Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II
Rating
RIYL
Wu-Tang ClanGhostface Killah
Release Date
09/08/2009
Label
EMI InternationalTracklist
1. Return of the North Star2. House of Flying Daggers
3. Sonny's Missing
4. Pyrex Visions
5. Cold Outside
6. Black Mozart
7. Gihad
8. New Wu
9. Pen
10. Baggin' Crack
11. Surgical Gloves
12. Broken Safety
13. Canal Street
14. Ason Jones
15. Have Mercy
16. 10 Bricks
17. Fat Lady Sings
18. Catalina
19. We Will Rob You
20. About Me
21. Mean Streets
22. Kiss the Ring
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Raekwon is the rap world's Cynic - just as Cynic had musicians featured on Death's influential Human album, Raekwon came out spitting as the mafioso member of the groundbreaking Wu-Tang Clan. When the Wu began to shift their focus from group releases to solo efforts, he became the third to release an album. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was released near the end of 1995, following the debut albums by Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard, and the album received an incredible amount of acclaim for its pioneering of the business-oriented gangster subgenre of rap. It's notable for paving the way for many more artists' swings at the style, such as those by Jay-Z and the Notorious BIG. Much like Cynic's debut album turned the progressive death metal world on its head, OB4CL would be regarded as a classic in the rap scene for years to come. Fast-forward 14 years through two forgettable (read: Wu-Tang absent) solo albums, and we have the second round of this bout: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II.
The album's intro segues directly out of the first album, almost un-noticeably. Popa Wu, the Clan's adoptive father, christens the track by talking up the 14 years in between the two albums and with that, we're off. “House of Flying Daggers,” the first single from the album, is a track produced by the late J. Dilla. Powerfully interpolating “Clan in Da Front” from the first Wu-Tang album, it opens the things up with a nice familiarity. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Method Man all join Rae on the track, each providing a strong verse. “Sonny's Missing” is a shady track that recounts a hired killing with a tight sample and effective story telling, and the following song recounts a crack cooking narrative by Rae. Both of these tracks serve well to push the listener deep into the street persona that he presents, and they're the perfect length to get the job done. “Cold Outside” is a gritty street tale told by Rae and Ghost that isn't overly conscious or unrealistic. For being the token “life is hard on the streets” track, it isn't bad. “Gihad” is sandwiched in between the two RZA produced tracks on the album, and is produced by Brooklyn rapper Necro. Some of you may know him as the rapper who was once famously booed off of the Sounds of the Underground tour. That aside, the song features nice production and Ghostface has a hilarious verse which completely overshadows the rest of the track. This just goes to prove once again that Cuban Linx is just as much his album as it is Raekwon's. “New Wu” is the second RZA track on the album, and it features a quality verse from everyone who appears. Following two more time passing tracks is the Alchemist produced “Surgical Gloves,” which contains the best sample on the album and some great rhymes from Rae.
“Ason Jones,” another J. Dilla produced track, is a personal tribute to the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, and while somewhat out of place on this album, you can't help but love it. This is a great song and Rae's honesty shows right through his voice. “We Will Rob You” is a stacked track that features not only GZA and Masta Killa, but the legendary Slick Rick. GZA's rhymes (as well as his production) kill this track. “About Me” is Dr. Dre's second track with a signature piano / clap beat and some awesome rhymes over top, while the following “Mean Streets” is a hard hitting cut featuring Ghost and Inspectah Deck. The last song, “Kiss the Ring,” takes a new spin on RZA's sped-up soul sampling, and Rae ends up promoting his dominance in the rap industry. It becomes very obvious that he means it, as the rest of the album acts as superb support to his claim.
Let's be honest, this is basically Raekwon's second album. We all know that sequels and second attempts are always going to be compared to the original, and they are usually going to pale in comparison. They're released with fragile expectations and fans are quick to point out their every flaw, but this simply isn't the case for OB4CL2. Raekwon and Ghost have managed to cook up a disc that, while not as groundbreaking as the original, doesn't have many flaws left to be pointed out. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is a release full of solid music that doesn't do anything to tarnish its name, and the potentially 14 years that have been put behind it have made sure that there isn't a wasted second of time for the listener. Fans of the first album will be glad to see that it hasn't turned away from its mafia based style and that Raekwon hasn't lost any of the signature charisma that made him an unforgettable voice. If you're a newcomer, you ought to find it easy to enjoy the slick production that's laid over-top of the grimy basis of the music, as well as Rae's outstanding lyrics. If you're a fan of rap in general and you're disappointed in 2009's output, pick up this disc, and forget about all of the pitiful radio rap that's out right now. The industry needs it.
--Cody Rogers
Comments
Tallaclassy, FL
I just picked this up yesterday... Its pretty awesome.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Yea...this is album is awesome. Good review Cody.
Brooklyn, NY
i love this album, but i wouldn't go so far as to count out Rae's other releases. Lex Diamonds is a great album too...
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Raleigh, NC
Thanks man. I wanted to give this a 4.5, but I want to save those higher ratings. Haha.
Atascadero, CA
i like it, but i don't love it. the new KRS-ONE took over the Raekwon listening spot i had him in, and I haven't gone back yet. new Krs-one is solid.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
The new Krs and Buckshot album is so effin good. Raekwon's album is equally as good in my opinion. For the past month my ipod has played nothing but those two albums and the new Jay-Z.
Markham, ON
The beats on Have Mercy. Anyone else think they sound exactly like a toned down version of Paintings by Atmosphere?
P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.
Markham, ON
Sorry meant "Say Hey There", not Paintings.
P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.