Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Album by Raekwon
Released	August 1, 1995
Recorded	?
Genre	East Coast hip hop Mafioso rap
Length	73:34
Label	Loud/RCA
Producer(s)	RZA
Professional reviews
AMG link
Raekwon chronology
	Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)	Immobilarity (1999)

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is an influential East Coast rap album by rapper Raekwon, released in 1995. Image File history File linksMetadata Raekwon_only. ... An album is a collection of related audio tracks, released together commercially in an audio format to the public. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mafioso rap is a hip hop sub-genre which flourished in the mid-1990s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... See Loudness. ... For other uses, see RCA (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... RZA The RZA (pronounced Rizza, born Robert Diggs, July 5, 1969 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American producer, rapper and the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_out_of_5. ... Another Raekwons TOP 10 album, released in autumn 1999. ... In the early 1990s, two styles of hip hop were popular. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... Raekwon Raekwon (born Corey Woods, January 12, 1970, Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. ...

Overview

A member of the The Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon released Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (originally to be titled Only Built 4 Cuban Link Niggaz) as his first solo album. As with most Wu-Tang solo records, however, a lot of collaboration was involved, in this case with RZA and Ghostface Killah. Throughout the album, Raekwon recasts the Wu-Tang Clan as an Italian mafioso family dubbed the "Wu-Gambinos", while rechristening himself as "Lex Diamond" in the process. In terms of production, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx marked a major stylistic change that saw RZA move away from the raw, minimalist, stripped-down beats of the early Wu-Tang albums, towards a richer, cinematic sound more reliant on strings and classic soul samples. The album also featured Queensbridge-based rapper, Nas, on the song "Verbal Intercourse" —becoming the first non-Wu-Tang artist to appear on the group's solo albums. The Wu-Tang Clan is a pioneering hardcore rap group, originally from Staten Island, New York (Staten Island is referred to as Shaolin in their lyrics). ... In music, solo means to play or sing alone. ... RZA The RZA (pronounced Rizza, born Robert Diggs, July 5, 1969 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American producer, rapper and the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. ... Ghostface Killah Ghostface Killah (born Dennis Coles, May 9, 1970) is a rapper and member of the hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. ... The Gambino Crime Family is a criminal organization based in New York City, New York, USA within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known familiarly as the Mafia (also known as La Cosa Nostra). ... Queensbridge Houses is the largest public housing development in the United States. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ...

Critical recognition

Deviating from past Wu-Tang efforts and heralding a narrative-driven concept that redefined the Gangsta rap genre, Raekwon's solo album is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums of hip hop in the 1990s. In fact, it was one of the sixteen hip hop albums to be included in Pitchfork Media's Best Albums Of The 90s Redux list, and was listed as one of thirty-three hip hop/R&B albums in Rolling Stone's Essential Recordings Of The 90s list. In addition, Stylus Magazine called it one of the greatest hip hop albums ever [1], Allhiphop.com calls it "incredible" [2] and fellow rapper Busta Rhymes regards it as "one of the best albums ever" [3]), and it is still remembered by many fans as perhaps the greatest Wu-Tang solo LP thus far (the All Music Guide calls it "a serious contender" for that title). Cuban Linx also helped launch Ghostface Killah's solo career, as he appeared on twelve of the album's eighteen tracks; his future solo work on albums such as Ironman and Supreme Clientele has received notable critical acclaim, despite not achieving significant mainstream success. Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city criminals. ... Pitchfork logo Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork, is a U.S.-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... Rolling Stone is an American magazine devoted to music and popular culture. ... Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Iron Man was a hip-hop album released by Ghostface Killah. ... Supreme Clientele is the second album by Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, an American hip hop artist. ...

Influence

Filled with samples from crime thrillers and mob dramas, many from the English-dubbed version of the Hong Kong action movie The Killer, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx had an enormous influence on the burgeoning East Coast hardcore rap scene, cultivating the Mafioso rap phenomenon of the mid-1990s. Raekwon's hypervisual narratives, chronicling the crime underworld of drug trafficking and the luxurious pleasures of the high-end illegal business, led many to draw comparisons with Kool G Rap (considered as the progenitor of Mafioso Rap). Since then, the album is widely regarded as the quintessential hip-hop recording of the 1990s, spawning a myriad of imitators and influencing several prominent hip-hop artists such as Nas (who subsequently adopted the Wu-Gambino inspired alias, "Escobar") and The Notorious B.I.G. (who made the transition from "thug" to "kingpin" between his debut and sophomore releases)[4]. It also influenced Jay-Z, who incorporated several mafioso themes into his debut Reasonable Doubt, though he largely abandoned this theme on his future releases. Furthermore, the album had a profound impact on contemporary hip hop culture, initiating slang terms such as "politic" and "butter-pecan Rican" into the Urban African-American slang[5]. In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion of one sound recording, the sample, and reusing it as an instrument or element of a new recording. ... The thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television, with numerous overlapping sub-genres. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... In filmmaking, dubbing is the process of recording or replacing voices for a motion picture. ... The Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong honours many leading figures of Hong Kong action cinema. ... The Killer (Simplified Chinese: 喋血双雄; Traditional Chinese: 喋血雙雄; pinyin: ; literally: Bloodshed of Two Heroes) is a 1989 Hong Kong thriller starring Chow Yun-Fat as the hitman Jeffrey, Danny Lee as the cop Little Eagle and Sally Yeh as the singer Jennie. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hardcore hip hop is a form of hip hop music that has confrontational, often violent lyrics, and generally sparse, gritty urban beats. ... Mafioso rap is a hip hop sub-genre which flourished in the mid-1990s. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... Kool G Rap (born Nathaniel Wilson July 20, 1968) is an American hardcore rapper from Queens, New York. ... Hip hop music (also referred to as rap or rap music) is a style of popular music. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... It Was Written was the multi-platinum second album by Queensbridge rapper Nas. ... Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in 1975s Lets Do it Again) and Frank White (from the film King of New York), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game... Ready to Die is a hardcore rap album by East Coast hip hop artist Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Reasonable Doubt was rapper Jay-Zs debut hip hop album, released on June 25, 1996 (see 1996 in music). ... Breakdancer in Ljubljana. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), also called Ebonics, Black English, or Black English Vernacular (BEV) is a dialect of American English. ...

