| Raekwon | |
|---|---|
Raekwon performing in 2011 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Corey Woods |
| Also known as | The Chef, Shallah |
| Born | January 12, 1970 |
| Origin | New York City, New York, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Loud/Universal Aftermath/Interscope Ice H2O/EMI |
| Associated acts | Wu-Tang Clan, Ice Water Inc., Fat Joe, Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Capone-N-Noreaga, Game, Dr. Dre, Jadakiss, OutKast, Yelawolf, Kanye West |
| Website | www.raekwonchronicles.com |
Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970),[1][2] better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded numerous solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with other hip hop artists.
Raekwon is often cited as one of the pioneers of the Mafioso rap sub-genre.[3] In 2007, The editors of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).[4] The Miami New Times described Raekwon's music as being "street epics" that are "straightforward yet linguistically rich universes not unlike a gangsta Iliad."[5]
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Corey Woods joined the Wu-Tang Clan, a nine-member hip hop group based in the Staten Island borough of New York City, in 1992. He went under the stage name Raekwon the Chef and aliases Raekwon, Shallah Raekwon, and Lex Diamonds.[6] Wu-Tang Clan debuted one year later with Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers. Singles from the album included "Protect Ya Neck" and "C.R.E.A.M.", the latter of which reached #8 on the Billboard rap chart.[7] Wu-Tang Forever followed in 1997 and was certified four times platinum by the RIAA, quadruple the certification given Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).[8] Alongside other solo albums by its members, Wu-Tang continued recording as a group, releasing The W in 2000, Iron Flag in 2001, and 8 Diagrams in 2007.[6]
In 1994, Raekwon signed a solo deal with Loud Records and released his debut single "Heaven & Hell" for the soundtrack to the movie Fresh. His first solo LP, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., was released in 1995 to rave reviews, though not to as much commercial success as fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man's Tical.[9] According to Steve Huey of allmusic, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... contained a narrative album format revolving around cocaine trafficking, criminal activity, and a rise through the ranks of the illegal industry." Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah appeared on over half of the album's tracks, with Wu-Tang member RZA producing the album in its entirety.[10]
After Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., Raekwon appeared on a track by the R&B group Allure from the group's self-titled debut in 1997.[11] He also appeared on Fat Joe's song "John Blaze" alongside Nas, Jadakiss, and Big Pun; "John Blaze" also had a music video.[12] Raekwon's next effort, Immobilarity, came out in 1999 to mixed reviews, which were mainly attributed to the absence of RZA and Ghostface Killah.[9] The Lex Diamond Story followed in 2003 on Universal Records, to mixed reviews as well (generally lukewarm critical reviews and wildly varying public reviews) and moderate success. Raekwon later voiced his dis-taste for the albums lack of promotion and budget and vowed that future releases would not suffer the same fate.[13]
Raekwon planned to release the long-delayed sequel to his debut, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II in 2007 through Aftermath Entertainment. The album was informally executively produced by Busta Rhymes, whom Raekwon cited as getting him in the "Cuban Linx mindset",[14] and RZA, with RZA handling most of the production. Dr. Dre, Scram Jones, and J Dilla were other producers that were announced early on as working on the album. RZA explained the collaboration between him and Dr. Dre as "yin and yang" when it came to their styles.[15]
Raekwon and EMI both confirmed at one point that Only Built For Cuban Linx... Pt. II would be released in the summer of 2009 with EMI serving as the distribution label[16] for the album, which was officially released on Raekwon's ICEH2O label.[17] However, Raekwon and EMI later announced that the album would be pushed back to September 8, 2009 due to sample clearance issues, and the leak of a song from the album entitled "Surgical Gloves."[18] On September 8, 2009, Only Built For Cuban Linx... Pt. II was released after many delays. The album features many Wu-Tang members and affiliates, as well as Slick Rick, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Beanie Sigel and more. On September 28, 2009 Raekwon was named the #10 Hottest MC in the game by MTV. He also converted to Islam in 2009.[19]
In December 2009, major hip hop site HipHopDx released their 2009 Awards, with Only Built For Cuban Linx... Pt. II being chosen as 'Album of the Year'. Dx described it as "...the Hip Hop equivalent to The Godfather 2, with Rae as revitalized as Marlon was...". In addition, Raekwon was selected as 'Emcee of the Year' (fellow New Yorker Nas had won in 2008). Their staff justified this pick with this description of Raekwon's career in 2009:
Raekwon brought it back to lyrical, dope rap. He released an album that spoke to teens, twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings, and beyond. Without compromising, the Chef made an edgy Hip Hop record that refused to bastardize the catalog he laid down 15 years ago. On top of that, Rae (along with Ghostface) was a go-to for numerous rappers making albums, ranging from the Playaz Circle to Jadakiss to BK One. That's beyond real, as was a year filled with performing in arenas, clubs and even churches. When it came to mastering the ceremony, Rae had 'em all following the leader.[20]—HipHopDX
After the critical and relative commercial success of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, Raekwon collaborated with Method Man and Ghostface Killah for Wu-Massacre, a short trio album designed to showcase unity within the group. Following this release, Raekwon resurrected talk of Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, a project announced in 2007, originally planned as a Wu-Tang album, minus RZA, due to his response to the previous group album 8 Diagrams. Raekwon forwarded his projects continuously thru his growing label Icewater. He both worked on his own project while signing other underground artists. Raekwon's son is rumored to be heavily involved in his father's label.
