Ghostface Killah’s 2 Brothers Had Muscular Dystrophy – Facts about His Siblings

Ghostface Killah brothers' and the rest of his family came into the spotlight with a biographical Hulu series that ran for three seasons between 2019 and 2023. Two of his siblings were in wheelchairs due to a degenerative condition.

Born Dennis Coles, Ghostface Killah burst onto the music scene as part of one of the most influential hip-hop collectives, Wu-Tang Clan. With them, he found fame, musical collaboration, and brotherhood.

Growing up in a low-income household, he stepped up for his two brothers, who had muscular dystrophy. He has channeled the struggle of this time in his music.

Ghostface Killah Took Care of His Disabled Siblings

As the eldest sibling in their home, Ghostface Killah accepted the responsibility of sometimes being a de facto caregiver to his two brothers with muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause loss of muscle mass.

He assisted his siblings, who were confined to wheelchairs, out of their chairs when they needed to go to the bathroom and lifted them back in afterward. The rapper tweeted on March 22, 2012, that the two brothers had "passed away."

It was a challenging environment with over ten relatives living together in the Stapleton projects apartment in Staten Island. He found an escape in his music. On his 1996 track featuring Mary J. Blige, "All That I Got Is You," the lyrics said:

"Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats/Two brothers with muscular dystrophy, it killed me."

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause loss of muscle mass and progressive weakness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Boys are susceptible to the most common variety of the condition that starts affecting them from a young age.

Ghostface Killah's Brother Remembered in Hulu's "Wu-Tang: An America Saga"

RZA and Alex Tse created "Wu-Tang: An America Saga" to serialize the beginnings of the rap collective. Sam McKoy-Johnson, an actor with brittle bone disease, was cast as Darius Coles, one of Ghostface Killah's brothers.

Though as a person who has spent most of his life in a wheelchair, he could relate to the character, the Spring Grove-based performer watched videos to authentically depict the mannerisms and demeanor of Darius' muscular dystrophy.

McKoy-Johnson maintains, "If you need a wheelchair role, put a person with a real wheelchair in the role." He added, "Everybody has dreams."

Not All of Ghostface Killah's Brothers Are Blood

"Love this picture of me & my brother [Cappadonna] good looks," Ghostface Killah posted in December 2013 with his Wu-Tang Clan and Theodore Unit member.

Through his close friendship with Robert Diggs (RZA) since the mid-'80s, he was recruited along with other MCs like GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon The Chef, and Masta Killa to join Wu-Tang Clan.

The group is close like brothers and highly influenced by the crime family, the Gambinos. While Ghostface Killah does not relate to getting his "hands dirty" like the Mafia, he does identify with their emphasis on family.

"You can't let everyone into your circle," he explained. "You gotta look out for the snitches, the rats, in real life. And without loyalty between your brothers, man, your whole empire crumbles.'