Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt II

That Chef fatty returns after a wait of at least a half-decade with the sequel to "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...". Yes, it took more than five years (though I might be wrong, I've lost count) of creation, anticipation, and various denials. Followed by rumors, more anticipation, and more denials until the official release in 2009. Fourteen exact years after the first sensational chapter. The same exact ugly cover fourteen years later.

Now, the hip-hop theorem says that if a sequel is packed with features and has more than twenty tracks, it will hardly become a classic. But the sensibility of our heavyweight led him to share the lyrics almost exclusively with affiliates of the Wu-Tang Clan. Family album = right choice. The other doubt arises legitimately after Raekwon’s two solo records in between (borderline embarrassing): namely the productions. You see Dr. Dre on the cover and think this will be a slapdash album just to profit off the title re-release. Instead, our heavyweight had already been moving forward during these years of waiting. In addition to the aforementioned King of the West-Coastplasticgangstarecyclingbin, he shows up with the right names. Just right. To make a bang.

Here, we must give (more than) a note of merit to that genius poor J Dilla. Because, on their own, three tracks like "Ason Jones," "House of Flying Daggers," and "10 Bricks"are the quintessence of the perfect beat, in terms of rhythm and sampling. Never understated and never over the top, maximum attention to detail. Want to play it safe? Listen to these three songs. If then, in a gangster/mafia-themed musical work, you take out the cinematic combo "Black Mozart" - "Gihad" - "New Wu" (RZA-Necro-RZA), the mission could be said to be concluded after a third of listening to the entire album.

" You know how to dress a lad get rocked hundred bags black doorags
Ski masks is on g-rags
Nigga try to take pictures relax still in the grass
You'll learn respect [BANG!] burst when I ask
Rhyme master busy rizzy on the subject
Love deck thug buried drug vest snub sets killing the most
Night time toast gorillas in boats three boats "

Sound quality? Perfect. We are 16(thousand) light years away from 36 Chambers.

The songs are still 24 in the European edition. I can definitely discard four completely ugly ones, plus another five decent ones but that don't thrill - or have samples already used, already heard. The remaining ones (and they are not few) are all phenomenal. Chef Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck are unstoppable, Method Man is no less. And when friend GZA joins in, the Posse Cut is served! The host makes Dr. Dre more enjoyable for me... and that doesn't seem like a small feat. When a track doesn't convince, the flow of the Wu-Tang Clan takes care of things. The seal of quality on the productions is put by the convincing confirmations of Pete Rock, Mathematics, and The Alchemist. Besides the short pearl of Erick Sermon, which fits perfectly.

If such a beautiful album arrives unexpectedly, the positive sensations amplify. Wishing for a not ugly cover too would be too much.