Raekwon – “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II” Album Review

By on September 2, 2009 in Daily Mathematics, Ghostface, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, Raekwon, Review, Wu-Tang

Raekwon-Only_Built_4_Cuban_Linx_2

Holy fucking Moley! Not even a day after Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint 3″ leaking and I’m downloading getting another advance listening copy of Raekwon’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt II” from my same friends in high places. Since the big wigs in the industry continue in recognizing me as a world renown taste maker and want my take on it, it’s only right that I share those much valued thoughts with you.

Having  the two most anticipated rap albums of 2009 drop within the same week is a blessing and a curse. A blessing to listen to and a curse in having to review them. Alotta ya’ll seem a bit aggie about my BP3 review, questioning my tastes and what not. Like we can’t like or dislike what we do. I thought this was America, people. Freedom of speech and what not. We here at the Daily Math encourage expressions of thought, we don’t have to agree, but we agree to disagree. Like how my homie Dallas Penn swears by that god awful “808′s and Heartbreaks” album. I never question where my dude is coming from, cause he’s thorough like that. I like to call that sharing of opinions a true Slang Rap Democracy. You dig?

Back to “OB4CL2″. How is it? Does Rae deliver? Does it come anywhere near the classic piece it’s 1995 predecessor was? Is it better than “BP3″? Let’s go down the line and peep the results:

linx2How ill is this teaser cover last year?

Return To The North Star (Feat. Papu Wu) (Interlude) (Prod. Bt) – The album starts off with Wu mentor Papa Wu dropping some cautionary guidance in the vein of jail-house mathematics.  The background music is pure soul, lush and rich with strings and horns. Cinematic and so ’70′s. This is smoke-filled room ambiance. The scene changes to Rae getting prepped for the come-up, Ghost talking in the back-ground, sounding high as hell.  The bond between these two Wu bandits never ain’t change.  The set up for the movie, for the album is perfect. It’s evident that some major shit is about to go down.

House of Flying Daggers (Feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man) (Prod. J-Dilla) – You already know. I forgot how much I missed the Wu sound, authentic Kung-Fu flick samples rushing in on the track, followed by that regimental marching beat produced by the late J-Dilla doing his best RZA impression. No frills, just violence is how gutter that beat is. Inspectah Deck opens and kills with his verbal darts “I pop off like a mobster boss, angel hair with the lobster sauce…”. Rae, Ghost and Meth take turns raping the beat. Totally ravaged, the beat ends with more Kung-Fu movie samples. It’s clear, anyone coming with lesser heat this year best step from the Wu-Tang’s path. Ni**as really sound like they’re fucking pissed at other rappers who have sullied the craft of rapping, who forgot about the craft making hot gully street, phlegm on the subway in December music. There’s no doubt once this bish starts that the Wu is finally back!

Sonny’s Missing (Prod. Pete Rock) – Rae goes dolo on this Pete Rock produced snippet. Grimey project hallway scenario going down, ni**as not wanting to come up off that drug money and info. Penalties being dealt to those for going against the wrong team. Pete Rock delivering atmospheric Wu sounding classic ear candy. Feels like ’95 here. In a good way. Good to see Pete Rock being down with classic sounding newness. Unlike Jay-Z’s “BP3″ where after each track, I was hoping the album wouldn’t take a turn for the worse, falling apart with the upcoming track, I am so anxious to hear what’s next on this. This is not a “keep my fingers crossed” kind of album.

Pyrex Vision (Prod. Marley Marl) – Blaughflooshbwaugghhllluhhhh! Ugh. So sorry. Just threw up, naueous from how SICK this Marley Marl beat is. *wipes chunks from my chin* Jazzy, lazy, strings played like wisps of incense smoke twirling around in my circumference. Rae switching up his style, more laid-back, nose sounding kinda stuffed. Crack rap at it’s fucking BEST. Rae cooking shit up in the kitchen with the Pyrex. So mad that this song is only 54 seconds long. Should be 54 minutes long. Face muscles feel like I’m getting lockjaw on how many times I was forced to give up the scrunch face. Only 4 songs in and I’m already calling this album a masterpiece. I am fiending for more. The highest of salutes to Marley.

Cold Outside (Feat. Suga Bang & Ghostface Killah)(Prod. Atl) – Completely forgot how I used to rep Suga Bang. A young kid with a golden voice filled with 400+ years of pain, generations of projects and prison in his DNA. I did his deal years ago when he initially signed to the Wu. Had mad talent. Glad to see him still in the game, singing the hook. Atl(?) serves up some more cinematic shit, Mexican horns, rainfall and thunder coming in through the auditory. Having the best fucking time of my life reviewing this album here. It’s cold outside, Rae comes in with “religious with hammers”. New York City might be Disney Land, but there’s still a war going on outside in the hood. He crafts a pretty picture about how it ain’t nothing pretty to it. Ghost bleeds his verses into the mike. I’m already re-thinking who the greatest rapper alive is. Me, you and everyone we know has been suckered, lulled into accepting sub-par shit for too fucking long. No more.

