t-hanes

The Ghost are gourmet cooking
In 1993, The Wu-Tang Clan exploded on the scene with the classic (in every sense of the word) album "Enter the Wu-Tang:36 Chambers". Raekwon was featured on 7 of the 12 tracks so the fans got enough of Raekwon but they wanted more. In 1994, WU-Tang broke out into the game again, but this time as soloists. Method Man was the first with his album "Tical". The album was a success but wasn't really critically acclamied (Wu-Fans were dissapointed, hoping Meth would've brought the charisma he brought on Enter The Wu-Tang). Ol' Dirty Bastard was next with "Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Versions. Wu-Fans were pleased this time to get more of Ol' Dirty (since his appearance wasn't really felt on Enter The Wu-Tang). The album was about 4 1/2 but not considered a classic though. Finally it was Raekwon's turn. Appearing on 14 of 18 tracks is Tony Starks (or Ghostface Killah). Ghost's presence was also felt equally on Enter the Wu-Tang, being featured on 7 of 12 tracks.

Starting off the album is "Striving for Perfection". It's basically Rae and Ghost talking about what's best for them and whatnot. "Knuckleheadz" is a pretty grimey track. U-God (who usually doesn't wow you actually does on this track) does good."Knowledge God is also a very grimey track. This is the first of the Raekwon's solos. "Crimonology" is no subject in school. Rae and Ghost rip this track up. Very good beat by RZA. "Incarcerated Scarfaces" (like everyone says) is probably in the list of best rap songs of all time. Rae takes this one on his own lyrically slashing the track starting with the hook "Now yo,yo/what up, yo/Time is running out/It's fo' real though/Let's connect politic, DITO/We can trade places/Get lifted in the stair cases/Word Up, Peace Incarcerated Scarfaces". "Rainy Dayz" is like a real melody type track like "Can It Be All So Simble" with the soft melody and singing. Ghost joins Rae again for this Classic Wu-Tang cut. "Gulliotine (Swordz)" is another classic Wu joint. On this track Ghost and Rae are joined by the lyrical stylings of The Rebel INS (Inspectah Deck) and The Genius (GZA). Of course GZA and Inspectah Deck come lyrically equipped as well as Raekwon and Ghost. "Can It Be All So Simple" is basically the remix of the original off Enter the Wu-Tang Clan. Ghost and Rae simply quote themselves and add in some new rhymes connected with some old. ex: Original: Started off on an island/AK Sholin/Niggaz whylin/Gunshots throne the phone dialin" Remix "Started off on an island/AK Sholin/Niggaz Whylin/Old folks screaming STOP THE VIOLENCE". For some reason, this ones sounds more hyped than the original. "Shark Niggaz (Biters) is a skit in which Ghost and Rae talk about "biting" in the industry and that people were biting off Wu's sound. They also mentioned people biting off of Nas's "Illmatic" album cover (If you listen to Nas's song "Last Real Nigga Alive, he notes Raekwon and The Notorious B.I.G. had beef. Rae felt Biggie was biting Nas's whole style, starting with the album cover. Biggie had a baby on his album cover while Nas himself around 10 yrs old). "Ice Water" is our first official introduction to Cappadonna/Cappachino. This songs has some very tight verses from Rae and Ghost but Cappadonna is the real shiner (probably cause he had to prove himself). "Glaciers of Ice is another tight track by Rae and Ghost. This time they're accompianed by Masta Killah who delivers a very good verse along with Rae and Ghost. "Verbal Intercourse" should go down as another all time rap classics. This is the LAST verse by Nas in his Nasty Nas mode, not Nas Escobar (This is where he started his Nas Escobar alais though,AND this is Nas's best verse of all time). Rae also delivers a tight verse, but Ghost finishes it off perfectly again. He agains talks about people bitin Wu's style. ex "You told your boo you was whylin/Once you heard Wu/Out of the blue/Ya families from Sholin. There is also a qoute about Tupac in here. I don't know if it was a diss or whatever but Ghost says his name. "Thousands of crack land up in my shoebox/Don't keep jack in my lap, don't wanna see TUPAC. This is credited to Tupac being in jail at this time. Next is "Wisdom Body", Ghost's first and last solo. Ghost destroys this piano-laced beat with lyrics such as "Check the bangininess sound that i invent/ Fake Niggaz who tried to flex hard came and went/They couldn't match up/Put the fly nigga with his back/against the wall/hands clapped, when I came in the door". "Spot Rusherz" is another Rae solo, it's probably his worst solo on the album, yet a tight album (that should tell u about this album). "Ice Cream" is the timeless classic. Everyone has heard this song by now. Rae, Ghost, Cappadonna, and The Ticallion Stallion (Method Man) describe women as ice cream. Cappadonna steals the show from Rae and Ghost with this one "Black Chocolate girl, wanna shade brown like thunder/Politic to ya deficent step, gimme ya number". "Wu-Gambino" is another classic Wu Cut. Tical, Rae, Ghost, Bobby Digital (RZA)'s first appearance and Masta Killa parade the track on this posse cut. Very good lyrics and production. "Heaven and Hell" is Rae and Ghost's last solo and the original end to the cd. Rae ask the question "What do you belive in, Heaven or Hell/Can't believe in Heaven cause we're livin in hell". "North Star (Jewels) is Rae's last solo. Rae delivers some tight lines on this one.

