Ghostface Killah

Without losing his Wu-backed reputation for gully raps, Ghostface Killah has also become known as a connoisseur of obscure R&B samples. So it only makes sense that on his eighth solo record, Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, Ghostface conceptualizes these dabblings and creates a top-to-bottom R&B record. Ghost doesn't sing ― that's left to more able collaborators like Raheem DeVaughan ("Do Over" and "Baby") and John Legend ("Let's Stop Playin'"). Instead, he breaks down some of the most tumultuously passionate relationships you've ever heard of, spitting comely come-ons and heartfelt affections to myriad lovers with signature detail and precision. At first, Wizard of Poetry might seem like a too-soft departure from his relatively consistent repertoire but Ghostface sticks righteously to his craft, making this a solid R&B/rap collabo record.