1. Inner Circle – State Of Da World [Shanachie 2009]
2. James McMurtry - Live In Europe [Lightning Rod 2009]
3. Lyle Lovett – Natural Forces [Curb/Lost Highway 2009]
4. Monsters of Folk – Monsters Of Folk [Shangri-La 2009]
5. Various Artists – The Biggest Reggae One-Drop Anthems 2009 [Greensleeves 2009]
6. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 [EMI 2009]
7. Robert Earl Keen – The Rose Hotel [Lost Highway Records 2009]
8. Various Artists – Jah Live Riddim [Joe Frasier 2009]
9. International Observer – Felt [Dubmission 2009]
10. Roseanne Cash – The List [Manhattan 2009]
11. Various Artists – Penthouse Showcase Volume 4 [Penthouse 2009]
12. Various Artists – Penthouse Showcae Volume 5 [Penthouse 2009]
13. Kiddus I – Green Fa Life [Makasound/Makafresh 2009]
14. Breakestra – Dusk Till’ Dawn [Strut Records 2009]
15. Danny Malone- Cuddlebug [Township Records 2009]
16. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End Of Day [Dream On/G.O.O.D./Universal Motown 2009]
17. The XX – xx [Young Turks 2009]
18. Various Artists – The Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2009 [Greensleeves 2009]
19. Muse – The Resistance [Warner Brothers 2009]
20. Ghostface Killah – Ghostdini Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City [Island/Def Jam 2009]
21. Various Artists – 5: Five Years of Hyperdub [Hyperdub 2009]
22. Gossip – Music For Men [Columbia 2009]
23. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You [Columbia 2009]
24. Chuck Fenda – Fulfillment [VP Records 2009]
25. Omar Perry -  Can’t Stop Us [Makasound/Makafresh 2009]
26. Tribal Seeds – The Harvest [Tribal Seeds 2009]
27. Toddla T – Skanky Skanky [1965 2009]
28. Masta Ace & Edo G – Arts & Entertainment [Traffic 2009]
29. Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons – Bend In The Road [Dualtone 2009]
30. Q-Tip – Kamaal The Abstract [Jive 2009]
31. Doveman –  The Conformist [Brassland Records 2009]
32. Dawes – North Hills [ATO 2009]
33. Kris Kristofferson – Closer To The Bone [New West 2009]
34. Mark Knopfler – Get Lucky [Rerprise 2009]
35. Takana Zion – Rappel à l’ordre [Makasound/Makafresh 2009]

Corey Woods (Staten Island, NY, 1970), mais conhecido como Raekwon, é um rapper americano. Faz parte do Wu-Tang Clan, um coletivo de rappers novaiorquinos que apareceu com força no cenário hip-hop em 1993 com seu álbum de estreia, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).  Sem compromisso fixo, o Wu-Tang reúne-se bissextamente para gravar, deixando seus integrantes livres para desenvolverem suas carreiras solo. Depois de 93, os discos do Wu-Tang foram Wu-Tang Forever (1997), The W (2001) e 8 Diagrams (2007). Raekwon lançou Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, seu primeiro disco solo, em 1995. O disco versa sobre tráfico de drogas e crime organizado, usando a máfia italiana como metáfora. Sua carreira solo seguiu com Immobilarity, de 1999, e The Lex Diamond Story, de 2003. A segunda parte de Only Built… estava prevista para sair em 2007, mas brigas com o produtor RZA, acertos com gravadoras e questões de direitos autorais postergaram o lançamento do disco até setembro de 2009. Only Built 4 Cuba Linx… Pt. II mantém o mesmo imaginário da primeira parte, apenas com os personagens mais velhos e poderosos. O disco conta com a presença ostensiva de Ghostface Killah e de outros companheiros do Wu-Tang, como Masta Killa, Method Man, GZA e RZA, além de outros rappers, como Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, Slick Rick e Suga Bang Bang, e inclui produções de J Dilla, RZA, Dr. Dre e Pete Rock, entre outros. (RG)

