Ghostface Killah Son: The Reality of Growing Up as Wu-Tang Royalty

Ghostface Killah Son: The Reality of Growing Up as Wu-Tang Royalty

Sun God. That’s the name most hip-hop heads gravitate toward when they start digging into the life of the Ghostface Killah son. It isn't just a cool moniker or a bit of rap bravado. It’s a weight. Dennis Coles, the man the world knows as Tony Starks or Ghostface, didn't just leave a musical legacy; he created a literal one. But when you’re the offspring of a Wu-Tang Clan deity, "normal" isn't really on the menu. People expect you to spit like your dad, move like your dad, and carry that gritty Staten Island torch without dropping it.

Honestly, it’s a lot.

Most people looking into the Ghostface Killah son are actually looking for Sun God, whose real name is Dennis Ames. He’s the most visible of Ghost’s children, largely because he stepped into the family business early. You’ve probably heard him if you’ve spun More Fish or Put It on the Line. He has that same urgent, breathless flow that made his father a legend. But being a "son of" in the industry is a double-edged sword. It gets you in the room, sure. It doesn't keep you there.


Why Sun God is More Than Just a Famous Name

Dennis Ames didn't just wake up and decide to be a rapper because it looked easy. He grew up in the shadow of the Shaolin Temple. He watched the Wu-Tang Clan transform from a group of hungry Staten Island kids into a global empire. When you see a Ghostface Killah son on stage, you’re seeing years of osmosis.

He started making waves in the mid-2000s. Ghostface was always vocal about supporting his kids, but he didn't hand them a career on a silver platter. He put Sun God on tracks, let him rhyme on "Street Opera" and "Man Up," and basically used those features as a litmus test. Could the kid hold his own next to a lyrical heavyweight? Generally, the consensus was yes. He had the rasp. He had the street-level storytelling. Most importantly, he had the authenticity that defines the Coles bloodline.

Breaking Down the Wu-Generation

There’s this weird phenomenon where the children of the Wu-Tang Clan members have formed their own sort of "second generation" collective. You’ve got Sun God, iNteLL (son of U-God), PXWER (son of Method Man), and Young Dirty Bastard (son of Ol’ Dirty Bastard). They call themselves 2nd Generation Wu.

This isn't just a tribute act. They’re trying to carve out a space that honors their fathers while acknowledging that the rap game in 2026 is vastly different from 1993. Sun God has been a pivotal part of this. It’s fascinating because, while Ghostface is known for his abstract, psychedelic "wallabee champ" persona, his son’s approach often feels more grounded in the immediate struggle of contemporary New York.

It’s about survival. It’s about the name. It’s about not being the one who lets the empire crumble.


The Complicated Reality of the Ghostface Killah Son

Not everything is flashy music videos and sold-out tours. Life as the Ghostface Killah son involves navigating the reality of a father who was often on the road, building a mythos that consumed a lot of his time. Ghostface has mentioned in various interviews over the years—especially during the promotion of his memoir projects—that balancing the Ironman persona with fatherhood was a struggle.

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Dennis Ames has had his own brushes with the law, which is something many fans gloss over. In the late 2000s, there were reports of legal issues involving weapons charges in Chesterfield. It was a reminder that the "street" elements in Wu-Tang lyrics aren't just metaphors for some of these families; they are lived experiences.

He survived it. He kept rapping.

Other Children in the Mix

While Sun God takes the spotlight, Ghostface has other children who stay further away from the microphone. It’s a bit of a private world. Unlike the Kardashians or other celebrity families who put every breakfast on Instagram, the Coles family keeps a relatively tight lid on things. There’s a daughter and at least two other sons. One of them, Infinite Coles, took a wildly different path than his brother.

Infinite is a singer.

He’s soulful, avant-garde, and openly speaks about his experiences as a queer man in a space (hip-hop) that hasn't always been welcoming. If Sun God represents the direct lineage of Ghostface’s rap style, Infinite represents the emotional, vulnerable core of Ghost’s soul-sample-heavy discography. Seeing a Ghostface Killah son embrace R&B and house music while maintaining the family’s creative integrity is, frankly, one of the coolest evolutions of the Wu legacy.


What Most People Get Wrong About the Legacy

The biggest misconception? That these guys are living off royalties and don't have to work.

The music industry is a meat grinder. Being the Ghostface Killah son means you’re constantly compared to one of the top five lyricists of all time. Every time Sun God drops a verse, some guy on a forum is going to say, "It’s good, but it’s not Supreme Clientele."

