Editorial Review:

Album Description:
2008 release containing the instrumental version of this album from the Wu Tang member, originally released in 1995. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx's portraits of big-money drug deals and black underworld kingpins living in luxury had an enormous influence on the new New York hardcore scene, cinematic soundscapes support the album's tone; the appropriately dark or melancholy, shifting moods layer like different scenes in a film. 17 tracks. Altered Ego.

Amazon.com:
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is arguably the best quasi-solo Wu-Tang album (Ghostface Killah literally gets equal billing). Most of contemporary hip-hop's Mafioso-inspired themes and MC street aliases are inspired by the 'Wu-Gambinos' motif introduced on this 18-cut LP. As the Wu's preeminent storyteller, Raekwon (a.k.a. 'The Chef') paints Technicolor Kool G Rap-style pictures of high-stakes drug trafficking on 'Criminology,' and then mixes his street sensibility with 5% Nation of Islam reasoning on 'Knowledge God.' This album is loaded with RZA's finest production moments, as he samples a barrage of kung-fu flick sound bites, plays discordant keyboards on 'Incarcerated Scarfaces,' and utilizes some eerie female vocals on 'Rainy Dayz.' Rae's timeless duet with Nas on 'Verbal Intercourse' further cements the album's status as one of the best of all time. --Dalton Higgins









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Related Items:

• Liquid Swords
• Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
• Ironman
• Tical
• Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
• see more

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Disc 1:

1. Striving for Perfection
2. Knuckleheadz
3. Knowledge God
4. Criminology - Raekwon, Adams, P.
5. Incarcerated Scarfaces
6. Rainy Dayz
7. Guillotine (Swordz)
8. Can It Be All So Simple - Raekwon, Wu Tang Clan
9. Shark Niggas (Biters)
10. Ice Water
11. Glaciers of Ice - Raekwon, Coles, Dennis
12. Verbal Intercourse
13. Wisdom Body
14. Spot Rusherz
15. Ice Cream
16. Wu-Gambinos
17. Heaven & Hell
18. North Star (Jewels)

Rating: - * Lost for Words ... I bought the purple tape @ J & R Music World back in '95, and I rushed home tearing off the plastic wrapper. I inserted the tape in my boom box, hit play, and I was in a trance. I was open, I was in love w/the purple tape. I would come home from school and listen to the purple tape every single day. I am surprised the tape didn't pop. My father hated that album b/c I played it everyday for a month str8. memories. Rating: - * INCREDIBLE ALBUM !! ... WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE TALKING SILLY. THIS IS A CLASSIC LIKE NO OTHER! DROPED OVER TEN YEARS AGO , THIS ABLUM IS STILL CONSISTENT IN ALL MY PLAYERS Rating: - * Verbal Intercourse ... I remember when the only Wu Tang albums I owned were; 36 Chambers, Method Man's Tical, and GZA's Liquid Swords, and Beneath The Surface. I was aware of how big their discography is (when combined together is roughly around 45 albums)and was a little intimidated to go far into it. Eventually I had no choice. It got to the point where ALL I listened to were these albums (especially Liquid Swords) and I needed more. When you only own the few that I did, and know you're gonna end up getting most, if not all of their albums (including solo) there's several roads to take to travel further. I was about to get Wu Tang Forever, but decided to bypass, and get Cuban Linx, even though I'd never heard a song off it beforehand. On first listen, it didn't hit as instantly, and directly as Liquid Swords, but me and a few of my friends (who were newbies to this album as well)listened to it atleast 5 times that night. If I could compare my experience with this to anything, it'd be to a very strong hallucinogenic drug. You administer the chemical, and expect ALOT, but right away your expectations aren't so much let down, but they're not quite fullfilled. Then BLAM! It kicks in, and hits like a tone of bricks. Harder than you could have ever imagined. RZA's production, Rakekwon's story telling, Ghostface appearing on 90% of the album, the guest spots - especially Nas's verse on Verbal Intercourse. The more you let your brain obsorb this, the more you realize why so many people love this. For the last few years I've listened to this nonstop (as well as other Wu albums) which I can indeed say, this was well worth every penny I paid. A BIG mistake people make, is expecting all Wu Tang albums (solo, or group) to sound the same. If you have this mentality, you obviously don't understand Wu Tang (which explains all negative reviews people left for this) People think, just because this is a classic Wu album, that it's gonna be EXACTILY like 36 Chambers, or whatever their favorite Wu album is. I can't reccomend this album enough. Go get it if you don't own it. Do it. Rating: - * Wow. ... This album is the best Wu joint to ever be released. Point blank. There is not a song on here that you can really skip thru, IF you are keen on the Wu (RZA) sound. If you are not, then maybe you shouldn't cop a listen. I would not expect the newer generation to appreciate this magnum opus but that is essentially what it is: 1. Heaven and Hell 2. Glaciers of Ice 3. Verbal Intercourse 4. Incarcerated Scarfaces 5. Ice Cream 6. Rainy Dayz 7. Guillotine 8. Wu-Gambinos That is my list of favorites even though I can put the CD in my CD player and never touch a single button other than to PLAYBACK. In my opinion, this is the number 1 Wu album followed by Liquid Swords AND THEN their first release. It would seem that I am putting the carriage before the horse, but it actually goes to show just how much RZA and the Wu bangers had progressed with each year because after Liquid Swords, the albums just were not the same again (Ironman is the last great album, IMO). In order to appreciate this album, you've probably got to be 26 and older. '94, '95, and '96 were the best years in hip hop and this was the crown jewel of '95 (late '94). The making of a brand. Rating: - * STRAIGHT GARBAGE, OVERRATED ... This album is overrated, BAD BEATS, I MEAN BAD, I can make better beats with a stick and a rock. Nas sucks