Black Mozart (Feat. Inspectah Deck) (Prod. Rza) – Rza shows up with his rendition of “The Godfather”. Sounds like something he cooked up while he was building with Quentin Tarantino. Not crazy, like the tracks that played before, but fitting in perfectly. Actually sounds like something that was left off “OBFCL 1″. Not in  a bad way.

Gihad (Ghostface Killah) (Prod. Negro) – Dunno who Negro is but he picks up the pace with a  great vocal sample, great chord progressions, clean smooth beat. No lie, Ghost steals the show, can’t really get into it, but his performance hon this as me laughing out loud, spitting out my beer. Bill Clinton’s mom’s effs with the Chinese.

New Wu (Feat. Method Man & Ghostface Killah) (Prod. Rza) – Vintage Rza. Meth sounds brand new, like, uhm New Wu. Rae drops a gem, including the line “move like 91 Romans”. Meth comes back to kill the hook, Ghost spazzes, steals the show once again. “Ya’ll “Planet Of The Apes” standing next to King Kong”. Word. Meth wraps the song up, reminding me why he was the official breakout Wu star from a decade plus ago. Throw your W’s up.

Penitentiary (Feat. Ghostface Killah) (Prod. Bt) – Transactions going on in the big house. Rae and Ghost having shit on lock, making arrangements with C.O.’s. Who the fluck is BT? I need to know cause he drops another ill beat. Sounds like Tunnel music, Funkmaster Flex dropping bombs and shit. They testing anything with bling. Hip Hop is prison. Rae and Ghost stay committing mess hall murders. Scrunch face worthy.

Baggin Crack - Being that this is a leaked an advance copy, I’m not seeing this track on any of  the prior track lists. I’m not even sure it’s going to be on the actual album. More crack rap.  Pure crack with no cut in it. Filler though. The next three tracks and sequence their in is unreal.

Surgical Gloves (Prod. The Alchemist) – Bloodclaat. Sounds like Alchemist sold his soul to Satan to come up with a track this evil. Stench of brimstone is billowing in smoke clouds. Rae cautions “this ain’t no Wizard Of Oz shit.” It isn’t. Shaolin Island elbowing the rest of the 5 boroughs on how we slept on the Wu. Reminds crack rappers like the Clipse where they got they blueprint from. No pun intended. So Michael Moore. Sicko.

Broken Safety (f. Jadakiss & Styles P) – More madness. Jada murders this.

Canal Street – Wow. Rae takes it back to the days of Lee’s and Wrangler’s. Haven’t heard the word “poo-put” used in a very long time. Track sounds like Darth Vader just walked in the room, how menacing it sounds.

Ason Jones (Prod. J-Dilla) – So soulful, it’s Dilla, so you know how deep this ode to fallen Wu soldier Old Dirty Bastard is sounding. Wondering why Jay-Z didn’t snatch up some of these beats, Lord knows he has the money. Even though it’s been years, Rae drops a proper send off to Ason Unique.

Have Mercy (Feat. Beanie Sigel) – Wondering again why Jay-Z didn’t recruit his former shooter Beanie Sigel on the “BP3″. Sigel sounding so right comglomerating with the Wu. This album won’t fucking stop delivering with the heat. Another track that Jay-Z slept on. Losers weepers.

10 Bricks (Feat. Cappadonna & Ghostface Killah) (Prod. J-Dilla) – Respect to the dead but I was never a Dilla fan like that. I might be after this piece here. The late beat master surpasses Rza in Rza doing Rza. The haunting echoing strings on this is piercing, in a good way. Not only is face scrunched, head is bobbing ridiculousy. [||]. Cappadonna is on some new Wu shit too. Ghost cleans up.

Fat Lady Sings (Prod. Rza) – Rza returns to the crime scene, Rae lacing this story of him ape-ing on a dred as he muscles dude off his turf. There’s made action and visuals happening here.

Catalina  (Prod. Dr. Dre) – Damn. This how Rae woulda sounded like on a Dr. Dre produced album. Dre sounding young too. Steel piano keys, slinky, Lyfe Jennings croons his ass off. Rae never losing focus. Rhyming like he knows how we joked him out as to how long this album took to get done, if  it would ever see the light of day even. He shuts us all up. Wow.

We Will Rob You (Feat. Slick Rick, Gza & Masta Killah) (Prod. Allah Justice) – Allah Justice does his best Rza impression. Slick Rick opens up and delivers the hook. I’m wishing he would spit. Rae blacks out on the crack rap. Good to hear Gza’s scientific monotone flow. Mastah Killa sounds like New Wu too!

About Me (Feat. Busta Rhymes) (Prod. Dr. Dre.) – More Aftermath Dr. Dre goodness. Busta sounds good like usual. Rae lets you know he’s also anti-auto tune. I’m believing him wholeheartedly.  I like Bussa Buss/Rae collaboes. This one delivers. Is this what I have to look forward to if Dre ever stops fucking around and drops “Detox”?

