When it comes to storytellers in hip hop, there are a few names who always pop up: Slick Rick, Nas, Biggie, Ice Cube and Ghostface Killah.
Over the years, Tony Starks has weaved some of the greatest stories into his raps; from the pounding detail of “Run” to the supermarket confrontation on “The Heart Gently Weeps” to “The M.G.M.” where Ghost and Rae trade rhymes about the ’94 Julio Caesar Chavez vs. Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker boxing match.
But there’s one story, that tops them all. In his book, The Wu-Tang Manual, RZA declared Ghost’s verse on “Impossible” the “greatest Wu-Tang verse ever written.”
RZA: This whole verse is a Ghost classic – for its tight rhymes, emotionalism and storytelling. It won The Source magazine’s Rap of the Year award.
The Wu-Tang Manual | RZA
A highlight track off Wu-Tang Forever, “Impossible” was a haunting caution against pursuing life on the streets. The track produced by 4th Disciple together with RZA featured the Abbot himself, U-God and Ghost, with Tekitha handling hook duties and Chef on the outdo.
Following a super-scientific verse from RZA and an equally hard verse from U-God, Ghost came through with his wide-eyed storytelling chops and delivered a heart-stopping verse about a friend getting shot.
In an interview with Vulture years later, Ghost agreed that “Impossible” was one of the strongest verses he’d ever written. “I don’t really have a favorite song that I made,” he admitted. “I got so many records. I did a lot of other new features for people that I really, really like. But, as far as verses, one of the strongest ones I ever did is “Impossible” off Wu-Tang Forever album.”
Call an ambulance, Jamie been shot, word to Kimmy Don't go, son, ni**a, you my motherfucking heart Stay still, son, don't move, just think about Keeba She'll be three in January, your young God needs ya The ambulance is takin' too long Everybody get the fuck back, excuse me, bitch, gimme your jack 1-7-1-8, 9-1-1, low battery, damn Blood comin' out his mouth, he bleedin' badly Nahhh, Jamie, don't start that shit Keep your head up, if you escape hell, we gettin' fucked up When we was eight, we went to Bat Day to see the Yanks In '69, his father and mines, they robbed banks He pointed to the charm on his neck With his last bit of energy left, told me rock it with respect I opened it, seen the God holdin' his kids Photogenic, tears just burst out my wig Plus he dropped one Oh shit, here come his Old Earth with no shoes on Screamin', holdin' her breasts with a gown on She fell and then lightly touched his jaw, kissed him Rubbed his hair, turned around, the ambulance was there Plus the blue coats, Officer Lough, took it as a joke Weeks ago he strip-searched the God and gave him back his coke Bitches yellin', Beenie Man swung on Helen In the back of a cop car, Dirty Tasha tellin' But suddenly, a chill came through, it was weird Felt like my man, was cast out my heaven now we share Laid on the stretcher, blood on his Wally's like ketchup Deep like the Paul assassination with a sketch of it It can't be, from Yoo-hoo to Lee's Second grade humped the teachers, about to leave Finally, this closed chapter comes to an end He was announced, pronounced dead, y'all, at 12:10 - Ghostface Killah - "Impossible", Wu-Tang Forever
