“Gihad” - Review Of Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II
ALBUM REVIEWS By Patrick M. on September 9, 2009 at 10:19 pm
As any chef worth his stuff will sum up: you can’t rush fine cooking. Granted, most recipes don’t require 14 years of preparatory time, but Raekwon obviously wanted to make sure he had the sequel to his all-time classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… done just right. 14 years is a few lifetimes in Hip-Hop, and the Wu’s admitted, slow steady drift from the center of the Hip-Hop universe had critics rightly questioning whether another Cuban Linx… would sully the legend of the original Indiana Jones 4 style. Luckily for Hip-Hop fans, the wait is worth it. With Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, Raekwon has created a reflection and re-imagination of the original with the same cinematic storytelling, fire-spitting guests, and grim beats that made the Wu legends in the first place.
In the world of Cuban Linx, not much has changed from 1995. Once again the urban cocaine trade and its perils form the plot of the album. In the world of Hip-Hop however, coke rap stories are no longer a novel subject, putting an extra impetus on Raekwon to separate himself from the dozens of other MCs touting themselves as ghetto mafia crack dons. He accomplishes this though, through vivid storytelling, rattling off detailed rhymes to bring scenes to life. “Sonny’s Missing,” exemplifies the violent narrative poetry on display as his describes a gang interrogation: “Chunk of meat flew off his cheek bone/broken teeth/had a hole in his ‘Lo shirt/and took all his weed/Untied him/he fell legs weakened, son wouldn’t tell/now it gets deep/son start falling asleep…”
The album zooms in close on moments in the life of a dealer on select short tracks. Rae muses over the baking process on the hazy “Pyrex Vision” and revisits street mathematics for the ominous “Baggin’ Crack.” What’s crucial to the authenticity of these rhymes is the impersonal style Raekwon’s takes. His street narrator role brings him close to the action, but not necessarily part of it—he’s more David Simon than Avon Barksdale. Rather than bragging about his own exploits, he focuses on the carnage the coke trade creates around him on tracks like “Cold Outside.” The only time Rae breaks character is the poignant ODB tribute “Ason Jones,” which shelves the sappy wistfulness of 8 Diagrams’ “Life Changes,” for a more balanced look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Wu’s tragic figure.
As on all Wu albums, guest appearances play a vital role, and if the album has a weakness, it’s that Rae is too often outshined by his right-hand men. Ghostface may be releasing an R&B album, but on this joint, he’s as raw as ever. “Gihad” finds the dynamic duo at their best with Rae putting in dirty work on one side of town, while Ghost shames white women in the funniest way possible on the other. They trade rhymes with gusto on the grim “Penitentiary,” proving that even jail bars can’t stop their hustle. Other Wu members bring their A-games as well. GZA comes out of nowhere to steal the limelight on “We Will Rob You.” And Method Man and Inspectah Deck bring the ruckus on the tone-setting, militant opener “House of Flying Daggers.”
The changed element of the Cuban Linx sequel is the lack of RZA’s dominant musical presence. The fading Prince of Shaolin contributes to the eerie “Black Mozart,” but Rae opts instead for a mix of older and newer producers to create the soundtrack to new Staten. As is always the case, multiple producers means a little less coherence, but Raekwon’s consistency and vision holds everything together through 22 tracks. From Icewater’s pianos of “Canal Street,” to Dr. Dre bangers “About Me,” and “Catalina,” the producers of the 2nd Purple Tape create a sound that reflects the original while fitting comfortably into the modern era.
Cuban Linx Pt. II takes nothing away from the legacy of the original. Indeed it will likely add to the significance that album, Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan hold in Hip-Hop’s history. Few artists in any genre have shown an ability to make quality music over such a long time period. No you won’t hear these tracks on your local radio station, but no matter. Wu-heads and Hip-Hop fans worldwide can rejoice in the fact that the Chef’s still cooking up some marvelous shit.
Previously Posted — TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Raekwon Featuring Ghostface | Raekwon Feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man - “House Of Flying Daggers” Video | Raekwon Feat. Method Man & Ghostface Killah - “New Wu” Video | Raekwon - “Walk Wit’ Me” Video
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL — Tags: Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan
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49 Comments
Mos Def!!!!!
Album is nice but too bad his numbers won’t reflect it…
^ “Album” Yeah I still call ‘em that…
5 cigs dammit. i don’t care what anyone says.
