After two years of preparation and putting it aside for other matters, Raekwon is ready to release his sixth studio album Fly International Luxurious Art (F.I.L.A.).
In a new interview featured in XXL’s spring 2015 issue, Raekwon shares that he was ready to give the album in, but ultimately he decided to put it “on the shelf for a minute to work on [Wu-Tang’s] Better Tomorrow with the guys.”
With F.I.L.A. set to be released April 28, The Chef breaks down the album’s title, its recording process and why he has more than 10 features on it.
“When I made this album it was just more about focusing on the production, but as I finished it, I came up with that title because I kind of felt like that’s where I am at today,” Raekwon says. “I felt like I was a fly dude doing it and I’m also an internationally-known artist. My art is basically luxury. The name just came together: Fly International Luxurious Art.”
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Raekwon says being associated with the genre for over two decades has only inspired him to “step the bar up.”
“You know, when you a legend, it ain’t easy to still be around, so that kind of gives me the ability to still go out there and push it all the way to the limit because of how people look at me,” he says. “Being in the game for a long time can only make me a more passionate artist and that’s where I’m at. It’s like I’m better than I was 20 years ago in my eyes, so it’s more about celebrating and showing people that I am still here with a more latch on the music I love.”
On F.I.L.A.,The Chef teams up with Rick Ross, French Montana, A$AP Rocky and 2 Chainz, among others. Many of the aforementioned artists were not in Hip Hop when Raekwon released his debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, two decades ago. But Rae says when it comes to working with younger, newer artists, “It’s all about just giving people more excitement to wanting to listen to the album and also looking to gain a bigger fanbase.”
“It’s so important that you grow with time and I like working with dudes as well. I’m a fan, too,” he says. “It’s all about running with the old and the new with me, so I just wanted to make sure I had a presence on there that the new generation could respect as well.”
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For more Raekwon coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
