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.
Criminology 2.5
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told you, man, I told you, don't fuck with me
I told you, no fucking kids, no, but you wouldn't listen
Well, you stupid fuck, look at you now (Y'all already know!)
(For real, y'all, back behind the wall again) (yeah, you know what it is)
(You know what it do, '09 style this time) (It's time to go in now, y'all)
(For real, making CREAM again, nigga, blaow!) (you already know, it's crunch time)
Hit you in the back of your dome, from far, kid
Dice kickers, gun clickers, run up in the bank for ones, quick
The drug dealer niggas, we flip 'em
Polo rugbies, flags on my hats, you love these
Knockout artists are one-piece
Fly in a foreign, all my money ties is tied-up
I'd rather sell coke, no bargain
Tough like a Hummer, fly like a Maybach
Spot runner, clap you in a gun shop, one up
Fuck about police, we Park Hillians with gold geese
And everyday's a Sunday Easter
Cousins in Gaza, the new improved Shottas
Stretched out, mink on the floor, you hassa
We run through with turbans, diamonded up chain with boots on
Mori umbrellas in Tucson
Rhyming is a color, the lifestyle is live, my fly brothers
Something go wrong, we slug something
Chill my nigga, chill (I got this, I got this)
Make sure you handle that beat, you know what time it is
Body that beat, man, come on (Yeah)
You can catch me anywhere, frost bitten chain
Bad dame, a thousand grams in Delaware
The smoke shop's is owls, laid back, hanging niggas to death
Word, you can call us coat racks
With 'giants' all around me like, Eli Manning
The bitch is on the block like, he died scrambling
Cause L frames is crack, popped out, nina one of his eyes
Can't come back home, they locked out
All he did was re-up, hustle for kick money
Kept Beez all around him, thinking he shit honey
Bow, I'm into bobsleds, wasting large bread
Gucci helmet is blue, trim in his dark red
The rap TJ Swan, it's me Ason
If he don't spin my shit, break the DJ arm
And glide off like an escapade, renegade on ice
Lemonade Clark, the haze is nice
The Goldielocks, rocks sapphire, chain is right
Bitch niggas, y'all watch what y'all say in ya mics, suckas
Aiyo, Rae, aiyo, Rae, check it out, yo
Let me go in there one more time and air these niggas out
For old times sake, you know how we do, my nig'
Old times sake, just for me, man, one more time, I'm begging you
Let me just go in, and just fly on these niggas heads, man
It's what I'm talking about
It's like a body in a project hallway, who did it?
Who's the next nigga that sucked the snit-ich
That's my word, it could never be me
You see the deer head on the living room wall, like his neck fell off
That can be all sculptured and glazed with gloss
Call the shots that Bill Belichick would call
Snake niggas slither all in the glass house, racial slurs
When it's time to go to war, they cash out
Throw 'em in the rear-naked choke, they tap out
Niggas try to surround the kid, I backed out
And threw two rocks at 'em, watching the ho drop
I'm from a place where we locking the low glocks
Yellow tape, the bodies, jiggy and road blocks
Got the towels up in the air, it's so hot
Talking bout Staten Island, profiling
Switchblade city, the goons is wilding
Escape from my slums, nigga, you got talent
And we don't want the fifth of 'yac, we want the gallon
What you think I'm a fucking worm like you?
I told you, man
Vacate black, bust gats, wherever we at
You all that, hit 'em in the chest, we fall back
I got mines, nigga, where yours at?
