If you blinked at some point in the last eight years, you may have missed when Raekwon recaptured his mantle as one of the rap’s greats. His debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (a.k.a. The Purple Tape) is a classic, but even for many Wu-Tang Clan fans, that’s where his solo career ends. The RZA-absent Immobilarity suffered from sophomore slump status and The Lex Diamond Story failed to make a blip on the radar. But Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II slew the demons of expectations, and the follow-ups Wu-Massacre (with Method Man and Ghostface Killah) and the solo record Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang shook off the cobwebs completely. His last record Fly International Luxurious Art seemed to steer The Chef off course, but The Wild shows him back on his square.
Raekwon’s stamp on rap comes from his one-of-a-kind writing style, and his pen is still sharp on The Wild, more than 20 years into his career. His novelist-like attention to detail and his linguistic mastery are still one of a kind. “I Have Nothing” paints a broody canvas of robberies, complete with particulars like a victim’s camo jacket, the scene of “taxing” rich athletes at a track meet, and Rae himself battling a strep throat while crashing a spot. “This Is What It Comes To” plays with the urgency of Ghostface’s “Shakey Dog,” starting with a scene of Rae and his squad surrounding foes with guns drawn, ready to pump them full of cyanide-soaked bullets. “Crown of Thrones” showcases more street imagery, with a cleverly-phrased lesson: “getting money’s easy, keeping it that’s the hard part/creeps and scavengers roam the land, call them aardvarks.” Raekwon’s words flow into each other so effortlessly, and his rhymes are so dense, that the songs demand repeated listens — not for punchlines or wit, but to catch each piece of information he has laid out. “Marvin” tells the story of the life and murder of soul legend Marvin Gaye, which plays like one of Rae’s street tales in its own right. The song occasionally feels like a Wikipedia entry with the way it lists events, and Rae is best with characters he creates from scratch instead of depicting people who already exist. But he still gives Gaye and his family the reverence they deserve and maintains a foreboding tone that shows off his narrative flair. The song also excels sonically, with a soulful beat that has a vocal sample and a CeeLo chorus harmonizing with each other.
One of the pleasant surprises of The Wild is the lack of guest appearances. Even “solo” Raekwon records are often collaborative affairs: OB4CL shared a billing with Ghostface as its co-star, and his other albums are flooded with cameos from other Wu members or his Rolodex of rap legends. (The guest list of his last album, Fly International Luxurious Art, hurt any hopes of cohesion it had.) But The Wild has only three featured rappers, all of them solid. Lil Wayne heads back to the block to pack bricks on “Corners,” Raekwon signee P.U.R.E. trades rhymes with him in Rae-and-Ghost fashion on “M N,” and G-Eazy uses his verse on “Purple Brick Road” to pay homage to Rae and appreciate the moment as a landmark in his career. His Wu-Tang brethren are nowhere to be found here, either (even though Ghost appears on a remix of “This Is What It Comes Too” that was released as a loosie).
It’ll be a letdown for fans who tune in to Raekwon’s music for the great cameo appearances he usually garners, but it’s a pleasure to see Raekwon truly hold his own 22 years after his debut changed rap forever. It makes his boasts on the longevity-celebrating “The Reign” land more firmly, and even makes the out-of-place cleanliness of “Visiting Hour (featuring Andra Day)” more tolerable. The lack of additional star power is only negatively felt with the production. The beats here do their jobs, but they don’t stand out enough to skim through credits. For someone like Rae, who listeners have heard over the likes of RZA, Dr. Dre, Pete Rock and J Dilla, this may be a disappointment. Still, none of these beats are poor enough to stop Rae’s momentum — and the general grimness captures much of the dark Wu-Tang Clan sound that diehard fans will want to hear.
The single-copy Wu-Tang Clan album is sitting in Pharma Bro’s cupboard, and RZA has said that if the Clan ever does another group album, that Ghostface will be the one who organizes everyone. But after gauging the consistency of Rae’s latest, maybe it should be him doing the shot calling. In recent years, some fans’ association with the group ranged from upset to indifference and aside from the Cuban Linx brothers, other group members are either focusing on other endeavors or having trouble getting attention for their music. With The Wild, Raekwon firmly grabs another trophy for the squad while continuing to pad his own hall of fame legacy in the process.