Mean Streets (Feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface) (Prod. Allah Mathematics) – More murderousness. New York criminology rap is back. I promise not to sleep on the Wu no more.

Kiss The Ring (Feat. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killah) (Prod. Scram Jones) – It’s a celebration bitches! Song is about how these Wu cats put work in, so when you see them, make sure you kiss the ring. Wu Costra Nostra for real.

Wow again. Listening to something this dope was an exhausting experience. In a good way. I’m claiming first flawless album of  ’09. Yes, Rae brings it home. Being that this album rightfully earns it’s title as being a sequel to the original that banged in ’95, all is forgiven in how long it took for Rae, Ghost and company to deliver. This is one of those clear examples of why later is greater. I wish more artists of today would employ the time tested greatness that is  Marley Marl, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Rza instead of staying with they same crew. Wondering also why Jay hasn’t had a Preemo track in so effin long. Speaking of BP3, OB4CL2 just bumped it outta my play list for like the rest of the year. Run cop this! If you don’t like this, either you never liked Hip Hop or you’re just dead. FLAWLESS!

Finally. Nas fucked up. He needed to be on this more than Rae needed him. Thats word B. Looking at how everything played out up til the final presentation, Rae was really looking out for Nasir by holding a spot open for him on this. Nas fucked up. The Lil’ Homie stays losing.

About Combat Jack

Attorney, author and radio personality Reggie Ossé is an established authority in all things urban entertainment. He is considered the first in today’s new wave of savvy attorneys well versed and nurtured in Urban, Hip Hop and Popular culture. He is the author of “Bling, The Hip Hop Jewelry Book”, a cultural anthropology coffee table book which provides an in depth and entertaining study of man’s fascination with jewelry spanning back to the birth of civilization.

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  • http://danjlovesthe90s.wordpress.com DANJ!

    I dunno, Jack. I’m having trouble with this one. I feel like it’s no different than a bunch of other “aight” Wu shit, but it’s getting special love from people because it has that “Cuban Linx” tag on it. Like if this was “Immobilarity 2″, would people like it as much?

    I’m not saying folk aren’t entitled to their own opinions. I consider that it just might not be for me at this point… but to me, it’s an album that ranges from “ehhh” to great… with more songs heading toward “ehhh”.

    But if I can say one really good thing about it: “Mean Streets” is the fukkin’ business.

    -D!

    • http://www.twitter.com/aKiDnamedHENNY A tribe called quest aka No Draws unda Im Big Brotha Thunda

      Couldnt have said it any better myself

  • http://www.twitter.com/aKiDnamedHENNY A tribe called quest aka No Draws unda Im Big Brotha Thunda

    Wow you were being more than generous on this album. Ghost ripped it tho, shouts to him

  • why3

    this shit right here is illy. i fucks wit hov too but this takin the crown for 09. jesus christ rae. im tight nas aint on this.. kelis ethered my nigga. i thought buddens escape route was on point but it aint fuckin wit this here. kinda wish slaghterhouse was on this album lol. shit is classic b

  • mxdprodigy

    9.5/10

  • James

    Y’all are shittin yourselves if you honestly don’t see how perfect this album is. Considering the fact that it’s 22 tracks and bangs this hard the entire way is absurd. It’s difficult for me to skip any tracks, if any, Kiss The Ring is the only one I can do without. I can’t think of anything that can come close though, OB4CL2 did everything right.

  • http://www.unkut.com Robbie

    Ha, that was my scan of that Linx 2 ad from that Icewater CD. Shit’s classic.
    ‘Gihad’ is done by that Necro kid. About to go in on this record myself…

  • eddie erickson

    mad beats reused like the beat pete gave to him and the jaydee beats. rhymes are still on point though

  • SbuJah

    wow, imma let this soak for like a month… this is going to be the 2nd album imma wear out (other being DOOM)

  • mashout36

    Wu-tang forvever.

  • DJ NITTI

    Sick, sick, SICK! This is what real Hip Hop is, or should be.

    I miss real Hip Hop, Boom Bap music that paints pictures, stirs emotions through narratives, painting pictures with words, street poetry! Rae brought it all back reminded me why I loved Hip Hop like it was a religion growing up. This is Hip Hop at its finest in 2009, hopefully this will inspire others to follow suit and we’ll starting getting more quality Hip Hop. To all the rappers that read this, this is your blueprint (no pun intended), this is the benchmark for 2009.
    TOP THIS!

  • http://whowalkinbrooklyn.com Willis Still Sunsweet, WWIB

    CJ– “Negro” is actually Necro, Israeli-immigrant Jewish kid from the pjs in Canarsie, also the brother of Ill Bill from Non-Phixion. Necro marginalized himself with hardcore sex and gore content but he’s definitely a talented producer, and an authentic fucked up voice of the other non-body-that-latte Brooklyn. If MOP ever made another rock/metal record, Necro would be a great person to team up with.

    WAITING TIL NEXT TUESDAY (or however early I can buy a copy)!!!

