| 36 Seasons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 9, 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 40:15 | |||
| Label | Tommy Boy | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Ghostface Killah chronology | ||||
| ||||
36 Seasons is the tenth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member, Ghostface Killah. It was released on December 9, 2014, by Tommy Boy Records. [1]
In a December 2014, interview with HipHopDX, Ghostface Killah said it took about 11 days to record the album. [2] Like Ghostface Killah's previous album, Twelve Reasons to Die , 36 Seasons is a concept album. The album follows the story of Tony Starks as he returns to Staten Island after nine years away seeking a quiet life but he finds this will be difficult to accomplish. [3]
Record store Get On Down was the only retailer to sell 36 Seasons in vinyl format. Get On Down also sold a CD bundle that featured the vinyl version, an instrumental CD, poster, graphic novel booklet, and a T-shirt. [1]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 72/100 [4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The A.V. Club | C+ [6] |
| Billboard | [7] |
| Consequence of Sound | B [8] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− [9] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10 [10] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [11] |
| The Observer | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10 [13] |
| Spin | 7/10 [14] |
36 Seasons received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 72, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 18 reviews. [4] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Inspiration flows out of the man throughout the album, and this end-to-end concept is executed with little note-spinning or boring lyrics that just serve the story, and while Twelve Reasons took a big giallo risk and nailed it, this more expected, '70s-favored success still surprises with its vigorous sense of purpose." [5] Homer Johnsen of HipHopDX stated, "36 Seasons may not be Ghostface’s greatest project, but it is another notable addition to his extensive body of work. Rapping alongside Kool G Rap and AZ for the bulk of the album is certainly a treat, and the two have their own moments of glory. Production, on the other hand, simply does not hold on to the lyrical dynamism present between Ghost, Pharoahe Monch, AZ and G." [15] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said, "36 Seasons is the result of consummate artistic process and taste--a complete album both lyrically and musically." [8]
Theon Weber of Spin said, "It's a small, controlled, uncommonly focused album, by an artist well into the kind of middle age that prizes refinement and brevity." [14] Olivia Arezes of Exclaim! stated, "Ghost has always been considered a master of storytelling, and on 36 Seasons, he paints the usual sordid pictures in his songs, except this time he's cast an all-star team —Kool G Rap, AZ, Pharoahe Monch and others — as characters in an audio comic that's as action-packed as a kung-fu film." [10] Matthew Fiander of PopMatters said, "His flow is solid on this album, and there’s no reason to suggest Ghostface is done, but if he is trying to recapture something, all we get here is sound and fury." [16]
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [17]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Battlefield" (featuring AZ, Kool G Rap & Tre Williams) |
|
| 3:46 |
| 2. | "Love Don't Live Here No More" (featuring Kandace Springs) |
|
| 3:48 |
| 3. | "Here I Go Again" (featuring AZ & Rell) |
|
| 3:28 |
| 4. | "Loyalty" (performed by Kool G Rap & Nems) |
| The Revelations | 1:57 |
| 5. | "It's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (performed by The Revelations) |
| The Revelations | 3:59 |
| 6. | "The Dogs of War" (featuring Shawn Wigs & Kool G Rap) |
| The Revelations | 3:48 |
| 7. | "Emergency Procedure" (featuring Pharoahe Monch) |
| The Revelations | 2:42 |
| 8. | "Double Cross" (featuring AZ) |
| The Revelations | 2:20 |
| 9. | "Bamboo’s Lament" (performed by Kandace Springs) |
|
| 1:57 |
| 10. | "Pieces to the Puzzle" (featuring AZ) |
| The Revelations | 2:35 |
| 11. | "Homicide" (featuring Nems & Shawn Wigs) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 12. | "Blood in the Streets" (featuring AZ) |
|
| 2:03 |
| 13. | "Call My Name" |
| The Revelations | 2:11 |
| 14. | "I Love You for All Seasons" (performed by The Revelations) | Sheila Young | The Revelations | 2:20 |
| Total length: | 40:15 | |||
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "The Battlefield" (Instrumental) |
| 3:43 |
| 16. | "Love Don't Live Here No More" (Instrumental) |
| 3:29 |
| 17. | "Here I Go Again" (Instrumental) |
| 3:29 |
| 18. | "Loyalty" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 1:26 |
| 19. | "The Dogs of War" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 3:05 |
| 20. | "Emergency Procedure" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 2:47 |
| 21. | "Double Cross" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 2:21 |
| 22. | "Pieces to the Puzzle" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 2:34 |
| 23. | "Homicide" (Instrumental) |
| 3:21 |
| 24. | "Blood in the Streets" (Instrumental) |
| 2:05 |
| 25. | "Call My Name" (Instrumental) | The Revelations | 2:14 |
| Total length: | 71:00 | ||
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [18] | 94 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [19] | 10 |
| US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [20] | 13 |
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis David Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well-received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
The Hrsmn is an American hip hop supergroup consisting of the artists Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Kurupt. They have released two albums. The name of the group is in reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who appear in the Book of Revelation from the Bible. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are traditionally named Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Throughout the HRSMN songs, there are many references to each of the members representing a specific entity. They are Pestilence, War (Canibus), Famine (Kurupt), and Death. They have each frequently appeared on each of the members solo albums, such as Canibus's 2000 B.C. and Killah Priest's Priesthood. Other affiliated members include Chino XL, and Pharoahe Monch.