Though not a Wu-Tang Clan project, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang was released in March 2011, serving as Raekwon's fifth solo LP. As originally planned, RZA did not participate on the project,[21] however, several other Wu-Tang members made appearances, as well as Black Thought, Nas and Rick Ross,[22] among others. Shortly after Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang was completed, Raekwon revealed that he intends on eventually releasing a third installment to the Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… albums.[23] He has also announced plans to release a second album in 2011, which will feature a more "DJ-orientated" and "harmony-based" sound, and is said to feature production from Kanye West and Just Blaze.[24] He has confirmed that Cuban Linx III will be released on his H20 Label in 2012[25]
| Year | Title | Chart positions | RIAA certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. [26] |
U.S. R&B [26] |
U.S. Rap [26] |
|||
| 1995 | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
|
4 | 2 | * | Gold[27] |
| 1999 | Immobilarity
|
9 | 2 | * | Gold[27] |
| 2003 | The Lex Diamond Story
|
102 | 18 | * | |
| 2009 | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II
|
4 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
|
12 | 3 | 2 | |
| Year | Title | Chart positions | RIAA certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. |
U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop |
U.S. Rap |
|||
| 2010 | Wu-Massacre (with Method Man & Ghostface Killah)
|
12[28] | 6[29] | 2[30] | — |
| 2012 | Wu-Block (with Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna & The L.O.X.)[31]
|
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. [32] |
U.S. R&B [32][33] |
U.S. Rap [34][32][35] |
|||
| 1994 | "Heaven & Hell" (featuring Ghostface Killah) | — | 102 | 32 | Fresh Soundtrack and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... |
| 1995 | "Incarcerated Scarfaces" / "Ice Cream" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Cappadonna) | 37 | 37 | 5 | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... |
| "Glaciers of Ice" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, and Blue Raspberry) / "Criminology" (featuring Ghostface Killah) | 43 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 1999 | "Live From New York" | — | — | 30 | Immobiliarity |
| 2003 | "Smith Bros." | — | 115 | — | The Lex Diamond Story |
| 2004 | "The Hood" (featuring Tiffany Villarreal) | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | "New Wu" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Method Man) | — | — | — | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Part II |
| "House of Flying Daggers" (featuring GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah) | — | — | — | ||
| "Catalina" (featuring Lyfe Jennings) | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | "Butter Knives" | — | — | — | Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang |
| 2011 | "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" | — | — | — | |
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | |||
| 1996 | "Firewater" (Fat Joe featuring Big Pun, Raekwon, and Armaggedon) | 114 | — | Endangered Species |
| 1998 | "Wu-Tang Cream Team Line Up" (Funkmaster Flex featuring Raekwon, The Harlem Hoodz, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, and Killa Sin) | 85 | 32 | The Mix Tape, Vol. 3: 60 Minutes of Funk, The Final Chapter |
| 1998 | "Skew It on the Bar-B" (OutKast featuring Raekwon) | — | — | Aquemini |
| 1999 | "Rap Life" (Tash featuring Raekwon) | 86 | 45 | Rap Life |
| 2000 | "Apollo Kids" (Ghostface Killah featuring Raekwon) | 121 | 32 | Supreme Clientele |
| 2001 | "Never Be the Same Again" (Ghostface Killah featuring Carl Thomas and Raekwon) | 65 | 21 | Bulletproof Wallets |
| 2004 | "What's Fuckin' Wit Us" (CHOPS featuring Raekwon) | — | — | Virtuosity |
| 2007 | "Something To Say" (Paraziţii featuring Raekwon The Chef) | — | — | Slalom Printre Cretini |
| 2008 | "Royal Flush" (Big Boi featuring Andre 3000 and Raekwon) | 68 | — | non-album single |
| 2010 | "Gorgeous" (Kanye West featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon) | — | — | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy |
| Year | Title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Heaven & Hell" | Ralph McDaniels |
| 1995 | "Criminology" | |
| "Glaciers Of Ice" | ||
| "Ice Cream" | ||
| "Incarcerated Scarfaces" | ||
| 2006 | "Rap Killers" (feat Mink) | J.G Biggs |
| "De 91 a Park Hill" (with Ol'Kainry) | J.G Biggs | |
| 2009 | "New Wu" | Danny Hastings[37] |
| "House of Flying Daggers" | Erick Sasso and Brian Wendelken | |
| "Walk Wit Me" | G. Visuals | |
| "Have Mercy" | Littles & Wilc | |
| "Catalina" | G. Visuals | |
| "Surgical Gloves" | ||
| "Pyrex Vision" | G. Visuals | |
| 2010 | "Canal Street" | LaMarck |
| "Ason Jones" | Kris Kinetik | |
| 2011 | "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" | Konee Rok |
1999 live from New York 1999 100 rounds
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