No kidding. Supreme Clientele is a once-in-a-generation masterpiece.

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Sun God and his siblings have had to find a way to be "Dennis" or "Infinite" while the world only wants to see "Ghostface Jr." That’s a mental hurdle that would break most people. They aren't just riding coattails; they are trying to build their own bikes while riding on a highway their dad paved.

The 2nd Generation Wu Project

If you haven't checked out the 2nd Generation Wu stuff, you should. They released "7.O.D." a few years back, and it was a revelation. It didn't sound like a 90s throwback. It sounded like modern New York—heavy, dark, and technical. Sun God’s contribution was a standout because he has that same erratic energy his father possessed in the early 90s.

It’s almost haunting. You hear a certain cadence and think, man, that’s Tony Starks right there. But then the lyrics shift, the slang changes, and you realize you’re listening to a different man entirely.


How do you actually make it today? If you’re a Ghostface Killah son, you have two choices:

  1. Lean entirely into the nostalgia.
  2. Run as far away as possible.

Sun God chose a middle path. He works with his dad—Ghostface often brings him out during live sets—but he also grinds on the independent circuit. He’s not waiting for a massive Def Jam deal that likely won't come in the current streaming climate. He’s building a cult following.

It’s a blue-collar approach to rap.

It involves:

  • Direct engagement with fans on social media.
  • Dropping singles frequently to feed the algorithm.
  • Collaborating with other "Wu-affiliates" to keep the ecosystem alive.
  • Touring small clubs where the real heads hang out.

The Influence of Staten Island

Staten Island (the North Shore, specifically) is a character in the story of every Ghostface Killah son. It’s the "Forgotten Borough," and that chip on the shoulder is hereditary. You can hear it in the way Sun God talks about his neighborhood. It’s not just a place; it’s a badge of honor. Even as the world changed and the Wu became a multi-million dollar brand, the sons stayed tethered to the dirt.

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That’s why people respect them. They aren't "Hollywood." They’re still very much New York.


The Practical Side: What You Should Listen To

If you're trying to understand the musical output of Ghostface's lineage, don't just search for "Ghostface Killah son" on Spotify. You need to know where to look.

Start with More Fish. Sun God is all over that project. Listen to "Miguel Sanchez." The chemistry between father and son is undeniable. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a genuine passing of the mic.

Then, pivot to Infinite Coles. Check out his features with some of the more electronic-leaning producers. It will give you a completely different perspective on what the "Coles" sound can be. It’s broader than just boom-tap drums and kung-fu samples.

What’s Next for the Bloodline?

As we move further into the 2020s, the focus for the Ghostface Killah son (and the rest of the 2nd generation) is sustainability. They are likely going to lean harder into fashion and independent media. Ghostface himself has always been a style icon—the robes, the massive eagles on the wrist, the Wallabees. It’s only a matter of time before the sons fully capitalize on that aesthetic heritage.

They are also becoming the keepers of the vault. As the original Wu-Tang members age, the sons are the ones who will decide how the brand is handled in the future. That’s a massive responsibility. It’s about protecting the "W" from being diluted.


Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators

Whether you're a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan or an aspiring artist yourself, there’s a lot to learn from how Sun God and his siblings handle their position.

  • Authenticity is non-negotiable: You can’t fake the funk. Sun God succeeded because he didn't try to be a bubblegum pop star; he stayed true to the grit he knew.
  • Collaborate with your peers: The 2nd Generation Wu collective is a perfect example of "strength in numbers." By grouping together, they created a narrative that was bigger than any of them individually.
  • Differentiate yourself: Infinite Coles is the perfect example here. He took the family name but applied it to a completely different genre, carving out a niche where he doesn't have to compete with his father's ghost.
  • Respect the foundation: You never see the Coles kids disrespecting the work that came before them. They acknowledge the shoulders they stand on.

The story of the Ghostface Killah son is still being written. It’s a narrative about family, the weight of expectations, and the grueling work of finding your own voice when your father’s voice is one of the loudest in history.

Keep an eye on the independent releases coming out of Staten Island. The Wu-Tang saga didn't end with the original nine members. It just evolved. And if you’re looking for the rawest, most direct continuation of that 36 Chambers energy, Sun God is where you start.

Stop looking for the "new" Ghostface. Start listening to the first Dennis Ames. He’s already here, and he’s been putting in the work for years. That’s the real legacy. It’s not a hand-out; it’s a hand-up, and the rest is up to the hustle.