Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (August 1, 1995)

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

I was all set to write up a review of the Wu-Tang debut album... but then this shit happened. And to hopefully bump up my (nonexistant) views, I decided to review Raekwon's classic debut album.

Method Man is the charasmatic one. Ol' Dirty Bastard was the crazy one. GZA was the lyricist. So how did Raekwon get the honor of releasing the third solo album from a Wu-Tang member? Did he get lucky? Did RZA sign off on the wrong album? Or was the combination of Corey Woods and Dennis Coles' maifoso lyrics, combined with Robert Diggs's cinematic production set up to create one of the greatest albums in the hip-hop genre?

Well, it certainly couldn't be that last part.

For Raekwon's classic debut, RZA provided the production for all 18 tracks. Rae also enlisted Ghostface Killah (who would release his debut album a little over a year later) to appear on 14 of the 18 tracks (Ghostface would do the same for Raekwon, having him appear on 13 of the 17 tracks on Ironman).

1. Striving for Perfection (feat. Ghostface KIllah)
Produced by RZA
An album intro. Nothing special.

2. Knuckleheadz (feat. Ghostface KIllah & U-God)
Produced by RZA
I personally would've had U-God in the middle, so Raekwon gets you interested in the beginning and Ghostface can pull you out of that nap you involuntarily have whenever U-God drops a verse. What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about? What do you mean not everyone gets bored when they listen to U-God? Stop lying, that's common sense. Oh, for the song. Damn good until U-God comes in and ruins the sozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

3. Knowledge God
Produced by RZA
Wait, what happened? I just dozed off. Ghostface only drops by for the intro and does absolutely nothing of importance, so he's uncredited in my book. Raekwon (who is credited... just incase you forgot) spits two hot verses on the first great song of a classic album with so many.

4. Criminology (feat. Ghostface Killah)
Produced by RZA
This shit is just amazing. RZA's simple, yet awesome beat, combined two great verses from our host and his co-host make this the second best song on the album (you'll see the best one coming soon).

5. Incarcerated Scarfaces
Produced by RZA
Meh. This isn't too bad, but then again, it isn't too good, either.

6. Rainy Dayz (feat. Ghostface Killah & Blue Raspberry)
Produced by RZA
Samples both Michael Jackson's cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" and John Woo's film The Killer. What a weird combination. This song just rocks. Rae and Ghost both sound amazing. Plus Blue Raspberry ain't so bad herself.

7. Guillotine (Swordz) (feat. Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, & GZA)
Produced by RZA
You know the beginning of Method Man's "Tical", with the teaser beat that then switches up into the actual beat? Well, RZA decides to pull that beat from Meth and give it over to Rae for the necessary Wu-posse cut. The four all sound great, which makes me wonder why Inspectah Deck can't seem to put together a good album to save his life. The other three put together great albums. What was the common link between those? (RZA.)

8. Can It Be All So Simple (Remix) (feat. Ghostface Killah)
Produced by RZA
Of all the Wu-Tang songs to do a remix of, they pick my least favorite off the debut album. As such, I still don't like this.

9. Shark N---as (Biters) (feat. Ghostface Killah)
Produced by RZA
A skit/interlude in which Ghostface Killah discusses his hatred for biters, with Raekwon agreeing every now and then.

10. Ice Water (feat. Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna) Produced by RZA
Oh, hey, look. Cappadonna's prety good on here. Too bad that wouldn't last. Oh, and the song's good, too. So... yeah.

11. Glaciers of Ice (feat. Ghostface Killah & Masta Killa) Produced by RZA
The beat's nice. And the dynamic duo of Raekwon and Ghostface both sound awesome. Oh, and Masta Killa drops by, too. How nice of him. Though, Blue Raspberry sounds really... really... bad in her backing vocals.

12. Verbal Intercourse (feat. Ghostface Killah & Nas) Produced by RZA
Nas has the distinction of being the first non-Wu associated member to be on a Wu-associated album. After an annoying 30-second intro, Rae, Ghost, and Nas all jump into what is my favorite track off the album. But that could be due to the fact Nas is my favorite MC. When I first listened to the album, I skipped to the track, once again, due to my Nas bias. What did I hear? A fucking amazing track with great verses from the three stars (primarily Nas).

13. Wisdom Body (feat. Ghostface Killah)
Produced by RZA
Raekwon allows Ghostface to have a solo showcase here. Ghost repay the favor to Rae, allowing him to rhyme solo on "The Faster Blade" from Ironman... and with RZA, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa on "Assassination Day". RZA's production here is pretty good. And it appears a line from Ghostface's verse either skips or is backmasked. But, meh, Ghost sounds pretty damn good here.

14. Spot Rusherz
Produced by RZA
It's a good song, but in terms of Raekwon solo tracks, "Knowledge God" tops it.

15. Ice Cream (feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man, & Cappadonna)
Produced by RZA
I. LOVE. THIS. SONG.

16. Wu-Gambinos (feat. Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Method Man, & RZA)
Produced by RZA
RZA steps out from behind the boards and brings Method Man and Masta Killa (they were hiding behind the boards) for the second Wu posse cut. Method Man (who was assigned hook duties on the last song) spits the best verse here, but it's not like Rae, Ghost, RZA, and Masta are bad. However, in terms of Wu posse cuts on OB4CL, I prefer "Guillotine (Swordz)".

17. Heaven & Hell (feat. Ghostface KIllah)
Produced by RZA
The debut single that introduced us to Raekwon's solo career, and, of course, it features Ghostface Killah. RZA's beat on here is fucking awesome. Though, Blue Raspberry annoys me with her backing vocals. However, that doesn't distract me from the main attraction of Rae and Ghost passing the mic back and forth, making an awesome track.

And this can be listed as a bonus track...

18. North Star (Jewels) (feat. Popa Wu)
Produced by RZA
Popa Wu seems to annoy me on everything's he's on, though, even with that, Rae and RZA bring us a decent song to send us out on. The beat is nice, too. So... that's good... yeah...

Conclusion: Wait, you don't have it? Da fuck, man? DA FUCK?! Go pick this shit up. And then find an instrumental version and download that.

Coming Soon
Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)