"Apollo Kids" is a song by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released as the lead single from his second studio album, Supreme Clientele. The song features fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon and contains a sample of "Cool Breeze" as performed by R&B singer/songwriter Solomon Burke. It was later included on Ghostface Killah's greatest hits album Shaolin's Finest.
Release and production details
The single was released on December 10, 1999, under the labels Epic and Razor Sharp. It was recorded in 1999 and falls within the hip hop genre, with a runtime of 3:54. The song was written by Solomon Burke, Dennis Coles (Ghostface Killah), Carlos Evans, and Corey Woods (Raekwon), and was produced by Hassan.
Music video
The music video for "Apollo Kids" was directed by Chris Robinson and set in Staten Island. The video depicts Starks Enterprises as a large factory where shoes are manufactured, with Ghostface Killah (portraying the character Toney Starks) acting as CEO. In the video, Ghostface wears mink coats and raps while eating a golden ice cream cone.
Track listing
The single included four versions of the song:
- "Apollo Kids" (radio version) – 3:56
- "Apollo Kids" (instrumental) – 3:56
- "Apollo Kids" (LP version) – 3:54
- "Apollo Kids" (a cappella) – 3:26
Chart performance
The song charted on several U.S. Billboard charts in 2000:
- U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles: peak position 32
- U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: peak position 75
- U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: peak position 21
Note on related works
"Apollo Kids" is also the title of Ghostface Killah's ninth studio album, released on December 21, 2010, by Starks Enterprises and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates, as well as Redman, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and Game, among others.