* # *

Vejam só: era para eu estar aqui, falando de como Jay-Z é consistente e tecendo loas a The Blueprint 3, o esperadíssimo disco do rapper que, apesar dos deslizes, ainda continua sendo o nº 1 do mundo. Mas bastou uma audição para perceber a inconsistência do disco, notável por algumas canções memoráveis mas repleto de faixas ralas e burocráticas, com performances daquelas que se esperam de um R.E.M. (hoje) ou de um Ronaldinho Gaúcho: com cetro, trono, mas sem coração ou realeza. E qual não foi a surpresa ao notar que, no mesmo exato momento em que as expectativas em torno do franchise “Blueprint” diminuíam, aquelas em torno de outro franchise cresciam. No mesmo 8 de setembro de 2009, Raekwon finalmente lançou sua tão esperada continuação para Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, sua estreia como artista solo em 1995. É quase covardia comparar um disco com o outro: toda a pressão e a tensão criativa ausentes de um disco competente mas moroso como o de Jay-Z são rapidamente encontráveis nessa volta à forma de Raekwon, seja pelas produções homogeneamente nervosas e carregadas de dramaticidade soturna, seja pelo estilo vocal agressivo e desafiador do rapper e de seus colaboradores, em especial Ghostface. Se Jay-Z é a pompa do tapete vermelho, Raekwon é o perfeito artesanato da porta dos fundos (ainda que, graças às vendagens com o Wu-Tang, seja igualmente um milionário), trabalhando não com o objetivo de fazer cada faixa reluzir como ouro, mas lapidando-a a fim de que ela dê vazão a toda fúria e senso de ameaça que o artista se põe a exprimir. A diferença é entre um rapper popstar que se assumiu como popstar e um rapper popstar que consegue a proeza de manter-se rapper.

A persistência de Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 talvez seja a característica que mais caiba elogiar, no cômputo geral. O disco não tenta nenhuma proeza ao atualizar o som do Wu-Tang ou o do primeiro Only Built…, todo produzido por RZA. Ele não oferece uma novidade suplementar: apenas mantém corajosamente a confiança em seu estilo e utiliza-o com 100% de sua capacidade, tanto nos trejeitos sonoros – até as vinhetinhas da série de filmes dirigida por Lau Kar-Leung estão presentes! – quanto na energia presente em cada batida e cada intervenção vocal. À persistência discográfica se acresce a persistência no tipo de composição: o disco corre por 70min mantendo basicamente o mesmo pique, fornecendo de forma sistemática beats pesados e samples exaustivamente repetitivos, sem escapatórias como refrões pra cantar junto, vinhetas de alívio ou mudanças de atmosfera que tornem a audição mais fluida. Linx Pt. II ouve-se muito bem como um todo, sim, não por sua fluência, mas por sua consistência e pela eficácia de seu ataque relâmpago.

“House of the Flying Daggers”, tirando noise rap e crossover, é uma das coisas mais pesadas até hoje em matéria de hip-hop. A produção, excelente, é do saudoso J. Dilla, mas pelo opressivo ruído de fundo lembra uma das produções de El-P do começo da década, para seus próprios discos ou para o Cannibal Ox. Dilla também participa com outra monumental faixa, “10 Bricks”, adaptando seu remix para “The Red”, e com “Ason Jones”, uma emotiva homenagem ao Wu-Tang falecido Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Outros destaques são “Penitentiary”, com um grave marcante cortesia de BT, e “Surgical Gloves”, com batida de Alchemist. O mair desafio que o disco impõe é o inicial. Dada sua consistência sufocante, é possível que o ouvinte se sinta repelido pelo clima rascante. Mas, uma vez familiarizado e inteirado do estilo e da sonoridade do disco, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II faz um ataque certeiro e não deixa nenhum detrator vivo. (Ruy Gardnier)