Adam Heimlich of CDNow describes the impact and artistry of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx: "For several years afterward you couldn't find a rap thug who wasn't 'politicking', slinging cut-up gangland narratives like a ghetto John Woo or Martin Scorsese, doling out guest appearances to his crew like loot from a job, and striving all the while to keep it as raw yet richly detailed as Rae did...Raekwon's storytelling evokes senses of rapid motion, kamikaze faith, loyalty, and focus in the midst of high-stakes tumult that, together, convey more about his mindstate than any straight autobiography could have. RZA wanted Cuban Linx's music to transport listeners into Rae's transcendent point of view, and he succeeded so spectacularly that thousands of rap fans --the ones who don't look to hip-hop for an out-of-body experience -- will never fully comprehend all the undying fuss about this album". Cdnow is a division of Amazon. ... John Woo John Woo (Chinese: 吳宇森; Pinyin: Wú Yǔsēn) (born 1 May 1946, in Guangzhou, China) is a Chinese film director known especially for the ballet-like violence in his movies. ... Martin Scorsese at Cannes in 2002 Martin Scorsese (correctly pronounced Scor-SEH-zeh) (born November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York, USA) is an acclaimed American film director. ...

Track listing

All tracks produced, mixed, and arranged by RZA.

1. "Striving for Perfection" (Diggs/Woods) (1:43)
2. "Knuckleheadz" (featuring Ghostface Killah and U-God) (Diggs/Woods) (4:05)
3. "Knowledge God" (Diggs/Woods) (4:27)
4. "Criminology" (featuring Ghostface Killah)(Adams/Bascombe/Burgess/Coles/Diggs/Patterson/Woods) (Contains excerpts from "I Keep Asking You Questions" by Black Ivory) (3:49)
5. "Incarcerated Scarfaces" (Diggs/Raekwon) (4:30)
6. "Rainy Dayz" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Blue Raspberry) (Diggs/Woods) (5:17)
7. "Guillotine (Swordz)" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Genius/GZA) (Diggs/Woods) (4:21)
8. "Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)" (featuring Ghostface Killah) (Wu Tang Clan) (Contains excerpts from "The Way We Were" by Gladys Knight & The Pips) (4:10)
9. "Shark Niggas (Biters)" (Diggs/Woods) (1:39)
10. "Ice Water" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna) (Diggs/Woods) (4:02)
11. "Glaciers of Ice" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa) (Coles/Diggs/Turner/Woods) (4:54)
12. "Verbal Intercourse" (featuring Ghostface Killah and Nas) (Diggs/Woods/Jones) (Contains excerpts from "If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)" by The Emotions) (4:07)
13. "Wisdom Body" (featuring Ghostface Killah) (Diggs/Woods) (2:34)
14. "Spot Rusherz" (Diggs/Woods) (3:51)
15. "Ice Cream" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Cappadonna) (Diggs/Woods) (4:16)
16. "Wu-Gambinos" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, RZA and Masta Killa) (Diggs/Woods) (5:09)
17. "Heaven & Hell" (featuring Ghostface Killah) (Diggs/Woods) (Contains excerpts from "Could I Be Falling in Love" by Syl Johnson) (4:57)
18. "North Star (Jewels)" (Bonus track) (Diggs/Woods) (Contains elements from "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby" by Barry White) (4:00)

The cover to Gladys Knights 2001 album At Last. ... Barry White Barry Walrus of love White (September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was an American record producer and singer responsible for the creation of numerous hit soul and disco songs. ...

Personnel

• Raekwon - Vocals
• Ghostface Killah - Vocals
• RZA - Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Robert Diggs - Executive Producer
• Mitchell Diggs - Executive Producer
• Oli Grant - Executive Producer

Raekwon Raekwon (born Corey Woods, January 12, 1970, Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. ... Ghostface Killah Ghostface Killah (born Dennis Coles, May 9, 1970) is a rapper and member of the hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. ... RZA The RZA (pronounced Rizza, born Robert Diggs, July 5, 1969 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American producer, rapper and the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. ...

Chart positions

Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ...

 1995 The Billboard 200 No. 4 1995 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 2 

Billboard (North America) - singles

 1994 Heaven Hot Rap Singles No. 32 1994 Heaven Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 34 1995 Glaciers Of Ice The Billboard Hot 100 No. 43 1995 Incarcerated Scarfaces The Billboard Hot 100 No. 37 1995 Glaciers Of Ice Hot Rap Singles No. 5 1995 Incarcerated Scarfaces Hot Rap Singles No. 5 1995 Heaven & Hell Hot Rap Singles No. 21 1995 Criminology Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 32 1995 Incarcerated Scarfaces Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 37 1995 Glaciers Of Ice Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 2