Name: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... by Raekwon
Brand: Raekwon
SKU: 078636666327
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 5 (126 reviews)

ALBUM Explicit

A serious contender for the title of best Wu-Tang solo album (rivaled only by the Genius' Liquid Swords), Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is also perhaps the most influential, thanks to Raekwon's cinematic imagination. If the Genius is the Wu's best overall lyricist, Raekwon is arguably their best storyteller, and here he translates the epic themes and narratives of a Mafia movie into a startlingly accomplished hip-hop album. Raekwon wasn't the first to make the connection between gangsta rap and the Cosa Nostra (Kool G Rap pioneered that idea), but he was the one who popularized the trend. Cuban Linx's portraits of big-money drug deals and black underworld kingpins living in luxury had an enormous influence on the new New York hardcore scene, especially Mobb Deep and Nas, the latter of whom appears here on the much-revered duet "Verbal Intercourse." The fellow Clan members who show up as guests are recast under gangster aliases, and Ghostface Killah makes himself an indispensable foil, appearing on the vast majority of the tracks and enjoying his first truly extensive exposure on record. Behind them, RZA contributes some of the strongest production work of his career, indulging his taste for cinematic soundscapes in support of the album's tone; his tracks are appropriately dark or melancholy, shifting moods like different scenes in a film. Cuban Linx's first-person narratives are filled with paranoia, ambition, excess, and betrayal, fast rises and faster falls. There are plenty of highlights along the way -- the singles "Criminology" and "Ice Cream," the gentle "Rainy Dayz," the influential posse cut "Wu-Gambinos" -- and everything culminates in "Heaven & Hell" and its longing for redemption. Like the Genius' Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx takes a few listens to reveal the full scope of its lyrical complexities, but it's immensely rewarding in the end, and it stands as a landmark in the new breed of gangsta rap. ~ Steve Huey

1. Striving for Perfection

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

2. Knuckleheadz

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-god

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
U-god
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks
Lucky Hands; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah
U-god; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Dennis Coles
Robert Diggs; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

4. Criminology

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah

Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Stuart Bascombe
Patrick Adams
Russell Patterson
Dennis Coles
Corey Woods
Leroy Burgess
Robert Diggs
R. Diggs
Ray Patterson
Irving Burgie
S. Bascombe
Pepper Adams; Composer
Lyricist: Corey Woods
Leroy Burgess
Robert Diggs
Patrick Adams
Russell Patterson
Stuart Bascombe
Dennis Coles
R. Diggs
Ray Patterson
Irving Burgie
S. Bascombe
Pepper Adams; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

6. Rainy Dayz

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Blue Raspberry

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Blue Raspberry
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah
Blue Raspberry; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Dennis Coles
Robert Diggs; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

9. Shark Niggas (Biters)

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

17. Heaven & Hell

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

8. Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)

by Wu-tang Clan

Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Wu-tang Clan
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Marilyn Bergman
Russell Jones
Robert Diggs
Lamont Hawkins
Marvin Hamlisch
Alan Bergman
Gary E. Grice
Dennis Coles
Corey Woods
Clifford Smith
Jason Hunter
Wu-tang Clan; Composer
Lyricist: Dennis Coles
Clifford Smith
Jason Hunter
Alan Bergman
Gary E. Grice
Marvin Hamlisch
Lamont Hawkins
Robert Diggs
Russell Jones
Marilyn Bergman
Corey Woods
Wu-tang Clan; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

3. Knowledge God

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

12. Verbal Intercourse

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Nas

Performer: Ghostface Killah
Raekwon
Nas
Chef Raekwon
Nas Escobar
Tony Starks; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah
Nas; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Corey Woods
David Porter
Robert Diggs
Ronald Williams
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Corey Woods
Robert Diggs
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Mitchell Diggs
Dennis Coles
Robert Diggs
Oli Grant; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

18. North Star (Jewels)

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
C. Woods
Barry White
R. Diggs
Corey Woods; Composer
Lyricist: C. Woods
Robert Diggs
R. Diggs
Corey Woods; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

5. Incarcerated Scarfaces

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Abrim Tilmon, Jr.
Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Corey Woods
Robert Diggs
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Dennis Coles
Robert Diggs; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

10. Ice Water

by Raekwon Feat. Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna

Primary Artist: Raekwon Feat. Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon Feat. Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks
Cappachino; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

13. Wisdom Body

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Chef Raekwon
Tony Starks; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

14. Spot Rusherz

by Raekwon

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Chef Raekwon; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Mitchell Diggs
Oli Grant
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: 4th Disciple
The Rza
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

16. Wu-Gambinos (Hidden Chambers Remix)

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Rza, Masta Killa

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Method Man
Rza
Masta Killa
Chef Raekwon
Bobby Steels
Master Killa
Tony Starks
Johnny Blaze; Performer
Featured Artist: Rza
Ghostface Killah
Method Man
Masta Killa; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Dennis Coles
Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

11. Glaciers of Ice

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa

Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Masta Killa
Chef Raekwon
Master Killa
Tony Starks; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah
Masta Killa; Main Performer
Vocals: Blue Raspberry
62nd Assassin Of Sunz Of Man; Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Elgin Turner
Corey Woods
Dennis Coles
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Dennis Coles
Robert Diggs
Elgin Turner
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: 4th Disciple
Islord; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production

15. Ice Cream

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Cappadonna

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Method Man
Cappadonna
Chef Raekwon
Cappachino; Performer
Featured Artist: Method Man
Ghostface Killah
Cappadonna; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Mitchell Grant
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles
Oli Grant
Oil Grant; Production
Mixing Engineer: Rza; Production
Producer: Rza; Production

7. Guillotine (Swordz)

by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Gza (genius)

Performer: Raekwon
Ghostface Killah
Inspectah Deck
Gza (genius)
Chef Raekwon
Genius
Tony Starks
Rollie Fingers; Performer
Featured Artist: Ghostface Killah
Inspectah Deck
Gza (genius); Main Performer
Primary Artist: Raekwon; Main Performer
Arranger: The Rza
Rza; Composer
Composer: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Lyricist: Robert Diggs
Corey Woods
R. Diggs; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Islord
4th Disciple; Production
Engineer: The Rza
Rza; Production
Executive Producer: Oli Grant
Mitchell Diggs
Robert Diggs
Dennis Coles; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing Engineer: The Rza
4th Disciple
Rza; Production
Producer: The Rza
Rza; Production