We call that, raw rap, got fiends in front of my door mat
That Witty Unpredictable fly shit, drive-by shit
These the niggas I ride with
And we gon' get cake, y'all, as soon as this pie split
Smacking up the dry snitch, nigga, you my bitch
Somebody put Tical on, matter fact, put Tical on
One suuu, Staten Isle on 'em
I bank roll, I break codes, and I ain't trynna catch another case, case closed
Give me my crown, cause I deserve it, real dudes giving me pounds
But not too close though, the semis'll round
Bitches, running they mouth, goons, running your gate
My team running the block, cops running my plates
Well fuck that, Criminology rap
Niggas hate, I hate back, floating in the flyest Maybach, nigga
The lyrics of "Criminology 2.5" by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man are filled with gritty, street-inspired imagery that speaks to the harsh realities of life in urban environments. The song celebrates the values of toughness, loyalty, and brotherhood, while also taking shots at rivals and proclaiming the artists' superiority. The opening lines of the song challenge anyone who might underestimate the toughness of the artists, while subsequent verses describe drug deals, violence, and criminal activity that create a sense of danger and excitement. The final verse features Method Man rapping about his desire for success and power, calling out enemies and flexing his lyrical muscles.
Line by Line Meaning
What you think I'm a fucking worm like you?
Do you really think I'm weak and easily manipulated like you?
I told you, man, I told you, don't fuck with me
I warned you multiple times not to mess with me
I told you, no fucking kids, no, but you wouldn't listen
I explicitly said not to involve innocent children, but you ignored me
Well, you stupid fuck, look at you now (Y'all already know!)
You ignorant fool, just look at the consequences you're facing now
(For real, y'all, back behind the wall again) (yeah, you know what it is)
Once again, we're incarcerated, back behind prison walls
(You know what it do, '09 style this time) (It's time to go in now, y'all)
We're bringing back that classic '09 style and it's time to make our mark
(For real, making CREAM again, nigga, blaow!) (you already know, it's crunch time)
We're generating major profits again, just like the good old days, and this is a critical moment
First of all, black park it, guns, we spark it
To begin with, we strategically position ourselves in dark areas and quickly draw our weapons
Hit you in the back of your dome, from far, kid
We shoot you in the head without warning, from a distance
Dice kickers, gun clickers, run up in the bank for ones, quick
We're skilled at gambling and swift in executing bank robberies for small amounts of money
The drug dealer niggas, we flip 'em
We excel at manipulating and profiting from drug dealers
Polo rugbies, flags on my hats, you love these
We proudly wear Polo rugbies and hats with flags, and people admire our fashion
Knockout artists are one-piece
We're skilled fighters capable of knocking out opponents with a single punch
Fly in a foreign, all my money ties is tied-up
We travel in luxury cars, and all our financial assets are well-invested
I'd rather sell coke, no bargain
I prefer selling cocaine without compromising on price or quality
Tough like a Hummer, fly like a Maybach
We're strong and resilient like a Hummer, while maintaining the elegance and style of a Maybach
Spot runner, clap you in a gun shop, one up
We swiftly move from one location to another, instantly shooting at enemies in a gun shop
Fuck about police, we Park Hillians with gold geese
We have no regard for the police, as we are proud residents of Park Hill with valuable assets
And everyday's a Sunday Easter
We live in a perpetual state of celebration and abundance
Cousins in Gaza, the new improved Shottas
Our relatives in Gaza are the upgraded version of ruthless criminals
Stretched out, mink on the floor, you hassa
We relax luxuriously with a mink coat on the floor, while you're nothing but a fool
We run through with turbans, diamonded up chain with boots on
We confidently move around wearing turbans and have expensive diamond chains while wearing boots
Mori umbrellas in Tucson
We have expensive Mori umbrellas even in a place like Tucson
Rhyming is a color, the lifestyle is live, my fly brothers
Our style of rapping is diverse and vibrant, and our way of life is exciting, my fashionable friends
Something go wrong, we slug something
If something goes wrong, we resort to violence
Chill my nigga, chill (I got this, I got this)
Calm down, my friend, relax (I have control of the situation)
Make sure you handle that beat, you know what time it is
Ensure that you rap skillfully on the beat, as you know the significance
Body that beat, man, come on (Yeah)
Dominate the beat with your rap skills, come on (Yeah)
You can catch me anywhere, frost bitten chain
I can be found in any location, wearing an expensive and eye-catching chain
Bad dame, a thousand grams in Delaware
I have an attractive woman by my side, and I possess a large quantity of drugs in Delaware
The smoke shop's is owls, laid back, hanging niggas to death