* # *

É impressionante a persistência do Wu-Tang Clan e de seus membros em reafirmar sonoridades e temáticas que marcaram o grupo desde seus primórdios, nos nem-tão-longínquos-porém-já-requentados anos 90. E curiosa a forma como em cada álbum essa fidelidade se transforma em uma música geralmente poderosa e convincente, que conjuga apelo comercial com experiências sonoras não muito radicais, mas ainda assim notáveis. Neste segundo álbum de Raekwon, severamente postergado por razões diversas, as premissas permanecem: os mesmos temas, as mesmas sonoridades. E por que não dizer: os mesmíssimos envolvidos. Talvez a resposta para tamanho rigor resida paradoxalmente no trabalho em equipe que faz com o álbum conte com 13 produtores e rappers até não poder mais… Ora, o que há então de tão envolvente e persuasivo que nos mantém presos aos 70 minuto de hip hop pesado e ameaçador, apesar de momentos em que nem a expressão déjà vu dá conta? Bem, tentarei aqui palmear algumas respostas breves, visto que em alguns momentos na vida o inconsciente fala mais alto que a razão, e o gosto (a nossa parte mais reacionária…) se entrega sem pedir mais… Pois bem, em primeiro lugar o instrumental seco, massivo, repleto de referências nem sempre identificáveis e barulhos que podem soar incômodos e excessivamente repetitivos. Sobre este aspecto, sugiro as faixas “House of Flying Daggers”, produzida por J Dilla, e a soturna “Black Mozart”, produzida por RZA, ponto alto do álbum por conta da utilização da melodia composta originalmente por Nino Rota (dizem que há controvérsias, cartas para a redação…). Segundo, a habilidade dos rappers envolvidos, desde a turma do Wu-Tang, onde destaco o flow de Method Man e, sobretudo, Ghostface Killa, ambos dando aula de rima e suingue na faixa “New Wu”. Para finalizar, a excelência na produção, comum aos trabalhos do grupo. E o que dizer mais? Não sei, não há nada que possa ser dito que não esteja rigorosamente previsto nas fórmulas tradicionais do grupo, mas devo notar também que em poucos álbuns de hip hop contemporâneo encontramos tanta energia como na sequência “Surgical Gloves”, “Broken Safety” e “Canal Street”. Nem nos últimos de Jay-Z e Beastie Boys. Ah sim, e marra né, muita marra… (Bernardo Oliveira)

* # *

GZA, RZA, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Allah Mathematics, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon, Alchemist, Jadakiss, Styles P, Cappadonna, Dr. Dre, Mark Batson, Slick Rick e Busta Rhymes. Dos produtores e rappers convidados para Only Built for Cuban Linx… Pt. II, alguns são parte do coletivo Wu-Tang Clan, fundado no início da década passada (quando viveu seu ápice), enquanto os restantes são de contextos próximos – mais precisamente o hip-hop costa leste anos 90. Pois tudo no último álbum de Raekwon remete a este período de sucesso e ebulição criativa do rap americano: desde as participações até os samples, as batidas e as letras.

De algum modo, Only Built for Cuban Linx… Pt. II é um disco que celebra o passado: embora tenha várias faixas produzidas pelo falecido J Dilla (a grande coqueluche dos novos produtores americanos e ingleses), não disfarça tal impressão, já que utilizar bases de Dilla é também rememorar o pretérito e exaltar o estilo único e inimitável de um artista morto – da mesma forma que não poderiam faltar várias homenagens a Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

Mesmo que esse anacronismo represente um problema para Raekwon e a trupe do Wu-Tang (os discos solo de seus respectivos membros parecem mais um trabalho coletivo que individual), toda a força do álbum reside na obstinação ideológica do rapper (e do grupo) e na renovação de fórmulas antigas. Basta ouvir “House of Flying Daggers”, “Sonny’s Missing”, “New Wu”, “Penitentiary”, “Broken Safety” e “10 Bricks” para notar como os raps continuam urgentes, as batidas frescas e os samples inventivos. Se o hip-hop na sua forma mais “tradicional” (digo isso, pois excetuo os hibridismos inovadores proporcionados por Flying Lotus, Madlib, SA-RA e alguns produtores britânicos, que também se inscrevem no hip-hop) não consegue ir muito além de Lil Wayne e kanYe West, então só o Wu-Tang, com todo o seu vigor e astúcia, pode salvar – Wu-Tang forever. (Thiago Filardi)

Peep the Snake Style Bloodbath at 3:30.

