Is there a better tag team tandem in rap music than Raekwon and Ghostface?  I don’t think so.  And the recent leak of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II certainly will help my argument.  Holy cow.  I was nervous about this project because I’ve always felt strongly that Wu albums should be produced entirely by Rza (who came through and definitely did his thing on “New Wu” and the groovy “Black Mozart”).  But there’s a bunch of incredible beats on there by other seasoned beatmakers (Pete Rock, Alchemist, Scram Jones, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon), and even some by up and coming producers that I don’t know much about.  And the raps are so tough man.  Wow.  Raekwon shines the brightest on epic solos like “Sonny’s Missing”, “Surgical Gloves”, and “Canal Street”.  Of course Ghostface is on a handful of songs and comes correct with all his bars (as does Rae’s other Wu family members), and I love Beanie Sigel’s verse on “Have Mercy” and Jada’s on “Broken Safety”.  Lots more crack on there too, and I think very quickly this will be considered a classic album as a whole.  It’s very strong, though towards the end I kinda wish Rae cut it short (the Dr. Dre production in my opinion is kind of wack).  A few too many tracks, that’s my only critique.  Less is more. 

Still, I’m very impressed by the production slash rhymes, and happy to have something on the other side of the New York street rap spectrum to balance out Jay-Z’s brilliant but more commercial Blueprint 3.  And any reunification of Raekwon and Ghostface on a record is instantly ill.  They still sound as fresh as they did on the first Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (peep the pics above from their younger days).  Here’s one of my favorite cuts (I’d post more songs but there are too many heaters on there), featuring Rae and Ghost going back and forth about being in jail, appropriately titled “Penitentiary”…

*Bonus*

From the first Wu Tang Clan album, check out the video for Rae and Ghost’s duet “Can It Be All So Simple”, directed by Hype Williams…

GO COP THAT ALBUM SON!!!!!  IT DROPS TUESDAY!!!

For a Westcheddar look back at the original Purple Tape click HERE and HERE to read Wax Poetics interview with Raekwon….peace god.