One of hip hops most anticipated albums, Raekwon finds the right label and delivers the sequel.
House Of Flying Daggers: The late J Dilla’s production here is on point and after the familiar intro, things are right on track. All Wu members sound focused and hungry, ripping the string stabbing beat. The hook is a flip of “Clan In Da Front” and things sound like old school Wu. 4.5/5
Sonny’s Missing: Rae spits that vivid imagery about jumping an enemy dealer. Pete Rock’s production rides smoothly, allowing Rae’s lyrics to paint the picture of a stickup. 3.5/5
Pyrex Vision: Strumming guitars ride behind, while Rae delivers his thoughts while cookin up in the kitchen. 3/5
Cold Outside: The Wu seem to find those raw singers, as Ghost did with Popa Don on Big Doe Rehab, here, Suga Bang delivers some raw crooning. Horn filled beat with an epic feel, Ghost & Rae deliver tales of the cold streets. Here its more of an emotional tip rather than street, as they reflect on deaths of fellow gangbangers, while Ghost vividly depicts a tale about a rugged house and corrupt family. 4/5
Black Mozart: RZA delivers good work with a creepy organ line, as Inspectah Deck and Rae come focused. Stinging guitar stabs are strewn throughout, while RZA croons a bit on the hook. 3.5/5
Gihad: The beat has a riding bassline, while Ghost hilariously reminisces on a night about being with trick, while her man gets angry. The hook is solid, as Rae confidently states, “hood all day n***a, watch how we take the town, that’s why we do the do, just know who is who and acknowledge that Wu is Wu”. Ghost finishes the track with his mobster trash talk, telling the man to get him a ice cold 40 and a steak and baloney for his eye. 3.5/5
New Wu: Soul sample in the back, as Meth and Ghost represent that the Wu is very much alive in 2009. Method creates a fitting hook, while Ghost spits “laying n***as like ceramic towel, I’m like Urlacher beastin at the type of the pile, kneeing n***as in the nuts, damn I’m foul.” 4/5
Penitentiary: Frantic keys and snapping boom bap drums hit hard, while Rae and Ghost rap about dealing that white in the penitentiary. Detailed lyricism from both that makes the track memorable. 3.5/5
Baggin Crack: Chopping beat that reminds of the Chef cutting the crack. Similar to “Pyrex Vision”, a interlude that describes a quick deal of that white. 3/5
Surgical Gloves: Decent beat that tends to get a bit repetitive. Decent hook that has Rae going in on the beat. 2.5/5
Broken Safety: With a kung fu skit, things get back on track with Lox members, Jadakiss and Styles P joining Rae. Jadakiss doesn’t quite come as hard, but Rae’s flow is on point and Styles sounds hungry. Styles recalls, “I used to move brown rectangles, roll you a blunt to smoke you wit death’s angels, makin ya neck dangle, blue trey eights makin ya chest mangled”. 3.5/5
Canal Street: Commanding triumphant horns hit hard, as Rae makes his presence known with the burners and product. Rae goes in on this joint, solidifying their status in the drug game. 3.5/5
Ason Jones: Rae pours a cup, while J Dilla’s soulful beat sets the tone perfectly, while Rae dedicates a number to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Truly the most somber moment on the album that shows a truly heartfelt showcase to his fellow Wu brother. 5/5
Have Mercy: Beanie is at his most vulnerable with a verse from the mindset of being incarcerated. Smooth beat and background singing, but the track is a bit dull. The hook is merely decent, but lyrically its on point. 3/5
10 Bricks: Twangy guitar strums and horns are put together by the late J Dilla, as Cappadonna, Ghost and Rae serve the track justice. Cappadonna delivers a worthy verse and you can’t help but love Ghost’s liveliness. 4/5
Fat Lady Sings: String accompaniment, as Rae brings some energy to describe another stickup. 3/5
Catalina: Dre’s West Coast vibe sounds great here, as Lyfe delivers that street edge on the hook while Rae is at his most vivid. 4/5
We Will Rob You: Solid posse cut with GZA, Masta Killa and Slick Rick to introduce the track. Playful number that has some decent production. 3.5/5
About Me: The doctor is back with a piano laced number, along with Busta with a guest spot. Another good track with the Dre, as Rae and Buss let em know who they are. 3.5/5
Mean Streets: Inspectah Deck & Ghost join Rae for this number about the tough streets. Deck sounds invigorated, delivering strong bars, while Ghost is charismatic. 3.5/5
Kiss The Ring: Great ender, Scram delivers the goods with a sample that is celebratory, yet keeps things not too soft. Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa help finish out the album with worthy verses. 4/5
Walk Wit Me: Delivering a Caribbean tale of a drug deal, Rae depicts vivid lyricism. 3/5
Badlands: Another solid bonus that has a panicked sound with off kilter guitar, decent. 2.5/5
Rae’s fourth solo is a return to him in his best form. As far as a sequel, its the best that it could have been. Rae couldn’t remake the magic of the original, but here, he delivers something close and worthy. Sure, at 22 tracks its a bit long, and you could nitpick at which tracks should have been mixtape numbers, but the production overall is well done. The vivid crack tales in the rough streets of New York are all there, with the charismatic Ghost delivering his hilarious rhymes, and Rae’s cool demeanor keeping things interesting. J Dilla shines, with the best numbers, Dre drops two good numbers and the other contributors also put in good work. In an era of dance rap and weak lyricism, Rae spits vivid tales that Wu fans will love. This is another win for the Wu, for those that have been waiting, cop it and bump, cause Rae delivers.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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