1000 Styles is the rawest artist ever.  I think i’m gonna eat a dead cat right now.

Stop being sensitive.

-LaRoushe

It pained me this morning to take the new Raekwon album out of my tapedeck, so I opted for the next best thing, some old Wu.  I can’t post Raekwon’s album every day for the next two months even though it will be listening to it that relgiously.  I’m going to attempt to memorize every word on the album including skits.  Deck’s verse on Black Mozart is my SHIT.  I got the first 2 bars down pat.  Okay, enough about OBFCL2, this morning I put in The Wu’s 3rd album, The W.  I can’t say that I like every song on this album but there are some incredible joints, Hollow Bones being my favorite at the moment.  I’m actually going back to listen a lot of Wu shit just to hear the production.  Rza is the fucking man.  The W has several classic joints and some awkward features too like Snoop Dogg!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m not sure why that happened but Snoop didn’t do too bad.  The Nas and Redman features are really dope though.  I promise I’ll get off this Wu Tang kick by December unless Ghostface drops a classic but I’m not expecting much from his album seeing how it is all about females.  I guess beaches need love too, I’m just not so sure about the features.  I heard Ron Browz is on there.  That is unfortunate.  Ghost doesn’t need that.  Anyway, Hollow Bones for that ass. 

Speaking of Redman, peep these new Redman Adidas.  I wouldn’t rock them but they are kind of tough.  The shirt is REAL ill though.  Shout out to Redman. 

Wu-Tang has been one of the greatest dynasties that Hip-Hop has ever seen. Just about every group album has been stellar, not to mention that every solo album is top notch quality. Raekwon comes into Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 fourteen years after the original Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, which, to this day is a classic. The aforementioned information may pose the question: Is Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 as good as the original? The answer, in my opinion, is a definite yes. I took one run through this album in my car, and I knew immediately I was listening to a classic . Raekwon brings along an all-star cast of producers and emcees to “cook up”, without a doubt, one of the best albums of 2009. Creating a magnificent masterpiece that is just as good as it’s predecessor is no easy task, but as OB4CL2 shows, for The Chef it comes naturally.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 takes off where Only Built 4 Cuban Linx left off perfect and precise, with Poppa Wu providing Raekwon some words of encouragement. What comes next is the brilliant burst of excellence that is my favorite track on OB4CL2 ,“House of Flying Daggers“, which is cleverly concocted by the late and  very great J Dilla. Dilla’s beat is a great example of pristine production full of hard hitting drums, melodic strings and well placed vocal samples (both chanting & Kung Fu). Raekwon, Ghostface, Inspectah Deck & Method Man spit verses harder than concrete on one of the best tracks of the year. Even though the track “Pyrex Vision” is only a mere 54 seconds long, it is long enough for Raekwon to vividly describe what it’s like to put his apron on and cook in the kitchen. Chef narrates, “The Pyrex is bubblin’/the stove is broke, fuck it use the flame from the oven/the famous dozen/about to hit the streets, they buzzin’/break it down yo’, chop it like he raided your luggage”.

