Woods, like most of the Wu, hails from the Staten Island borough of New York City, and has made a huge impact on the hip hop world under the name Raekwon. Rae is known for his street story telling, and has even been credited with the pioneering of the Mafioso rap sub-genre. Woods is most closely affiliated with fellow Clan member Ghostface with whom he has developed an original slang. So when these guys are on a skit and you have no idea what the fuck they are talking about, no one else really knows either. In fact, the two, while brilliant in the art of story telling, are also really good at rhyming about absolutely nothing, and still sounding dope. While being an incredible rapper, and an undisputed legend in hip hop, there is a little known fact about Woods that I will now share with you. Have you ever noticed how Raekwon always has a glazed over look on his face? Like he is staring blankly through your soul? The reason being is that he has what experts refer to as the, "Raekwon Stare". If you dare look into the mans eyes for more than a moment or two, he has the ability to shred your skin right off your body. That's why he never looks directly at anyone. He's a nice guy who isn't necessarily interested in murdering anyone, but don't fucking cross him.
This album is often referred to as the, "Gangster Illiad" which, if nothing else, sounds really fucking cool, but more than that describes the detailed storytelling that Rae is so famous for. Like I said, Woods is really close to Ghostface. So much so that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... includes him on the cover, and he contributes to just about every track on this album. There is even a track that includes just Ghost. So despite this being a solo release, it is the contribution of other members of the Wu that help this album reach an undisputed legendary status. While not completely conceptual, a good number of the tracks on this release are loosely connected stories that center around two characters who want to move on to a more positive life. However, before they can actually do that, they have to fuck shit up one last time. They say that after they make their last quarter million, it's time to retire from crime. I won't spoil any of the story-line, but even if I were to, you might not completely pick up on all of these developments in your first listen. This is an album that you should, and will want to listen to over and over again, not only to pick things up, but because it is really damn good. This is an album that you have to acknowledge as a classic, but even today it holds up as an album with straight up great music. This isn't one of those old albums you have to pretend to like, it's fucking amazing, and before I talk myself into a circle, I will now introduce to you, after over a year of promising it, the classic album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
1. Striving For Perfection
This is an introductory skit that explains the story that I mentioned in the intro, but includes the first time we hear the ridiculous slang used in the average Ghost/Rae conversation. You understand that after this one he is done, but unless you really pay attention, and know the story, you won't understand much of this, which is why it's so fucking awesome. When Ghost gets going I only pick up about one out of every 6 words he says. That being said, this track simply serves as a setup for our first real song.
2. Knuckleheadz
Getting to business, we have narrative of three characters (the two aforementioned and U-God) pulling off their last sting as criminals. The beat on this is classic, gritty RZA production that you are privileged enough hear on this album. The piano over that ill bass line is enough to make you shed a gangster tear and just hope that this kind of music will happen again. Raekwon handles the first verse as well as he always does, and Ghost ups the tempo and intensity in his second verse. This song includes the only appearance from Wu member U-God who is quickly killed off, which is simply hilarious to me. Most of the time I love shitting on Baby U just for the humor, and this time is no different. While in reality he was in the midst of legal trouble, I would love to believe that they just killed him off to keep his ass away from the rest of this album. Dope ass track to kick off the show.
3. Knowledge God
The tone on this track is consistent with that of the first song. The mafioso vibe resonates incredibly over the crime filled raps provided by a solo emcee in Raekwon. That's right, one of the few solo Raekwon tracks is a complete home-run as he rides this incredible, drum heavy RZA beat with the mind numbing flow that Woods has become famous for. The crime raps and street slang provides for some captivating rhymes, and the momentum on this album is amazing at this point. In fact, I'd say there is more quality on the first two tracks of this album than there is in the entire J-Hood mixtape discography. (the dude has about like 50 mixtapes. None of which are very good)
4. Criminilogy
A Scarface sample is always welcome on a hip hop track (at least it used to be, that shit is kind of played out now), and that is exactly what we get to start this banger off. The instrumentation on here just screams mafia-era, crime scene, much like all of the other instrumentals, but not in a way that it is becoming boring. This track is handled with a verse by Ghostface to start things off, and a Raekwon verse that goes until about a minute left, at which points the beat rides out. There is a lack of hook on this song, but its completely fine when these two are on the mic. The more rhyming we get from them, the better. The two have such an incredible chemistry that rather than any other two artists, the transition is so seamless, that it could just be one rapper. That is if they didn't have completely different voices.
