Raekwon

Posted on 07.11.2006

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Raekwon
Real name : Corey Woods
Birthday : January 12, 1970
Hometown : Brooklyn, New York

In 1993, hip-hop would be forever changed by the emergence of the gritty, Shaolin style of the seminal rap clique, the Wu-Tang Clan. Straight from the streets of Staten Island, New York, a unique conglomerate of nine individually exceptional lyricists flourished. Fondly referred to as the Wu, RZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, GZA, U-God, Masta Killa, and the artist formerly known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard, released the epic album Enter The Wu-Tang : 36 Chambers. This debut garnered rave reviews because it provided listeners with a fresh approach to hip-hop. Moreover, the Wu set trends in a time when hip-hop’s radio play and sales were championed largely by west coast artists.

The Wu style was soon imitated. Their grimy, sparse beats and incredibly diverse lyrical flows, which creatively drew from Kung-Fu flicks, became the musical blueprint for many hip-hop cliques. To this day, the Wu-Tang’s impact on hip-hop culture is unyielding. The Wu not only influenced the state of music as a group but also as individuals. Each member possessed his own exceptional characteristics which attracted cult followings. Raekwon (the Chef), one of the nine talented emcees, shined as the purist of lyricists. When the time came for him to release his first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995), hip-hop, once again, underwent a momentous transformation. To give an accurate analogy ...Cuban Linx is to albums what Scarface is to movies. In fact, this classic album, which went Gold in three days moves from track to track like a film moves from scene to scene. With its invigorating instrumentals and dramatic lyrical tales, Raekwon painted vivid pictures and presented powerful imagery through his enchanting verbal expression.

Raekwon’s ground breaking debut album helped to bring the flavor of flossing to wax as well as the use of the moniker among Wu brethren and other prominent emcees. The single "Verbal Intercourse" featured the first appearance of Nas Escobar, Nas’ alter ego. Similarly, Raekwon and Ghostface Killa, who served as Rae’s partner in rhyme throughout the entire Cuban Linx album, also developed a slew of other identities. Identities like Lex Diamond, one of the flashy, witty and intellectually stimulating personas of the multi-faceted Raekwon.

In the years after the release of ...Cuban Linx 1995, Raekwon continued to record several albums with the Clan including the Platinum Wu-Tang Forever (1997) and The W (2000), as well as the Gold Iron Flag (2001). He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Black and White, before releasing his second solo album, Immobilarity in 1999. Four years later, it’s time for another masterpiece from Raekwon.

The Lex Diamond Story, Raekwon’s forthcoming third solo album is that desperately needed effort. This new LP is as much a reflection of his first musical triumph ...Cuban Linx, as it is a manifestation of the future and what is to come from this great emcee. Raekwon is like the E.F. Hutton of hip-hop : when he speaks, everyone listens. The current void in hip-hop is filled with this rap veteran’s crafty verbal gymnastics and artistic form of storytelling. The Lex Diamond Story takes the top shelf elements of the Wu’s first album and the finest sentiments of Raekwon’s debut and joins them together to deliver another classic album to the masses.

A lyrical gourmet meal, The Lex Diamond Story shows that The Chef still possesses the recipe to cook up a jambalaya of words with the main ingredient being superior skills. Animated and intense, Raekwon’s stealth delivery is filled with emotion, skilled cadence and an array of diverse stories, hooks, and topics. The track, "All Over Again (The Way We Were)" touches on the flavor of "Can It Be All So Simple" with its tale of street survival. Meanwhile, "Pit Bull Fights" is reminiscent of the ferocious lyrical beating inflicted on "Incarcerated Scarfaces." Raekwon is indisputably at his creative best. Unchained and uninhibited, he is assertive with his music and focused on his goals.

In addition to the forthcoming The Lex Diamond Story, Raekwon has an entrepreneurial endeavor boiling called "Ice Water." Ice Water Inc is the name of his multipurpose business venture and partnership with Randy Spelling (son of TV mogul Aaron Spelling). The company is composed of music, movies, fashion, books and a four-man group named Ice Water. Having already worked with a diverse selection of talented artists including Nas, Jodeci, Mya, the late Big Punisher, Outkast, Mobb Deep and many others, Raekwon is now helping to develop rappers. Polite, Cigzra, Problem Child (PC) and Stumik together form the group Ice Water.