The smoke-filled environments we frequent are dangerous, with people residing there being at risk of death
Word, you can call us coat racks
Indeed, you can refer to us as coat racks, as we carry heavy burdens and responsibilities
With 'giants' all around me like, Eli Manning
There are influential and powerful individuals constantly surrounding me, much like Eli Manning, the football player
The bitch is on the block like, he died scrambling
The woman is present on the street, acting as if she's in mourning or chaos
Cause L frames is crack, popped out, nina one of his eyes
Because my firearms are powerful, I shot someone in the eye
Can't come back home, they locked out
The person I shot is no longer welcome in the neighborhood as they are incarcerated
All he did was re-up, hustle for kick money
The person I shot was only trying to reestablish their drug business and make some quick money
Kept Beez all around him, thinking he shit honey
He surrounded himself with loyal and trustworthy individuals, thinking he was invincible
Bow, I'm into bobsleds, wasting large bread
I'm involved in high-risk activities, spending a significant amount of money
Gucci helmet is blue, trim in his dark red
I wear a blue Gucci helmet with dark red accents
The rap TJ Swan, it's me Ason
I'm the legendary rapper TJ Swan, also known as Ason
If he don't spin my shit, break the DJ arm
If the DJ doesn't play my music, I'll physically harm him
And glide off like an escapade, renegade on ice
I smoothly move away like an exciting adventure, a rebel navigating an icy surface
Lemonade Clark, the haze is nice
I enjoy Lemonade mixed with Clark liquor, and the marijuana I smoke is of excellent quality
The Goldielocks, rocks sapphire, chain is right
I have golden locks of hair, wear sapphire crystals, and my chain is flawless
Bitch niggas, y'all watch what y'all say in ya mics, suckas
Cowards, be careful about the words you speak into microphones, you fools
Aiyo, Rae, aiyo, Rae, check it out, yo
Hey, Rae, hey, Rae, pay attention, listen
Let me go in there one more time and air these niggas out
Allow me to enter once again and expose these individuals
For old times sake, you know how we do, my nig'
Let's do this for the sake of nostalgia, you know our methods, my friend
Old times sake, just for me, man, one more time, I'm begging you
Just once more, for my personal satisfaction, I'm pleading with you
Let me just go in, and just fly on these niggas heads, man
Allow me to engage with these individuals and completely dominate them
It's what I'm talking about
This is exactly what I meant
It's like a body in a project hallway, who did it?
It's similar to a dead body found in the hallway of a public housing project, questioning the responsible party
Who's the next nigga that sucked the snit-ich
Who is the next person who betrayed us and revealed confidential information?
That's my word, it could never be me
I guarantee you, it was not me
You see the deer head on the living room wall, like his neck fell off
If you observe the deer's head mounted on the wall in the living room, you'll notice that its neck appears detached
That can be all sculptured and glazed with gloss
The deer head can be considered a work of art, skillfully crafted and polished
Call the shots that Bill Belichick would call
I make critical decisions similar to those made by Bill Belichick, a renowned NFL coach
Snake niggas slither all in the glass house, racial slurs
Deceitful individuals infiltrate our organization, using offensive language and causing divisions
When it's time to go to war, they cash out
When conflicts arise, these individuals abandon their responsibilities and flee
Throw 'em in the rear-naked choke, they tap out
We immobilize them in a rear-naked chokehold until they submit and acknowledge defeat
Niggas try to surround the kid, I backed out
People attempted to corner and trap me, but I managed to escape
And threw two rocks at 'em, watching the ho drop
I retaliated by throwing two punches at them, causing one of them to fall
I'm from a place where we locking the low glocks
I come from a neighborhood where we secure and possess firearms of a smaller caliber
Yellow tape, the bodies, jiggy and road blocks
The crime scene is marked with yellow caution tape, dead bodies, and various obstacles
Got the towels up in the air, it's so hot
We wave our towels in the air, indicating that things are intense and heated
Talking bout Staten Island, profiling
We're discussing events and situations related to Staten Island and the act of identifying potential threats
Switchblade city, the goons is wilding
Staten Island is known for its prevalence of switchblade weapons, and the dangerous individuals are causing chaos
Escape from my slums, nigga, you got talent
Leave the impoverished neighborhood I come from, my friend, as you possess notable skills
And we don't want the fifth of 'yac, we want the gallon
We're not interested in a small amount of cognac, we desire a whole gallon
Vacate black, bust gats, wherever we at
Leave the scene immediately after shooting, using firearms, wherever we happen to be
You all that, hit 'em in the chest, we fall back
You hold them off, shoot them in the chest, and then we retreat
I got mines, nigga, where yours at?