5. Incarcerated Scarfaces
Only the second track in which Woods goes at it alone, and the second home-run. I don't want to be redundant, but this RZA beat is so damn good, and fits Woods' style so well. It's a shame that in Rae's latter albums he didn't use RZA tracks. Either way, this track is one of the classics on the album. The hook is catchy as fuck, and Raekwon rides the beat fittingly. It seems so effortless, but I assume if it were, someone else would attempt to replicate this sound. This song is basically paying homage to all of Woods' buddies who are locked up for street crimes. He managed to do so in the absolute dopest way possible.
6. Rainy Dayz
I'm sure there is an explanation in the deep complex mind of Raekwon, but it has always bewildered me that at times he uses the letter "s" freely, and at other times, he ends words with a "z". Maybe it just looks cool. Either way, here we have another good one. With some sort of weird flute noise, we get a pretty dope intro to the song with some awesome vocals from Wu-affiliate, Blue Raspberry. She also sings the hook, as once again Ghost and Rae tear the verses to shreds. The most outstanding part of this track is the eerie strings on the instrumental that make this the most cinematic thing RZA has made to date. Awesome track.
7. Guillotine (Swordz)
The first real Wu posse cut we get, and appropriately, it is introduced by a classic Wu-tang Kung Fu sample, because we all love that. As awesome as the instrumentation is, the thing i really love about this song is the straight up rhyming. Inspectah Deck makes his first appearance, and he is always good for a dope verse. After verses from both him and Ghost, we get another Kung Fu sample that serves as a transition in Rae's verse, which is just as good as the first two, and them we get GZA, who is, well, GZA. That dude is pretty damn good at rapping. You really have to appreciate the few bars he has though, because he weirdly has a shorter run time than everyone else.
8. Can It Be All So Simple
Begins with a skit of Ghost and Rae, and it fits perfectly fine within the album, nothing particularly entertaining. This is a remix to a track that was on the Wu-Tang debut, and while its still good, it has always seemed so strange to me that this was on the album. Like I said, its not like the song is bad or anything, but why exactly was it included in the middle of this album? Doesn't that seem just a tad strange? Maybe it's just me.
9. Shark Niggas (Biters)
You absolutely have to love this shit. Ghost and Rae are on this skit of sorts absolutely clowning on Biggie. Yeah, and it's as awesome as it sounds. Apparently they think Biggie was biting Nas' shit with his Ready To Die cover. I don't think that is the case, but it's awesome that they do. Other than that we just have some good ole Ghost and Rae banter and this is short enough to be enjoyable.
10. Ice Water
Wooh! Ghost just started out a song calling himself the black Jesus. "Ice Water" is unique for two reasons. To my knowledge, this is the first time we hear from the good ole, notorious, Cappadonna. While U-God was in prison, he brings in his mentor, Cappa, who goes on to become somewhat of an honorary member of the Wu. The other thing that really sticks out about this song is the looping sample of a man moaning. It should sound terrible, but it doesn't. Because RZA does those type of things. After Ghost and Cappaccino handle their business, it's almost like the song is ending, but before that happens we get to hear from Raekwon. I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but damn, this is a good one.
11. Glaciers of Ice
Things get kicked off with a funny ass skit of Ghost talking about his brilliant idea of dying his Clarks shoes, which he was famous for. This went on to be a popular thing he did, and this may have been the first time it was mentioned. The funny part is the fact that, for some reason, Ghost is on the brink of cracking up the whole time he is talking, for no reason. Everything about this track is dope, and I'd go as far to say that it is a highlight. The reason it is able to stand out is a fucking sick verse from Masta Killa. That dude murders this track three times over, and gives one of his best verses ever.
