Dear, Raekwon. It's been 14 years since you released your first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 1. That makes me feel old. It was an instant classic, complete with a purple colored cassette (that's right, cassette. remember those?) to give us something extra special to remember you by. At that time, I was drinking up all things Wu-Tang like it was water. I couldn't get enough. Then something happened. Some dude named Puffy or Puff Daddy or P. Diddy or Diddy or whatever the hell you want to call him, changed rap music into a big, shiny, money making machine whose soul purpose is to make people shake their asses and you, Raekwon, dropped off the face of the earth. Sure, you showed up here and there to bless a track or two for your fellow Wu alum, but let's face it, nothing you've done since '95 has significance (with the exception of your contributions to the handful of official Wu-Tang releases).
In your defense, I live in the rap music of the past. Method Man will never make another record that lives up to my expectations. So, you're not alone here. I am generally disappointed in all of the rappers from my past and that's probably not fair to any of you. But when I heard about your plans to release a sequel to the classic you dropped all those years ago, I will admit, I got a little excited. As a result, I placed a lot of weight on your shoulders. I was hoping you would rescue us from the empty fluff that fills the rap sections of our record stores (or on-line retailers) today. I went out and purchased, with my own money, a copy of Pt. 2. It was the first time in a long time I'd bought a rap record not made by The Roots or Kanye West. I wish I could say I was happy about my decision.
I will say that there is some good going on here. The sound of your sequel is remarkably like the first installment. The beats are still dirty and grimey, like that basement sound I came to love from the Wu. This is impressive as the album features a handful of producers, unlike Pt. 1, which was almost all done by the RZA, just like everything else Wu-affiliated at the time. It's no small feat that all the beat makers on this release were able to compile tracks that sound like evolutions of the '95 album. So, congratulations.
What I'm more concerned with, however, is the lyrical content. Why, after 14 years, are you still rhyming about shooting dudes in the face and coking coke in your kitchen? Is there really nothing else to talk about? I am aware that inner city poverty still exists, as does the violence and drug trade that goes along with it. Honestly, I'm not even sure what I expect you to say, I just feel like this subject matter has been so exhausted. Is this what is wrong with rap music today? Has it lost it's relevance? Or, have we become desensitized? I like "Cold Outside." It is lamenting the violence and poverty. It is street poetry, it's story telling. Maybe we could have more than that? I just find it hard to believe that after all this time you haven't found a way to observe the world around you and come up with something more to say about the state of things.
There was a lot of buzz about this record and a good bit of acclaim from both the critics and fans, but I just don't get it. Maybe I'm getting too old for this stuff. Maybe I'm too out of touch, too much of an indie kid. Or, maybe I think we should have higher standards. Rae, you're a legend and I'll probably still buy your next overly hyped release because I'm that loyal, but give me something to chew on.
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