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.
Faster Blade
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You on the corners and shit. Ya know? Just gotta be on
Something. Hands down shit.
Ya know what I mean? Just keepin' ya eyes and ears open
At all times while we rhyme and shine.
For my dedicated niggas who love this shit.
Doin' this like this. Word up. What's the phenomenon? Carry on Don.
Tranquilizin'.)
Hey yo, movin' on these niggas like they old soul, bro
You know how we go, we go shift 'em out like Paleco
Fine, proteges off top connectin' like a buildin'
Four dollar whylin' niggas buildin', savin' the children
Come on now, check out the view like a oceanfront
Slow motion in cunt, takin' what we want
You know a kid asiatic, holdin' power like a Craftmatic
You like your fish fried or battered, that day he ratted
Check out the movies from Guyana, just eatin' in Atlanta
Makin' some pirate moves out of Savannah
Yeah, rock them niggas like jewelry
Arabics movin' blow like aerobics
That's when his nose itch, yeah
That means it's all in effect
I'm hittin' you, I'm hittin' Buddha
Island Bermuda, send that twenty-shot Ruger
Continue to slam and mend you like a venue
Get all up in you, oh yeah your friend too, respect Wu
Yeah, keep the faggot niggas watery
Rhyme for rich niggas who supported me, shorty pussy extorted me
So it's a science now, RZA, cuttin' they pockets like scissors
Cindafella found him a Wally slipper
Splashin' ends in the glass Benz in Nevada
Flashin' gems, eight-and-a-half Tim state robber
All my life been on some foul shit besides kidnap a child shit
Get on some foul and proud shit
Cheatin' many Koreans bein' all that I can be an'
Put down on thirty keys an' get to fleein'
Light up a tree an'
Don't be breezin' like a blowdryer
Yo, you's a liar like Jeremiah gamin' on the flyer
Yo, but buryin' niggas is carryin'
Thug drug marryin', hittin' Marion off at the Clarion
All my Spanish niggas love us
We movin' like rush ya, bone crush ya
At the flick, stick to usher
Broke niggas, spot 'em like Cascade
In the street Masquerade
Faster Blade
In the song Faster Blade, Raekwon is rapping about his street mentality and how he and his crew move through the world. He compares themselves to old souls, saying that they have a level of experience and swagger that sets them apart. They are able to easily "shift out" their enemies like a game of Palenque, a Dominican board game. He talks about the importance of being aware of one's surroundings all the time, taking in the view but also constantly watching out for potential threats. Raekwon boasts about his power and craftiness, likening himself to a power-adjusting Craftmatic bed. He talks about his preference for certain types of fish and the punishment that awaits those who turn on him. He boasts about his movie knowledge, name-dropping Guyana and Savannah, and his ability to move product around the city, helped in part by his Arab connections. The song ends with a practice of wordplay and internal rhyme, cementing Raekwon's place as a master of his craft.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey yo, movin' on these niggas like they old soul, bro
I'm aggressively making moves on these guys like they're already defeated, man.
You know how we go, we go shift 'em out like Paleco
You know how we operate, we kick these guys out like trash.
Fine, proteges off top connectin' like a buildin'
My team is fine, even the new ones immediately blend in like bricks in a building.
Four dollar whylin' niggas buildin', savin' the children
Some lowlife dudes are being rascals on the street while the rest of us are focused on saving the youth.
Come on now, check out the view like a oceanfront
Come on, take a look at what I see, this is like a beachfront view of the ocean.
Slow motion in cunt, takin' what we want
Everything is happening in slow motion, we're taking what we desire.
You know a kid asiatic, holdin' power like a Craftmatic
You know me, an Asian kid holding so much power it's like I'm a brand new adjustable bed.
You like your fish fried or battered, that day he ratted
You can have your fish cooked however you like, but if some dude ratted us out that day.
Check out the movies from Guyana, just eatin' in Atlanta
Look at these movies from Guyana, we're just chilling and eating in Atlanta.
Makin' some pirate moves out of Savannah
We're making some suave and clever moves, sneaking around in Savannah.
Yeah, rock them niggas like jewelry
We're hitting these guys hard, like we're banging jewelry together.