But first, Raekwon plans to deliver his instructional musical dissertation The Lex Diamond Story. The soon to be landmark recording offers a new millennium musical blueprint with just enough seasoning of the old and spice of the new. Get ready for another mountain moving event !

Raekwon Aliases :
The Chef
Lex Diamonds
Louis Diamonds
Rick Diamonds
Shallah
Louis Rich
Shallah Raekwon

Raekwon Discography :

Raekwon Albums :
2003 The Lex Diamond Story
1999 Immobilarity
1995 Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon Singles & EPs :
2004 "Planet Of The Apes"
1999 "100 Rounds"
1999 "Live From New York"
1995 "Heaven & Hell"
1995 "Ice Cream" (featuring Method Man, Ghostface Killah, and Cappadonna)
1995 "Criminology"

Raekwon also appears On :
1993 Enter the Wu-Tang : 36 Chambers (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
1994 "Meth vs Chef" (from the Method Man album Tical)
1995 "Raw Hide" (from the Ol’ Dirty Bastard album Return to the 36 Chambers : The Dirty Version)
1995 "Investigative Reports" (from the GZA album Liquid Swords)
1995 "Respect Mine" (from the Fat Joe album Jealous One’s Envy)
1995 "Right Back At You" & "Eye For An Eye" (from the Mobb Deep album The Infamous)
1996 Ironman (album by Ghostface Killah)
1997 "Nighttime Vultures" (from the Mobb Deep album Hell On Earth)
1997 Wu-Tang Forever (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
1997 "Nasty Immigrants" (from the Nutty Professor soundtrack)
1998 "Supa Ninjaz" (from the Cappadonna album The Pillage)
1998 "Intellectuals" (from the Sunz Of Man album The Last Shall Be First)
1998 "Skew It On The Bar-B" (from the Outkast album Aquemini)
1998 "John Blaze" (from the Fat Joe album Don Cartagena)
1998 "Spring Water" & "As The World Turnz" (from the La the Darkman album Heist Of The Century)
1998 "Black Trump" (from the Cocoa Brovaz album Rude Awakening)
1998 "Spazzola" (from the Method Man album Tical 2000 : Judgement Day)
1998 "Movin’ On (Remix)" (from the [[Mya (singer)|Mya] album Mya)
1999 "The Game" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
1999 "Can’t Fuck Wit" (from the Mobb Deep album Murda Muzik)
2000 "Money Talks" (from the Sticky Fingaz album Black Trash : The Autobiography Of Kirk Jones)
2000 "Apollo Kids" & "Wu Banga 101" (from the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele)
2000 "The Heist" (from the Busta Rhymes album Anarchy)
2000 The W (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2001 "The Jump Up" (from the Benzino album The Benzino Project)
2001 "Love Is The Message" (from the Cappadonna album The Yin & The Yang)
2001 "Maxine", "Flowers", "The Forest" & "The Hilton" (from the Ghostface Killah album Bulletproof Wallets)
2001 Iron Flag (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2003 "Respect Mine" (from the Mathematics album Love, Hell Or Right)
2003 "Who’s Fuckin With Us" (from the Chops album Virtuosity)
2004 "The Turn" (from the Method Man album Tical 0 : The Prequel)
2004 "D.T.D." (from the Masta Killa album No Said Date)
2004 Disciples of the 36 Chambers : Chapter 1 (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2005 "Real Nillaz" (from the Mathematics album The Problem)
2005 "Advanced Pawns" (from the DJ Muggs vs Gza album Grandmasters)

See also :
Wu-Tang Clan group’ page
Raekwon official website : www.raekwonthechef.com

Raekwon pictures & Raekwon wallpapers :

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Raekwon, by HipHoppa [2007-08-01 14:37:08]

the chef. good to see he got with ill bill. dude dope as hell. wu tang clan fo life

> Raekwon, by [2006-09-11 15:39:30]

RAEKWON THE COOK, WHAT UP !!!!!!

> Raekwon, by chef [2006-05-22 13:20:06]

yo when u droppin cuban linx II ma nigga ? wu tang forever son

> Raekwon, by killab [2006-04-07 14:50:19]

rea u tha shit !!!keep flownin those hood talez..thankz 4 hittin dublin up.. come through any time man..tha fightin irish holdin u down. dublin baby what up !!peace killab.