Check out our NERD STAR HIP HOP exclusive interview with GHOST DOG about his latest single "The Way of The Ninja" influenced and inspired by the Anime NARUTO. Read all about what GHOST DOG has to say in this quick, one on one session.
What's up Ghost Dog?Ghost Dog: Chillin' fam; how ya be?
You have a new single out titled "Way of the Ninja" could you tell the readers a little about the single?Ghost Dog: Yessir!!! Being somewhat of a head when it comes to anime, I decided to pay respects with a Naruto tribute. Sometimes I get inspired to tackle a concept, theme, or story based on what I'm into at the time & how the beat happens to talk to me. At this point in time I had seen the whole original Naruto series & was heavy into Shippuden; & the beat just took me to tha treetops. On the actual album ('Dreams of a Wandering Samurai), the premise is that I fell asleep watching an episode & it seeps into my dreams....kinda ironic I guess; a samurai
that dreams of being a ninja....lol
Who did you work with for this single?Ghost Dog: Manifest is on the beat & my sister-from-another-mother, Lizh, is the guest kunoichi (female ninja); or the guest emcee on the track.
This single is inspired by the anime / manga Naruto, what about it compelled you to create the song?Ghost Dog: It's just such a rich & vivid world that grabs my imagination; I guess I also have a bit of a soft spot for the series, being heavy into martial arts & as I said, the beat also just really took me there on some ninja ish; & the characters & their powers lend themselves well to a concept track.
What do you like most about Naruto?Ghost Dog: The characters/progression, the jutsu, the story, it's all just so gritty & has a lot of well-written, powerful arcs!
Who are some of your favorite characters in Naruto and why? Who can you relate to?Ghost Dog: Jiraiya (RIP), Shikimaru, Gaara, Temari, Ten Ten.....I can relate to Naruto on the outcast/having to overcome & develop himself tip & Itachi on the unsung hero tip.
What anime / manga would you recommend to the readers?Ghost Dog: Of course there's Naruto & Dragonball, but also Gungrave (an AWESOME anime), Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood), Rurouni Kenshin (both manga & anime; & it also has one of the best live action adaptations I've
ever seen), Attack on Titan, One Punch Man.....maaaaan I could keep going....
What plans do you have for this single?Ghost Dog: In a perfect world it would be rockin' on the soundtrack to a Naruto video game/movie. Looking into avenues to get it licensed...
What definite plans do you have for 2018?Ghost Dog: Well I already have some shows & a hip-hop/youth workshop lined up for the start of the year, then it's tour season (Building Bridges Tour with Cesar Comanche has been an annual thing for me for the last 5
years...). Each year I end up expanding to a place I haven't rocked yet; this year it looks like I may be hittin' up Vermont...
I'm also 1/2 of a crew called Phantom Blade (alongside my homie Sharp Cuts); & we're about to release our full-length LP 'Beware the Phantom Blade' in the next couple weeks.....plus I will be completing my next full-length solo LP 'Warrior's Pride' & dropping it later in the year....so really I'll be staying busy booking as many shows as possible to promote the new projects.
