Rae's groundbreaking debut album helped to bring the flavour of flossing to wax as well as the use of the moniker among Wu brethren and other prominent emcees. The single "Verbal Intercourse" featured the first appearance of Nas Escobar, Nas' alter ego. Similarly, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, who served as Rae's partner in rhyme throughout the entire Cuban Linx album, also developed a slew of other identities. Identities like Lex Diamond, one of the flashy, witty and intellectually stimulating personas of the multifaceted Raekwon.
In the years after the release of Cuban Linx, Raekwon continued to record several albums with the Clan including the platinum Wu-Tang Forver (1997) and The W (2000), as well as the gold Iron Flag (2001). He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Black and White, before releasing his second solo album, Immobilarity in 1999. Four years later, it's time for another masterpiece from Raekwon.
The Lex Diamond Story, Raekwon's forthcoming third solo album is that desperately needed effort. This new LP is as much a reflection of his first musical triumph Cuban Linx, as it is a manifestation of the future and what is to come from this great emcee. Raekwon is like the E.F. Hutton of hip-hop: when he speaks, everyone listens. The current void in hip-hop is filled with this rap veteran's
crafty verbal gymnastics and artistic form of storytelling. The Lex Diamond Story takes the top shelf elements of the Wu's first album and the finest sentiments of Raekwon's debut and joins them together to deliver another classic album to the masses.
A lyrical gourmet meal, The Lex Diamond Story shows that The Chef still possesses the recipe to cook up a jambalaya of words with the main ingredient being superior skills. Animated and intense, Raekwon's stealth delivery is filled with emotion, skilled cadence and an array of diverse stories, hooks, and topics. The track, "All Over Again (The Way We Were)" touches on the flavour of "Can It Be All So Simple" with its tale of street survival. Meanwhile, "Pit Bull Fights" is reminiscent of the ferocious lyrical beating inflicted on "Incarcerated Scarfaces." Raekwon is indisputably at his creative beast. Unchained and uninhibited, he is assertive with his music and focused on his goals.
1. Striving For Perfection
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aight word, aight I'ma set it
Tell me how you feel man
Yo son, check the fly shit son
Sup cousin how you doin?
Yo baby check it man
I got a new connect son, for real man
Fuck all this twenty-four brick shit man
My man got out of state for fifteen
Yeah
YouknowhatI'msayin?
Yo know my man's gonna represent PA, politickin to death so
Right right
It's all good, what's up? What you want to do?
We gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
Get the fur, get the fuck outta New York, yaknowhatI'msayin?
Bounce man, start fuckin with bigger and better shit
So you tellin me no more big eights strictly breaks
No more no more no more man
Then I'm with you, I've been waiting
No more God
WHASSUP?
It's the pot of gold right here man this is it, man this is glory
YouknowhatI'msayin?
So yo, the first thing we gotta do man
Is just know what we gonna do with this cream when we get it man
Right
Cause I'm not trying to just be, sitting on motherfucking two-hundred thou
And acting like I'ma just be a
Nah
a drug dealer all my life
Nah
Son I got bigger and better plans Son
No doubt, we gonna move on man
And you know I be fuckin with anybody man
Son, long as the love and the trust is there Son
We gonna grow God
You know it Tony
We gonna grow like a plant Son
Yo you coming at me like that Son?
For real Son, come on you know me man
You know my style Son
You know how my heart feels though God
No doubt
But yo God, for real, this is my last time God
I'm hangin this shit up man if this shit don't work right here God
YouknowhatI'msayin?
Word up, I feel the same way
I feel the same way kid
Yo God, yaknowhatI'msayin?
I got shot at man, my moms windows got shot the fuck up man
Yeah
Yo God, my baby's in here God, see I gotta take time man
and raise my family man
Yeah yeah yeah
YaknowhatI'msayin? Sit around man, my grandkids man
But yo Son, it's like this man
We all livin man, we here now man
Word man
YouknowhatI'msayin? Let's not think like we gon be stagnating man
Let's keep movin ahead man, keep our head up man
Take care of our families man
God, word is bond, I'm your eyes that's in back of you kid
Let's do it then
The opening lyrics of Raekwon's "Striving for Perfection" reveal a desire for change and an eagerness to improve life circumstances. The discussion between the two individuals centers around their drug dealing operation, which they aim to expand beyond New York in pursuit of greater profits. The exchange highlights a desire to grow and evolve both personally and financially, with one character explaining that they want to retire from drug dealing and avoid being trapped in that lifestyle. The conversation also touches on the importance of family and the need to provide for loved ones.
