Raekwon “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II” Review
Wu-Tang’s place in history is golden with their classic debut 36 Chambers; however with nine offspring with various levels of solo success, commercially or artistically, the brand started to wear. After the first round of getting great solo records in the mid/late ’90’s, particularity GZA’s Liquid Swords, things looked real cool for the Wu. As time passed, that would dwindle in worthiness, with so many Wu-related artists dropping lesser quality Wu-releases.
Following up a true classic can either drive artists insane (trying to recapture that glory) or it can push them forward, using that pressure to make something special, even if not reaching the same classic status. With his debut Raekwon made his mark: on 1995’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx aka The Purple Tape, he laced a classic as it was a straight crime saga as soundtracked for the hustlers and kung-fu fans alike. Following that Raekwon released 1999’s misunderstood Immobilary and the minimal, unfocused Lex Diamonds in 2003 to a warm response. Raekwon then connected with Dr. Dre, signed to Aftermath, and after months of non-activity there was still no sign of a new release. Not long after, The Chef left Aftermath, focused himself and returned to the mindset that produced OB4CL.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is armed with explosive production from the late, great J Dilla, RZA, Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, Allah Mathematics and Marly Marl. With so much talent on deck though, it’s J Dilla who steals the show on production, doing the best RZA in years. This is raw, hardcore hip-hop, not for the “tight jean†set, and there are no trendy guests, or gimmicks. This is exactly what the genre needs at this point in time when way too many empty vessels front as rap-stars. Shallah Raekwon reminds cats that “I’ve always been an ill dude†on “House Of Flying Daggers,†laced by J Dilla, who flips the old chorus from “Clan in Da Front” with strings as Method Man, Ghostface and Inspectah Deck sound hungry and in rare form.
Rae explains that the Wu still “Move like ‘91 Romans, cloning everything, gents only, the rent’s on the stove, I’m in Rome†on “New Wu (Wu Ohh )†with Ghostface Killa and Method Man riding shotgun over it’s brooding soul choir sample by J Dilla; it’s a certified banger that captures that old Wu-Tang glory: uptempo, joyous and dark at its gulliest. There’s the excellent, precision sharpness of “Surgical Gloves†where Rae goes in with the basement rawness as he does with the throwback “Gihad.†“Broken Safety†features Long Island hard-knocks Jadakiss & Styles P of the LOX. There’s an heartfelt tribute to Ol’ Dirty Bastard on the J Dilla produced “Ason Jones” and The Chef gets with Philly’s hardest Beanie Sigel who snaps on the menacing standout “Have Mercy.†J Dilla again shines on the missile “10 Bricks†featuring a rejuvenated Cappadonna and Ghostface. RZA contributes “Fat Lady Sings†and the space funk of “Black Mozart.†The banger “Catalinaâ€â€”produced by Dr. Dre—showcases that West Coast boom-bap. The playful “We Will Rob You†features Slick Rick, Masta Killa and GZA. “About Me,†another Dr. Dre joint, is sparse with its piano runs and head-snapping drums. The album closes out with with slow burn of “Kiss The Ring†with Wu’s Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa.
With 22 tracks there’s easily a few songs that Raekwon should have sent to the mix-tapes, but still, the overall return to the criminal, coke-rap manifesto is on point. It’s great to finally have an authentic top shelf Wu-Tang release, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II being a near classic and the best Wu release since Ghostface Killa’s Supreme Clientele. It is a fantastic, triumphant return to that genuine street shit, full of visual lyrical darts and hard-knock satisfaction.
[review by guest contributor Jon Jon Scott]
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[Guest contributor Jon Jon Scott also writes at Sound Verite’]
Couldn’t agree more Jon Jon, OB4CL II puts 8 Diagrams to shame… easily lands in the top 10 best Wu-releases of all time.
After one listen I am not impressed. This may have been a hot album 12 years ago, but the crack-era has seen its glory days and it’s time to move on. I found the project to be a complete bore that drags on…and on…and on…Much ado about nothing.
I absolutely cannot wait for this album. I’m staving off all leaks until I purchase it. Can’t wait!
