Review: Raekwon FILA

Image: Raekwon

It's twenty years since Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon dropped his debut masterpiece Only Built for Cuban Linx, an LP that still to this day remains one of the finest in the lexicon of Mafioso rap.

He'll be performing the record live at the Wireless Tenth Birthday Party alongside Wu comrade Ghostface Killah, but before that there's the small matter of his hotly anticipated Fly International Luxurious Art release, or FILA.

 

Meannnn ! #fila.

A photo posted by Raekwon The Chef (@raekwon) on Mar 15, 2015 at 8:14pm PDT

This is an album that has been pushed back repeatedly over the last 18 months, and hyped up consistently by a glut of pimped out Instagram posts, like the above, hell-bent on showcasing the emcee's opulence. Considering Rae was a cut above stylistically back in the early nineties, his tenure at rap's top table has understandably led to an album that ripples with the kind of next level stunting that affirms him as more 1% than 5 Percent Nation.

During that time he's been at war with his own clan at times, particularly RZA, and it's telling that only Ghostface reps Staten Island's finest, as the likes of A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes and French Montana make up a star studded cast.

Overall this is a patchy but competent snapshot into a genuine hip hop hall of famer. Much like many rappers plight later into their career Rae's voice seems slowed down and slightly off his usual slang drenched swagger, with an almost tiredness in the delivery at times.

When he's on form however he's still as potent as ever - case in point the Scoop DeVille produced gem '1,2,1,2'. Here his multi-syllabic best is matched by a great guest verse from Snoop Dogg; two veterans bringing it with effortless style.

Another highlight is S1's percussive beat for 'I Got money' allowing him and A$AP to trade bars with aplomb, and the Estelle collaboration 'All About You' (below) still sounds as fresh as it did on release in 2013.

That said when the stylistic, if not lyrical, heir to Rae's style in Rick Ross rocks up alongside Ghost on 'Revory', it feels like all rappers have had their voices pitched down. This lethargy doesn't completely detract from an emcee who has still got enough in the tank to stay relevant in the ever morphing rap game, but it a slight damp patch.

Raekwon performs Only Built for Cuban Linx live alongside Ghostafce Killah at the Wireless Tenth Birthday Party on Sunday June 28th this summer. Find other upcoming Raekwon shows.

Like this? Try Review: Ghostface Killah live @ The Kazimier, Liverpool.