  • OG Matt Herbz

    Damn, Jack. How you felt about the Jay album, I felt about reading this drop. After every song review, I was tight-sphinctered, anticipating that in the next song, you’d finally admit the shit sounded washed up. I actually stopped reading after the first half of the tracks because I NEED this to sound fresh–no bias, no bull–the fist time I bump it. I might just take off work that day and blaze up at home while everyone else gets old on their grind.

    And you’re fuckin right about NaS fucking the fuck up by not being on this shit. What the fuck was he thinking? I’m not no NaS stan, but seriously, his appearance on this album would have been bigger than his appearance on Jay’s. Would have made this shit right-now-fuckin-official like BOOM… He could retire a happy man after dropping a gem on one of these Rae tracks. He fucked up…bad.

    –OG Matt Herbz–

  • http://daily-math.com/weblog/ Combat Jack

    The credits read “Negro”. Lol and SMH. Necro is that dude. No wonder this album was all evil sounding and what not.

  • Theotis Jones

    Just gave this joint the first of what will be many listens. Holy shit… cosign CJ’s entire review. Top to bottom this joint knocks, obviously some tracks are better than others, but one of the lesser tracks on here could easily be a banger for a lesser MC. Sick production, sick flows… man, this piece is off the meter.

    Canal Street’s beat is so fucking gully it makes me want to smack someone for not telling me how ill it would be.

    Also, while CJack did talk in the opening about freedom of speech and everyone having a right to their own opinion, and I agree, if you are (or claim to be) a hip-hop fan and don’t think this album is good you are a fucking idiot. I’m sorry, but it’s true.

  • http://www.hiphopmanga.com Plain Rap Medski

    Album of the year. It’s right up there with The Ecstatic and Born Like This. Real Hip Hop no apologies, no gimmicks. Just good fuckin music…

  • spotrusherz

    so is it safe to say that rae ethered bp3?
    or even new lingo: rae cuban’d the year 2009. ain’t nobody gonna cuban him till december…

  • Worley

    F*ck Jay-Z. Yeah I said it and I’ll say it again: F*ck Jay-Z. OB4CL 2 and the Wizard of Poetry are the only two albums I am waiting on this year. No, let me add that Nas and Damian Marley joint. Nas should have definitely been on here though. Kelis really got that dude f*cked up in the game right now. F*ck her too.

  • Pingback: Sound Table 9/2/09 « Hold the Throne

  • DJ NITTI

    I never really understood the need to compare artists with each other. Do you guys honestly think that Jay Z and Raekwon are alike in any way? It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Raekwon’s OBFCL2 is an album strictly for the streets, while Jay Z’s BP3 is for the mainstream, two totally different target markets, two totally different albums. Can you imagine if Jay Z said some of the stuff that Raekwon said on his album? He’d lose all his endorsements, might fuck up his business endeavors and Bill O’Reilly would have a field day. Face it, for better or for worse, Jay Z is very limited in what he can and can’t say, like he said in BP3 he’s in his “Own Lane”. Raekwon can say or do whatever he likes, so it’s not really fair to compare the two.

    I feel that Only Built for Cuban Linx 2 is a classic and Blueprint 3 is a good album but I’m not gonna say Raekwon, destroyed Jay Z or that because of OBFCL2 I’m not going to listen to BP3. I will enjoy and bump them both.

    I never, ever understood why people find the need to pick one artist over another and not listen to the other.

    Biggie vs Tupac – I listened and enjoyed both of their music, although being a NYer I favored BIG
    Nas vs Jay Z – I listened and enjoyed both
    50 Cent vs Jarule – I listened to both, until Jarule stopped doing what he did and tried to sound hard like 50

    The old Jay Z and Nas debate was the silliest to me. I never understood that one. To me Jay Z and Nas were two totally different artists. Nas was the poetic, story-telling, introspective rapper and Jay Z was the more commercial, club banging, hustler’s anthem type of rapper. In my opinion two totally different rappers and I needed them both. I needed Nas when I was alone and needed to chill and think and make sense of the world and I needed Jay Z when I was in the club or riding around in the whip or needed some inspiration.

    Basically what I’m trying to say is stop picking one over the other enjoy them all, it’s okay, they won’t get mad at you.

    BTW, I also have a post on Jay Z on the Combat Jack’s BP3 review about why HIP HOP NEEDS JAY Z read it here http://daily-math.com/weblog/?p=1406&cpage=1#comment-2865