Total disappointment,Dre had no biz on the album..sounds like a mix tape production weak no arrangment,Rae should have ask Prince Paul ,Rza ,Muggz ,Dj Premire , It would be over for sure classic oh well what can u expect these days???hopefully IronMan 2??
yo saucy – crack-era? Clipse is still blazing kid
also, not to put down Dilla’s beats, but RZA has never sounded better (this decade)
Egypto – love you, and you’ll love this
Lerk – you have no taste. period. aftermath ring any bells? dre has no purpose? yup, already said what i wanted to say.
This album was pretty good, I’m a little bored of the crack rap….but you know what….when done right crack rap is dope as hell. Hahahahaha Rae what the hell took you so damn long to make a relevant album.
Personally I’m completely on the Rhymesayers/MURS/Def Jux jock, but every now and then these random dudes will drop an album that will make me revert to the stuff I listened to in high school when getting into trouble.
I haven’t cared about a non ghostface release as far as the wu camp went for some years….if the Wu can keep up this standard….great things will come from them…but I doubt it.
Oh and the best Wu release as of late was Chamber Music.
this shit is awesome….
Just remember to pocket all the great Ghostface verse’s to listen to when he drops his, eh, R&B album.
No Nas???
All of that rambling from Poppa Wu.
Dumb, played-out, skits. Toooo much extra talking.
‘Ason Jones’ is nice. Raekwon still has skills. But the project as a whole is no where near a classic. A masterpiece? Really?
How about more of that same? A dead body dug up from ‘95…it stinks.
Perhaps I will change my mind after a few more rotations. Doubt it.
Whoah Whoah Whoah……
What was so wrong about “8 Diagrams”?
It took an interesting direction
Paul – like you man, good lad – but it is easily the weakest Wu-banger as a group–and YES, I AM including Iron Flag (actually, come to think of it – they’re pretty much on the same level)
At least Iron Flag had Uzi (Pinky Ring) one of the best Wu joints period
Ok idk about half the dudes on this website…but this album is going to be the fucking shit! House of Flying Daggers…listen to that song in a car with a nice system………Black Mozart….We Will Rob you….the entire album is just AWESOme
great review JINGLES !!!!!
as per review – solid as always, thoroughness is a courtesy on the part of the writer. as per historical angles, after only one quick tour of the tracks I’m with it…seems like it would take a fall semester to properly map out all of the Wu constellation with any kind of consensus…who doesn’t have a favorite?
Whatever the story this seems like the freshest chapter – and in some way it is reassuring that the most one of the most outspoken pioneers of the I95 corridor contribute an inspired update to the coca-structural models (lyrical and business) that he and his team introduced with such bravado, so many years ago.
Not sure there is really anywhere left to go with the genre in question but I am sure that power and how its expressed will remain a fascination for us all for some time to come…
ps – Saucy have you ever considered becoming a producer?
shit i thought it was descent, i’ll buy it tuesday 4sure, i’m sure after a few spins and a good buzz some of these joints will be classic
ask the people ragging on Cubans 2 what they liked this year. i guarantee it will put their opinions into perspective.
I got to give Raekwon mad credit for this album, for effort, timing and stopping bullshit in Hip-Hop.
Grade: Near 9 out of 10
OB4CL II is raw for today’s time. Obvious he could of came more “street” however, it is the new ears of hip-hop (age 13-18) who grew up with Bow Wow, Chingy, Lil Wayne who is trying to magnetize, cause the real fans are already attracted and he knows that. Do yutes today have the heart, mentality and experience to actually relate to Raekwon on his A+ street mentality? Personally no! The kids today who can relate already got this album downloaded and rewinded or already have some bootleg CD cause they got no internet and its on repeat and they are taken notes. This album is going to do what 36 Chambers did to the kids who were of 12-18 at that time. Wu is educating them in moderation. Analyze 36 and The Purple Tape, was it considered flawless or A+ when it dropped? Or was it a season(s) later consedered that grade by listeners? Did the media hail its coming or did they worship it later after they realized later when they figured out there was a market for its sub genre.
Remember when 36, Liquid, Cuban 1 and Ironman dropped, the internet was not the shit. People at that time first heard the track on supporting radio stations/dj’s, then read about them in good Hip-Hop publications, then saw videos, then followed the material that came after. Now its so mosaic -collage. People hear them on the net, then instantly see them on TV and them trying to trash albums before it hits the shelf in the physical. Major difference of now and than is that now heads don’t vision lyrics in their minds and too little attention span.