“..don’t give a fuck if you are 25, u still my son nigga…make sure my 40 cold” - classic ghost adlib!
great review, this album is dirty.
sort of off topic, but anybody got a link to supreme clientele? trying to fill in some missing elements of my wu catalog.
“And get you 40 too with a pacifier.”
Haven’t read the review, but the cig rating sounds about right.
Applauds…
Co-sign the 4 1/2. I’m buying this tomorrow; too bad it won’t be sold out though.
I copped Blueprint 3, first listen I thought it was “eh”, but. Second listen I definitely enjoyed it better.
I still need to get this album [OB4CLII].
I’m worried about how Cudi’s album will do.
Did anyone cop (or even know that it was released a week ago) Beans’ album?
This fall/winter line-up looks promising.
exactly
Rae knocked it out the park even though at times it was hard to accept that the content of dudes rhymes really hasn’t changed since 95….I mean, don’t we all change a little over the course of 14 years? I’m just sayin???
Solid 4.5 cigs tho(especially while listened to with headphones)….can’t wait for Ghost’s shit now…Perhaps another IronMan? you know he won’t come with no bullshit. Especially after Rae dropped this gem…
that stan in me wants to say….”fucka a 4 1/2 cigs….this shit is 5 CIGS!!!!”
*points gun at the head*
then I’ll calm down…get a baloney thrown to my eye…and reluctantly agree with the 4 1/2 cig rating.
hopefully i can get my hands on this tomorrow…
I thought it was 3.5 cig album.
i totally agree with this review; i’m a little more generous so i probably would have given it 5
YO!! I think I just saw Skyzoo on ESPN. They showed him in one of the luxury boxes at the Yankees game. lol.
agreed. thought is was a worthy follow up. only thing missing was nas. great album nevertheless. impeccably produced.
The 4.5 cig review is right on point. This would’ve been an easy 5 cigs if it was released somewhere between 1996-1998. Wu already had hip-hop in a lyrical Boston Crab anyway… sometimes timing is everything. Dope album. Consider it bought.
Looking forward to see TSS’s review of:
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Che Grand - Everything’s Good Ugly
M.O.P - Foundation
I’ll take a KiD CuDi review also, but I’m not too sure if I’m a fan of Man On The Moon… yet.
The Beatles Mono Masters Vol 1 (Remastered Mono) 2009
http://depositfiles.com/files/duk1681lm
Please Please Me
01. I Saw Her Standing There
02. Misery
03. Anna (Go To Him)
04. Chains
05. Boys
06. Ask Me Why
07. Please Please Me
08. Love Me Do
09. P.S. I Love You
10. Baby It’s You
11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
12. A Taste Of Honey
13. There’s A Place
14. Twist And Shout
With The Beatles
01. It Won’t Be Long
02. All I’ve Got To Do
03. All My Loving
04. Don’t Bother Me
05. Little Child
06. Till There Was You
07. Please Mr. Postman
08. Roll Over Beethoven
09. Hold Me Tight
10. You Really Got A Hold On Me
11. I Wanna Be Your Man
12. Devil In Her Heart
13. Not A Second Time
14. Money (Thats What I Want)
A Hard Day’s Night
01. A Hard Day’s Night
02. I Should Have Known Better
03. If I Fell
04. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
05. And I Love Her
06. Tell Me Why
07. Can’t Buy Me Love
08. Any Time At All
09. I’ll Cry Instead
10. Things We Said Today
11. When I Get Home
12. You Can’t Do That
13. I’ll Be Back
Beatles For Sale
01. No Reply
02. I’m A Loser
03. Baby’s In Black
04. Rock and Roll Music
05. I’ll Follow The Sun
06. Mr. Moonlight
07. Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey
08. Eight Days A Week
09. Words Of Love
10. Honey Don’t
11. Every Little Thing
12. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party
13. What You’re Doing
14. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby
Help!