  • ZEEZUZ

    Az uzual Rae deliverz for the OLD SCHOOL niccaz stuck in NY or japan. I call thiz shit “elevator rap muzik” cuz everyone on here is over 30. I likes a good beat and hot rhymeline like anybody else but he aint gotz nuthin here for us young catz ballin in the NEW MECCA of hip hop down south. Jack I guarantee u RAE aint gonna sell more than a WAYNE MIXTAPE, even when rae was hot in 88! or 94 whateva nigga. Half the shit diz nicca spittin is crack rhymez wit videoz under the bridge. Nuthin for da strip clubz where real niccaz like ZEEZUZ be rainin on bitchez all day ya herd. Down here in SC cuzzin itz a new day for rap!! Yall gotzta stop makin theze fake crime songz! and tell busted azz Busta to retire!! he looks like my grandpa jenkins who still workin at the mill with a gruffy voice. All them WU niccaz is done anywayze, i seen meth come down here and nutin but drunk white boyz went to a nicca show, made that nicca SANG and Dance for beer like an old ny coon. Niccaz down here don wanna hear no mad azzInspekka Deck, all them niccaz is mad cuz they aint gettin no puzzie. See heres the dif between NY RAP and DOWN SOUTH: YAll need NY RAP to rob that Korean grocery stoe on the corna. WE USE SOUTHern rap to FUCK BIG BOOTIE hoez! thaz it. excuze the errorz cuz ZEEZUZ wrote this while gettin head from a fine azz trik thatlookz like Haillie Berry.

    • OG Matt Herbz

      @ ZEEZUS

      Yo, the OJ Da Juiceman “blog” is on XXLmag.com

      Go run and play, fuckboy.

      –OG Matt Herbz–

  • MR

    I was just about to give BP3 another chance, listened to the first 4 tracks until the delivery of my own special issue OB4CLII was done and now, I don’t want to listen to anything else for the entire year.
    The album is 10 2009 Source Mics/5XL. It’s the blueprint for how a hip hop album is supposed to sound like in 2009 without you being able to speak klingonian or being a vegan. It’s crazy…will definitely buy one for myself, one for cuzzo, one for…sh’t..album’s TOO good!

  • freak-o-rama

    Jack, I’ve heard 7 cuts off of this album in addition to the snippets on Amazon and this one is going to be good. I notice that cats keep mentioning how some of the beats are recycled, but they’re good beats and Raekwon’s rhymes adds a nice twist to things (ex. Ason Jones v. OC’s Jewelz). Also, the omission of Nas is okay because this album loses nothing in his absence, although a verse from him would have been a savory little treat.

    My biggest issue with this album is the re-hash of the OB4CL concept. When I saw the album cover, I was a little embarrassed because Rae and Ghost, especially Ghost, looked fresh and vibrant on the original cover, but look dated in its second edition. I am as sad as any other die hard hip-hop head that 1995 will never happen again (The Infamous, Dah Shinin) but the primary goal has to be creating new classics. Thankfully, I think this album will qualify as such.

  • freak-o-rama

    Jack, I’ve heard 7 cuts off of this album in addition to the snippets on Amazon and this one is going to be good. I notice that cats keep mentioning how some of the beats are recycled, but they’re good beats and Raekwon’s rhymes adds a nice twist to things (ex. Ason Jones v. OC’s Jewelz). Also, the omission of Nas is okay because this album loses nothing in his absence, although a verse from him would have been a savory little treat.

    My biggest issue with this album is the re-hash of the OB4CL concept. When I saw the album cover, I was a little embarrassed because Rae and Ghost, especially Ghost, looked fresh and vibrant on the original cover, but look dated in its second edition.

    I am as sad as any other die hard hip-hop head that 1995 will never happen again (The Infamous, Dah Shinin) but the primary goal has to be creating new classics. Thankfully, I think this album will qualify as such.

  • http://artbeatsandslife.com x-21

    Wow. Sounds interesting. This might be the first album I buy in five years.

  • Asanto

    great review. this shit is bangin!

  • RobLo718

    I have to get this Damn Album!!!!

  • http://www.itsaking.blogspot.com A-King

    OB4CL2 for the win! I need to hear what Nas’ excuse for not being on this album. Nas better put out the album of his life on his next LP (not the Damian Marley joint, even that better be superb).

  • jake

    ““poo-put””…LOL.. the word is poot butt. I still use that term.

  • http://daily-math.com/weblog/ Combat Jack

    We always said “poo-putt” where I grew up

  • spotrusherz

    to the dude who said we shouldn’t compare rappers, i agree with what you say. i guess you were kind of referring to me saying raekwon ethered bp3. what i meant is ob4cl2 ethered bp3′s momentum, at least on the internets. bp3 came out yesterday, cats were kinda on the edge about it, and now that cuban linx came out, it doesn’t even matter how you feel about bp3, it has been totally eclipsed.
    and as far as jay’s endorsements putting him in a tight spot – yes, but that’s his choice, cause it’s not like he really needs them anymore. he’s being a smart business man and i can respect that, but what i would respect even more is someone who really made it to the top putting together something without any thoughts about checks and deals.
    isn’t that what being an artist is about? just expressing what’s really going on inside of you in the way you want it to be expressed, without considering whether the public will like it or not? why aren’t rappers more like radiohead? not a big fan of their music but i respect their artistic integrity and independence. free your mind, black america.

