Rate The Bars: Raekwon Goes In On These Vince Staples Bars

The Wu-Tang Clan's master lyricist Raekwon has some notes for his brothers and a few words for the newbies in the rap game. Get your metaphors up!

Red & Mef hop on the Juelz Santana Track - Ol Thang

Juelz Santana - Ol Thang Back ft Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Method Man & Redman.

Raekwon Talks Busta; New Album; G-Unit/Wu-Tang Tour?

Rare Footage: Busta Rhymes & Ol' Dirty B*stard In A Freestyle Cypher [Video]

Here's some rare footage of Wu Tang Clan's late, great emcee Ol Dirty B*stard in a freestyle cypher with Busta Rhymes. The rhymes were not off the top of the dome, but that doesn't matter. (Busta's lines were from "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check." ODB spit lyrics from "Brooklyn Zoo II.")

RZA Says He's Given Beats To Busta Rhymes & Nas, Speaks On Method Man LP

The RZArector also updates on the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album.




RZA recently checked in with GWHH'S GY312 in Chicago, Illinois, speaking on his various projects in 2012. During the interview, the Wu-Tang Clan swordsman said that he supplied beats to Nas and Busta Rhymes, each of whom came to his home to select from his 500-beat stash. He also remained vague about the upcoming Wu album, which he previously revealed would release in 2012.

"As far as the Wu brothers, whatever we do, we do it. Sometimes we premeditate it, sometimes it’s just done naturally. I’m more in a natural mode right now. I got 500 beats in my crib. So if anyone wanna come over and collect them, they can collect them. We had a lot of other brothers come over. Last year, I was home and people like Busta came over and got some beats, Nas came through… My door is open."

News recently broke that he and Method Man would reunite for what would be either their last collaborative album or Meth's final LP. RZA remained more elusive about the project, stating that it's more about the tour at the moment.

"Right now I’m on tour with the Wu-Tang, having fun. As far as musically, me and Method Man are talking about going to the studio. We never got a chance to do another album since my first album. Maybe we’ll do another album together. Other than that, just rocking these shows and shit, having a good time and shit."

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Raekwon Unexpected Victory (Mixtape Review)

On Raekwon’s latest offering, "UnExpected Victory," “A Pinebox Story” is the lone true solo joint. 9th Wonder works up a wondrously alluring concoction of soul samples and spotless snares because that’s what 9th Wonder does. The Chef appropriately soils it immediately with a grimy, IMAX-ready crime tale seemingly without exposition; seemingly too gritty for such a pristine soundscape because that’s what The Chef does. “Swollen eyes / His face was pulverized,” raps Raekwon. / Tryna be a hustler / 2 ounces / He wanna mobilize / Dumb dummy.” You can almost smell the beat down through the Bose speakers. It’s that detailed. It’s that quintessential on all fronts. And on this project, it’s the joint that fist-pumps loudest as if to exclaim, “Yes, Yes, this is a Raekwon release!”

In essence, "UnExpected Victory" is a cross-generational collaboration project. The remaining 15 crew love-smothered tracks (excluding “Intro’s” opening instrumental) is ultimately the unexpected victory. Where Rae, CL Smooth, and Sauce Money take hustling to the next level on the Scram Jones-produced “Silk” - a place where warlords are determined by their quest for peace and bookkeepers are within arm’s reach - “Chupa Cabra” (featuring Capone-N-Noreaga) revels in rollicking international drug trafficking. Where Rae and Mobb Deep drop mafioso braggadocio on “Chinese Marines,” Rae and Busta Rhymes play lyrical tour guides on the appropriately entitled “MTV Cribs” (produced by Vin Da Chin). “Shoes forbidden in the crib / Especially on my Alaskan polar bear rugs,” Bus raps in a raucous Robin Leach flow.

Lex Diamonds makes certain to enlist his fellow luminaries while also tossing the mic to a few notable newer names. Vado, L.E.P. Bogus Boys and Dino Primo, and Fred Da Godson appear on “A Few Good Men,” “This Shit Hard,” and “Luxury Rap,” respectively. Only “Luxury Rap” is compelling enough keep from reaching for the skip button.

Rae's Ice H2O roster is easily "UnExpected Victory’s" biggest winner. Reason absolutely owns “The Brewery’s” (produced by Scram Jones) riotous amalgamation of bass lines and background chants and JD Era attacks all four of his appearances (“Just A Toast,” “Goodfellas,” “Soldier Story,” and “Gangsta Cazals”) as if the industry went Delonte West on his moms. His verse on “Solider Story” is a statement maker, brimming with perspective and maximizing Pro Logic & Moss‘ awesomely layered piano keys and hi-hats:

“I’m writing to give you more of me / There’s more to see / More than petty wars and monotonous beef / I’m more than meets the eye / I’m the eye of the beast / So keep eyeing me too long and get your eyelids beat...I got sick of chasing stars with spacious cars / Like, ‘Take this / Tape of ours / And don’t take no bars’ / Hopin they’d / Take it abroad / It’ll play so hard / That I could replace my broad and replace my job / I prayed to God / Grant me whatever I deserve / ‘Cause I don’t wanna grow to be Legend Of The Curb / But / Believe in it and it will come / Aye this a dedication to the real ones."

If only "UnExpected Victory’s" production was as impressive as the cross-generational dopeness going down on the mic. If only “That Good Good” (featuring Altrina Renee, produced by Scram Jones & Blickstreet) and “This Shit Hard” (produced by The Olympicks) didn’t sound so elementary next to “A Pinebox Story” or “Soldiers Story." If only as much effort was put into mixing and mastering the project so that “The Brewery” didn’t blast in shockingly louder than “Just A Toast” (or so “Black Dust’s” sonic details were anywhere near distinguishable) as was put into finalizing features, then The Chef’s latest might’ve avoided any glaring holes in replay value.

The emcees showed up; the engineers and producers showed up less often. Even with that, considering Raekwon improbably relinquished the reigns to a staggering 21 different artists and 15 different producers - saving only one joint for himself - and still compiled a quality listen, he absolutely came away clean. A victory after all is still a victory, unexpected or otherwise.

Download Mixtape here if you have not already done so


By The Company Man for HiphopDX

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Happy Wu Year: Download Raekwon – Unexpected Victory mixtape

Raekwon rings in the new year with a new mixtape "Unexpected Victory" ft. Mobb Deep, Capone N Noreaga, Styles P & production from 9th wonder & more. Enjoy, and Happy New Year! or rather Happy Wu Year!

Stream it above, or download your copy at DatPliff.com.

Unexpected Victory Tracklist:

01. (Intro) Unexpected Victory

02. Just A Toast (feat. JD Era)

03. The Brewery (feat. Ceazer-N-Reason)

04. A Pinebox Story

05. Goodfellas (feat. JD Era & Camoflauge)

06. Silk (feat. CL Smooth, Sauce Money & Big B)

07. That Good Good (feat. Altrina Renee)

08. Luxury Rap (feat. Fred The Godson)

09. Chinese Marines (feat. Mobb Deep)

10. This Shit Hard (feat. Dion Premo & LEP Bogus Boys)

11. Soldier Story (feat. JD Era)

12. MTV Cribs (feat. Busta Rhymes)

13. A Few Good Men (feat. Vado & Tommy Nova)

14. Chupa Cabra (feat. Capone-N-Noreaga)

15. Facetime (feat. Atrina Renee)

16. Gangsta Cazals (feat. JD Era, Camoflauge & Styles P)

17. Black Dust (feat. Tommy Nova & Mean Doe Green)