Raekwon On Working w/ Method Man & Ghostface
Illustration: Chris Bachalo; Art Direction & Graphic Design: Alex Haldi
Raekwon spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the fans’ reception of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, the new album with Meth and Ghost as well as his next solo album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang. Some highlights:
How did you decide to make an album with those two guys specifically?
It was something that was going to happen sooner or later. Us three, we always work good together throughout the years. On a lot of records, me, Ghost, and Meth was always next to each other. If you look at [the Wu-Tang Clan] as being the Lakers, we are the MVPs of the team. We are the ones that everybody may feel like takes us to the championship. Everybody else is going to play their position, but these three are definitely going to have to control the ball at some point. This is what the fans been wanting, man…You know, I work for the fans.From your perspective, what do you three bring to a project? How do you balance each other out?
When we get together, it’s a lot of energy in the building, because everybody knows Meth, Rae, and Ghost for being super-lyrical, but still got that great character inside their rhymes. I guess that’s why people really is excited about this record. They’re saying, “Yo, these dudes put the Wu where they need to be at.” I don’t look at it like that. I look at us all as being one, still. I understand some may have a little bit more special gift than others, but it’s still a team effort. I love to get on tracks with brothers like Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, the GZA. The whole crew is golden, man. When you think of us, you gotta say, “Yo, these are the Jacksons of hip-hop.” But for me to get in a room with Meth and Ghost and do an album, it’s serious to me. I know it’s going to be a lot of lyrics in there, it’s going to be a lot of great energy, stories. We all master these different departments of rhyming. So you’re just going to get a great album.
Link: Raekwon on ‘Wu-Massacre,’ the future of the Wu-Tang Clan, his label dreams, and more [EW's Music Mix]
Wu-Massacre is dropping on March 30th. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
Previously: Meth, Ghost & Rae – Wu-Massacre (Track List)
February 20th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I’m really hoping that this is one of those Wu albums that lives up to the hype.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
raekwon says
I love to get on tracks with brothers like Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, the GZA. The whole crew is golden, man. When you think of us, you gotta say, “Yo, these are the Jacksons of hip-hop.”
—————-
*Jackson’s it up (seriously)*
thats all good, Tito… but which one of you niggas is Michael? ..
February 20th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Michael = RZA
This shit never gets off the ground without the Abbot
February 20th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m expecting this album to be marginal, but without RZA crafting the beats the expectations whould remain realistic (and low)
February 20th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Somehow I feel this album is doomed to disappoint.
I hope I’m proven wrong…for Hip-Hop’s sake.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
U-God is Rebe.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Joe Jackson = ODB
RIP to both the nug sippers
February 20th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
U-God is Rebe.
———–
ayo…
February 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
GZA = Jermaine
the blackest one … and the one with the most overlooked talent …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Blood In, Blood Out Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Michael = RZA
This shit never gets off the ground without the Abbot
^
dude, their last two or three albums haven’t gotten off the ground WITH the Rza. matter of fact, this cat has had zero – scratch that – negative contributions to the planet in over a decade.*
them three have done exceptionally without him, and i don’t see any reason why they won’t continue to.
* movie soundtracks don’t count.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
dude, their last two or three albums haven’t gotten off the ground WITH the Rza. matter of fact, this cat has had zero – scratch that – negative contributions to the planet in over a decade.*
them three have done exceptionally without him, and i don’t see any reason why they won’t continue to.
* movie soundtracks don’t count.
^^
all of the best albums from anyone in the Wutang have on thing in common, RZA production, so shut up
February 20th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Blood In, Blood Out Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Michael = RZA
This shit never gets off the ground without the Abbot
———
until i see RZA complete a perfect 800 degree spin while his hair is on fire, i cant cosign that …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
RZA is the GOAT Wu member. Yall wouldve never heard of any of these guys without RZA. Say Im lying…
February 20th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I don’t hold high expectations for this album, it’s probably be pretty dope, but not classic.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
until i see RZA complete a perfect 800 degree spin while his hair is on fire, i cant cosign that …
^
I can’t really argue with this. Michael was one of one.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Bring Da Ruckus!
