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.
Broken Safety
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when I first got the Naughty goose
Now I come through in a sported coupe
I know what you better do, stop talking bout what you outta do
My crack spot is still portable
Funerals are still affordable, I'm better than all of you
I'm in the hood scraping 'em, Jadakiss, Rae and 'em
Ya'll lame niggas, come uptown, spend a day with 'em
Let the Earth smoke hit your lung, get your guns
The economy is down, so you already know
It's gon' be a lot of homi's in the town
That's why I'm still bringing the seed back
The sneakers that I can't pronounce, that cost a G stack
Niggas in the yard, got this on repeat, black
Fuck saving hip hop, we bringing the streets back, what?
Player spit snipping, different color wallies on
Bliffen had to take 'em off, they fucked up the soles, flipped it
I'm forever zooted, crushed up glass, I'm just flashing through it
Nine times out of ten, suede down at the Jumer
Maybach bloomers, playing rumors, card shark
Getting cash money, take a loan, hit this tuner
We onion head niggas, the gun gooners
Put us together, he run sea, I run land, with one ruger
Stop playing, you know we run rap, you know we done that
Stop fronting, son, put the gun back
We came with the containers, besides having the flamers
My Mexican mans is famous
Running through the streets, the bulldog
Conehead hoodies on, eighteen five for footballs
Maxed like I'm under a good wall, good G
Good recipe, good status, a hood broad
I used to move brown rectangles
Roll you a blunt, then smoke you with death's angel
Chrome trey pound is making your neck dangle
Blue trey eight is leaving your chest mangled
It's math but the gun could kill you at all angles
Leave the toast home, I'm leaving you all strangled
Louis loafers on the Jaguar, gas peddles
You got the cops with you, you ain't even half ghetto
(Not even half) We neither here nor there
But if, you was over here, you would of been got aired
(Been got aired) Like a pair of white Nike's on a summer day
Pointing the gun away, I could kill you niggas a hundred ways
Mine's in a place that yours ain't, so I'm wearing war paint
For the day that I see the Lord saint
Blowing the purple haze, playing The Purple Tape
Fuck with Chef or the Ghost, get left with a purple face
Too bad, your courage will be the death of you
The lyrics to Raekwon feat. Jadakiss & Styles P's "Broken Safety" paint a vivid picture of life in the streets. Raekwon raps about his early days of hustling, referencing the infamous 40 Deuce and his initiation into the world of drug dealing with "the Naughty goose." He boasts about his success as a dealer, with a "portable" crack spot and "affordable" funerals, asserting his superiority over his competition. Jadakiss and Styles P add to the theme of street loyalty and survival with their own verses about running the "hood" and "zooted" on drugs, and the constant threat of violence.
As the song progresses, the artists warn of the dangerous consequences of disrespecting them or the streets. They brandish their guns ("leave the toast home, I'm leaving you all strangled") and boast of their expertise with them ("math but the gun could kill you at all angles"). They make it clear that they will not hesitate to take violent action against anyone who crosses them or threatens their livelihood.
Overall, "Broken Safety" is a gritty and honest portrayal of the harsh realities of street life, where survival means being tough and ruthless.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, down on 40 Deuce, when I was a shorty duke
I was in New York, on 42nd street, when I was young
That's when I first got the Naughty goose
I had my first bottle of booze then
Now I come through in a sported coupe
I drive a nice car now
I know what you better do, stop talking bout what you outta do
Stop talking, start doing
My crack spot is still portable
I can sell drugs anywhere I go
Funerals are still affordable, I'm better than all of you
I'm the best among all of you, and I can still pay for funerals
I'm in the hood scraping 'em, Jadakiss, Rae and 'em
I'm with Jadakiss and Rae in the ghetto
Ya'll lame niggas, come uptown, spend a day with 'em
Come to the ghettos and see for yourself
Bigger ones, bootleg liquor runs, blow something, nigga
We're selling bootleg alcohol and smoking weed
Let the Earth smoke hit your lung, get your guns
Smoke weed and get ready for violence
The economy is down, so you already know
The economy is bad, and crime is increasing
It's gon' be a lot of homi's in the town
There will be a lot of murders in the city
That's why I'm still bringing the seed back
I'm trying to revive the streets
The sneakers that I can't pronounce, that cost a G stack
I'm buying expensive shoes
Niggas in the yard, got this on repeat, black
People are listening to this song on repeat
Fuck saving hip hop, we bringing the streets back, what?