12. Verbal Intercourse
This is the first Wu-Tang track that included a non Wu-Tang affiliate, who just happens to be one of the greatest rappers of all time, Nas. Nas Escobar, which is his gambino name (commonly mistaken fact: this is actually not the first time he used the pseudonym), doesn't disappoint. Somehow, Nas, Ghost, and Rae seems too good to be true, but it lives up to expectations. Some female, sexual sounding voice samples loop over the beat, as the three aforementioned rappers steal the show with this one. This is not only an amazing track, but an exciting one. Just imagine buying the new Raekwon album, and seeing a Nas feature. Back in the day, shit like that didn't really happen.
13. Wisdom Body
Now we have the biggest anomaly of a song on the entire album. In the midst of this Raekwon album, we have a solo effort from our friend, the Ghostface Killah. As much as I love Ghost on the mic, this is just weird. This was such a joint effort, that they may as well have called it a collab album between the two. The song doesn't really manage to stand out in any way other than being a solo Ghost track. Other than that, it's just pretty good.
14. Spot Rusherz
In all reality, this is a solo Raekwon track. The reason it isn't listed as such is because the intro skit features a conversation between Ghost and our host. That leads into a really catchy piano beat, with a few Raekwon verse filled with crime jive, and story telling. This is a good story of a track and at least deserves a listen. It also plays into the argument that Rae is just as good a story teller as anyone else in out genre.
15. Ice Cream
Fucking awesome. From the beat, to that infectious Method Man hook, this is one of my favorite tracks on the album, and is flat out one of my favorite tracks ever. I'll put this on when I get bored, when I'm in the car, when I'm showering, just whenever. Ghostface, Raekwon, and Cappa all have verses, of course talking about women, which, in case you are an imbecile, is the topic of this song. Every line serves as a quotable, and you will find yourself singing this hook all day. In fact, Method Man steals this track. With the hook, and somewhat of a bridge that he repeats twice, he is the star.
16. Wu-Gambinos
Dialogue from The Killer mixed with ramblings from Wu-Tang members transition us into the actual start of this song, which is yet another grade-A masterpiece. Using all of their Gambino personas, Meth, Rae, RZA, Masta Killa, and Ghostface all kill their verses respectively, and the song itself is really one of the better Wu-Tang posse cuts (there have to be at least four members on the track for me to consider it a posse cut) that they put on a solo album. The beat on this track is awesome, the verses are awesome, so I guess that makes this an awesome song.
17. Heaven & Hell
Blue Raspberry gives some vocals, but doesn't really make her presence felt. The song is essentially a verse from Rae, and then an outro, or a hook by Rae and Ghost. This is a good song, and I like it a lot, but there isn't much to say about it that i haven't already said. The aforementioned hook is probably the highlight of this track, and is extremely catchy despite its pessimistic message.
18. North Star
This is such a fucking perfect conclusion track. Raekwon is done, the job is finished, and it is time for him to go, and you can tell that from the song. The feeling of conclusion is also one of great satisfaction, as you have somewhat followed Rae on this journey in the crime filled streets. Poppa Wu is a mentor to the RZA from his childhood, and is here to close the show, speaking as a wise OG. Perfect way to end a perfect album
Rating: 5/5
This is an album that will never be duplicated. This is widely considered the best of all of the Wu-Tang solo projects, with Liquid Swords (I still side by the latter) being its only competition. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... was gangster as fuck without losing its sight of reality. This album is like a series of mini movies that transition from one another in flawless fashion. There isn't a bad track, or a blemish on this album worth talking about. When classic albums are mentioned, this release is always on everyone's lips, and it deserves the hell out of that recognition. The chemistry that all of the contributors had was uncanny, making for one of the most cohesive albums ever. Great album and an undeniable classic