February 20th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
im a career wutang stan, but it cant be ignored… RZA done fell off… alot
February 20th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
GZA = Jermaine
the blackest one … and the one with the most overlooked talent …
—–
*respectfully disagrees*
February 20th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I’m more rugged than slave-man boots..
February 20th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
36 Chambers, WuTang Forever, Ironman, Tical, Liquid Swords & OB4CL are all great and all were entirely or nearly entirely produced by The Abbot/Bobby Digital/RZA whatever you wanna call him. As long as you call him the GOAT wutang member.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
All three joints Rza did on Cuban Linx 2 were flames. Also to those doubting this album will be good, why wouldn’t it be dope?
February 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
inconsistency = Rza.
he deserves credit for compiling some Wu masterpieces, but. . . .for every ‘Verbal Intercourse’ there’s a couple of ‘Gravel Pits’. you can deny this if you want.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
GZA = Jermaine
the blackest one … and the one with the most overlooked talent …
========================================
What talent? Being able to put 3 cans of Dax wave pomade on his hair and stand under stage lights without erupting into flames?
February 20th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
RZA probably been feeding them less than great beats recently because he hates those mother f*ckas. And I can’t blame him. He brought them to the promised land through his beats: access to money, fame, respect, cars, and women. And then they sh*t on him and say he’s stealing their money. What? Who cares if he is, it’s practically his money anyway.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
dammit!!! Fab/Drama mixtape commercial AGAIN on mtv!!!! just drop the shit already!!
February 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
“…those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate…”
February 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
The artwork is off the chain.
The album will be classic.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
I forgot how good 36 Chambers is, classic status without a doubt.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
for every ‘Verbal Intercourse’ there’s a couple of ‘Gravel Pits’. you can deny this if you want.
^
Gravel Pit is crack. I actually put the liner notes from this track in a pipe and was able to smoke it and get high. True definition of the term Flames.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
“… Check the print, it’s where veterans spark the letterings
Slow moving MC’s is waitin for the editin
The liquid soluble that made up the chemistry
A gaseous element, that burned down your ministry…”
Duel Of The Iron Mics >
February 20th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
just drop the shit already!!
^
ayo/pause/nh
February 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
what are yall talkin bout? i wish cats would stop acting like all the RZA wants to do is make beats, these dudes done mastered hip hop already, now its just for the love of it and the fans…Rza been done moved on to other shit since Wu-Tang Forever back in 97′…OBFCL2 was damn near a classic w/ what maybe 3 Rza tracks on it! this aint the 90′s no more, im sure hip-hop is one of the last things on his mind, cant stay stagnant in one profession, branch out if u can…
February 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
inconsistency = Rza.
he deserves credit for compiling some Wu masterpieces, but. . . .for every ‘Verbal Intercourse’ there’s a couple of ‘Gravel Pits’. you can deny this if you want.
—–
“some” masterpeices? wtf? Nigga had arguably the best 5 year run in the history of hiphop producers. GTFOH. His spot is already solidified if he doesn’t make another beat ever again.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
For a few years the Wu were like the Bulls in the 90′s. Nobody could f*ck with them. And they got mad b*tches.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
niggas is gettin thrown off by the wack hook, and the silly video… Gravel Pit was ill …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
inconsistency = Rza.
he deserves credit for compiling some Wu masterpieces, but. . . .for every ‘Verbal Intercourse’ there’s a couple of ‘Gravel Pits’. you can deny this if you want.
—–
“some” masterpeices? wt*? N*gga had arguably the best 5 year run in the history of hiphop producers. GT*OH. His spot is already solidified if he doesn’t make another beat ever again.
^^
THIS
February 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
“… Check the print, it’s where veterans spark the letterings
Slow moving MC’s is waitin for the editin
The liquid soluble that made up the chemistry
A gaseous element, that burned down your ministry…”
Duel Of The Iron Mics >
—
holy shit that’s dope on paper
February 20th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Blood In, Blood Out Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
For a few years the Wu were like the Bulls in the 90’s.