To break out of all the diet rap that has no substance, Rae most had to do nuff “polliticing”. Labels, distributors and all those jins in the industry trying to stop and take Rae off his “fetus style”. Watch, when ears open during the school season and the buzz is Rae and the Wu, the industry be on his cock swinging towards their direction cause there is a new revamped Market of “hardcore”.
Chef’s formula for this Suuuuuuuuuuup is real science all the way! Yall witness when the this math divides equates Wu and those who support the movement on top.
Yo…My opinion so “breeze over” if you not feeling it.
wankers, just listen to the cd, roll an l kick back and forget about that hype shit. away from all the judgementaL bullshit this cd is off the chain!! classic*
THE CRACK ERA WILL NEVER BE OVER COME TO HARLEM. STUPID COMMINT CRACK ERA OVER LOL CRACK HEADS LEFT THE PLANET
TOOK ALL THE CRACK WITH THEM IDIOT WATCHES TO MUCH TV
Great CONCEPT album.
THIS SHIT IS FIRE. any of you hating faggots saying otherwise should stick to choking themselves out masterbating to “Fry Dat Chicken”.
Lil Wayne listening to faggots.
Damn is something up with my ears, coz this is just average at best. Damn what happened to niggaz standards? I know its been a quiet year or two but shit… and listening to a 40yr old tellin crack tales – you gonna tell me that aint lame? shit. theres been nicer shit out than this, check out the deeskee and trife joints they shit on this from a great height.. haha raekwon aint even the best rapper on this album and people talkin ‘classic’! you aint gonn be bumpin this in 15 years like part one, no way! its just ok. thats all it is.
Got the leak last week with intentions to buy if it wz gud. gettin the **** out of work at 4 so i can go cop it.
What a return, just when I thought he had us waitin 2 long Rae comes out with this. Don’t listen to the haters on here, if u a wu hed then u will appreciate this as vintage.
Ghost smashes it the fukup
CLASSIC AND IM ONLY ON TRACK 14. S*IT IS CLASSIC. FU*K WHAT THE HATERS ARE SAYING. AGAIN THIS ALBUM IS CLASSIC!
RAEQWON SHIT IS BANANNAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IM BUYING THIS SHIT STR* UP!!! gotta support this!!! ITS SICK!!!! Beats is sick!! RAES RYHMES IS SICK!!!!! HE DIDNT NEED ANYONE ON IT!!!
i threw weeezy awayyyyyyy lmao!!
This album is straight gold
crack raps will never die if its done by the who ones who do it right. raewkon does it right. period. he will always have the right to glorify and illustrate illegal business. personally i will always want to listen about violance, bitches, guns, dope, and all around negative shit, if its being done right. positive shit is cool here and there, but gets old fast. hardcore will never die.
gave this album a few listens and its just average by Wu standards. its kind of sad that Rae is still rappin about the same old negative stuff – drugs, violence, ghetto life, mafia-don blah blah blah – 14 years later. where is the progression??? there are plenty of hot versus on the album, but there’s hot versus on every Wu album – that doesn’t necessarily make for a hot album, just some nice moments. Rae is clearly trying to cash in on the Cuban Linx brand which he is smart to do, financially speaking – this should generate more album sales. but this album just ain’t that hot, plain and simple, no matter how much fans want it to be.
DA ALBUM IS STR8 FIRE 2 ME… BETTER THAN BLUEPRINT 3 IN ITS OWN WAYS… REAL STREET MUSIC ….. RAEKWON N DA WU-TANG MEMBER HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES ONCE AGAIN…. OH YEAH 4 ALL YALL HATERS OUT DERE… GET THIS CLEAR, THIS ID THE DEFINITION OF A MC
PARON THE TYPOS… I LIKE 2 SMOKE YA DIG… SOUTHSIDE RIVHMOND VA
i mean if u wanna be real wit thats what hip hop started w…girls, money, jewel, the hustle game…pretty much doin some negative shit to try and get positive results. hip hop is a youngs man game inna way, im 30 and this shit feels good to me, cuz it aint like Jeezy or somebody talkin bout the shit but cant spit it right. Rae does it easy, plus the flossy street shit…at the end of the day rap is a job, he tryin to cater to two types of audiences. shit theres plenty of 25 to 50 year old niggas in the drug game. alot niggas in the rap game still fuck w drugs in one way or another, shit is being moved. I dont wanna hear the “i own 10 casinos” shit i cant relate, i dont have 100 million dollars or whatever save that shit for ya real life. put thatb street shit out. Jays street albums are his classics ones, aebody talkin Jay Z grown up now i dont need to talk bout drugs, but wasent his last album American Ganster? when he was pushin all that herion, wowwwww
Rae shit is crazy bumpable i dont give a f what he talkin bout, Rae is the originator of that type of rap in my era comin up…
why tha fuck is someone a hater if they don’t think this album is a classic? how does that work please? and lol @ the dude saying ‘this is the definition of mc’.. the one man who said he’s cashing in on the CL brand – bang on.
you’ll all wake up one day and forget this album existed.
