Editing Raekwon (section)

== Career ==
=== Wu-Tang Clan ===
{{Main|Wu-Tang Clan}}

Woods first rapped as Sha Raider. In 1992, he joined the Wu-Tang Clan, an originally nine-member rap group drawing mainly from the [[Staten Island]] but also from the Brooklyn boroughs of New York City. He rapped as '''Raekwon The Chef''', and also used the aliases Lex Diamonds, Shallah Raekwon, and Louis Rich.<ref name="WTC allmusic">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p143661/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Wu-Tang Clan biography|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author2=Prato, Greg|year=2007|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 18, 2009}}</ref>

As recording artists, the Wu-Tang Clan debuted with the November 1993 album ''[[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]]'', which was later [[certified platinum]].<ref name=":1" /> Its single "[[C.R.E.A.M.]]" reached #8 on the ''Billboard'' rap chart.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p143661/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Wu-Tang Clan> Charts & Awards> Billboard Singles|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 18, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Wu-Tang Forever]]'', a double album, followed in 1997, and was certified 4x [[Multi-Platinum|multi-platinum]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Wu%20Tang%20Clan&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50 |title=Gold & Platinum – Wu-Tang Clan |publisher=RIAA |access-date=September 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151606/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref> Amid other solo albums by its members, the group released ''[[The W]]'' in 2000, ''[[Iron Flag]]'' in 2001, and ''[[8 Diagrams]]'' in 2007.<ref name="WTC allmusic" />
=== ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' ===
In 1994, Raekwon signed a solo deal with [[Loud Records]] and released his debut solo single "[[Heaven & Hell (Raekwon song)|Heaven & Hell]]" for the soundtrack to the film ''[[Fresh (1994 film)|Fresh]]''. His first solo album, ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...]]'', was released on August 1, 1995. Sales lagged his fellow Wu-Tang member [[Method Man]]'s ''[[Tical (album)|Tical]]''.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p144748/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Raekwon profile|last=Huey|first=Steve|year=2002|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 18, 2009}}</ref> Raekwon's album drew rave reviews, however, and it was promptly recognized as a classic.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/raekwon-only-built-4-cuban-linx-25th-anniversary-vinyl-instrumentals-1035708/|title= Raekwon to Release 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' Instrumentals for Debut LP's 25th Anniversary|first=Jon|last=Blistein|magazine= [[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>

The album's narrative struggle is set to imagery of criminal activity, largely cocaine trafficking, and emergence from it into the good life.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Only Built 4 Cuban Linx > Overview|url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r218513|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=September 18, 2009|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Wu-Tang member and house producer [[RZA]], who produced the entire album,<ref name=":0" /> called it "like a crime mafia story."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.57074/title.raekwon-aligns-only-built-4-cuban-linx-with-film-royalty-its-the-godfather-vibe-of-hip-hop|title= Raekwon Aligns 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' With Film Royalty: 'It's The Godfather Vibe Of Hip Hop'|first=Justin|last=Ivey|date=July 29, 2020}}</ref> Wu-Tang member [[Ghostface Killah]] rapped in over half of the album's tracks,<ref name=":0" /> and the two wrote some lyrics in [[Barbados]] and Miami.<ref name="m.youtube.com" /> It also follows a cinematic narrative, inspired by mob and kung-fu movies and a plethora of references and samples in which the main rapping lines with an on-going story of struggle and success. 

Raekwon explained the lyrics' context as "trying to get out the hood. We wanted to buy the most expensive cars and jewelry and different things like that." The album, he perceived, "was only built for a certain lifestyle or people that understood that language. But eventually, it would break off to people looking at it as a movie and respecting it saying, 'Yo, wow! This is authentic. This is something that never been done before' " ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' debuted at No. 4 on the popular albums chart the [[Billboard 200]], and at No. 2 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''<nowiki/>'s [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart. It shipped about 130,000 copies in its  first week, and was [[Certified Gold|certified gold]], at least 500,000 copies shipped, two months later, October 1995.<ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{cite web|url= https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.57118/title.raekwon-announces-only-built-for-cuban-linx-3-album-as-original-turns-25|title=Raekwon Announces 'Only Built For Cuban Linx 3' Album As Original Turns 25|date=August 1, 2020}}</ref>

=== ''Immobilarity'' and ''The Lex Diamond Story'' ===
After ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'', Raekwon featured on R&B group [[Allure (group)|Allure]]'s [[Allure (album)|debut or 1997 album]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424884/19980326/allure.jhtml |title=Allure Still Waiting To Meet Raekwon Despite Working Together |date=March 26, 1998 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=September 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830032638/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424884/19980326/allure.jhtml |archive-date=August 30, 2008 }}</ref> He also featured alongside rappers [[Nas]], [[Jadakiss]], and [[Big Pun]] in rapper [[Fat Joe]]'s song "John Blaze."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425745/19980813/big_punisher.jhtml |title=Fat Joe Enlists Big Pun, Nas, Raekwon For Solo Album |date=August 13, 1998 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=September 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606235728/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425745/19980813/big_punisher.jhtml |archive-date=June 6, 2009 }}</ref> Raekwon's next album, ''[[Immobilarity]]'', lacking [[RZA]]'s record production and [[Ghostface Killah]] features, was issued in 1999 to mixed reviews.<ref name="allmusic" /> ''[[The Lex Diamond Story]]'', released in 2003 under major label [[Universal Records]], also drew mixed reviews, most critics unimpressed while user reviews widely varied. Raekwon cited a low promotional budget.<ref name="Hell's Kitchen">{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.822/title.raekwon-hells-kitchen/p.all |title=Raekwon: Hell's Kitchen |last=Arnold |first=Paul W. |date=July 27, 2007 |work=HipHopDX |access-date=September 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012014302/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.822/title.raekwon-hells-kitchen/p.all |archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

=== ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II'' ===
[[File:Rae gotta get a plate now.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Raekwon in 2008]]
Raekwon planned to release ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II]]'' through record producer Dr. Dre's label [[Aftermath Entertainment]] in 2007. Raekwon credited the executive producer [[Busta Rhymes]] with restoring his "''Cuban Linx'' mindset," while most tracks were produced by [[RZA]], who likened collaboration with [[Dr. Dre]] to "yin and yang" styles.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

Amid many delays, as for sample clearance, the ''Only Built For Cuban Linx... Pt. II'' track "Surgical Gloves" had been leaked already when the album was released by Raekwon's label, Ice H20, under [[Major Label|major label]] [[EMI]]'s distribution on September 8, 2009.<ref name="New Release Date">{{cite web|url=http://www.welivethis.com/newsfeed/2009/07/01/raekwon-pushes-built-4-cuban-linx-ii-september-8-2009|title=Raekwon pushes back Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II album release date to September 8, 2009|work=WeLiveThis.com|access-date=July 1, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707082930/http://www.welivethis.com/newsfeed/2009/07/01/raekwon-pushes-built-4-cuban-linx-ii-september-8-2009/|archive-date=July 7, 2009}}</ref> The album features Wu-Tang members and affiliates as well as [[Slick Rick]], [[Jadakiss]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Beanie Sigel]], and others.

Also in September 2009, [[MTV]] ranked Raekwon tenth among "hottest" rappers. In December, [[HipHopDX|HipHopDx]]'s 2009 awards named ''Only Built For Cuban Linx... Pt. II''  album of the year, calling it "the Hip Hop equivalent to ''[[The Godfather Part II|The Godfather 2]]'', with Rae as revitalized as [[Marlon Brando|Marlon]] was". Raekwon won Emcee of the Year—the prior year, [[Nas]] won—while HipHopDX staff explained,{{blockquote|Raekwon brought it back to lyrical, dope rap. He released an album that spoke to teens, twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings, and beyond. Without compromising, the Chef made an edgy Hip Hop record that refused to bastardize the catalog he laid down 15 years ago. On top of that, Rae (along with Ghostface) was a go-to for numerous rappers making albums, ranging from the Playaz Circle to Jadakiss to BK One. That's beyond real, as was a year filled with performing in arenas, clubs and even churches. When it came to mastering the ceremony, Rae had 'em all following the leader.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.1465/title.2009-hiphopdx-awards |title=2009 HipHopDX Awards &#124; Discussing Lil' Wayne, Drake & Many More Hip Hop Artists |magazine=HipHopDX |date=2009-12-22 |access-date=2010-08-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819130244/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.1465/title.2009-hiphopdx-awards |archive-date=2010-08-19 }}</ref>|HipHopDX}}

=== ''Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang'' ===

After the critical and relative commercial success of ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II'', Raekwon collaborated with Method Man and Ghostface Killah for ''[[Wu-Massacre]]'', a short trio album designed to showcase unity within the group. Following this release, Raekwon resurrected talk of ''[[Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang]]'', a project announced in 2007, originally planned as a Wu-Tang album, minus RZA, due to his response to the previous group album ''[[8 Diagrams]]''. Raekwon forwarded his projects continuously through his growing label Icewater. He both worked on his own project while signing other underground artists.

Although not a Wu-Tang Clan project, ''Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang'' was released in March 2011, serving as Raekwon's fifth solo LP. As originally planned, RZA did not participate on the project,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vibe.com/posts/raekwon-new-album-ghost-meth-deck-gza-black-thought-no-rza |title=Raekwon On New Album: Ghost, Meth, Black Thought In; No RZA |date=July 19, 2010 |publisher=VIBE |access-date=August 19, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808022307/http://www.vibe.com/posts/raekwon-new-album-ghost-meth-deck-gza-black-thought-no-rza |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}</ref> however, several other Wu-Tang members made appearances, as well as [[Black Thought]], [[Nas]] and [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]],<ref>Young, Alex. (February 15, 2014) [http://consequence.net/2010/07/20/chef-raekwon-brings-nas-eminem-into-his-kitchen-for-new-album/Chef Chef designs 10-course meal inspired by Radiohead's Kid A]. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved on 2014-04-24.</ref> among others. Raekwon revealed that he intends on eventually releasing a third installment to the ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' albums.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13768/title.raekwon-making-only-built-4-for-cuban-linxpt-3 |title=Raekwon Raekwon making "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. III |magazine=HipHopDX |access-date=January 21, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123184545/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13768/title.raekwon-making-only-built-4-for-cuban-linxpt-3 |archive-date=January 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Raekwon To Release New EP Titled "Lost Jewlry" |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-new-ep-titled-lost-jewelry |access-date=December 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203045614/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-new-ep-titled-lost-jewelry/ |archive-date=December 3, 2012 }}</ref>

