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REVIEW:
Overall Rating:
Lyrics:
Beats:
Written By: ShArP ShOoTeR
[sixshot.com]
Rarely has
an album had such an impact as Raekwon’s solo debut. The
gangster aspect of the record helped to usher in the Mafioso
era of East Coast rap, and the strength of RZA’s production
throughout this record has never been matched. Not only is
this the highlight of Raekwon’s rather illustrious career,
but is also the launching pad for Wu-Tang’s most likely
partnership of Rae and Ghostface (going under the name Tony
Starks this time around).
After the spoken word intro, the album begins with the first
Rae and Ghost collaboration “Knuckleheadz”. Starks
comes in firing with the instantly remember-able verse
beginning with “Who’s the knucklehead? Wantin’ respect,
chop his fingers in the drug game, money well known”. “Knowledge
God” is one of the three solo outings for the chef, with
Rae spitting “Yo why's my niggas always yellin’ that
broke shit Let's get money Son, now you wanna smoke shit
Chill God, yo the Son don't chill Allah What's today's
mathematic Son? Knowledge God”. “Guillotine (Swordz)”
is an insight to the collective of Rae, Inspectah Deck and
GZA, who will connect once again for “Only Built 4 Cuban
Linx…2”. With a trademark INS first verse containing
couplets like “Poisonous paragraphs, smash ya phonograph
in half, it be the Inspectah Deck on the warpath” it is
easy to see why many fans cite the rebel (known as Rollie
Fingers here) as the Wu’s most underrated clansman. The
track is an album highlight with Rae, Ghost and the Genius
going on to drop jewels over a sharp RZA construction. “Can
It Be All So Simple (Remix)” is a homage to Rae and
Ghost’s first collaboration on the Wu-Tang’s debut album. It
can be argued that the remix is superior to the original
with Raekwon using the vivid imagery he has became famous
for.
I’ve always envisioned “Shark Niggas” as an
intermission for listeners to catch a breather and thus
refer to everything before as the ‘first half’ and
everything after as the ‘second half’.
Everything is stepped up a notch in the ‘second half’ with
the guest appearances becoming plentiful (Nas, Method Man,
Masta Killa Cappadonna and RZA all make appearances) . The
‘catch-ability’ of the songs also increases with “Ice
Cream” and “Verbal Intercourse” being some of the
most memorable moments of the record. “Ice Water” is
the first appearance of honorary 10th clansman Cappadonna
under the moniker Cappachino. “Glaciers of Ice”
includes a treasured verse from the quietest clansman Masta
Killa (a.k.a. Noodles) on which the highly talented lyricist
rhymes “Proceed with caution as you enter the symphony
Degrees of pulse will increase intensely Syndrome was caused
by the deadly drums But the battle was won by swords being
swung”. “Verbal Intercourse” is made truly
memorable by Nas’ appearance, going by the alias Nas Escobar
for the first time here. Raekwon’s final solo effort (apart
from the cd-only bonus “North Star”) is “Spot Rusherz”.
Rae shows that he can hold it down on his lonesome proving
himself as a “storytellin’ rap Magellan” with rhymes like “Heard
the key in the lock, cocked the glock Turn the lights out,
dip behind the couch Kion, gag his mouth”. “Ice Cream”
is a true highlight, not just on this album, but in the
history of the Wu-Tang Clan. Method Man’s chorus is an
instant classic, and Rae, Ghost and Cappadonna’s second
collaboration (which would be continued on Ghostface’s 1996
debut ’Ironman’) was a truly unforgettable one. “Wu-Gambimo’s”
captures the whole album’s feel into 5 and a half minutes of
perfection with Masta Killa once again showing why he was
missing on the otherwise perfect “Enter the Wu-Tang” with an
excellent verse. Method Man’s chorus (“Wu roll together
as one I call my brother Sun cuz he shine like one”) is
simple but once again impeccable.
This album is a stroke of genius, a classic from a time when
it was easy to get overshadowed by other great albums coming
out of New York. Well Raekwon‘s debut, with help from
Ghostface and RZA overshadows them all. A true masterpiece.
5 out of 5.
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