——–
from 1993 through the Iron Flag CD, the WuTangClan was unfuckwithable …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Blood In, Blood Out, you are making some outrageous claims. i really wish you would stop, because that’s my M.O. (that means Modu Operatti or some Korean shit like that).
but to say that Rza brought them to the promised land is redic. you act like he wrote their rhymes, or that he could even ryhme himself. besides U-God & Mastah Killah, all the other members contributed just as much as Rza to the initial success of the Wu. otherwise, we’d include Bobby Digital in the same convo as those other albums you mentioned.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Ricky Rawse da Boss >>>>
February 20th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
no time to freeze / undercovers pull up in grand prix
and sieze / packages / and pocket the currency….
this jokers in the game to this day that cant touch them bars
February 20th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
It’s crazy to think about handing out rice while the price of the watch on your arm could feed an orphanage for a couple months.
===================================
If Ross can continue to inject that kinda depth in his bars, sky’s the limit.
^
Word up.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
arn’t this niggas almost 40 too?
February 20th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Eddie House >>>> Ricky Rawsse
February 20th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
but to say that Rza brought them to the promised land is redic. you act like he wrote their rhymes, or that he could even ryhme himself. besides U-God & Mastah Killah
^^
bricktop, you ignorant sl*t. RZA can’t rap? His beats weren’t the foundation for every classic Wu album? You sounding foolish right now. F*ck Outta Here…
February 20th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
but to say that Rza brought them to the promised land is redic. you act like he wrote their rhymes, or that he could even ryhme himself. besides U-God & Mastah Killah, all the other members contributed just as much as Rza to the initial success of the Wu. otherwise, we’d include Bobby Digital in the same convo as those other albums you mentioned.
—-
The first Bobby Digital album is ill IMO. Just ahead of its team. I think alot of people appreciate it now more so than when it came out. Also the first gravediggaz album was crazy.
I agree that all the members contributed. Rza could have never made and album like Cuban Linx, Iron Man, Liquid Swords etc by himself. But you gotta give Rza at least half the credit for providing the perfect sound for niggas to do their thing (nh).
February 20th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
“… In mic fights I swing swords and cut clowns
Shit is too swift to bite you record and write it down
I flow like the blood on a murder scene, like a syringe
on some wild out shit, to insert a fiend
But it was (somethin somethin) stolen art
Catch a swollen heart from not rollin smart…”
GZA’s poetic stylings >
February 20th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Blood In, Blood Out, you are making some outrageous claims. i really wish you would stop, because that’s my M.O. (that means Modu Operatti or some Korean shit like that).
but to say that Rza brought them to the promised land is redic. you act like he wrote their rhymes, or that he could even ryhme himself. besides U-God & Mastah Killah, all the other members contributed just as much as Rza to the initial success of the Wu. otherwise, we’d include Bobby Digital in the same convo as those other albums you mentioned.
^^
EXACTLY…he brought beats and they brought ryhmes…Rza aint to lyrical, put u should neva really expect a producer to be, besides that i cant front i love the Rza but he’s kinda corny…they brought all the fly shit, the substance to Wu
February 20th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
# AmpGeez a.k.a. Smoke Greene Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Jets nigga…
^Now where haven’t we been yet?
February 20th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Blood In, Blood Out Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
For a few years the Wu were like the Bulls in the 90’s. Nobody could f*ck with them. And they got mad b*tches.
yeah, Mannie Fresh had a similar “run” and achieved a shitload more success. what’s that make him, Bill Russell?
