For nearly 10 years, "Supreme Clientele 2" has been more of a rumor than a reality in hip-hop. It is an elusive sequel to one of the greatest solo albums from the Wu-Tang Clan. But finally, Ghostface Killah is opening the vault. June 19, the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2000 classic is due out as part of their Legend Has It series from Mass Appeal.
And if you're a lover of grimy lyricism, soulful loops, and vivid story-telling but you read the type who read great sales instead of great sales, then odds are "Supreme Clientele" still resides in heavy rotation on your playlist. Its arrival on the Billboard 200 as high as No. 7 and its gold certification was just the beginning of its trickle-down effect. Underneath was an artistic statement that was so opulent in abstract wordplay and raw emotion that it restricted the range of what solo success would be for Wu-Tang members. It wasn't just a win for Ghostface but was an earthquake for hip-hop.
Now, 25 years later, Ghostface is prepared to tap back into that energy with "Supreme Clientele 2." And although there is scant detail about the sound of the thing, the fact that this sequel will drop in the same year as Wu-Tang's farewell tour seems cosmically appropriate.
The Wu-Tang Clan are going on the road for the last time in Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber, a 27-date North American tour launching June 6 in Baltimore. All eight still-alive founding members, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, and U-God and Masta Killa, will be on hand, joined by Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard for what's sure to be a hallmark farewell.
With Run the Jewels on board as special guests, both nights promise a party with legacy and rhymes. RZA has already teased yet unperformed songs, deep album tracks, and energy fans should have never felt on a Wu tour. Stops of note include Chicago (July 7, United Center), New York (July 16, Madison Square Garden), and the tour closer to Philadelphia (July 18, Wells Fargo Center).
But returning to Ghostface this June might be the most consequential month for his solo career in years. For longtime fans, "Supreme Clientele 2" is a full-circle moment, a sequel long in the making to a cultural landmark that inspired everyone from Kanye to Just Blaze.
So whether you're buying tickets to one last Wu-Tang show or dusting off your headphones for a spiritual sequel 24 years in the making, Ghostface Killah's legacy is nowhere near settling. You maxed out the length of this conversation, but you can keep talking by starting a new chat.
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