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.
Can't You See
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me tell y'all a story, man
Listen man, from here
I'm tired of fishscale wars stayin' in all green
New Balance sneaker, white wranglers on the scene
We was youngsters, 80's babies getting in shit
Stolen cars, fell from monkey bars, flippin' and shit
Broke heads is sled, slidin' through, two' five in my sleeves
Eggs and cheese, young niggas, by any means
We was saved watching Malcolm and Martin
Hold them things police, freeze, niggas is jettin'
No time for off track bettin', we was wetting niggas
Take these gunshots, sippin' rum shots on the roof
Hibernating blow with ease
Better needs, the father seeds
Cutting school, dippin' but truancy Ds
Influenced me with trees
Blue and cream, sat back, all I know is how to dream
Check the theme, watch the playboys run with kings
Now it's all about good livin', raising my children
I done seen the flames, escaped from the hell storms
Credentials of a high chief, blowin' on that potent broc' leaf
My old earth got a chance to see a black man run the white house
She shows her bright teeth, oh what a beautiful sight
But still some livin' strenuous through the struggles are unbearable
To ease the pain and eagerly seek the preacher for parables
To stop the rain and hoping somewhere to bring some sunshine I'm
Livin' proof that it's possible, any obstacle, you face it
Can be erased son, don't let it conquer you
Throughout my journey had some snakes in my past
But I couldn't let 'em strike me and catch the Devilish germ from 'em
But the lesson was valuable, yeah, I learned from 'em
If they ain't godly, they wicked, there's no concern for them
Know in a good space, more connections with more cake
Before I let some' come between a nigga I burn some'
Ayo
Burn some', kid
See if a man can flip himself inside out par
He fall out and die if you see all this shit that's going on man
It's real
In the song "Can't You See" by Raekwon, the artist describes his upbringing and journey towards success. He begins by reminiscing about his days as a young thief growing up in the 80s. Raekwon explains that he was always on the move, doing whatever he could to make a living. He also touches on the influence of historical figures such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. who inspired him to fight for what he believed in. Raekwon then continues to share his current state of being, discussing his children, success, and the obstacles he has faced. He expresses that despite his struggles, he has overcome them and has become living proof that anyone can overcome any obstacle.
The song's lyrics offer a glimpse into the life of a Black man growing up in poverty in New York City. Raekwon uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of his past, highlighting how he and those around him had to resort to illegal activities just to survive. He speaks on the difficulties of growing up in a crime-ridden environment and how it shaped him as a person. Additionally, Raekwon reflects on the importance of overcoming obstacles, gaining wisdom from past mistakes, and striving for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Roadsart waddup
Greeting to my friend
Let me tell y'all a story, man
I want to share an experience with you
Listen man, from here
Pay attention to my story
I'm tired of fishscale wars stayin' in all green
I'm exhausted from drug competition and the constant focus on money
New Balance sneaker, white wranglers on the scene
I remember the fashion trends of my youth
We was youngsters, 80's babies getting in shit
We were young troublemakers born in the 80's
Stolen cars, fell from monkey bars, flippin' and shit
We did dangerous things like steal cars and fall off of monkey bars
Little thieves fresh out the P's
We were young and just released from juvenile detention centers
Broke heads is sled, slidin' through, two' five in my sleeves
We were broke but still managed to slide through life with 25 dollar bills tucked into our sleeves
Eggs and cheese, young niggas, by any means
We were hungry and willing to do whatever it took to survive
We was saved watching Malcolm and Martin
We were inspired by civil rights leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Hold them things police, freeze, niggas is jettin'
When the police arrived, we would run away as fast as we could
No time for off track bettin', we was wetting niggas
We didn't waste time with gambling, instead choosing to use our guns to take out our opponents
Take these gunshots, sippin' rum shots on the roof
We played with guns and drank rum on the roof
Hibernating blow with ease
We were able to smoke marijuana without being caught
Better needs, the father seeds
We needed to do better and set a good example for the next generation
Cutting school, dippin' but truancy Ds
We skipped school and avoided getting caught for truancy
Influenced me with trees
Marijuana had a strong influence on me and my lifestyle
Blue and cream, sat back, all I know is how to dream
I had a vision of living a better life in luxury (blue and cream symbolizes luxury) and all I knew how to do was dream about it
Check the theme, watch the playboys run with kings
Observe the trend, how the wealthy and powerful attract women
Now it's all about good livin', raising my children
My focus has shifted to living a good life and taking care of my family
I done seen the flames, escaped from the hell storms
I've been through difficult times and have managed to overcome them
Credentials of a high chief, blowin' on that potent broc' leaf
I have the skills and status of a leader, and I smoke high-quality marijuana
My old earth got a chance to see a black man run the white house
My mother witnessed a historic moment when a black man became president of the United States
She shows her bright teeth, oh what a beautiful sight
My mother is proud and happy to see this happen
But still some livin' strenuous through the struggles are unbearable
Unfortunately, some people are still struggling and the difficulties they face are overwhelming
To ease the pain and eagerly seek the preacher for parables
They turn to religious leaders for guidance and solace
To stop the rain and hoping somewhere to bring some sunshine I'm
They look for ways to escape their hardships and find happiness
Livin' proof that it's possible, any obstacle, you face it
I am living proof that you can overcome any obstacle if you try hard enough
Can be erased son, don't let it conquer you
You can overcome challenges and shouldn't let them defeat you
Throughout my journey had some snakes in my past
I've encountered deceitful and untrustworthy people in my past
But I couldn't let 'em strike me and catch the Devilish germ from 'em
I refused to let them harm me and influence me negatively
But the lesson was valuable, yeah, I learned from 'em
I learned a valuable lesson from these experiences
If they ain't godly, they wicked, there's no concern for them
If they don't have good intentions or morals, there's no need to worry about them
Know in a good space, more connections with more cake
I'm in a good position in life and have more money and connections
Before I let some' come between a nigga I burn some'
I would rather cut off a person who causes conflict than let them cause problems in my life
Burn some', kid
Take action and do something about it
See if a man can flip himself inside out par
Can a person change their actions and way of thinking?
He fall out and die if you see all this shit that's going on man
It's easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless with all the chaos and problems in the world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Corey Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Hernandez
My ears are burning !!! Straight fire ... this is meant for everybody but ain't for everybody .... real hip-hop heads appreciate timeless classics like this
Mouse Toney
Hahaha best
Marvin Wilson
This is classic got tears in my soul
ylYolk
Str8 lava fam 🔥 🔥 🔥
qvezo
One of the only rappers to actually have a good project after their fame
Dane Johnson
Rae never fell off, lets be forreal
HeWhoEnlightens
Every project from Rae is a movie #RaekwontheCHEF #RaekwontheGOAT #CHEFtheGOAT...
Cbchansey
@Dane Johnson how many sales did this get? Did the wild even go gold? Only fans know about this lol
Panoris Holiday the 3rd
@Cbchansey I bought a physical copy
ylYolk
Only real music's gonna last... All that other bs is here today an gone tomorrow