Heeeeeee’s baaaaaack.  14 (14!) years after releasing the now-classic Only Built For Cuban Linx…Raekown has finally put out the long awaited sequel, aptly titled Only Built For Cuban Linx…Pt. II. I’ve been waiting for this album to come out since it was first announced in 2005, scratch that, since 1995 after having my mind blown by the original OBFCL.  It’s hard to overstate the importance of Rae’s ‘95 masterpiece, the album definitely influenced all mid-nineties mafioso rap that followed it, most notably Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, and Biggie’s Life After Death, and continues to be the standard bearer for all things gangster (not gangsta) rap related.  But onto the sequel…

Unlike the original, Pt. II is not exclusively produced by Wu’s go-to beat aficionado, RZA.  Raekwon has said that with the new album he “wanted more. You know what I mean, I wanted to go out and challenge myself even more with different production and different producers.”  On board to help get heads nodding are the late great J.Dilla, Pete Rock, Necro (interesting choice), The Alchemist, Dr. Dre and of course, Bobby Digital himself, RZA.  Now I’m not going to lie, hearing Rae over a Dilla beat is a fanboy’s dream come true, and the tracks do not disappoint….but neither do any of the tracks really.  Though Rae shares the mic on most of the songs, it is the Chef who shines and really comes out on top on each track.  Combining the production and lyricism results in an album that is as clever as it is grimey, smart as it is gritty, intelligent as it is…okay I’ll stop with those.  With no real hooks to speak of on a majority of the songs and beats far removed from the g-funk inspired sounds of the left coast, the album is not going to appeal to those not used to the Wu-way of things, but I’ve been jamming to it all week and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.  Included below are tracks by Dilla and Dre, along with a few other Shaolin-related goodies. So lace up those Timbos, button up the Carhartt and put those speakers on blast because the Chef is back, and he’s back in a big way.

Raekwon – 10 Bricks ft. Cappadonna & Ghostface

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Raekwon – Catalina ft. Lyfe Jennings

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Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.

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Only Built For Cuban Linx…Pt. II is out NOW and available wherever good music is sold.