i’m just saying, you making it sound like w/o Rza there’s no Wu. and i’m saying that Ghost’s/Rae’s/Meth’s rhymes have been 100 fold more consistent than the Rza entire rhyme/production catalouge over the years. so therefore, the 3 wisemen of the group shall prevail w/o the Rza. simple math.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
A lot of these lyrical monsters lack flow. It always hindered them…it’s essentially what saparted them from Ghost, Rae & Meth…
February 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
The period between the release of Enter the Wu-Tang and Wu-Tang Clan’s second album is considered to be “the greatest winning streak in rap history.” ^wikipedia
scratch that, these cats werent the bulls. they were the golden era 20′s yankees
February 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
GZA = Jermaine
the blackest one … and the one with the most overlooked talent …
——
*just realizes Land said most “OVERLOOKED”, and not “OVERRATED*
*no longer respectfully disagrees*
February 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
lets as WuTang stans be honest with ourselves… them Bobby Digital LPs was horrible … a couple songs here and there, but pretty bad overall … SMH… that nigga got renegaded by Big Gipp on Domestic Violence Pt. 2… cmon Abbott, step your rap game up …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
To me, Method Man was one of the first and best examples of drugs having diminishing returns on creativity to the point where it’s eventually a negative effect. Then when they get off the drugs, you see a gradual rise in skills. See also: Marshall Mathers and pills, D’Wayne Carter and purp.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
uh-uh DBlock… GZA flow was always in pocket … i see what you saying, but that dont apply to GZA… at all …
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
To me, Method Man was one of the first and best examples of drugs having diminishing returns on creativity to the point where it’s eventually a negative effect. Then when they get off the drugs, you see a gradual rise in skills. See also: Marshall Mathers and pills, D’Wayne Carter and purp.
^
Em on pills > sober Em.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
smh at dudes still talkin bout Rawse, he’s the cardinal sin of hip-hop, fuck if his lyrics is gettin a tad bit better, my guess he aint even writin them…c’mon now dude lied about his life! why would u wanna listen to this mans work…every time i see one of his vlogs it just comes across as phony, his whole image is a joke!
February 20th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
the word swagger is played out like bling
smh at white people using it on toyota commericals
and on espn
February 20th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
yeah, Mannie Fresh had a similar “run” and achieved a shitload more success. what’s that make him, Bill Russell?
—–
A SHITLOAD more success? You sure? I mean, Liquid Swords did go platinum.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
yeah, Mannie Fresh had a similar “run” and achieved a shitload more success. what’s that make him, Bill Russell?
^^^
comparing RZA to Mannie Fresh? Come on now, I dont even need a rebuttal to that. You sinkin your own sh*tty argument.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Suvio-Blue Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
smh at dudes still talkin bout Rawse, he’s the cardinal sin of hip-hop, fuck if his lyrics is gettin a tad bit better, my guess he aint even writin them…c’mon now dude lied about his life! why would u wanna listen to this mans work…every time i see one of his vlogs it just comes across as phony, his whole image is a joke!
————–
you preaching to the chapel choir…
i dont fuck with rapping police, period … i dont care how much improvement they showing at the academy …
February 20th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
His beats weren’t the foundation for every classic Wu album?
i’m not denying that. i’m also not denying that there’s EASILY as much non-classic Rza garbage out there as there are Rza classics.
remove the rappers completely from each album:
36 Chambers: 100% classic production
Tical: 50% at best
Return: 75% classic beats
Cuban: 125% classic beats
Liquid: 60% classic
Ironman: 60-75% classic
Forever: 50% at best.
and when i say classic (which is what we’re talking about), i don’t mean OKAY shit. i mean fucking classics.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
them Bobby Digital LPs was horrible …
^What album was Brooklyn Babies on? Last song I liked by RzA Zig Zag Zig Allah.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
smh at dudes still talkin bout Rawse, he’s the cardinal sin of hip-hop, fuck if his lyrics is gettin a tad bit better, my guess he aint even writin them…c’mon now dude lied about his life! why would u wanna listen to this mans work…every time i see one of his vlogs it just comes across as phony, his whole image is a joke!
^
what you say has some merit, but how can hip hop grow if people are only limited to rapping about their own lives? You think Nas went through everything he tells from a first person perspective? I think not. Only difference between Ross and all these other cats is that Ross got caught. Also, authenticity doesn’t always equal better music. See: Corey Miller
February 20th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
why is Em in this convo? dude has NEVER made a classic album, he can rap…i hate comical rap! thats why i really cant get into Ortiz ever tho he can spit!