The Pretty Toney Album is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Ghostface. Originally scheduled for a February 2004 release, the album was released on April 20, 2004, by Def Jam. It is the only album from the artist to be released solely under the moniker "Ghostface", and is the first of his albums not to feature any other members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
More Fish is the sixth studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on December 12, 2006 through the Def Jam label. The album's name derives from Ghostface's earlier 2006 release, Fishscale. The track "Good", featuring Ghostface's fellow Theodore Unit member Trife Da God and Mr. Maygreen, and produced by Kool-Aid & Peanut, was the first single. It contains one track, "Josephine," which was originally featured on Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, but all other tracks are made of previously unreleased material.
Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City is the eighth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan-member Ghostface Killah, released September 29, 2009 on Def Jam Recordings in the United States. He first announced the album in a May 2008 interview, describing it as an R&B-inspired album, similar to his previous work with such artists as Ne-Yo and Jodeci. The album spawned four singles; "Baby", a slow-tempo R&B song with auto-tune vocals by Raheem "Radio" DeVaughn, "Forever", "Let's Stop Playin'" featuring John Legend, and "Guest House", featuring Fabolous & Shareefa. Upon its release, Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City received generally positive reviews from music critics. As of December 12, 2009, the album has sold 64,000 copies in the United States.
Wu-Massacre is a collaboration studio album by American rappers and Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, under the group name Meth • Ghost • Rae, released March 30, 2010 on Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album was handled by several hip hop producers, including RZA, Allah Mathematics, Scram Jones, Emile, Ty Fyffe, BT and Digem Tracks Productions.
Apollo Kids is the ninth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan-member Ghostface Killah, released on December 21, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings. Guests on the album include several Wu-Tang members and affiliates, as well as Redman, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and Game, among others.
Troy Donald Jamerson, better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Wu Block is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch. Louch announced the album in 2011, in an interview. The album was released on November 27, 2012, by E1 Music. The album features guest appearances from Raekwon, Jadakiss, Cappadonna, Method Man, Styles P, Masta Killa, GZA, Erykah Badu and Inspectah Deck.
PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch, released on April 15, 2014 under his independent label, W.A.R. Media, in partnership with INgrooves. The album features guest appearances from Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Denaun, The Stepkids and Vernon Reid, as well as production from Lee Stone, Marco Polo, Jesse West and Quelle Chris amongst others. The album was promoted by two Lee Stone-produced singles: "Damage" and "Bad M.F.".
A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The album was released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was supported by the singles "Keep Watch", "Ron O'Neal" and "Ruckus in B Minor". A Better Tomorrow received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 24,386 copies in its first week of release.
Sour Soul is a collaborative studio album from Canadian jazz instrumental hip hop band BadBadNotGood and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. It was released worldwide on February 24, 2015.
Twelve Reasons to Die II is the second collaborative studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah and American composer Adrian Younge. It is the sequel to their 2013 album Twelve Reasons to Die. The album was released on July 10, 2015, by Linear Labs. It features guest appearances from Raekwon, RZA, Scarub, Vince Staples, Lyrics Born, Chino XL and Bilal.
Ironman is the debut studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on October 29, 1996, by Epic Records. It was produced by fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The album's music draws prominently on blaxploitation films and soul samples. More so than on other solo debuts from the group's members, Ironman contains references to the Nation of Gods and Earths.
Supreme Clientele is the second studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on February 8, 2000, by Epic Records. The album showcases Ghostface's signature up-tempo, stream-of-consciousness rhyme style, and features guest appearances from Cappadonna, GZA, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Redman, RZA, U-God, and others. It features affiliates of what would become members of Theodore Unit and T.M.F. Supreme Clientele contains a large amount of production from group member RZA, who also re-worked and remixed beats from other producers involved, as a means to create a unified and cohesive sound for the album.
Soul Temple Records is an American record label founded in 2012 by hip hop recording artist RZA and Bob Perry after the release of the RZA directed The Man with the Iron Fists. The label's first release was that album's soundtrack. The label has since released studio albums by Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and U-God. All albums released on the label are executive produced by RZA.
Twelve Reasons to Die is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah and American composer Adrian Younge. It is a concept album based on a comic book of the same name. The album was executive-produced and narrated by RZA. It was released on April 16, 2013, by RZA's Soul Temple Records label and RED Distribution. It features guest appearances from Wu-Tang members Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna along with William Hart and Killa Sin.
"Wu Tang Forever" is a song by American rapper Logic, featured as the sixth track on his 2018 album YSIV. The song is a homage to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and features all living members of the group: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA, as well as Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty; deceased member Ol' Dirty Bastard received a writing credit. The song shares the same title as the group's second studio album.
