Raekwon’s debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 1, but he’s not done highlighting its legacy. In an interview with HipHopDX, The Chef provided an update on his Purple Tape Files documentary and imagined the possibilities of his classic LP being adapted as a film.
“I’m working on a powerful documentary about The Purple Tape album and it’s called The Purple Tape Files,” he told DX. “So, people will definitely be inspired by this documentary. And one day, you never know, it may turn into a Godfather movie from the history that we’re basically gonna lay out on how this album was made. So, we’ll see.”
He continued, “I mean when you sit here and you look at a movie like Once Upon A Time In America, The Godfather, Scarface, you will always remember those. Those was Rae’s favorite movies and favorite actors that played in those movies that inspired Rae to do it in a Hip Hop form. So movies, maybe down the line. But right now, get ready for an explosive documentary that we’ve been working on for the last five years called The Purple Tape Files.”
The Wu-Tang Clan MC originally announced The Purple Tape Files in 2015. With the documentary almost complete, he’s excited about finally sharing it with fans and intrigued by future forays into film when it comes to OB4CL.
“Everything is starting to come to fruition,” he explained. “I’m feeling good about it. [I] want to sit down and have a glass of Leucadia wine and think about and talk about how this album was structured.”
He added, “I might be able to get a Leonardo DiCaprio or James Woods or Robert De Niro to come in and be like, ‘Yo, we need to make a movie about your fucking album because it’s so real. It’s so to the point and it stands the test of time.’ Some of our greatest MCs in the game that made millions and millions of dollars was inspired by this album. So, I not only made money, [but] it also allowed other people to use their minds to make money the same way because we all come from the bottom.”
Raekwon Aligns ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' With Film Royalty: 'It's The Godfather Vibe Of Hip Hop'
Although Rae hasn’t mapped out a release date for The Purple Tape Files yet, viewers can expect it to see it before the end of 2020. He also believes the documentary will be as captivating as ESPN’s hit docuseries The Last Dance, which covered Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls.
“Right now we definitely in the final stages of it,” he said of the documentary. “So definitely get ready for it before the beginning of next year. We gonna be ready to surprise the world. So, it’s a couple of things that’s going on, but I’ll keep some of it under my hat until the time is permitted.”
He declared, “You guys are gonna go crazy when you see The Purple Tape Files documentary. It’s something to look forward to. I mean, we saw the Jordan shit. We saw Jordan’s documentary, so I think right now I’m next up when it comes to what the world is about the see. You’re gonna be pretty much be blown away [by it].”
While fans have to wait on The Purple Tape Files and the recently announced Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3 LP, the rare instrumental version of OB4CL is available now for pre-order.
Check out more of DX’s interview with Rae for the 25th anniversary of OB4CL here and stream the influential album below.
He’s not lying it’s a crazy album from start to finish and even Only Built for Cuban Linx Pt. II is a sequel done the classic justice for sure.
But all of America cared about Jordan and The Bulls. OB4CL is a classic, but only Ninja movie watching cats were watching for Tha Wu afterwards. Jordan has created a brand. Rae created a small pocket of true fans that hold him in high regard.
My mans…only “ninja movie watching cats” was checking for the Wu? Are u serious? Are we talking about the same Wu-Tang Clan here? The same Wu-Tang Clan that have sold millions of albums WORLDWIDE and became the most successful hip-hop group EVER? The same Wu-Tang Clan that went multi-platinum? The same Wu-Tang Clan that to this day continue to tour the world (not just the U.S., but THE WORLD) and sell out arenas and stadiums everywhere they perform? The same Wu-Tang Clan that had perhaps the greatest back to back classic album streak in the 90’s. From 93 to 97 there was not a single hip-hop group more successful than the Wu-Tang Clan. In 95 alone the Wu were responsible for three solo members albums (Ol’ Dirty’s Return To The 36 Chambers, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and GZA’s Liquid Swords. In the summer of 95, Meth collaborated with Mary J Blige on a song (“You’re All I Need To Get By”) that would go on to win a grammy. Ol’ Dirty collaborated with Mariah Carey on “Fantasy” remix. The Wu were so big in 95 (two years after they debuted) that they became one of the first hip-hop acts to own their own clothing line (Wu-Wear) which would go on to have FIVE different stores across america. And this is only 95 that I’m talking about.
Yeah, that’s big but you quickly included all of Wu-Tang there. Raekwon career really went nowhere after OBFCL. A classic it was but even his attempt at re-capturing glory was not as lauded as the first effort or any of his other albums. Ghostface had a better solo career IMO. Raekwon is a dope rapper who dropped some nice albums but he’s no JORDAN.
Raekwon never compared himself to Jordan tho. All he said is that his documentary will be just as good as Jordan’s documentary (The Last Dance). But to your other point…lets face it, Raekwon might not be hip-hop’s equivalent to Jordan but the Wu-Tang Clan are definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, hip-hop’s equivalent to the Chicago Bulls. And in that team EVERY player played an important part (not just Jordan) just like Raekwon plays an important part in the Wu.
RZA that you?
Huge Wu fan but saying they sell out arenas is a stretch, they play smaller venues. No doubting their reach and influence but it’s generally older heads checking them for nostalgia rather than new fans these days
i’ve been to wu tang shows this last decades and i’ve seen 40 year olds and teenagers in the building . their reach stretches decades. wu-tang as a group cannot play a venue smaller than 10.000 capacity, it just wouldn’t be worth it financially. the wu is the only group that i’ve seen tatted on multiple people skin worldwide. not bad boy, not cash money, not death row. the wu influenced music, fashion and the way ppl do business to this day, and they achieved that without really catering to the radio or the pop audience. case closed
I’ve seen them at Manchester Academy (capacity 2600)
Brother, Yes they do sell out arenas AND smaller venues alike. They recently sold out the Sidney Opera House on a trip to Australia.
yeah he’s definitely not talking about being as popular as Jordan/The Bulls, just making a comparison to something that recently came out, saying it will be about as good as the Last Dance. Dont take everything you read so literally and overanalyze.
very interesting.
A true rap great. All love and all the best to Raekwon!
I’m going OBfCL
of course
Ask anyone in the UK who Raekwon is??
Nobody will know lol…nowhere near the popularity of the bulls..
Not true.
Wu is huge overseas. Even bigger than in the states. Go back to the little kids you absolute fucking dunce.
Mmmm sorry chump but NOBODY CARES WUTANG AINT BIG, NEVER HAVE BEEN…be lucky to sell 100 tickets
U need to stay off the dick, bro
This guy has no clue y’all
Gus
Wu tang are not big overseas hahaha dumbass…..they’ve never been big…just old school and not popular..
You would know, coz u still sucking on mama titty
Wu Tang are huge worldwide. Fuck you talking about? They sold out a worldwide tour last year. FOH.
“Wutang are amazing” said nobody ever lol
Yea that’s why the W tatted on mafuckas,
Buy a clue mafucka
Ol Dirty proclaimed Wu-Tang is for the babies… coz u lil youngs need to buy a clue
One of the greatest albums ever!!