Ranking the Best Raekwon Albums
Spider-Man: No Way Home. Black Panther 2. Guardians of the Galaxy 3. There are a LOT of sequels I’m anxious to get my hands on.
Add Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3 to that pile.
To be totally real, that excitement might not have been as strong a few years ago.
Although I’m a huge Wu-Tang Clan fan, a group that helped shape my rap fandom, and Chef Rae is one of my faves from that collective, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I once had doubts about my guy. After his incredible landmark debut, Rae’s follow-ups were nowhere near the quality of that initial offering. But never doubt a real MC – Rae roared back to prominence with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt II, giving his legacy new life and reminding us that Wu-Tang is immortal.
While we continue to wait for Cuban Linx 3, let’s revisit Rae’s career, ranking his LPs from bottom to top. As usual, we’re skipping his many (MANY) mixtapes, but I’ll throw in his Wu-Massacre collabo project with Method Man and Ghostface Killah for fun.
The Chef is still cookin.
8. The Lex Diamonds Story (2003)
Soul In Stereo rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Sheesh. As divisive as the response for Rae’s maligned sophomore effort were – and we’ll get to that in a moment – the boo birds were really out in force for album No. 3. Feeling more like a bloated mixtape than a proper LP, Lex Diamonds is all over the place, riddled with middling production and surprisingly mediocre guest spots. Let us never speak of “Ice Cream 2.” Now that I think of it, Lex Diamonds Story feels like the grandpappy of today’s 20-plus playlists masquerading as albums. PASS.
Forgotten favorites: “Smith Bros.,” “Missing Watch,” “All Over Again”
7. Immobilarity (1999)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: For years, Raekwon’s long-anticipated follow up to Cuban Linx was the posterchild for the dreaded sophomore slump. Looking back on it today, it’s not THAT bad – it’s just nowhere near the league of its predecessor. No production from RZA and no features from Ghostface Killah means the set loses a lot of personality. The beats are … fine for the era but nothing incredible. The storytelling is … not bad but not the level of what we’ve heard before. Yeah, Rae is spitting … but few records are worth revisiting. After such an impactful debut, this just comes off as a pretty generic late 90s rap joint.
Forgotten favorites: “Sneakers,” “All That I Got Is You Pt. II,” “Casablanca”
6. Fly International Luxurious Art (2015)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Music fans are often thrown off when an artist attempts to evolve. I get it – if you fell in love with a rapper due to a certain sound, it’s hard to readjust your ears to something completely new. But to survive, every artist much switch up their game plan. That’s the paradox of the MC, and also why FILA isn’t always a perfect fit. Rae’s lyrics aren’t the problem with FILA — his Scorsese-esque storytelling is intact — it’s the album’s shiny new soundscapes that he has trouble adjusting to. The result is an album that’s a bit uneven — brimming with promise sometimes while a bit directionless at other times. I respect Rae’s ambitions but a few bumps in the road hold this back.
Forgotten favorites: “1, 2 1, 2,” “Revory (Wraith),” “4 in the Morning”
5. Wu-Massacre (2010)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Remember that time Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah dropped an album? Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t. What seemed like a sure-fire East Coast classic wound up a respectable but kinda unremarkable project. There’s fire to be found no doubt – when they’re focused, they’re an unstoppable trio – but the album’s relatively short runtime and surprising lack of tracks that feature all three members make Wu-Massacre feel very rushed and unfocused. It’s a decent project if you look at it through the lens of one of those old Datpiff mixtapes, but a mild disappointment overall.
Forgotten favorites: “Gunshowers,” “Miranda,” “Our Dreams”
4. Shaolin vs Wu-Tang (2011)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: The best Raekwon album y’all don’t remember. After finding new life with Cuban Linx 2 (more on that heat rock later), Shaolin vs Wu-Tang was a return to Rae’s kung-fu-inspired roots. Though RZA was nowhere to be found, his spirit is felt all over the record’s dusty, sword-swing samples. An incredible array of guest stars and the Chef’s ginsu-sharp bars make this one a hidden gem in Rae’s catalog.
Forgotten favorites: “Butter Knives,” “Dart School,” “Rich and Black”
3. The Wild (2017)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Never doubt a legend. With legit classic albums already under his belt and a 25-year career that reshaped the face of hip-hop, Raekwon had nothing left to prove. But on The Wild, Rae proved one key fact – he’s still one of the best to ever grip a microphone. Rae’s superior wordplay is in full display, along with some of the best production since his mid-90s heyday. From the cinematic excellence of “Marvin” to the brutal braggadocio of “The Reign,” The Chef’s meals are still unmatched.
Forgotten favorites: “The Reign,” “This Is What It Comes Too,” “Marvin”
2. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 (2009)
Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Y’all know I have a strong love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with sequel albums. The bar is just too high to clear, especially when an artist tries to revisit decade-old glory. But not this time. Rae effortlessly recaptured the magic of the original Cuban Linx with a gritty return to form, boasting the intricate storytelling and haunting production of his classic debut. Most important of all, it reminded us why Rae’s one of rap’s most revered voices, kicking off a new era of strong material that easily outshined his regrettable post-Cuban Linx 1 run. I’ll never doubt the Chef again.
Forgotten favorites: “Canal Street,” “Surgical Gloves,” “Pyrex Vision”
1. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)
Soul In Stereo rating: 5 stars out of 5
Edd said: If I could adapt one album into a screenplay, this one would be my pick. Seven years before HBO gave us The Wire, Raekwon gave us Cuban Linx, an album that depicted street life with the clarity of a 27-inch Zenith. It also became a showcase for “co-star” Ghostface Killah, who used to platform to launch his own solo career. No other solo Wu album has ever reached these heights. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is the best rap mafioso album of its era, the greatest solo Wu-Tang effort to date and easily Rae’s greatest work. This is what a classic looks like.
Forgotten favorites: “Glaciers of Ice,” “Wu-Gambinos” “Ice Water”
I’m sure I can guess your favorite Raekwon project, but which other albums are you a fan of? Let us know in the comments below.
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