Arabics movin' blow like aerobics
These Arab guys are moving drugs around like it's a workout routine.
That's when his nose itch, yeah
That's when he knows something's going down, yeah.
That means it's all in effect
That's the signal that everything's happening like we planned.
I'm hittin' you, I'm hittin' Buddha
I'm striking you, I'm striking a statue of Buddha.
Island Bermuda, send that twenty-shot Ruger
Whether we're in Bermuda or on an island somewhere, I've got this twenty-shot gun ready.
Continue to slam and mend you like a venue
We'll keep hitting you hard like we're putting on a performance at a venue.
Get all up in you, oh yeah your friend too, respect Wu
We'll get really close to you, and your friend too, showing Wu-Tang Clan some respect.
Yeah, keep the faggot niggas watery
Yeah, let's keep these weak dudes afraid and unsure of themselves.
Rhyme for rich niggas who supported me, shorty pussy extorted me
I'll rap for the wealthy guys who've helped me out, but I've had some issues with some sketchy women.
So it's a science now, RZA, cuttin' they pockets like scissors
This is a strategic move now, RZA is surgically cutting through their pockets like a pair of scissors.
Cindafella found him a Wally slipper
Like in Cinderella, this guy managed to snag the perfect 'Wally' sneaker.
Splashin' ends in the glass Benz in Nevada
We're throwing money around in the glass Benz, in Nevada.
Flashin' gems, eight-and-a-half Tim state robber
We're showing off our flashy jewelry while taking eight and a half of somebody's Tim (Timberland boot).
All my life been on some foul shit besides kidnap a child shit
All my life, I've done some shady things, but not something as low as kidnapping a child.
Get on some foul and proud shit
I'm getting into some foul stuff and I'm not even ashamed of it.
Cheatin' many Koreans bein' all that I can be an'
I've been exploiting a lot of Koreans while being the best I can be.
Put down on thirty keys an' get to fleein'
I stocked up on thirty kilos and now I'm getting out of here.
Light up a tree an'
I'm gonna smoke some weed.
Don't be breezin' like a blowdryer
Don't act like you're all that, with your hot air like a blowdryer.
Yo, you's a liar like Jeremiah gamin' on the flyer
Man, you're such a liar, it's like you're Jeremiah playing games on a flyer.
Yo, but buryin' niggas is carryin'
But taking these guys out is like fulfilling a duty.
Thug drug marryin', hittin' Marion off at the Clarion
Doing some dangerous drug deals while also hooking up with Marion at the Clarion.
All my Spanish niggas love us
All my Spanish-speaking friends really like us.
We movin' like rush ya, bone crush ya
We're making quick and aggressive moves, crushing these guys' bones.
At the flick, stick to usher
At the movie theater, we'll stick to Usher's music.
Broke niggas, spot 'em like Cascade
We can easily identify broke dudes, it's like we're spotting them out like stains with Cascade detergent.
In the street Masquerade
Out on the street, it's like we're all wearing masks and hiding behind facades.
Faster Blade
We're getting more and more aggressive, moving faster and faster.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rollfizzlebeef6619
My favorite Raekwon verse ever. Absolutely spazzes the fuck out over one of RZA's hardest beats
@kartelqueez9312
Definitely my favorite rae verse 🔥🔥
@rayhill1732
My nigga went in
@darylrice92
He went in on knowledge too OB4CL
@maquanmatthews5430
@@darylrice92j8j
@ophrahgiedon228
Right? I feel fortunate enough to be just barely intelligent to sufficiently grasp the lyrical craftsmanship. That these artisans have left these works for us to study. 😔 Humbled😌 Thankful
@jamesculver3724
You can hear the hunger in Rae’s voice. He knew it had to be dope! “What’s the science know Riza, Cindafella found him a Wallay Slippa!!” Dope!!!
@theprocess5217
One of the hardest beats on the album
@dillestvillian
It's That low note for me. I love the beat but the break down at the end, jus drums, jus bass, Mmmmmm. Baa boom Ba Boom Boommmmmm. Shitttt, if ever had subs in the trunk..... you know!
@kartelqueez9312
The best 💯