Ghostface Hits Times Square, Ultramagnetic MCs Diss Joe Budden [With Photos]

Currently on his Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry tour, Ghostface finally touched down on home turf last night (November 11) at B.B. Kings in Times Square.

With hardcore Wu heads filling the venue to capacity, opener Skyzoo won them over with Nas’ “NY State of Mind.” It marked an otherwise easier transition into his unfamiliar solo material from his latest release, The Salvation.

After Sky’s half-hour set, the Wallabee Champ, flanked by Trife Da God, finally walked out triumphantly and launched into select cuts off Supreme Clientele, including “We Made It.” Covering every corner of his extensive catalog, Ghost also spanned every landmark Clan release from 36 Chambers (“C.R.E.A.M.”) to Cuban Linx... (Nas’ verse on “Verbal Intercourse”) to Return To The 36 Chambers (“Shimmy Shimmy Ya”) and Liquid Swords (“4th Chamber”) over the course of his 75-minute set.

Ultramagnetic MCs, minus a conspicuously absent Kool Keith, also hit the stage towards the show’s end. After giving Starks props, the hip-hop icons fired off a diss aimed Joe Budden to the surprise of everyone—seemingly Ghost, too. “Fuck Joe Budden!” yelled Ced Gee. “Tell that nigga Joe Budden come see me. I’m in Jersey City all day!”

Ghost continued on for a short while afterwards, before closing out the show with “All That I Got Is You,” and announcing his upcoming collaborative album with Raekwon and Method Man, Wu-Massacre, which is due out next month. —Devin Chanda

Photos courtesy of Jesse Hagen. Click image to enlarge.