  • ZEEZUZ

    @ Matt Herbz
    I can tell u getz no puzzie so under the bridge somewhere lizzen to old Rapz by WU. tell CJ to clarify and call thiz the Best New York Rap album of 1995 ! cuz thaz what it soundz like. I aint never said i dont like it, but it aint relevant to the new holderz of hip hop in the souf, and thas 95% of rap thaz hot right now. Im glad u niccaz are here on the web trying to keep thiz old azz NY rap alive, i like to hear thiz shizz sometime, but when i needz to get it poppin in da club gimmie Jeezy, gimme Gucci! nobody wanna hea RZA in the strip club zon! when Im 30 i might wanna hea inspecca Deck and Rae. but rite now Yung ZEEZUS be in da club flickin hoes to da wall nicca! aint my fault im yung and my dik stay hard. Haile Berry nicca Haille Berry!!wha!

    • OG Matt Herbz

      @ ZEEZUS
      You know what? I’m a let you do your thang; you’re too far gone for correction.

      Probably stumbled upon this site trying to find an online Math course to get your GED. You a go-getta, mang.

      –OG Matt Herbz–

      • http://tonygrands.blogspot.com Tony Grands

        @Herbz

        LMAO @ Googling “mathematics”……

  • DJ NITTI

    Naa it wasn’t towards you, I just said cause people are always comparing artists and taking sides and I never really understood that. I enjoy a good rap battle but that doesn’t mean I won’t ever listen to the loser again. However, I totally agree that OBFCL2 definitely eclipsed BP3 to us Hip Hop heads but if you look at the Trending Topics on Twitter Jay Z has been in the Top Ten all day and is currently at number 3 and Raekwon isn’t even on there (which is a shame). So Jay Z is reaching the masses just like he intended and Raekwon is killing the underground/streets just like he intended. They’re two different artists with two different audiences, so comparing them is useless and I, thankfully, can enjoy both and I hope others can too.

    I also agree with you in that I wish rappers stopped chasing the money and just said whatever they feel but this what it’s come to in 2009, back in the days we called it selling out but now it’s just good business. But we the fans created this monster by allowing Soundscan numbers to determine who was hot, the minute we starting comparing artist’s sales instead of their lyrics we ruined Hip Hop. About your Radiohead/Artistic Integrity comment, unfortunately, I think Jay Z stopped being an artist and became a full-time businessman a long time ago. However, I still support Jay Z because we need him ( I explained why here -> http://daily-math.com/weblog/?p=1406&cpage=1#comment-2865 ).

    Shit, I remember when Combat Jack’s favorite group sang, “No Crossover”
    Watch this –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDkzoCJvQ8

    “The rap era’s outta control, brother’s sellin their soul
    To go gold, going, going, gone, another rapper sold
    (To who) To pop and R&B, not the MD
    I’m strictly hip-hop, I’ll stick to Kid Capri
    Funk mode, yea, kid, that’s how the Squad rolls
    I know your head is bobbin cuz the neck knows
    (Not like other rappers) frontin on they fans, the ill
    Trying to chill, saying “damn, it be great to sell a mill”
    Thats when the mind switch to the pop tip
    (Kid, you’re gonna be large)
    Yea right, that’s what the company kicks
    Forget the black crowds, you’re wack now
    In a zoot suit, frontin black lookin mad foul
    I speak for the hardcore (ruff, rugged and raw)
    I’m outta here, catch me chillin on my next tour
    From the US to the white cliffs of Dover
    Strictly underground funk, keep the crossover
    The crossover
    (Erick Sermon, EPMD – No Crossover)

  • DJ NITTI

    ZEEZUZ, I’m really happy to hear that you’re” yung and your dik stay hard”, I really am, and I’m also happy to hear that you’re “in the club flikin hoes to da wall” and I agree with you that Halle Berry is probably the greatest rap song ever recorded but what troubles me is the fact it’s past 8:30 and YOU”RE NOT IN BED YET!!!

    Zeezuz you’re so simple it’s scary, not because you’re from the “souf” or because you like that Halle Berry bullshit, that’s cool that’s your taste and your opinion, I respect that, but because you come here just to get attention, you come here to disrespect others and talk shit and what’s the point? What will you get out of this? Why don’t you go back to Souljah Boy Tell’em’s MySpace page and play with the rest of the children. So run along now before I tell your mother.

    This is exactly why children shouldn’t get involved in grown folks’ conversations.

    “Ignorance is Bliss”

    • ZEEZUZ

      @ Dj Nitti looka hea “PA” cuz i know u iz ova 30. If i recall, rap was created by TEENz in ur mutha-fzin NY! Not by ova 30 bloggerz tryin to intllctalize evry lyric. We in the souf iz doin exactly what the rap pioneers did, makin raw musiz from da streets. We got the Stanky Leg yall had “the Pee Wee herman” we got haille berry, yall had ” Roxanne”. Yall had Kane we got Wayne! See, jus cuz Im from da souf yung ZEEZUZ knowz da history unlike other niccaz down here. We listen to good old skool too when rapperz made music for da clubz. last week I was in Powda House here and the crowd got crunk to Fight da Power by PE ! and the dj mixed it wit Plies “I Got Plenny Muney” beetich! Even WU TANGZ, when they first came out had the club poppin wit ODB, and Meth. But on thiz Rae shiz aint one song a nicca can pop off in da club! not one, cuz them niccaz iz old now. U caint dance wit athritiz! the clubz is wha made rap hot back in da day and thaz where it came back to here in da souf. Yall NY niccaz forgot that and took it to the crack house, all the way the internet where pastry niccaz like u can act like u know sumtin about hip hop. Eat some puzzie nicca to clear ur head! and neva talk to yung ZEEZUZ like dat. Haile Berry Nicca Haile Berry!!!

