Ghostface Killah, The Big Doe Rehab

As internal dissent and poor sales cast a shadow over the Wu-Tang Clan's rap dynasty, even their most consistent member has caught the mood of uncertainty. For parts of this solo album - his third in 18 months - Ghostface Killah, aka Dennis Coles, swallows the disdain he reserves for mainstream rappers and tries to lower himself to their level. It's to his credit that he fails. Admittedly, Toney Sigel labours under the weight of lumpen synths and We Celebrate wastes a killer Rare Earth sample in its unsuccessful pursuit of a hit. Infinitely better, though, are Walk Around's ferocious soul and Supa GFK, where Ghost slathers his lyrics all over the whole of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's Superman Lover. It works because he dares to risk everything: is this inspiration or laziness? His greatness lies not in second-guessing the competition, but in showing them how it's done.