WU-TANG 4EVA! The Chef is burnin’ ‘em, once again. If you want progression, start a fuckin’ non-profit (seriously) otherwise, nod ya’ heads and reminisce. As always, praises for the meticulous review Jonny! – E. Grant
to early to be called a classic but i dont have a doubt in my
mind that its a close call. Wu Tang will always be the most influential group in hip hop and on of the best any one who doubts it probably a lil wayne fan. check me in 4 years then you know its a classic.
and why cut out criminolgy 2 that was a dope track. and im still waiting for the cure where the hell is it RZA. \
I’d heard some of these tracks and thought they were great but a few dilute the overall quality.
Gotta agree with Lerk, Dre’s beats have no place on here. It’s like they set out to make it raw and then thought we better get a few money-makers on there. Dissapointing. When you hear them next to Dilla, you realise what we’ve lost. Ason Jones and New Wu are stand-outs and the 10 Bricks beat is a straight classic.
Still no better story-tellers than Rae and Ghost, just hope it gets enough exposure for the new fans to appreciate the quality stuff. Doubt it, but these days good music is very rarely the popular music.
listen if you dont think this album is a classic then u dont know what hip hop is..and by all means everyone can have an opinion but I guarantee there are songs you lames havent decipher off this album or past albums..Rae and the Wu give you good flows,dope tracks,lyrics,concepts and realness all in one..Meaning you can dance to it plus get some knowledge all at da same time..that’s classic dummies..HATERS are not on Rae and Wu’s level keep listening to Wayne and Soulja Boy messing hip hop up and dumbing down and watering down this shit we started..Step your rap game up..and by the way Rae and the clan sold all those units since they came out with no radio or video play..no sell outs here buddy..
oh out come the ‘if you don’t think this is a classic you don’t know hip hop’ or ‘you probably listen to lil wayne if you don’t agree this is a classic’
fuck you. step up your flame game you herbs coz thats as old hat as raekwons raps.
btw, skyzoo has dropped a better album one week on…
I posted this over on a Blueprint 3 forum and figured I may as well post it here too.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 is the album you wanted this one to be. REAL HIP HOP and gives you that excitement before, during and after you tear off the plastic and toss the CD in the car or put the songs on the iPod.
I play both Blueprint 3, Cuban Linx 2 and even the new Slaughterhouse album since I bought them all at the same time. Let’s just say Rae’s album stays in heavy rotaion. I grew up on both artists and have alltheir music can relate so I know what I’m talking about.
You want that crack? Grab the Raekwon album over the Jay album this round. By the time you get to Broken Safety with Styles P and Jadakiss you’ll know what I’m talking about
man THIS IS THE GREATEST ALBUM DROPPED SINCE 1990… ONE OF MY TOP 5 GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME… THIS IS WHAT HIP HOP NEEDED, A GREAT RAPPER DROPPING A GREAT ALBUM, TOPPIN DA CHARTS… AND PUTTIN OUT SOULJABOY AND ALL OTHER, FALSE ADVERTIZED RAP MUSIC… ANYONE WHO DOESNT LIKE THE ALBUM BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE 90S ERA IS NOT A HIP HOP FAN, THEY ARE FAGGOTS AND WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO THE NEW BOYS OR PLIES THAN RAEKWON, MEFMAN, INSPEKTAH, ETC ETC EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO OUT AND BUY 5 OF THESE, KEEP 2 TO BUMP, INCASE ONE GETS SCRATCHED, AND FRAME THE OTHER 3 THE DAY THE ALBUM DROPPED WAS THE ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS IN HIP HOP SINCE SUPREME CLIENTEL ON SOME G SHITT
2 words…. broken safety!
