Blame it on the Auto-Tuned landscape of mainstream hip-hop, or
perhaps the backlash against too-cool-for-school rappers, but hardcore
rap is in the midst of a major resurgence. Releases by Jay-Z, Rakim,
Eminem, Jadakiss, Redman, and other rappers who represent the dark side
of hip-hop’s “golden” era have been among this year’s most eagerly
anticipated albums. But Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Links … Pt.
2 may be the album that towers above them all.
This sprawling crime odyssey, which is the conceptual sequel to the
1995 classic, Only Built for Cuban Links … Pt. 1, finds
Raekwon, the Wu-Tang Clan’s most vividly descriptive MC, in top form.
The album begins nunchucks out with “House of Flying Daggers.” J
Dilla’s heat-seeking missile of a beat provides the backdrop for this
body-rocking monster, which features guest verses from the Wu’s
Ghostface, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck. The visceral “Pyrex Vision,”
takes us into the deliberate mind of a crack dealer who’s cooking up
rock on the stove. On the poignant “Ason Jones,” sex, crack, and rock
‘n’ roll are briefly put on pause as Rae eulogizes the fallen Ol’ Dirty
Bastard over an instrumental from the late J Dilla.
Throughout Cuban Links … Pt. 2, Rae remains in the same
noir holding pattern he’s been in his entire career. While this works
mostly to his advantage, Rae’s three-dimensional renderings of lawless
New York City streets, lavish pads bought with crack money, and Arm
& Hammer-stained kitchens are a bit tiring over the course of 22
skit-free tracks. Fortunately, well-timed guest spots, including six
cuts with Ghostface, inject enough stylistic diversity to keep Cuban
Links … Pt. 2 from sounding monotone.
Although Cuban Links … Pt. 2 is not innovative enough
and is too self-indulgent to be deemed a classic, there’s still plenty
for disciples of the Wu to like. Raekwon’s ability to pen cinematic
narratives like a hip-hop Scorsese is as strong as ever. (EMI)
