VIDEO: Wu-Tang Clan x Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… x Red Bull Music Academy

The Red Bull Music Academy hit me up and asked me if I wanted to host a panel with the Wu-Tang Clan discussing their seminal debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The answer to that question was obvious and this Wednesday (9/28), I made the trip to Shaolin Land to moderate a lecture was part of RBMA’s Five Out of Five Tour that features artist from each NYC borough, performing and discussing their classic albums, hence Wu-Tang Clan and Staten Island.

There was some minor drama with some Wu members being unaware of the panel (the group performed at the venue, Eve Lounge in Staten Island, that night), which led to the discussion’s focus shifting to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… since all the members on hand—Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa  and also Cappadonna—participated in creating the masterful album. The conversation was lively and many jewels were dropped.

Red Bull will be posting the lecture in its entirety but AllHipHop was on hand and already has a bunch of videos from the event up. Some choice moments include Wu-Tang revealing they too watch soap operas and Raekwon speaking on playing A&R for Nas as well as the creation of “Incarcerated Scarfaces” (above). There was also a portion where Ghostface recounted hitting a “grandfather deer” in New Jersey while listening to Cuban Linx for the first time that was hilarious, but isn’t up yet. God bless that deer.

BLATANT SELF-PROMOTION: A lot of this info and much more can be found in my book, The Wu-Tang Clan & RZA: A Trip Through Hip Hop’s 36 Chambers. Shout out to Allah Mathematics who was also on stage.

Ghostface Killah on “All My Children” and His Favorite Wu Album

Raekwon and Ghostface on the Importance of RZA

Raekwon on Nas and “Verbal Intercourse”

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… x The Purple Tape x 16 Year Anniversary

“For real, it’s just slang rap democracy, here’s the policy, slide off the ring, plus the Wallabees.”—Raekwon (“Incarcerated Scarfaces”)

On August 1, 1995, the Purple Tape dropped. Needless to say, sixteen years later, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… remains one of the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time. Check that, one of the greatest albums of all time, period. [H/T UpNorthTrips]

All the videos from Raekwon’s masterpiece, “guest starring” Ghostface Killah, below.

RELATED:

VIDEO: Author Alvin Blanco Explains His New Wu-Tang Clan Biography

“Heaven & Hell”

“Glaciers of Ice”

“Criminology”

“Ice Cream”

“Incarcerated Scarfaces”

VIDEO: Raekwon f/ Nas “Rich & Black”

You see the title of this blog, right? Raekwon with Nas riding shotgun; “Rich & Black” (beat by Sean C & LV) off that Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang. The clip was directed by WOODWORKS and shot while the two old buddies were in Oslo, Norway.

Word is that when recording Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…—see: “Verbal Intercourse”—Esco and Lex Diamond recorded a few songs together. RZA needs to liberate those, one day. [Hat tip to MissInfo.tv via LRG]

VIDEO: Raekwon & Ghostface On Jimmy Fallon

Vodpod videos no longer available.

R.A.G.U. (Raekwon and Ghostface United) dropped by Late Night with  Jimmy Fallon to perform the Chef’s lead single, “Rock ‘N Roll,” from that Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, in stores March 8. Guess Jim Jones was AWOL. “Never rock skinny jeans I’m way above…” [Peeped at Rap Radar via HipHopStan]

Remember when ODB and Black Thought looked like they were about to throw the fives on stage? Can’t find that video at all. But Black Thought recently dropped standout verses on Ghostface’s Apollo Kids album and on Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, so it’s all good.

VIDEO: Raekwon “Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang”

Raekwon spittin’ that surgical glove flow in the clip for the title track from his fifth solo album, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang. Due in stores March 8th.

The movie Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang (see the clip below) is a dope flick. If you’re up on the lore, you’ll know that Wu-Tang split from Shaolin, thus they are really one in the same. Get it? Nah? Read it in my book.

Check my review of the album in the April 2011 issue of XXL Magazine when it drops. Thumbs up.

Raekwon “Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang” Tracklist

Looks like The Chef’s fifth album, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, is out of the oven and set to drop March 8. Amazon (UK) comes through with what looks like the official track list (after the break). Here’s hoping Shallah Raekwon has improved at dropping music sans participation from RZA. Black Thought and Nas participation makes this already a win. [Peeped at 2DopeBoyz]

RELATED:

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon “Butter Knives”

Raekwon – “Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang” (Dirty) [Nah Right]

Raekwon Plans Two Albums for 2011 [HipHopDX]

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon “Butter Knives”

Slang you may never decipher, kung-fu samples and a mean string loop equals a tastey dish from Shallah Raekwon The Chef. “Butter Knives” off that RZA free Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang dropping next year. [Propers to Nah Right]

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon “Butter Knives” | Mediafire

RELATED:

Raekwon Says That “Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang” Is Coming In March [HipHopDx]

Raekwon – The Coke Cooker (Best of 2010) [Hip Hop Is Read]

RIP Ol’ Dirty Bastard (11/15/68 – 11/13/04)

UPDATED: New video for Raekwon’s ODB dedication, “Ason Jones” from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, below.

Hard Times [Vibe Magazine, April 2006]

Ol’ Dirty Bastard: Rather Unique [AllHipHop, 2006]

Ol’ Dirty Bastard Died From Drug Overdose [MTV]

VIDEO: Twista feat. Raekwon “The Heat”

Twista and the Chef over a soulful sonic platter from No ID and the Legendary Traxster. What’s not to appreciate? Not bad for an alleged G.O.O.D. Music reject. Twista’s new album, The Perfect Storm, hits stores November 9th.

Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Fridays Artwork

UPDATE, YET AGAIN: Added “Take One For The Team” and “Don’t Look Down” artwork.

UPDATE, AGAIN: Added Child Rebel Soldier “Don’t Stop” [via LupEND].

UPDATE: Added the latest G.O.O.D. Fridays delivery, “So Apalled” & “Christian Dior Denim Flow” below.

After his Taylor Swift and Hennessey inspired hiatus, Kanye West has returned with a vengeance. XXL Mag cover, outlandish Horus chain, buzzworthy VMA performances and of course, getting quizzical shots fired at him by Dipset.  While the hoopla continues to swirl about Mr. West, I’ve come to appreciate the graphic design of the artwork for his singles (black background with the occasional watermark and bold red lettering). Check your Twitter feed and you’ll see many avatars either swiping them or using them as inspiration. And of course, would be MCs are jacking them wholesale for their own work.

Here is all of Kanye’s artwork for his G.O.O.D. Fridays leaks with download links for each song. Said links probably won’t last very long. So get them while the getting is G.O.O.D. Except for that ish with Beiber—I wouldn’t share that with my worst enemy. Kanye’s fifth album Good Ass Job Dark Twisted Fantasy My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is now due November 16, for now.

Kanye West “Don’t Look Down” f/ Mos Def, Big Sean & Lupe Fiasco

 

Kanye West “Take One For The Team” f/ Kanye West, Pusha T, & Cyhi Da Prince & Keri Hilson

Child Rebel Soldier “Don’t Stop!“

 

Kanye West “Dior Denim Flow” f/ Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks & Ryan Leslie