REVIEW - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II

In 2005, Raekwon announced that he would be releasing a follow-up sequel to his undisputed 1995 classic "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." It's been reported that Rae's long-time friend and fan, Busta Rhymes, had a major influence in getting Raekwon to attempt the impossible. The impossible being to get back in the studio and recreate the same magic that he, Ghostface Killah and RZA cooked up in 1995. Busta essentially convinced Raekwon that hip-hop NEEDED this. The situation was dire and Raekwon was obligated to put on his surgical gloves and go to work.

For the educated fan with a high hip-hop I.Q., we realize that making an album in 2009 that is superior to Raekwon's original classic is virtually impossible. The game, the field, the rules, and the players are now all very different. 15 years ago, songs like "Glaciers of Ice," "Incarcerated Scarfaces," and "Criminology" were in heavy rotation on hip-hop radio stations and their videos were all over BET's "Rap City" and MTV's "Yo! MTV Raps". Rae and Ghost single-handedly commercialized selling crack and the struggles that coincide with that type of lifestyle. In addition, they fabricated a unique slang vocabulary that incorporated the teachings of the 5% Nation of Islam and its Supreme Mathematics and Supreme Alphabet. Couple this unique rhyme style with the RZA's dark and heavy hitting production and, well, you all know what happened 15 years ago: THEY CHANGED THE GAME.

In 2007, XXL magazine stated that "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II" was the 6th most anticipated album of the year. Raekwon dropped two singles "Baggage Handlers" and "State of Grace" produced by J Dilla and RZA respectively. These tracks got my nipples hard to say the least. They were really the first tracks that Raekwon released since his debut album that were reminiscent of his cookin' crack days where he famously received his nickname of "Chef". Between 2005 and September 8, 2009, Raekwon went from being signed to Dr. Dre's bullshit label Aftermath (bullshit because he signs artists only to shelve them so he can work on his Detox album which has taken him 47 years to create, SMH) to putting Cuban Linx 2 out on his own label ICEH2O. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II has been pushed back numerous times and has gone through many transformations in the process. All of this (push backs, label changes, Dr. Dre's bullshit, and the cutting of many RZA beats) has made me very skeptical of how this highly anticipated album will ultimately come out.

I have listened to this album on repeat roughly three times per day for the last week (BIG UP TO MY SUPPLIER KHAMAL!!!!). After soaking it all in and really analyzing the significance of what this album represents, I strongly believe we have another hip-hop classic on our hands. (It should be noted I have the 22 track leak version right now which doesn't include the two bonus tracks that had sample clearance issues. I'll have that version next week.) I'll be the first to say that this album is not as good as the original. It is not on THAT level. What I will say is that it's the best hip-hop album I have heard this decade and probably the best release I've heard since Ghostface Killah's "Supreme Clientele".

Raekwon definitely took the challenge of making another hip-hop classic very seriously. You can tell that his priorities had nothing to do with large numbers of record sales, radio spins or commercial success. Instead, Raekwon's priorities here had everything to do with his legacy as one of the greatest hip-hop contributors of all time. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II is an album that will be critically acclaimed and stand true over the course of time.

The album begins in classic Wu-Tang fashion with an old school kung-fu sample that goes straight into one of J Dilla's best beats on "House of Flying Daggers". For anyone who hasn't seen the movie that this track was named after, it's a must-see film (one of the best of all time). This track is basically a posse cut with Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Method Man. House of Flying Daggers sets the tone for the rest of the album, which is hard, raw, gritty production accompanied by even harder rhymes. I'm not going to dissect every song and every rhyme in my review, but what I will say is that this is one of the most consistent hip-hop albums I've heard in as long as I can remember. There are only two tracks on the entire 24 track album that I don't really care for and that is the Erick Sermon produced "Baggin' Crack" and the Ice Water produced "Have Mercy" featuring Beanie Sigel. I think these two beats are particularly weak in comparison to the rest of the album.

Ghostface Killah came through in usual Ghostface fashion: Impeccable. On "Cold Outside" he rhymes about the struggles of the world and his frustration is expressed emotionally in his delivery. He ends his rhyme stating that rappers should all go on strike in order to make more cash. On the Necro produced "Gihad", Ghostface tells a story of getting head from a girl his son is dating only to get caught by his son who pulls a gun out on him. The story ends with Ghostface knocking his son out, teaching him a lesson about "hoes" and then sending his son to the bodega to get him a 40 oz. Only Ghostface could pull a rhyme off like this!!!

Alchemist literally murdered the beat he produced for the track "Surgical Gloves" and Raekwon simultaneously killed his verses. It is one of my favorites on the album. J Dilla's "10 Bricks" is truly a "Wu-Tang" style beat and it features Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna. You really feel like you are listening to the Wu-Tang of old with this track. The sampling style parallels the RZA from the '90s and is done very crisply. Inspectah Deck is featured on the RZA produced "Black Mozart" and spits like the Deck of the '90s. Overall, all producers and featured dart spitters absolutely brought their A-games to this album. I think everyone involved respected the level of importance this project represents for hip-hop.

There are two immensely serious things that I found to be missing from this album. The first is that RZA is not the main producer. If RZA is able to create beats the way he used to, then we all missed out on something that could have been truly magical. Although Raekwon was remarkably able to create a very consistent feel throughout this album, it's just not the same as having RZA produce the whole thing. I should state, however, that RZA himself is not the same producer he once was (I guess he ain't as dusted as he used to be when makin' beats) and it may be a good thing that he wasn't the only producer. RZA was the executive producer and I believe his vision took this project to a level that it needed to reach. The second serious thing missing from this album is a classic verse from NaS. I don't personally give a fuck about NaS or his divorce from that piece of shit Kelis. I don't care what he had going on in his life. If Raekwon calls you to recreate something of epic proportions in hip-hop, then you fucking do it. Period. He had 4 years to make it happen and he flaked on Rae tremendously. For me, this is unforgivable.

Despite this album missing a couple things, overall it is one hell of a piece of work from a 40 year-old vet who proved that he still has the skills and staying power to hold down hip-hop in its era of decay. I can basically listen to it straight through with no skips and I haven't gotten bored once. The album has left me with a sense of satisfaction I haven't felt since the '90s. THERE IS NO BULLSHIT OR FLUFF ON THIS ALBUM. It's a modern-day classic from a legend who stayed true to his fans and to hip-hop and represented lovely.

Money Miz gives Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II a 4.5 $s out of a possible 5 $s.