REVIEW: RAEKWON - THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

4/5

Change Clothes 

Fairytales, like Wu-Tang, are for the children. In Hans Christian Anderson's ('The Little Mermaid', 'The Ugly Duckling') 'The Emperor's New Clothes', a vainglorious emperor is brought down to size when he is fitted for some garments that fit so close to the skin that...they don't even exist. These "invisible" clothes, paraded all through town, were the worst wardrobe malfunction known to man. One thing that does fit, mind you, is rap legend Raekwon in your rap cipher. From Clan boiler room suits, to his famous bucket hats. This year, feels like another renaissance in rap, especially with and for the old school heads. Even the brotherhood of Clipse reunited last week as they 'Let God Sort Em Out'.

There are plenty of Wu-Tang Clan reunions on Raekwon's eight wonder of an album, 'The Emperor's New Clothes'. Meth, Rae and Ghost get back together for the '600 School' favourite featuring Method Man Ghostface Killah. Whilst the iron heart of Tony Starks also appears on the back nine's 'Get Outta Here' and finale 'Mac & Lobster', as the pair with a cool new nickname, keep backing up each other's classic albums from 'Supreme Clientele', to 'Only Built For Cuban Lynx' and their respective sequels. Back when they may as well have been collaborative albums like the animated 'Wu-Massacre'. This Starsky and Hutch and Batman and Robin still go together like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Elsewhere, after his own album Inspectah Deck bites into 'Pomogranite' with Carlton Fisk. Stacy Barthe gives us '1 Life'. And Tommy Nova 'Opens Doors' with Corey Woods. Whilst Marsha Ambrosius hooks us in with the deepest cut of 'Debra Night Wine'. But even next to the posse cut of 'Wild Corsicans' (featuring Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher), we'll save the best one for the last paragraph.

Classic down to the cover in red leather on 'Stranger Things' black, there's production from Swizz Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Nottz for the Rae's first album since 'The Wild' 2017. The Chef cooks up many a legendary line as well as the signature skits for a sensational set. "I'd rather be revered than feared" the icon proclaims on 'The Guy That Plans It' and boy is he. On the 'Heavies' he proves how much of a heavy hitter he really is with lines like, "Yo, Licatta cocktails, Bentleys, and oxtails/Catch me with the Grecian of whales, a redbone rat/What's happening?/Her ratchet ways, I had to just tame that, flip the Mulsanne back/Better off buying a jail, the luxury shit, Pakistan chef, and reps/So they can coach brothers to read scriptures and play chess." Lines as legacy making as the unmistakable voice of his that spits. Like he raps on '600', "Glass of gin for my jewelers/Too many rugas, gyms is 500/Bam, spam, I swam through Bermuda/Switches got muzzles/Soon as rebuttals happen, we guzzle/Then everything get twisted like a puzzle." And you know which piece fits.

A pioneer taking it higher. This is New York raw and uncut from the razor sharp lyricist who can make "Mafioso" rap cinematic, like a 'Goodfella'. For the hood ones, the best 'Bear Hill' is Raekwon's 'Made You Look'. Speaking of which, as previously promised, the classic collaboration of this new great LP belongs to 'The Omerta' featuring Nas ("Fascinating, appealing, underworld, but wonder girl/Dope fiends love it, shooting they nuggets up/Extreme criminality, I'm like the Rothsteins, the off-springs/All of this tucked, inside my galaxy/Frankie Yale of the jails, silks, diamond spiders, we master writers"). The Mass Appeal of this is that 'Legend Has It...' that very label will put out records from Nas & DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Big L, Slick Rick (the valiant 'Victory' also came out last month), and Ghostface Killah, to go along with this one. Now, that sounds like more than just a great day in hip-hop. 2025 is going to feel like 50 years all over again. Chef's kiss. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Bear Hill', '600 School (Feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man), 'Debra Night Wine (Feat. Marsha Ambrosius)'.

Spin This: Raekwon - 'Only Bulit 4 Cuban Lynx 2'.