Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

THE REVIEW

Raekwon a.k.a. The Chef has always been one of the most prominent members of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, the New York supergroup that has contributed more than any other to the evolution of modern rap sounds with its phenomenal debut "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". By mixing ancient oriental philosophies, street life, and old clips from forgotten kung-fu movies with dedication and a touch of cunning, the most famous clan in rap immediately attracted the interest of listeners and critics worldwide with its genuine and original approach to the subject matter. The subsequent solo albums from its various members confirmed the premises set by the superb debut of RZA and company.

"Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" was released in 1995 by the now-defunct Loud Records and remains to this day, alongside GZA's "Liquid Swords," the best solo album by a Wu-Tang Clan member.
In the album's 18 tracks, all produced by the sampling master RZA, our Chef Raekwon's immense storytelling abilities shine in their full glory. Stories of lived experiences and intrigues worthy of the best gangster movies perfectly blend with dark and hypnotic beats, with that typical "Wu-Tang Sound" now gone down in history.

It seems almost obvious and unnecessary then to mention absolute masterpieces like the dark "Criminology," or "Incarcerated Scarfaces" with its magical storytelling, through to other little gems like "Guillotine (Swordz)," an exceptional posse cut full of oriental references, "Ice Cream" with its legendary and hypnotic base, leading to the Godfather-like atmospheres of "Wu Gambinos," with nearly the entire Clan present.

A constant in the album, besides its practically excellent musical quality, is the presence of Ghostface Killah on the mic, accompanying our master of ceremonies in almost all tracks, standing out for his unique vocal timbre and his intricate and nearly untranslatable slang outside the 5 Boroughs.
"Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" is, in short, an album not to be missed, a classic of rap that, 10 years after its release, does not feel dated at all and is still listened to with pleasure, a pleasure that only a group like Wu-Tang Clan, which has indelibly marked the history of black music (and beyond), can give us.