01. Help!
02. The Night Before
03. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
04. I Need You
05. Another Girl
06. You’re Going To Lose That Girl
07. Ticket To Ride
08. Act Naturally
09. It’s Only Love
10. You Like Me Too Much
11. Tell Me What You See
12. I’ve Just Seen A Face
13. Yesterday
14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Rubber Soul
01. Drive My Car
02. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
03. You Won’t See Me
04. Nowhere Man
05. Think For Yourself
06. The Word
07. Michelle
08. What Goes On
09. Girl
10. I’m Looking Through You
11. In My Life
12. Wait
13. If I Needed Someone
14. Run For Your Life
Revolver
01. Taxman
02. Eleanor Rigby
03. I’m Only Sleeping
04. Love You To
05. Here, There And Everywhere
06. Yellow Submarine
07. She Said She Said
08. Good Day Sunshine
09. And Your Bird Can Sing
10. For No One
11. Doctor Robert
12. I Want To Tell You
13. Got To Get You Into My Life
14. Tomorrow Never Knows
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
01. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
02. With A Little Help From My Friends
03. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
04. Getting Better
05. Fixing A Hole
06. She’s Leaving Home
07. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
08. Within You Without You
09. When I’m Sixty-four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day In The Life
The Beatles (The White Album)
DISC 1:
01. Julia
02. Back In The U.S.S.R.
03. Dear Prudence
04. Glass Onion
05. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
06. Wild Honey Pie
07. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
08. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
09. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
10. Martha My Dear
11. I’m So Tired
12. Blackbird
13. Piggies
14. Rocky Raccoon
15. Don’t Pass Me By
16. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
17. I Will
DISC 2:
01. Birthday
02. Yer Blues
03. Mother Nature’s Son
04. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
05. Sexy Sadie
06. Helter Skelter
07. Long, Long, Long
08. Revolution 1
09. Honey Pie
10. Savoy Truffle
11. Cry Baby Cry
12. Revolution 9
13. Good Night
Yellow Submarine
01. Yellow Submarine
02. Only A Northern Song
03. All Together Now
04. Hey Bulldog
05. It’s All Too Much
06. All You Need Is Love
07. Pepperland
08. Sea Of Time
09. Sea Of Holes
10. Sea Of Monsters
11. March Of The Meanies
12. Pepperland Laid Waste
13. Yellow Submarine In Pepperland
Abbey Road
01. Come Together
02. Something
03. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
04. Oh! Darling
05. Octopus’s Garden
06. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
07. Here Comes The Sun
08. Because
09. You Never Give Me Your Money
10. Sun King
11. Mean Mr. Mustard
12. Polythene Pam
13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
14. Golden Slumbers
15. Carry That Weight
16. The End
17. Her Majesty
Let It Be
01. Two Of Us
02. Dig A Pony
03. Across The Universe
04. I Me Mine
05. Dig It
06. Let It Be
07. Maggie Mae
08. I’ve Got A Feeling
09. One After 909
10. The Long And Winding Road
11. For You Blue
12. Get Back
Magical Mystery Tour
01. Magical Mystery Tour
02. The Fool On The Hill
03. Flying
04. Blue Jay Way
05. Your Mother Should Know
06. I Am The Walrus
07. Hello Goodbye
08. Strawberry Fields Forever
09. Penny Lane
10. Baby You’re A Rich Man
11. All You Need Is Love
Past Masters
DISC 1:
01. Love Me Do (Original Single Version)
02. From Me To You
03. Thank You Girl
04. She Loves You
05. I’ll Get You
06. I Want To Hold Your Hand
07. This Boy
08. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand
09. Sie Liebt Dich
10. Long Tall Sally
11. I Call Your Name
12. Slow Down
13. Matchbox
14. I Feel Fine
15. She’s A Woman
16. Bad Boy
17. Yes It Is
18. I’m Down
DISC 2:
01. Day Tripper
02. We Can Work It Out
03. Paperback Writer
04. Rain
05. Lady Madonna
06. The Inner Light
07. Hey Jude
08. Revolution
09. Get Back
10. Don’t Let Me Down
11. The Ballad Of John And Yoko
12. Old Brown Shoe
13. Across The Universe
14. Let It Be
15. You Know My Name
http://rapidshare.com/files/276738540/The_Beatles_Collection_16CD_dobby_Remastered__2009.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/276774164/The_Beatles_Collection_16CD_dobby_Remastered__2009.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/276823665/The_Beatles_Collection_16CD_dobby_Remastered__2009.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/276910961/The_Beatles_Collection_16CD_dobby_Remastered__2009.part4.rar
it plays like a tape…
in other words: you play it, and you listen all the way through. no reason to skip anything. just like albums were meant to be listened to.
this is SO worth the $10.
go buy this.
ghostface killed every verse
Im like a crooked cop
richard gere
big smirk on
getting my cock sucked.