Dope album. Wow this is great music. #WUTANG
The album is alright, I wouldn’t say It’s up there with his beat. I’d love to know why g-Eazy is on it, but I’ve seen worse collabs, and it’s not that bad. Lil Wayne’s verse is pretty good, better than that absolute trash he dropped with tyga the other day. Id give this a 4/5 but compared to all the other trash out right now it’s a 4.5
Wait… lil Wayne verse is good but undont know why g-eazy is on it? Lil wayne verse sucked ass im wondering wtf happened to him? I dont listen to g eazy but the verse he spit is straight fire and im tired of black racist hating on white rappers just bc they are white. It got so ridiculous that wiggas are starting to hate white people
The album is dope…but Nas wants his flow back on that ‘Visiting Hour’ song. Other than that, 4/5 is about correct
Listen to Cuban Linx album Nas is on it..they all have a similar flow, same rap style
album is good, although i want to blow my brains out during “purple brick road”; horrible vocals.
a better album out right now is Freddie gibbs “you only live 2wice”, but both are good though.
4.5/5
Shit is great.
This was a solid project
I listen Da$h, Huskingpin and…..
I’ve been listening to this album non stop since it came out!!! It’s so dope ! Another classic under his belt !
Novelty wears off after 2 listens. Pretty boring and average album but still a lot better than that FILA disaster. Rae’s rapping was top notch but the album as a whole feels empty. The skits aren’t bad but we could do without. Production is great on a couple of songs but the rest is just meh, the beat for that song with Wayne is fucking trash, and what’s with the hook on Purple Brick Road? shit gives me a headache! overall, this isn’t something that i’ll be revisiting when i’m in a Raekwon phase, but at this point this is the best we can out of hiphop, and i wasn’t expecting much any way so it was kinda refreshing.
Yea rae def has better albums. Honestly this might be his weakest album since he went independent but its still better than 90% of the shit thats out there now.
I Had to come back to comment. After listening to it multipe times I have to say this might be his best album. I dont know wtf I was thinking I was probably in a bad mood but after going through it multipe times I have to say its a Solid 4.7 out of 5. Check it out
extremely dope!!!
Fire!
AOTY SO FAR!!!!!
joe young a banger too, if lookin for some more good wu/clan affiliation.
Great Album… Marvin (song) is the tightest… 4.6 out of 5 … take that dude off the purple brick song… he fucked up the song. HIs energy don’t match Rae’s vocals
G-Eazy verse paying homage to Wu is a highlight on the album don’t front bcuz u don’t like the kid. Rae another banger. Only if Meth cared for recording music like his bro The Chef – keep cooking!
Real beats and razor sharp lyrics
I would say this is a notch below Wu vs. Shailon so that’s a 3.5/5 for me. Some of the production is a little similar on some songs and the samples are a little over used. But Rae and the guests are on point lyrically. Kind of reminds of the same problems with Immobilarity.
Sums up my feelings perfectly.
This album really does take it back to the Cuban Linx Era…. A definite 4.5…. Do yourself a favor and cop it.
IMO his best album since OBFCL 2 and the whole album has a more consolidated impact without the usual Wu-Featurings.
Big surprise!
After listening through it 2-3 times now… I must say he delivered a Masterpiece. Theres a lot of fucking bangers on this album. Check out his flow on track 15. Track 13 is a killer track. 4.7 out of 5 here
LOL a masterpiece. Shit is garbage. OB4Cl was a masterpiece. Raekwon should retire. Its getting stupid hearing an old man rapping about gangstashit. Whats up with the albumcover straight stolen from Sean Price
you are fucking retarded shithead
Dope album throughout!
Raekwon has such a good ear for beats. Him and GFK always know how to implement that Wu tang sound while keeping it fresh and new sounding all at once.
Skits are horrible on this album. It’s pretty good overall but not great.
Folks do know old gangstas are the one’s calling the shots and are the one’s who really put the work in!
That’s truth O.G.Z runnin hip hop 8mo besides kendrick j cole that’s it
That’s truth O.G.Z runnin hip hop imo besides kendrick j cole that’s it
Dope album but no OB4CL
A Strong album. If you’re expecting another Only Built 4 Cuban Linx it’s not, because that kind of album is almost impossible to repeat and “a once in a lifetime per artist album”, but The Wild is a strong album. Raekwon truly delivers and ol’ hip hop head will lite it for sure. I’m one of them, 4/5.
This album is what I needed from the Chef. The wild is definitely among his best work. Except for a very few songs the album bangs.
Whaaat??? Theres a good Wu Tang album out!?
This album is the truth! The best album I’ve heard in a long time. The content with those hard beats, sick! Real hip hop heads will appreciate this one for sure, period.
Rae came thru with this one! Got it on repeat! Definitely MUCH better than I was expecting, especially considering that there’s no Wu guest appearances (who CARRIED the OB4CL2 album). Rae comfortably stands on his own two with a renewed energy and darts sharp as ever. Go BUY this!! Lyrics, songs, production, & flows all on point!
The fuccn chef dope album. Last 2 was fire. He flows so effortlessly. The new rappers wish they had what this legend has.
Still #AOTY