Styles P hasn’t had the best luck in the music biz. The long conflict between The Lox and Diddy epitomized Industry Rule #4080 and he didn’t fare much better on his own either.  A Gangster And A Gentleman helped to finally realize Pinero’s potential, but it would be four long years later until Time Is Money would see the light of day. But it’s not like Styles hasn’t kept his buzz growing with endless mixtapes and appearances. Let’s not forget the short lived D-Block beef with G-Unit either. Any way you look at it, Styles P has paid dues upon dues to be considered a well weathered veteran off this shady rap game. But because of his vet status, Styles has decided not to wait on a major to make decisions regarding his future and with that comes The Ghost Sessions.

    The Ghost Sessions is an album that comes virtually out of nowhere, but is stacked with interesting guests and producers. Although it is being released on the little known Streetcore label, Styles utilizes his veteran know how to craft an album for his fans and to his own liking.

    Styles jumps things off with AZ riding shotgun on the Large Professor produced “The Hardest.” The perfect lead off joint that is sure to bring a smile to anyone who is a true fan of The Ghost. Large Pro plants a smooth banger for AZ and Styles to work their magic off of. All three are vets that can easily show some of these younguns trying to make a dent in the rap game a thing or two.  Pinero keeps things moving by barking at the boys with badges on “Fuck The Police.” The off key piano plucks of “Come One, Come All” provides just enough gutter flavor to let Styles do what he has done best for so many years - talk that tough ass gangsta shit. Just as he finishes embroidering your brain with the image of a dude you don’t want to catch in a dark alley, Kool G Rap jumps in to punctuate the thug-isms with the macho man lisp that we all have come to love.

    Towards the end of the album, Styles must have been really feeling himself because he lets off a string of rock/rap joints that don’t fit too comfortably on the album. “S.P. Ghost” , the Ill Bill featured “Come One, Come All” and “So Easily” are all remixes produced by Ill Will Fulton, but just feel wrong on The Ghost Sessions. While Styles gets credit for experimenting, that doesn’t automatically garner cool points. Regardless, it doesn’t take away from songs like the Joell Ortiz assisted “Poor Folk”.

   It can be argued that The Ghost Sessions is everything that Time Is Money should have been (minus the rock/rap B.S.). What one has to begin to ponder is how many more miles does Styles P have in his tank. Especially considering the newbies that keep infesting hip hop and leave no room at labels to even consider taking another chance on an old angry dog like Pinero. Which is pretty sad because Styles and many of the other vets would tear these new guys a new asshole on the mic. Oh well, as long as there is something out it is indeed better than nothing, correct?