GIHAD IS THE FYRE!
good review ghost still shined on rae lyrically on this one but the album had more cohesion than all of ghost albums. rae’s got two classics….. an three duds
@viscp
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=wdejpg5v
enjoy
on point, great album
yeah, on point with the rating.
A friendly critique - I would have liked to see some more dissection of individual songs and their relationship to what he’s doing on the album, like where you were going in the second paragraph, throughout the whole thing.
by the way, after a few days of playing around on it, I’m really digging the new layout. TSS is even sicker now.
tried to buy this today, but best buy was sold out. pretty good considering i’m in the bay. sucked for me though. and i hope understocking doesn’t hurt rae’s sales.
Marvelous shit…. shame kids gon be spending they $$ on fuckin BP3 instead.
Album is solid, I concur with the review and rating.
I really want to buy this shit for a change, but in Denmark new releases are 30 us$ a piece..
On play.com it is less that nine quid (including P&P)
http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/11104282/Only-Built-4-Cuban-Linx-Pt-II/Product.html
Just put in my order, thanks man
def.
before looking i was gonna say it better have had a least four cigs.
buy this album, rae cooked it up.
Ecxellent album lyrically, most productions are nice. What lacks is the cohesion - it just doesn’t play like a one coherent piece as the original did. But why complain? it’s definitely better than 90% of all Hip Hop albums out this year.
@Darius Sinclair™,
You are the only individual that commented on this review thus far that has a damn clue. Any rating over 3 1/2 is laughable. This album is FAR from being a classic and any fool rating it at such needs to walk out into a busy street blind folded.
This album was over hyped from the beginning, Rae shows ZERO growth as an artist from his the first OB4CL and too many wu-staniels will overrate this album just because they can’t think for themselves and give it the rating it deserves.
BP3 >>>> OB4CL 2 and BP3 is barely a 3 cig.
The album is on point. There’s def some problems with cohesion, probably because of some of those tracks we heard from the mixtapes couldn’t get samples cleared (”Beauty”). “Kiss the Ring” is the perfect way to end the album though.
4.5 cigs nowadays is a 5 cigs !!! so 4.5 cigs is a classic !!! new wu
@southcakc23
nigga, please. if anything this rating is too low.
OB4CL2 is worthy of 5 CIGS, no question. it’s one of the best joints to drop in the past few years. for the first time in a long time i can listen to an album straight thru & not skip shit.
you callin’ me a fool, mayne?
State Of Grace !
TEEF U ON THE MONEY.I DONT NECCESSARILY DIG THE WAY RAE RHYMES BUT I DIDNT HAVE TO HIT THE SKIP BUTTON ONCE.COP THAT OBFCL2 ANOTHER CLASSIC.BP3 IS HOT ALSO.
this album is dope, best album i heard in a while,definately best in 09 as of yet.
Highest rating I have ever seen.
I was so afraid you guys were gonna do this dirty lol. Like mostly everyon else 4.5 seems reasonable, maybe high, just cus I still think we rate albums too high nowadays but whatever. And I don’t know the actual numbers but AHH posted a video of Busta calling Rae and telling him his album was numero uno on iTunes, ahead of BP3. So yeah Rae won with the album, if the numbers reflect it or not the fans are loving it.
“By the time you read this letter your head gonna fly off your shoulder for lyin and imma be in bed like hold this, blood from a horse on your spread, you try to play me now im coughin up dough on your head you just a baby”
that shit doesn’t even rhyme and i CAN’T GET ENOUGH!
Has there ever been a 5 cig record?
Yes, Tupac made it, coming out 2012!
the album is a the best rap album since the blueprint in 2001
college dropout was nice, the enimem show as well, and for you us real hip hop niggaz q tip dropped some nice shit, jeezy with some fire
but raekown new album is legendary status, some of you niggaz dont get it cuz u aint from the streets or u dont pass a blunt when listening the album is classic without a blunt but with it, damn get some funky ass purp roll a blunt and listen to the album from start to end it will blow ur mind
Wu tang bitch PS for the bitch niggaz who was saying its 3 1/2 we all know ur favorite rap album was an aaron carter classic
5 cigs all days
I agree with D. Sinclair on the album rating, but I’ll support the 4.5 due to my respect for the history behind the album.
I can’t front, I hope Rae gets a nice pension from this joint.
A track with Nas
+
A track with The Clipse
= 5 cigs!!!!