      • OG Matt Herbz

        So, you got any plans for living after 30? Some little fuck younger and stupider than you is on the come up and they want your spot homey. In fact, probably 5 or 6 contenders live in your same house, shit… Lil Boozie Bitch Azz…

        –OG Matt Herbz–

  • rah.is.love

    I received my special delivery yesterday of obfcl2 and I must say its is a CLASSIC… end of story…who cares about recycled beats and all dat other stuff… its a non issue when the product is this flame… I placed both albums on one playlist (bp3 and obfcl2) and found myself skipping the jay joints.

  • killerchris2k8

    As great as this album is, I still dont think it has matched any of the original Wu solo albums. Except For Masta Killa & U-God’s solos. It is certainly a classic but not on the level of the following albums.

    Liquid Swords
    Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
    Ironman
    Supreme Clientele
    Tical
    Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
    Bobby Digital in Stereo
    Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
    Wu-Tang Forever

    That is not a knock on this album. I consider most of the above albums to be the best in Hip Hop history and I’ve been hoping the Wu would somehow capture the energy & sound they did in the 90′s. They damn near pulled it of with this amazing album.

  • DJ NITTI

    Mr.ZEEZUZ, you’re talking a little more intelligently, I like that.

    New York is, and always has been, a city of hustlers, we hustle that’s what we do, we eat, live and talk that shit so that’s what our music is about. We showed y’all how to hustle, got stashes in our whips, packed a few bricks and took I-95 to your town and taught y’all how to hustle.

    But I’m not dissing YOUR music or the South, y’all are good at what y’all do and y’all know how to party and dance and all that good shit. To be honest I’ve had great times at Down South parties, can’t knock it.

    But as with everything in life there’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time to party, there’s a time to grind. Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Linx 2 is not a party album, it’s not really made for the clubs, it’s hustle music, it’s grind music. It’s about getting paid by any means necessary. If you never hustled you won’t get it or understand it and if all your thinking about is “puzzie” and dancing don’t listen to it cause it’s not for you, plain and simple.

    By the same token, I’m not a dancer, never have been so I don’t want to jump up and down and “superman that hoe” or do the “Stanky leg” etc. I like watching from VIP with a bottle or two and I can’t see myself “raining on em” that’s not what I do. If you do that then God Bless you, have fun. But since that’s not what I do I might not understand some of your music, it doesn’t appeal to me. To me Hip Hop is poetry set to music, so I look for lyrics, good production, etc. it’s more than just dance music to me. But I appreciate that Hip Hop has grown and there’s so many forms and styles.

    My problem is that you come here to diss everyone, for what reason? Again I ask you, What’s your point? If you don’t like OBFCL2 that’s ok, you don’t have to like it, but why come here and disrupt this site with that? There’s a million other sites, and some Down South sites, that feature the music you enjoy why come here and insult others for having a difference of opinion or taste.

    Bottomline, do what you do my brother but stop insulting others for doing what they do.

  • frank

    Okay. I got an advance copy of the record.

    Do you think Raekwon spent the last 6 years selling crack to get back in the spirit of Cuban Linx I?

  • er4se

    @ cj… yeah man 10 bricks is crazy… dilla kills that beat and almost outdoes rzas old prod. and yeah if you dig necros prod. on here, [his horror-core gimmick is lame if u ask me] you def gotta cop necro instrumentals vol 1 just for agent orange, black helicopters and i shot reagan… kid got drums man

  • Hex

    Marvelous mouth waterin shit….[II]

  • SbuJah

    @killerchris2k8

    come on fam, this album is crazy… this is to me the best WU solo album cos everything was stacked against Rae but he just pulled a clutch shot… and no i aint being sentimental… every verse and beat is perfect as can be! CLASSIC

    • Killerchris2k8

      I would totally agree with you except for one thing. Rza’s early production on the mentioned albums is unmatched. This is a classic album. If anyone can’t see that their a dunski. I’m not saying the beats aren’t incredible either but they aren’t early Rza. And this album is def not the best solo album. Listen to Ironman, Liquid Swords & OB4CL again buddy and you will reconsider.

  • easternparkway

    would love to hear more about Suga Bang. please

    Don’t Test/Wu Stallion off Ghostdog soundtrack is a masterpiece. what’s this guy’s story?