Overall, the song seems to emphasize the pursuit of progress and the need to take risks to achieve it. The characters' willingness to move beyond their current situation and tackle new challenges speaks to the idea that growth and self-improvement require courage and action. At the same time, the song acknowledges the dangers of drug dealing and the potential for harm to loved ones, suggesting that success should be balanced with responsibility and care for others.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah yeah I'm tired of doing this shit
I am exhausted and frustrated with this lifestyle.
Aight word, aight I'ma set it
Alright, let's get down to business.
Tell me how you feel man
What are your thoughts on this?
Yo son, check the fly shit son
Take a look at this impressive new connection I have.
Sup cousin how you doin?
Hello, how are you doing?
I got a new connect son, for real man
I have made a new and promising drug connection.
Fuck all this twenty-four brick shit man
We are done with small-time dealing, it's time for bigger things.
My man got out of state for fifteen
My partner has just been released from prison after fifteen years.
YouknowhatI'msayin?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Right right
I see what you're saying.
It's all good, what's up? What you want to do?
Everything is fine. What is our next plan of action?
We gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
We need to relocate and start anew.
Get the fur, get the fuck outta New York, yaknowhatI'msayin?
We need to leave New York for good and start fresh somewhere else.
Bounce man, start fuckin with bigger and better shit
Let's leave this behind and focus on larger and more lucrative operations.
So you tellin me no more big eights strictly breaks
Are you saying we won't be dealing in eighths anymore, only larger quantities?
No more no more no more man
No more small time stuff, only big moves.
Then I'm with you, I've been waiting
I'm ready to join you in this endeavor.
No more God
No more small deals, only big ones.
WHASSUP?
What's happening?
It's the pot of gold right here man this is it, man this is glory
This is the big break we've been waiting for, the ultimate prize.
So yo, the first thing we gotta do man
Our first task is to decide how to use this newfound wealth.
Cause I'm not trying to just be, sitting on motherfucking two-hundred thou
I don't want to just sit on this money, we need to invest it wisely.
And acting like I'ma just be a
I don't want to be known as just a drug dealer forever.
Nah
No, that's not my ultimate goal.
a drug dealer all my life
I don't want to be a drug dealer forever.
Son I got bigger and better plans Son
I have larger aspirations than just dealing drugs.
No doubt, we gonna move on man
For sure, we are going to move up and succeed.
We gonna grow God
We will continue to grow and succeed.
You know it Tony
You are aware of what I'm capable of, Tony.
Yo you coming at me like that Son?
Are you questioning me like that?
For real Son, come on you know me man
Seriously, you know me well enough to trust me.
You know my style Son
You are familiar with my methods and tactics.
No doubt
Absolutely.
But yo God, for real, this is my last time God
This is my final chance to make something of myself.
I'm hangin this shit up man if this shit don't work right here God
I will quit this lifestyle if we don't succeed this time around.
Word up, I feel the same way
I completely understand how you feel.
Yeah yeah yeah
I agree and understand.
YaknowhatI'msayin? Sit around man, my grandkids man
You know what I mean? I want to be able to sit around and enjoy my family, especially my grandchildren.
But yo Son, it's like this man
Honestly, this is how things stand.
We all livin man, we here now man
We are all alive and present in this moment.
Word man
I completely agree.
YouknowhatI'msayin? Let's not think like we gon be stagnating man
Do you understand my point? Let's not settle or become complacent.
Let's keep movin ahead man, keep our head up man
We need to keep progressing and remain optimistic.
Take care of our families man
We need to prioritize our families and their well-being.
God, word is bond, I'm your eyes that's in back of you kid
I promise to always have your back and support you, even when you can't see it.
Let's do it then
Let's get started and make this a success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COREY WOODS, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind