Raekwon: "State Of Grace"

A long believer that Prince Rakeem had a heavy hand in every seminal Wu-Tang release (Grandmasters being weak), and still optimistic (devoted to death) despite some dissuading lateral activity (“Biochemical Equation”), I was more than overjoyed to hear the Rza would be back behind the glass for the forthcoming sequel to trap-rap’s most withstanding achievement, 1995’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2. “After the success of Cuban Linx, I couldn’t believe that he did an album without Rza beats… I would never try another producer” said the Abbot in a recent Scratch Magazine interview, patented third person style in tact. After a duo of sub-par rebounds, neither could we.

Raining lyrical punches over malign brass and signature “ooh ohhs,” Wu-Tang’s resident stove-top cook hasn’t been on something this impressive in years. And that’s proper use of the word impressive, not “well, they were in their prime ten years ago” impressive. While rap’s over esteemed ciphers attenuate the genre with overwrought soul cuts, “State of Grace” declares by numbers sampling and “don’t fuck with” rhymes aren’t ready to retire. Though lacking the intricacies of his earlier work, Raekwon can still bring the gravel flow with edged intensity. “When I’m gone just let off like forty rifles/aim ‘em at rappers biting up The God’s bible.” Given the underground’s current obsession with coke laced lyrics and aggro slang, this could prove to be the first impeccably timed Wu release in nearly a decade.