February 20th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
*dapz peoples* (no Folks rivals)
February 20th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
uh-uh DBlock… GZA flow was always in pocket … i see what you saying, but that dont apply to GZA… at all …
—-
yep. deck either. mabey rae, ghost, and meth had more lively personalities and that translated on the mic.
BTW Rza has alot of dope verses IMO. Wu Gambinos, Tearz, 4th Chamber, Domestic Violence. It’s just his flow is kinda love it or hate it. But who cares, its the Rza. The nigga produced like 7 classics back to back. If he wants to write book, do movie scores, and act….more power too him.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Cosign Fresh Huxtable. That’s why many other mainstream rappers didn’t speak on it (Rawse) because God forbid if THEIR actual fables got revealed too.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Suvio-Blue Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
c’mon now dude lied about his life!
Most rappers lie about their life.
If most of the tracks match the energy of Meth vs Chef 2, this will be a personal classic for me.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Blood In, Blood Out Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
The period between the release of Enter the Wu-Tang and Wu-Tang Clan’s second album is considered to be “the greatest winning streak in rap history.” ^wikipedia
scratch that, these cats werent the bulls. they were the golden era 20’s yankees
then what does Wiki consider Jay’s run? the equivalent to Tiger’s? yeah, that one too. . .
February 20th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
smh at dudes still talkin bout Rawse, he’s the cardinal sin of hip-hop, fuck if his lyrics is gettin a tad bit better, my guess he aint even writin them…c’mon now dude lied about his life! why would u wanna listen to this mans work…every time i see one of his vlogs it just comes across as phony, his whole image is a joke!
————–
you preaching to the chapel choir…
i dont fuck with rapping police, period … i dont care how much improvement they showing at the academy …
^^^
WOW u got that off! well put!
February 20th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
^What album was Brooklyn Babies on?
———–
Digital Bullet… the better one
February 20th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
The nigga produced like 7 classics back to back. If he wants to write book, do movie scores, and act….more power too him.
—————-
also true
February 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
all im sayin is certain things take ya credibility away…kinna like Kobe Bryant…he was good in my book til he snitched on Shaq, now he’s Hobe and to me he gone stay that way…me personally i neva thought Rawse was nice anyway so that whole issue def sealed the deal for me…
February 20th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Suvio-Blue Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
c’mon now dude lied about his life!
Most rappers lie about their life.
If most of the tracks match the energy of Meth vs Chef 2, this will be a personal classic for me.
——–
yea and hip hop got its own police, bottom line hip-hop and cops dont mix
February 20th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
# Suvio-Blue Says:
February 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
all im sayin is certain things take ya credibility away…kinna like Kobe Bryant…he was good in my book til he snitched on Shaq, now he’s Hobe and to me he gone stay that way…me personally i neva thought Rawse was nice anyway so that whole issue def sealed the deal for me…
^I kinda overstand where you coming from because I am also Co-Founder and Treasurer of the Kobe Haters Club. Raja Bell clotheslining that nigga like Andre the Giant brought joy to my heart. So yeah, I guess your disdain is fair in that sense.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Speaking of the industry, I heard some ol’ weird shit about Andre Harrell from one of the OG’s last night.
Stephen Hill status. SMH
February 20th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
RZA = Bubbles
February 20th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
RZA is the GOAT Wu member. Yall wouldve never heard of any of these guys without RZA. Say Im lying…
^THIS. RZA founded the Wu Tang Clan, came up the ideas, put each member to their first solo record deals. Without RZA you would never know who any of these cats are.
February 20th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
That is an absolute fact! Without RZA there is no Meth, Ghost or Chef. They weren’t even thinking about rapping before him. You can’t deny, no RZA no Wu Tang.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
the cover is amazing.
I’m not a big Wu fan, but my favorite 3 without a doubt are the three listed here. I have never been a fan of RZA.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:35 am
[...] Yes, the boys got together and the album is taking shape. Hope this picture makes final cover. More info with The Chef delivering some words of wisdom here. [...]