We're not trying to save hip hop, we're trying to bring back the streets
Player spit snipping, different color wallies on
Wearing stylish Wallabee shoes
Bliffen had to take 'em off, they fucked up the soles, flipped it
Had to take them off because they were ruining the soles
I'm forever zooted, crushed up glass, I'm just flashing through it
High on drugs and living life quickly
Nine times out of ten, suede down at the Jumer
Usually wearing suede at the Jumer
Maybach bloomers, playing rumors, card shark
Driving a fancy car and taking risks
Getting cash money, take a loan, hit this tuner
Making money to the point of taking out loans to modify a car
We onion head niggas, the gun gooners
We're dangerous people who carry guns
Put us together, he run sea, I run land, with one ruger
We're a deadly duo with guns
Stop playing, you know we run rap, you know we done that
Don't act like we're not the best in the rap game, we've been there
Stop fronting, son, put the gun back
Stop acting tough and put your gun away
We came with the containers, besides having the flamers
We brought drugs with us
My Mexican mans is famous
My Mexican friend is well-known
Running through the streets, the bulldog
Running through the streets with a bulldog (possibly a gun)
Conehead hoodies on, eighteen five for footballs
Wearing conehead hoodies and selling drugs for $18,500
Maxed like I'm under a good wall, good G
Feeling great and high on GHB
Good recipe, good status, a hood broad
The perfect combination of social standing and a woman from the ghetto
I used to move brown rectangles
I used to sell drugs
Roll you a blunt, then smoke you with death's angel
Smoke weed and contemplate death
Chrome trey pound is making your neck dangle
Killing you with a chrome gun
Blue trey eight is leaving your chest mangled
Killing you with a blue gun
It's math but the gun could kill you at all angles
The angles don't matter when the gun can kill you
Leave the toast home, I'm leaving you all strangled
Leave your weapon at home, I'll choke you out
Louis loafers on the Jaguar, gas pedals
Wearing fancy shoes driving a Jaguar
You got the cops with you, you ain't even half ghetto
You're not really from the ghetto if you're with the cops
(Not even half) We neither here nor there
We're not really from anywhere
But if, you was over here, you would of been got aired
If you were here, you would have been killed by now
(Been got aired) Like a pair of white Nike's on a summer day
You would be killed as easily as a pair of white Nike shoes in the summer
Pointing the gun away, I could kill you niggas a hundred ways
I don't even need to aim to kill you, I have a hundred different ways
Mine's in a place that yours ain't, so I'm wearing war paint
I have secrets you don't know, and I'm prepared to fight
For the day that I see the Lord saint
For the day I meet my maker
Blowing the purple haze, playing The Purple Tape
Smoking weed and listening to The Purple Tape (an album by Wu-Tang Clan)
Fuck with Chef or the Ghost, get left with a purple face
Mess with Raekwon or Styles P and you'll get hurt badly
Too bad, your courage will be the death of you
Your boldness will get you killed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COREY WOODS, DAVID STYLES, JASON PHILLIPS, MARC D. SHEMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrKs757
FIRE!!!!! Rae's whole CD is fire but this might be my favorite joint of the album.
@TriplomatX
One of the best sequels to an original album. Raekwon didn't disappoint with this album, especially with a track like this.
@MuddywatermultimediaGroup
Shits hard as fuck
@Erica_Cherelle
Same!
@idivineclark6882
For me it's Surgical Gloves,this is number 2!
@mulvttx
Styles P SNAPPED
@ReadTheBibleDaily
styles P killed this!!!
@craigwilliams5157
he did💯
@afrorootsMI
even the adlibs are 🔥
@adamgordon2572
Jay H : Styles P too dope 🔥