Ghostface Killah shines even brighter with The Big Doe Rehab. This is an album that will remain relevant regardless of radio spins.