"Daytona 500"

Ghostface Killah
(Razor Sharp/Epic, 1996)

A timely reminder that the Staten Island that the Wu renamed Shaolin and shrouded in Mafia methodology, mostly eerie Chris Carter crapola, and Shaw Brothers mysticism was also where Martin Scorsese shot GoodFellas, the best flick of the '90s. On this scorching three-verse workout, Raekwon is De Niro swinging aluminum bats, Ghostface (the "Black Jesus") is Joe Pesci "pissin' out the window on turnpikes" and stealing dirt bikes, and (because he went on to betray the crew by dropping a lame solo joint) Cappadonna is Ray Liotta, the shnook, but his verse still smokes.

-- Alex Pappademas