I have my possessions and wealth, my friend, where are yours?
We call that, raw rap, got fiends in front of my door mat
We refer to this as authentic rap, and I have drug addicts waiting outside my doorstep
That Witty Unpredictable fly shit, drive-by shit
We create clever and unpredictable content, including drive-by shootings
These the niggas I ride with
These are the individuals I associate and align myself with
And we gon' get cake, y'all, as soon as this pie split
We're going to earn money quickly, just as soon as this illegal operation yields favorable results
Smacking up the dry snitch, nigga, you my bitch
Physically assaulting the informant who betrayed us, as you are nothing but my subordinate
Somebody put Tical on, matter fact, put Tical on
Someone play Tical's music, in fact, play Tical's music
One suuu, Staten Isle on 'em
Reveal the sound effect 'suuu' and represent Staten Island
I bank roll, I break codes, and I ain't trynna catch another case, case closed
I provide financial support, I solve complex problems, and I'm not interested in being involved in another criminal investigation
Give me my crown, cause I deserve it, real dudes giving me pounds
Acknowledge my greatness and give me respect, as genuine individuals respect and greet me warmly
But not too close though, the semis'll round
But don't get too close, as I'm armed with semi-automatic firearms
Bitches, running they mouth, goons, running your gate
Women gossip excessively, while dangerous individuals are running into your territory
My team running the block, cops running my plates
My crew controls the neighborhood, while law enforcement is monitoring and recording my vehicle license plates
Well fuck that, Criminology rap
Forget about that, let's focus on delivering powerful and raw raps
Niggas hate, I hate back, floating in the flyest Maybach, nigga
People despise me, so I reciprocate the hatred, while effortlessly cruising in the most luxurious Maybach vehicle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DENNIS D. COLES, LEROY O'NIEL JACKSON, PATRICK P. ADAMS, ROBERT F. DIGGS, RUSSELL PATTERSON, STUART BASCOMBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BisiLIFE
I never understood why they never added this to the Wu Massacre album (which is 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿) 😞
Each MC absolutely DESTROYED it!!!!
Would love to see the events that led upto them laying this track down first time!!!
🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
Wu-Tang truly FOREVER from an older God - one who remembered (and BOUGHT 😎😉) the first wave of album releases releases from 93 - 95!!!
For me,
The greatest years in hip hop!!!
And Wu were Kings!!!!
Suuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!
Token Black
This might as well be the greatest hip hop track of all time…god damn
Peter
Those lyrics drops....10/10.🔥
Michael Rubin
Wu still goes hard af
Thomas
It's amazing what you stumble upon when you're on YouTube... that version was 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯
Token Black
Best hip hop I’ve found is from YouTube j dilla madlib etc
Boston Blue Collar Stiff
As a Patriots fan I love Ghost's verse. Calling shots that Bill Bellichek would call.
Charles Young
Absolutely Right
BisiLIFE
I never understood why they never added this to the Wu Massacre album (which is 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿) 😞
Each MC absolutely DESTROYED it!!!!
Would love to see the events that led upto them laying this track down first time!!!
🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
Wu-Tang truly FOREVER from an older God - one who remembered (and BOUGHT 😎😉) the first wave of album releases releases from 93 - 95!!!
For me,
The greatest years in hip hop!!!
And Wu were Kings!!!!
Suuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!
rusty shacleford
Fuckin FIRE!
Tito Alvares
Omg...tha beat is banging son...👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