Wu-Tang Clan principal Ghostface Killah has put the finishing touches on his fifth album, “Fishscale,” due Feb. 28 via Def Jam. The set is led by the single “Back Like That,” which features up-and-coming Def Jam labelmate Ne-Yo. Production on the project was supplied by MF Doom, Pete Rock, Madlib and J. Dilla, among many others.
Rock produced “Be Easy,” which hit the streets on mixtapes last fall, while Wu-Tang cohort Raekwon appears on four tracks, including “Kilo.” Ghostface’s manager tells Billboard.com the song “Wu United” features all the members of the Wu-Tang Clan, who are regrouping in February for their first tour since 1997. Kanye West is also working on a track for the project.
“Fishscale” is the follow-up to Ghostface’s 2004 Def Jam debut, “The Pretty Toney Album,” which opened at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 219,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Ghostface is also tipped to appear on Raekwon’s sequel to his 1995 solo album “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx,” but no release date has yet been confirmed.
As for the Wu-Tang tour, Ghostface’s manager says all the members of the act will participate. At deadline, 10 shows were confirmed, beginning Feb. 7 in New Haven, Conn., but discussions are underway for additional summer dates. Both Raekwon and RZA hinted at the possibility of a Wu outing in prior interviews with Billboard.com, with RZA stressing that group members should be thinking about something other than money when it comes to Wu-Tang’s future.
Here are the Wu-Tang Clan’s tour dates:
Feb. 7: New Haven, Conn. (Toad’s Place)
Feb. 8-9: Boston (Palladium)
Feb. 10-11: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
Feb. 12: Baltimore (Sonar)
Feb. 13: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Feb. 14: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
Feb. 17: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Revolution)
Feb. 18: St. Petersburg, Fla. (Jannus Landing)
Feb. 19: Orlando, Fla. (Hard Rock Live)
Source billboard.com.
