Ghostface Killers Explained

Ghostface Killers
Type:song
Artist:21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott
Album:Without Warning
Released:October 31, 2017
Length:4:28
Producer:Metro Boomin

"Ghostface Killers" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, American rapper Offset, and American record producer Metro Boomin featuring fellow American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on October 31, 2017 as the opening track from the former three's collaborative studio album Without Warning. The title is a reference to Ghostface Killah of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

Composition

Over a "sinister" beat, the song begins with Offset rapping in the chorus and first verse about his diamond jewelry and having shooters by his side, while switching his flow and using his signature triplet rhyme scheme.[1] In the second verse, 21 Savage immediately compares himself to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a joke, while rapping about how he is still hanging out with the "killers" and "gorillas" with guns.[2] The third verse finds Travis Scott in Auto-Tune laced vocals, referencing his drug use and being a "Nike" boy.

Gary Suarez of Consequence Of Sound wrote, "While less overtly villainous than his deadpan cohort, Offset lets Savage’s sinister sensibilities rub off on him at times, particularly on opener 'Ghostface Killers'."[3]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Marshall Gu of Pretty Much Amazing wrote in a review of Without Warning, "And the best song comes early in 'Ghostface Killers', with an excellent rapped chorus from Offset that's been running through my head since the tape dropped and Travis Scott sounding excellent as always even if he doesn't say much anything at all."[4] Trent Clark of HipHopDX also considered "Ghostface Killers" the best track from Without Warning, adding that "The Travis Scott inclusion is an obvious draw but when you have a bridge, a chorus and layered instrumentation, it's not a coincidence the song quality can raise above mixtape level."[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Goddard . Kevin . 21 Savage & Offset Call On Travis Scott For New Metro Boomin-Produced Intro "Ghostface Killers" . . February 14, 2023 . October 31, 2017.
  2. Web site: Savage/Offset/Metro Boomin: Without Warning. Spectrum Culture. Bromfield. Daniel. November 6, 2017. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903095852/https://spectrumculture.com/2017/11/06/21-savageoffsetmetro-boomin-without-warning/. September 3, 2019. dead.
  3. Web site: 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin – Without Warning. Consequence. Suarez. Gary. November 6, 2017. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107104329/https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/11/album-review-21-savage-offset-and-metro-boomin-without-warning/. November 7, 2017. live.
  4. Web site: Reviews: Metro Boomin. Pretty Much Amazing. Gu. Marshall. November 15, 2017. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116133734/https://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/metro-boomin-21-savage-gucci-mane. November 16, 2017. live.
  5. Web site: 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin Without Warning Album Review. HipHopDX. Clark. Trent. November 7, 2017. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108211116/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3009/title.review-21-savage-offset-metro-boomins-without-warning-is-raw-as-in-uncooked. November 8, 2017. live.
  6. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #448. auspOp. November 11, 2017. February 14, 2023. November 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152405/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/11/aria-chart-watch-446/. dead.