Raekwon & Ghostface use the superb storytelling abilities that only they are capable of, on the track “Cold Outside”, and the soulful beat that is put forth by Icewater Productions is a perfect backdrop. Another sure highlight on the album is the track “Black Mozart” which is produced by none other than the RZA, and features Inspectah Deck. RZA’s beat features eerie organ keys and powerfully placed guitar loops all underneath some lava flow lyrics. RZA gets yet another ridiculous production credit on yet another sure highlight of the album, “New Wu”. Chef brings along Tony Starks & Method Man to samurai slice the shit out of the RZA’s beat. I must say Ghost killed it the most, “…You Planet of the Apes standin’ next to King Kong/Forensic Files, ultra violet hype, sky blue Bales/laying niggas’  like ceramic tiles/I’m like Urlacher beastin’ at top of the pile/kneein’ niggas’ in the nuts nigga, damn I’m foul”.

Alchemist lends his hand to the production boards on the track “Surgical Gloves”, and Raekwon no doubt spits some vicious verses about the game. Dilla has yet another incredibly impeccable production credit on the track “Ason Jones”, which is The Chef’s tribute to ODB. Dilla’s soulful strings, glorious gospel samples and slow slamming drums create the perfect canvas for Raekwon to pay tribute to one of his good friends. “Ason Jones” is another sure highlight of the album, and it may be one of the most well produced tracks of the year. Raekwon, Cappadonna & Ghostface rip through Dilla’s spaced-out strings and leave nothing left to be salvaged. One of my personal favorite tracks on the album is “We Will Rob You”, which features Slick Rick on the hook, and GZA & Masta Killa spitting verses alongside Rae. The main reason I love this track so much is because it’s so great to hear GZA paint a picture with words, “Black niggas’ in the Jeep get the fuck out the car/put your hands where my eyes can see, or suffer a scar/he was a veteran who kept pepper spray in a canister/donut shop lounger, 38 brandisher/on top of that, the blunt smoke just rang the bell/of his Blood Hound, who had an acute sense of smell/beef trippin’, saliva drippin’ from razor sharp teeth/that was as pointy as the daggers of Indian Chiefs”.

I know this review was long, but this album is truly something special. I didn’t even get to talk about the Dr. Dre tracks on the album, and those are just as equally incredible as the rest. If there is one thing that’s clear about Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, it’s that Raekwon can diligently deliver classics that will no doubt live up to their hype. Everything about this album is exemplary, from the production, all the way to the narrative lyrics, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 has it all. Do yourself a favor and pick up one of the top 3 releases of 2009.

9.5 Bricks out of 10

Raekwon’s new Only Built 4 Cuban Links II comes out this week. It’s a solid follow up to part one that was 14 years in the making. As is the case with most Wu solo projects, it’s full of guest spots from the entire clan, including a guest starring appearance from Ghostface who’s on almost every track.

Raekwon

Only Built 4 Cuban Links II LP

Cold Outside Ft. Ghostface

New Wu Ft. Ghostface & Method Man

10 Bricks Ft. Cappadonna & Ghostface

Raekwon

Only Built 4 Cuban Links LP

Criminology Ft. Ghostface

Rainy Dayz Ft. Ghostface

Guillotine [Swordz] Ft. Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, GZA

Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most influential groups in the history of Hip-Hop music. GZA (in my opinion) is the best emcee (although they are all incredible) in the group, so it would make sense to say that he is one of the most influential emcees of all-time. The album Liquid Swords is nothing short of a lauded lyrical masterpiece, and every single track on this album is sonically sound. Not only is this one of the greatest Wu-Tang related albums ever released, it is one of the greatest albums in Hip-Hop history. RZA’s production on this album is ridiculous, not to mention the samples on this album fit the tracks tighter than a hipster’s t-shirt, and GZA’s rhymes are legendary in every aspect of the word.

The album starts off with the title track “Liquid Swords”, and it opens with dialogue from the movie Shogun Assassin. What comes next is an uplifting beat full of strings courtesy of RZA, and some bomb ass verses from the Genius himself, “…I swing swords and cut clowns/shit is too swift to bite, you record and write it down/I flow like the blood on a murder scene/like a syringe on some loud howl shit to insert a fiend”. The track “Duel of the Iron Mic” might be one of my favorite tracks on the album, and GZA, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck takeover RZA’s beautiful beat in typical Wu fashion. I feel, though, that GZA tears apart the most as he spits, “Picture blood baths and elevator shafts/like the murderous rhymes tight from genuine craft…”, and “…I ain’t particular/I bang like vehicular homicides on July 4th in Bed-Stuy/where money don’t grow on trees/and there’s thievin’ emcees who cut throats to rake leaves”.

