Raekwon is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx with a tour featuring Ghostface Killah. The rappers grew up together and have inspired each other throughout their careers.
“We never knew we were going to have the chemistry we have,” Raekwon says to Billboard, “but we knew when it came to doing the job and assisting this franchise that we got, we got close. We would laugh about a lot of things that we record on or reminisce on but at the same time we got to focus and we’ve got a goal and that’s to represent the fans. I remember Ghost telling me one day that, ‘Yo, you inspire me,’ and I’m like, ‘Well you inspire me.’ But he was like, ‘Nah, you inspire me to be creative and write things that I never imagined even being an artist that writes.’ I look at that like, ‘Wow, thank you.'”
A 17-track album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx featured every member of the Wu-Tang Clan except for Ol’ Dirty Bastard. The group effort was on purpose and even though ODB didn’t rap on the project, his support was still felt.
“Every album will always have every one of us attached to it because that was important” Raekwon says. “Every album represented something out of that Wu-Tang family. Ol’ Dirty at that time, he was moving around, his album just became live. He was just popping off so he wasn’t able to do it. Son was cool but he was the man that gave me the inspiration anyway from it. Before Wu-Tang Clan he was the inspiration so I don’t take offense to it. It was like, ‘You know what? That’s my brother. Not everyone going to make it.’ His power and confidence he instilled in me inspired me to make something great so he was proud of it. He did come to the photo shoot and was like, ‘I’m not on your album but I’m here.'”
Raekwon admits to being “scared” to record his first solo album, but the team effort gave him confidence. He meshed influences from mafia movies with the sounds of New York including Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane.
The Wu-Tang rapper says that the message of the album resonates today. He says the project is his personal story that people can still relate to.
“You never really lose that struggle from the hood so it’s like I know that my album would have that involved in it,” he says. “I just went in and said ‘Yo, I’m going to make it. This is my time.’ Of course it was assisted by my brothers, Wu-Tang Clan. I felt that comfortability and I felt that confidence that I knew I still had to make something. I went in with my heart and just said, ‘Yo, I ain’t going to lose, my team ain’t going to have me go out there looking crazy.’ It was just an album that came from the heart and we’re celebrating 20 years later. That shit bring me back to not having nothing, not having a career, not having children, just wild like we grew up, right? We told the truth, we let them know your history. That album is a testimony.”
For additional Raekwon coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
That album is barely even a “Raekwon” album, I’ve always seen it as a Wu-Tang Clan album. Raekwon is not what made it good, it would have been just as dope if you took out Raekwon’s verses and gave those spots to Inspectah Deck, or Ghost or whomever. I think Raekwon get’s too much undeserved credit for Cuban Linx. He had some good rhymes, but imagine if this album was just Raekwon rapping all the way through; would we still like it? I hate how Raekwon talks about this as if it’s his personal Illmatic, when he knows it’s not dope because of him. I’m not impressed
Why are you reading so much into it? It’s a classic album, period.
Shut up. Just stop. No one gives a shit about what you have to say about classic albums. “Not impressed” so just keep your comments to yourself.
Must be trippin come on son he says it was a group effort. Its Raekwon’s album though. He is one of the illest lyricists PERIOD. .. especially on #obfcl just saying. “Not impressed” I see u on here hating all day, get the dirt outta your ears or get outta here with all that smart dumb ish – also just saying #WU #storytellinRapmagellan
You’re saying Rae didn’t kill every fkin verse on the album? He’s on every track but Wisdom Body and spits flames for the whole thing. How about solo joints like Knowledge God and Incarcerated Scarfaces?
I don’t usually reply to these comments, but he clearly has no understanding of what “classic” means. This album came during the time of mafioso rap. Wu was in their own lane, they were on eachother’s albums like crazy, and thats great! So what is Ghost was on like every feature (not literally) but this album is insane. Definitely one of the greatest albums in all time. A lot of rappers careers were birthed from this classic!
Fire classic legendary concert from Rae an Ghost in the M town. Great turn out various generations genders races.Wisdom of the Universe for the Teachers of Allah and the Nation of the Gods. Forever
People call albums classic without withstanding the test of time. This album here is the true meaning of classic. This is timeless. Great to see this brother doing things and continuing to slay tracks.
Man, never forgot the moment I bought the purple cassette and having it on repeat for years.
Who? This nigga stille relevant? I thought he was so broke he was doing songs with mad wack rappers like French Montana. I lost all respect for this broke ass old man a long time ago. Long time ago.
You a fucking idiot . Rae is the man. Every album he drop is fire. Stupid as fuck. I know who like …. meek Mill’s garbage.. drake… garbage. Wutang nigga. Ask action Bronson what wutang about nigha. Get the fuck out here
Idiot! Go listen to the radio.
hahahah.. omfg dude is like 50 years old.. he should get a rapper’s pension lmfao
This nigga old and ashy now. It’s hard to take a nigga seriously when he talks about how street he is and he been swimming in wealth the last 20 years.