Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ...
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... | ||||
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Raekwon studio album | ||||
Publication |
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Label (s) | Loud Records / RCA Records | |||
Title (number) |
18th |
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running time |
73 min 34 s |
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is the debut album by Raekwon (the Chef), released in 1995 under Loud Records. All tracks on the album were produced by RZA . Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... is one of the most influential hip-hop albums of the 1990s.
History of origin
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... is also known as The Purple Tape because the tape was purple when it was released . Originally the album was supposed to be called Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Niggaz .
RZA changed his style from the scratchy kung fu beats that used to characterize him and instead used more classical and soul samples.
On the tracks Shark Niggas (Biters) and Ice Water, Raekwon disses the Brooklyn rapper The Notorious BIG and the bad boy family. The Notorious BIG answered a year later on the track Kick In The Door, among others Raekwon. On the track "Heaven & Hell" Raekwon dissed the West Coast .
Many well-known rappers from the Wu-Tang Clan like Ghostface Killah , who is featured on almost every track, have a guest appearance on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... It is especially noteworthy that Nas was the first rapper outside of the Wu-Tang Clan to make a guest appearance on an album by a Wu-Tang Clan member. Nas was rapping the most complex lines of his life on Verbal Intercourse . Nas Part has been called "memorable" by The Source .
criticism
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... was one of 16 hip-hop albums that was included in Pitchfork Media's list of the best albums of the 90s. It was also one of 33 hip-hop albums that made it into the top 90s albums on Rolling Stone . Stylus Magazine named Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, Allhiphop.com calls it "incredible" and rapper Busta Rhymes calls it "one of the best albums of all time". The Source Magazine has been rated 5 Mics and took it a year later in the top 100 of the best hip-hop albums. It is considered by many fans as the Wu-Tang Clan's best solo release. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... helped Ghostface Killah make his debut and was the inspiration for many rap careers. Hip-Hop-Connection, the world's largest hip-hop magazine voted Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... as the best hip-hop album of the last epoch (1995–2005).
Aliases
All rappers appeared on Cuban Linx under their Wu Gambino roles and pseudonyms to add to the mafia vibe of the album:
- Raekwon - Lex Diamonds
- Ghostface - Tony Starks
- Nas - Nas Escobar
- Method Man - Johnny Blaze
- Ol 'Dirty Bastard - Dirt McGirt
- RZA - Bobby Steels
- Inspectah Deck - Rollie Fingers
- GZA - Maximillion
- Masta Killa - Noodles
- U-God - Golden Arms
Track list
# | title | Songwriter | Performer | Samples |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Striving For Perfection" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Raekwon | |
2 | "Knuckleheadz" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Ghostface Killah , Raekwon, U-God | |
3 | "Knowledge God" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Raekwon | |
4th | "Criminology" | F. Woods, A. Diggs, G. Coles, G. Adams, O. Burgess, T. Bascombe, S. Patterson | Ghostface Killah, Raekwon | Includes a sample of "I Keep Asking You Questions" by Black Ivory |
5 | "Incarcerated Scarfaces" | C. Woods, R. Diggs, E. Rashad | Raekwon | |
6th | "Rainy Dayz" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Blue Raspberry , Ghostface Killah, Raekwon | |
7th | "Guillotine (Swordz)" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Inspectah Deck , Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, GZA , MC jah | |
8th | "Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)" | Wu-Tang Clan | Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Mc Jah | Contains a sample of " The Way We Were (Try to Remember)" by Gladys Knight & the Pips |
9 | "Shark Niggas (Biters)" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | ||
10 | "Ice Water" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Cappadonna , Ghostface Killah, Raekwon | |
11 | "Glaciers Of Ice" | C. Woods, R. Diggs, D. Coles, E. Turner, E. rashad | 60 Second Assassin , Blue Raspberry, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa , Raekwon, Mc Jah | |
12 | "Verbal Intercourse" | C. Woods, R. Diggs, N. Jones | Ghostface Killah, Nas , Raekwon | Includes a sample of "If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)" by the Emotions |
13 | "Wisdom Body" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Ghostface Killah, Raekwon | |
14th | "Spot Rusherz" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Raekwon | |
15th | "Ice cream" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Method Man , Raekwon | |
16 | "Wu-Gambinos" | C. Woods, R. Diggs, C. Smith | Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, RZA | |
17th | "Heaven & Hell" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Ghostface Killah, Raekwon | Includes a sample of "Could I Be Falling in Love" by Syl Johnson |
18th | "North Star (Jewels)" | C. Woods, R. Diggs | Popa Wu , Raekwon, Ol 'Dirty Bastard |
Album singles
1994: "Heaven & Hell"
- B-side:
1995: "Criminology"
- B-side: "Glaciers Of Ice"
1995: "Ice Cream"
- B-side: "Incarcerated Scarfaces"
1996: "Rainy Dayz" (Promo)
- B-side:
Chart position
year | album | Chart position | ||
Billboard 200 | Top R&B / Hip Hop albums | |||
1995 | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx | # 4 | # 2 |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Top 100 Albums of the 1990s on pitchfork.com, accessed July 25, 2015