GZA brings along Ghostface, Killah Priest & RZA to tear apart RZA’s bugged out beat (which may be one of my favorite Bobby Digital beats ever), and the results are so gruesome that it could be a scene in a horror movie. On the track “Shadowboxin”, Tical joins the madness and spits some wicked shit along side the Genius over RZA’s insanely hard beat. I will forever love the track “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)” because it was the first time that I ever had the pleasure of hearing Killah Priest. KP is probably one of my top 10 emcees of all-time, and to be quite honest I think he’s highly underrated. On “B.I.B.L.E.” Priest spits some of the most deeply profound lyrics that you will ever hear, and it’s a great testament as to why I speak so highly of him as a lyricist.

My favorite track on the album is “Living in the World Today”. GZA’s rhymes on this track are momentously monumental, and you may never hear anything quite like it. RZA lays down yet another laid back beat that GZA puts up for sacrifice, “My rhyme gross weight vehicle combination/was too heavy for the Chevy’s is chased out the station/double-edged was the guillotine that beheaded it/gassed up, fuckin with some regular unleaded shit”, as well as “I’m just swingin swords strictly based on keyboards/unbalanced like elephants and ants on see-saws/I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC’s be out like bank robbers…”.

Liquid Swords is an album that will forever stand the test of time. The overall quality of this album is something that every artist should strive for (not to re-create, but to look to for inspiration) because there aren’t many albums that are as influential as Liquid Swords. This album will always sit comfortably amongst my favorite albums of all-time, and part of the reason is because this album was (and still is) so far ahead of its time. If there is one thing this album proves, it’s that GZA definitely is a Genius.

10 Iron Mics out of 10

The internets have been blown up this week by two of the most anticipated albums of the year, Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 and Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II.

You thought I’m gonna post the full versions? Ha! What I will do is include my favorite tracks in this edition of the Sound Table, plus links to some early reviews for each album and an interesting article about the 10 producers that could’ve saved BP3.

Anyways, go out and support both MC’s next week. Enjoy!

Read: 10 Producers That Could’ve Saved Blueprint 3

Jay-Z Blueprint 3 Reviews:

LA Times Blog by Jeff Weiss

Daily Mathematics by Combat Jack

Byron Crawford by Bol

BGBD & RTD by Enigmatik & Khal

Broken Cool

Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II Reviews:

Daily Mathematics by Combat Jack

BGDB by Enigmatik

Wake Your Daughter Up by Travis

Sound Table

Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z ft. J Cole – A Star Is Born

Jay-Z ft. Mr Hudson – Young Forever

M.O.P. ft. Redman – Riding Through

Nicolay – City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya Sampler

Peter Bjorn & John ft. Rapper Big Pooh, Phil Nash & Chaundon – Stay This Way (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)

Raekwon – Surgical Gloves

Raekwon ft. Lyfe Jennings – Catalina prod. Dr. Dre

Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa – Kiss The Ring

Is The Rebel INS still talking about Joe Budden? Let it go…

Lex Diamonds teams up with Rollie Fingers & Noodles on Kiss The Ring, off of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx part 2 dropping (9-8-09).

Kiss The Ring – Raekwon Feat. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa

Raekwon – “House of Flying Daggers” Produced By J. Dilla Official Music Video

Beat by J. Dilla, clipe muito fodaa!!

Animatie is echt heel dope gedaan door 1000Styles!
Track is geproduceerd door J.Dilla en naast Raekwon hoor je Inspectah Deck,GZA,Ghostface Killah & Method Man.
Only Built 4 Cuban Links II komt 8 September uit.
Ben zeer benieuwd.