Hip-hop veteran Ghostface Killah rhyming at House of Blues

Equally infatuated with mink-lined fashions, harrowed storytelling and rhymes occasionally as puzzling as a scrambled Rubik's Cube, Ghostface Killah has served as both a hip-hop throwback and prime mover for more than two decades now.

At 42, Ghostface (nee Dennis Coles) is a vocal scene elder who defends his turf the way a Rottweiler guards his food dish.

"New rappers need to skip town / This the East coast music, Grandpa Ghost is around," he rhymes on "Starkology," off his last disc, 2010's invigorated "Apollo Kids."

A veteran of murky hip-hop troupe the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface is also an R&B-steeped Casanova and an old school soul enthusiast, but perhaps his most convincing role is that of a rap criminologist whose narratives are as chilling and detailed as a coroner's report.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.