=== ''Lost Jewlry'', ''Fly International Luxurious Art'', ''The Wild'', and present ===
In 2012, Raekwon launched his own record label, Ice H20 Records. Raekwon announced on November 30, 2012, that he would soon release an [[extended play|EP]] entitled ''[[Lost Jewlry]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raekwon To Release New EP Titled "Lost Jewelry" |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-new-ep-titled-lost-jewelry |access-date=December 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203045614/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-new-ep-titled-lost-jewelry/ |archive-date=December 3, 2012 }}</ref> On December 20, he released "Never Can Say Goodbye",<ref>[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.23185/title.raekwon-never-can-say-goodbye Raekwon – Never Can Say Goodbye|New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230203709/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.23185/title.raekwon-never-can-say-goodbye |date=December 30, 2012 }}. HipHop DX (December 20, 2012); retrieved 2014-04-24.</ref> which did not end up on the EP. ''Lost Jewlry'' was released on January 15, 2013. It featured guest appearances from [[Maino (rapper)|Maino]] and [[Freddie Gibbs]], as well as production from [[Scram Jones]], among others.<ref>[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-lost-jewelry-ep-in-january Raekwon "Lost Jewlry" EP Download] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209044239/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22061/title.raekwon-to-release-lost-jewelry-ep-in-january |date=December 9, 2012 }}, HipHopDX.com; retrieved April 24, 2014.</ref>

On January 1, 2013, Raekwon announced that the title of his next album would be ''F.I.L.A.'', an [[acronym]] for ''[[Fly International Luxurious Art]]'', and that it would be released during the second quarter of 2013.<ref name="2013 album title">[http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/raekwon-announces-new-album-title Raekwon Announces New Album Title] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017164740/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/raekwon-announces-new-album-title |date=October 17, 2014 }}. Complex (January 1, 2013); retrieved 2014-04-24.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22398/title.raekwon-announces-new-album-fila-fly-international-luxurious-art |title=Raekwon Announces New Album "F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art)" |publisher=HipHop DX |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107052916/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22398/title.raekwon-announces-new-album-fila-fly-international-luxurious-art |archive-date=January 7, 2013 }}</ref> He would later specify a release month of September 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harling |first=Danielle |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23123/title.raekwon-talks-new-f-i-l-a-lp-refers-to-the-album-as-a-lifestyle-project- |title=Raekwon Talks New "F.I.L.A." LP, Refers To The Album As A "Lifestyle Project" |publisher=HipHop DX |date=March 7, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320110457/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23123/title.raekwon-talks-new-f-i-l-a-lp-refers-to-the-album-as-a-lifestyle-project-/ |archive-date=March 20, 2013 }}</ref> Following the release of the first single "All About You", Raekwon intimated that the album would be released in January 2014; it finally saw release on April 28, 2015. In November 2016, Raekwon announced that a new album was complete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/raekwons-new-album-is-complete-dropping-2017-news.25736.html? |title=Raekwon's new album is complete |last=Smith |first=Trevor |date=November 27, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop.com |access-date=November 27, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128132334/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/raekwons-new-album-is-complete-dropping-2017-news.25736.html |archive-date=November 28, 2016 }}</ref>

On March 24, 2017, Raekwon released a studio album, ''The Wild'', his first not to feature collaborations with fellow members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Critical reception was positive, with Pitchfork saying the album was stronger than ''Fly'', which it alleged had a "bloated roster".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23145-the-wild/|title=Raekwon: The Wild|website=Pitchfork.com}}</ref> Consequence of Sound agreed, saying ''The Wild'' was largely understood as a return to form by Raekwon, with fewer guest appearances by other artists than usual and more focus on Raekwon's long-established style, albeit with the "maximalist modern production" he had employed on ''Fly''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/03/album-review-raekwon-the-wild/|title=Album Review: Raekwon – The Wild|website=Consequence.net|date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>

Raekwon was featured as a guest on the intro to the ''WWCD'' compilation by [[Griselda Records|Griselda]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weiss|first=Jeff|date=January 12, 2020|title=Raekwon: Hail to the Chef|url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/raekwon-50/1-70372}}</ref> On August 1, 2020, [[Elliott Wilson (journalist)|Elliot Wilson]], of [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]] and ''[[Rap Radar]]'', announced Raekwon will be releasing ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3'' soon.<ref name="hiphopdx.com" /> In his most recent appearance, Raekwon provided guest vocals alongside Ghostface Killah and Busta Rhymes on "Science Class", a song off Griselda leader [[Westside Gunn]]'s 2022 mixtape ''10''.