As you can see, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" is a flawless masterpiece. Rae and Ghost are the a perfect duo of Hip-Hop. This and "Liquid Swords" are the best Wu-Tang solo albums. This actually sets up for Ghostface's Killah solo (If you can call it that, he only has 2 solos). Ghost also guest stars Rae and Cappadonna on his album(Ironman) to form a deadly trio. I suggest u go pick up this immediately. WU-TANG KILLA BEES: WE ON A SWARM!!!!

Wu-Tangs Best Solo Effort ....Ever
The beginning of this classic album sets you up with Ghostface and Raekwon talking about how they have to make it big, and how they're putting this classic out. And on the first song they completely blow you away. The two have been bruthas since they were kids, and as Method man once said "they hate the rest of the world." So Cuban Linx (which is as much Ghostface's as it is Raekwon's) is founded on the friendship of two bruthas from the streets who love the mafiaoso stye, and with an eerie (yet genius) mix of shaolin. The result is a dark , powerful force which cant be ignored.

Rakewon displays his abilities as a soloist in knowledge god, which he deserves great praise for:

"Mafia flicks, tyin up tricks was his main hobby
Teachin his seed, Wu-Tang karate."

Incarcerated scarfaces is another all time rap classic which in my opinion is not only the best track on this excellent album but one of the top five tracks in hip hop history. It opens up with a great scence from a kung fu movie of a shaolin hero. It is a Raekwon soloist track as well. Great beat and incredible lyrics: Can't stand unofficial, wet tissue, blank bustin Scud missles
"You rollin like Trump, you get your meat lumped
For real, it's just slang rap democracy"
Incarcerated Scarfaces like so many other songs on this album has ghostface and Raekwon coming up with hilarious, witty phrases with street grime to them.

Even the song ice Water which has a pretty weak beat is totally redeemed by lyrics like : "I know a few niggaz sniff coke, it cause seizures
Peace to half-moon Caesars
and all the bitches in the bleachers"

Then you have the Nas collaboration with Ghostface as well in "Verbal Intercourse" which is anther indubitable classic. Which is shortly followed by Ice Cream. Ice Cream is another hilarious take on women. It is not terribly misogynistic, it is just funny as anything.

This album is a trip into the perfecct collaboration team of Ghostface and Raekwon and shows how the friendship between these two leads to a shocking display of rap music. When listening to some of these songs you will be captivated by the beats (produced by the RZA btw), and ofter you will hear a few lyrics and drop your jaw in disbelief.

This is the real stuff.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (Flawless Masterpiece)
Raekwon has made a masterpiece. Every track is truly ill. Rap cd's today are complete crap, but this is real. It's rare when you have a cd and you never need to skip a song. Even the skits are good. Thanks to nice flows by rae and ghostface and top notch beats by rza, this cd is a classic that any hip-hop fan should own.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is arguably the best quasi-solo Wu-Tang album (Ghostface Killah literally gets equal billing). Most of contemporary hip-hop's Mafioso-inspired themes and MC street aliases are inspired by the "Wu-Gambinos" motif introduced on this 18-cut LP. As the Wu's preeminent storyteller, Raekwon (a.k.a. "The Chef") paints Technicolor Kool G Rap-style pictures of high-stakes drug trafficking on "Criminology," and then mixes his street sensibility with 5% Nation of Islam reasoning on "Knowledge God." This album is loaded with RZA's finest production moments, as he samples a barrage of kung-fu flick sound bites, plays discordant keyboards on "Incarcerated Scarfaces," and utilizes some eerie female vocals on "Rainy Dayz." Rae's timeless duet with Nas on "Verbal Intercourse" further cements the album's status as one of the best of all time. --Dalton Higgins