  • MR

    whole Ghost Dog Soundtrack is a masterpiece…kid goes for names and hits instead of anything real.

  • http://danjlovesthe90s.wordpress.com DANJ!

    Listened to it again this morning… “10 Bricks” and “We Will Rob You” got me ready to throw on my old Helly Hansen. Good God Damn.

    -D!

  • R. Cey

    Good review! My instant favorite joint “We Will Rob You”! That’s how 8 Diagrams should’ve sounded: bringing back that vintage sound

  • http://www.goldenwombat.com GoldenWombat

    This album was fucking tight. Also thanks for the nod to NinjaSonik.

  • http://www.jmack972.com JMack

    Agreed on the nas point at the end. Can’t sleep on an opportunity like that!!!

    • Killerchris2k8

      For real though, what was the little homie Nas thinking? How do you pass up that opportunity? Smh at that. I think CJ needs to drop a piece on all of Nas dunski moves.

  • Keno

    CJ that review was on point for real. OB4CL pt 2 lives up to the classic names sake. Rae’s spittin darts takin me back to late 90s at the peak of my Wu fanboy daze. I will alway love this type of hip hop, NY drug tales/wu gambino shit.
    You were lovin Pyrex visions, check out OC Jewelez produced by Lord Finesse, clasik track almost identical beat.

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  • tuy

    yeah this album is on point!

  • http://crazysexytechiecool.blogspot.com/ Nina

    Gihad is B A N A N A S !

    “Spit dripping down..” (Wow, had 2 rewind that a few times)lol

    Nina,

    http://crazysexytechiecool.blogspot.com/

  • http://crazysexytechiecool.blogspot.com/ Nina

    Old Man Rap is the New Black

    Ok.. I am also taking tomorrow of and turning my cellphone of, so I can listen to and enjoy this Old Man Hip Hop (4:20 with a glass of Riesling all day) ;-)

    Love the way it has that Larger than life Cinematography 3D feel to it, throughout the entire Album.

    Raekwon pulled this of for NYC and Hip Hop. (will they be playing this in Magic City or Strokers, probably not so much)But who cares!

    -Kiss the Ring all you lol smiley face young boys ha ha ha ha ha

    http://crazysexytechiecool.blogspot.com

  • MGarvey

    Whats up with the guest blogger

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  • outKasted

    Necro produced Gihad, dude from Non-Phixion and BT is one of Rae’s producers that he’s working with. This album is a masterpiece, you’re right.

  • HANK ALLAH SUPREME

    AT LAST!!! HAVE NOT YET COPPED BUT I AM 1ST THING TMRW!!! F@*! WORK!!! A SACK OF THAT GOOD STUFF N THIS CD TO XCAPE THE NON-SENSE MY HIP HOP CULTURE HAS BEEN PUT THREW!!! BACK TO THE STREET!!!

  • Gendou

    Complete cosign. Rae has come through with a classic. That Kiss the Ring Track the best closer ever.

  • RobLo718

    Black Mozart and Canal streets just brought back the 90′s to me.
    Straight gutter music right there!!!

  • RobLo718

    This music isn’t only HipHop, this is some straight NY sh-t right here.

  • kedordu

    REASONS WHY THIS ALBUM IS A CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC

    1 rza did a hell of a job making all these different producers gel like they did

    2 the album sequencing and production are flawless to me . an album where dre gets outdone shows you what standard ob4cl2 is at

    3 the guest spots woulda had like upto 5 hiphop quotables . from meths verse in new wu ( it carried so much weight especially after all these ys of internets shitting on him)to beanie sigel’s verse on have mercy (i really think this made me forget about nas ) , in fact the styles and jada collab was verbal intercourse 2 for me )

    4 the legendary j dilla finally gets the recognition that he deserves by being the best producer on a classic ‘new york ‘album , guest producing in the comback lp of the greatest hiphop .(dilla already produced a classic album with common ;like water for chocolate IMO)

    5 the skits and interludes are legendary

    6 the album is probably the best value for money (track for track ) album in hiphop since get rich or die tryin. 22 tracks

    7 even the left over tracks are epic . (walk with me , criminology 2)

    8 the closing of the album is probably the best ive heard since blueprint.

    9 its the first album that lived upto its hype status since chronic 2001.. we all thought the chef would never do it

    10 combat jack said it was classic

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  • http://www.getshawty.com Ricky Aydelott

    [...] Daily Mathematics » Raekwon – “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II” Album Review – http://daily-math.com/weblog/?p=1427&cpage=1 – http://www.GetShawty.com [...]

  • http://www.agreensupply.net Katelynn Mozee

    I see people using plastic bags in the grocery store every weekend. It makes me angry sometimes. When will our local government ban these ugly plastic bags? Sometimes, I wanted to tell the people in line to just bring their own plastic bags or get a few of durable green supply bags. These bags last me a long time. I even don’t remember the last time I paid for the bags. Do yourself a favor, buy a few of these reusable bags and put them in your car. Even better, give it to the nice person in front of the line when you see he/she is asking for plastic bags.