Styles P murders this verse…DAMN
was disaapointed, totally mainstream feel. no way near part I status
Loving this album right now. Finally Rae gets this shit out there and I can’t say I’m disappointed. Yeah you got the odd filler in there but show me an album that don’t?
To all the Haters – Thats cool, its your opinion. Who the hell am I to say your opinion is wrong? And Vice Versa.
Broken Safety and Surgical Gloves are pure class.
Progression? People didn’t want progression. Whenever any Wu member tries that people bitch about “What happened to that old WU sound?” You can’t win. So he went with the formula and I think it is pretty amazing. I just don’t get some critics saying “Kiss the Ring” should have been left out. I don’t get that at all. I find myself playing that over and over.Amazing song. Rebel INS is crazy good on the whole album.
This album is banging! First of all, it better be on some crack cookin, murderin catz, ghetto tales, puttin bitches and bitch nigs in they place type of shit. Its pt2 so why wouldnt it be? Yall think these catz should be rockin little jeans and being on some gay shit or what?!?! FUCK THAT, thats the dudes yall haters be rockin. And for all the people dissin please list for us who is in your rotation so you can get laughed the fuck outta here. SLAPRAP SON!
Dope album, straight up
Who said DRE has no purpose on the album?? Catalina sounds like a simple beat but thats what makes it unique. This album is tight and is one of the better albums of the year, mainly because it relies on lyrics not production, unlike BP3.
Is it a classic NO. Are there a few bangers YES. The formula on the album is on point, although I was expecting more execution. After rotation some joint’s on here well grow & Banger’s well wear off. I’m NOT hating but this album is fare from classic. Good point’s about modern day comparison, forget the hype,think about the new generation, cat’s like Doom can keep it on more underground level.
Great review. I heard 1000 daggers and immeditatly felt that same energy I felt when I first heard protect your neck. Bought the album right away. The debate about classic is in the user opinion, we all have one. I think this is wu in hungry form. Alot of nostalgic Easter eggs spread out the album. I bought the purple tape 3 times cause people kept stealing it in the streets. Bought the cd twice and lost those too. My mans from Harlem put me on to it and it still till this day stays in my playlist. Part 2 would never live up to part 1 no matter how I’ll it is. This is 20s wu not 90s wu. But if you study this is a lyricist and emce album. Sick.
OB4CL 2 IZ THE HARDEST ALBUM EVAH OF THIS 21ST CENTURY. WORD ALL YAH ON HERE WITH UR LAME COMMENTS ON RAE ALBUM U DONT KNOW WHAT YOU TALKIN ABOUT. J DILLA KILLED BROVAH ON HIS PRODUCTION WORD. HOUSE OF FLYIN DAGGAZ CLASSIK THE OL DIRTY TRIBU CLASSIK BRICKS CLASSIK THE DOC DRE STUFF IZ COOL. BUT BECAUSE OF CERTAIN PEOPLE DATS NOT WU ON THIS ALBUM DOESENT MAKE THIS ALBUM NOT A CLASSIK. THE BLACK GOD DID HIS THING HE TOOK TIME IT WASENT A RUSH JOB AND BE SIDES THE WHOLE CLAN IN THE FROUNT WAS ALL OVAH THIS ALBUM. EXSEPT 4 U-GOD BUT OTHER THEN DAT OB4CL 2 IZ A WU TANG 4 EVAH CLASSIK PEACE
Oh I got bp 3 in rotation too. Loving the old swiping their metro cards, with Pocket full of tokens.
Classic? Maybe, but this is definitely a return to the glory days. BTW Jadakiss and Styles are products of Yonkers, NY, not Long Island.
Well, pple stop hatin…..u dudes are used to the weak rhymz, lil wayne , some crappy south staff about chains and diamonds…..this is real rap and a typical Chef album. HARDCORE AS EVER. WE NEEDED SOMETHIN LIKE THIS FOR SURE. Real rap saviuor.
This sh** is banging in our hood man……WU 4 LIFE.!!!!!.
this shit is hot. it’s about time some REAL old school style hip hop came out.
You guys talk about progression? What progression? You mean poorly produced club bangers and cheesy hooks? Hip Hop has gone DOWN hill in the last few years.
fuck the lil waynes, the fabolus’ and all those other “RnB niggas”.
Truthfully, John John fucking kills it on New Wu. Beats anything by any other rapper this year. Yes even Hova and Em.