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.
Penitentiary
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The watch she had was Bulgari, golden, Spanish kid let him hold it
He said he hit him with three cartons of menthol, the kid let him roll with it
(The face had snow in it, the bass in his voice
Now he's acting like he ain't rich and po' in it)
Crock pots are steaming, Jasmine rice and Jack Mack
With corn flake batter, it's cold in here
10:45 we lock in, pull out the headphones, jump in the bunk
Two C.O.'s is on the cat walk (Yo, Spoons, what's popping?)
Yo, it ain't nothing, baby, you cool?
Yeah, I'm getting that rest, you know that G.E.D. shit with the school?
(True, guess that's what it do
But on the low I got two big gem stars I'm sliding to you
Matter of fact they gon' hide in ya food
All you do is push the grits out the way, then you get up and move
Go to sleep, nigga, go 'head and rest, I'm a finish my count
I'm a set you out, later my dude, one)
Mop wringer magic, mess hall murder's the best
Come through the yard, getting fed lead burgers
Testing anything with bling
Fresh sneakers, we the best teachers
True, watch me move in the cling
Six A.M., the cells unlock
Horn the child, I'm half sleep, yo, hearing the pots
I see the same ice grills, bum niggaz talking to me
With coal in they eye, I can't finish my meal
(Under the grits, two pieces of steel)
Then Spoon had left, we got guns though, we trying to chill
Big Will walked in, him and Seville
(With blood in they eyes, early bird like they ready to kill)
Mop wringer magic, mess hall murder's the best
Come through the yard, getting fed lead burgers
Testing anything with bling
Fresh sneakers, we the best teachers
True, watch me move in the cling
Mop wringer magic, mess hall murder's the best
Come through the yard, getting fed lead burgers
Testing anything with bling
Fresh sneakers, we the best teachers
True, watch me move in the cling
The song "Penitentiary" by Raekwon describes life inside a prison through vivid imagery and storytelling. The lyrics talk about the routine activities of prisoners, including smoking, cooking meals in crock-pots, and getting ready to sleep for the night. The song is full of vivid and detailed images that convey the sense of desperation and monotony felt by inmates.
The lyrics also contain darker themes, including the presence of weapons and the sense of danger that pervades prison life. The lines "Under the grits, two pieces of steel" suggest that the prisoners are keeping weapons hidden beneath their food, perhaps to defend themselves against other inmates. The lyrics also describe Big Will and Seville, who appear to be dangerous prisoners with "blood in their eyes" and a readiness to kill.
Overall, the song portrays a harsh and unforgiving environment where life is cheap and danger is always close at hand.
Line by Line Meaning
We up at three mart, blowing, little dust to lift the branch up
We're up at Three Mart, smoking to ease our minds, and the smoke is light enough to lift up tree branches.
The watch she had was Bulgari, golden, Spanish kid let him hold it
The woman's watch was a fancy Bulgari one made of gold, and some Spanish kid was allowed to hold it for a while.
He said he hit him with three cartons of menthol, the kid let him roll with it
He claimed to have hit him with three cartons of menthol cigarettes, but the kid didn't complain and went along with it.
(The face had snow in it, the bass in his voice
Now he's acting like he ain't rich and po' in it)
He had some cocaine residue on his face, and his voice carried weight. However, he was now trying to act like a simple and ordinary person despite being rich.
Crock pots are steaming, Jasmine rice and Jack Mack
With corn flake batter, it's cold in here
The crock pots are hot and steaming, filled with Jasmine rice and Jack Mack. There's corn flake batter as well, but it's pretty chilly inside the facility.
10:45 we lock in, pull out the headphones, jump in the bunk
(The tunes is knocking) Knowing all my goons is clocking
At 10:45, we lock ourselves up, put on our headphones and jump into our beds. We know that our people are keeping an eye on everything that's going on.
Two C.O.'s is on the cat walk (Yo, Spoons, what's popping?)
Yo, it ain't nothing, baby, you cool?
Yeah, I'm getting that rest, you know that G.E.D. shit with the school?
Two guards are walking on the catwalk, and Spoons was asked what's going on. He replied that there's nothing and was asked if he's cool. He said he's trying to rest and preparing for his GED exams.
(True, guess that's what it do
But on the low I got two big gem stars I'm sliding to you
Matter of fact they gon' hide in ya food
All you do is push the grits out the way, then you get up and move
Go to sleep, nigga, go 'head and rest, I'm a finish my count
I'm a set you out, later my dude, one)
Yeah, that's how it is. But secretly, I have two big knives that I'm going to give you. They'll be hidden in your food. You just need to move the grits aside, and you'll see them. You can go to sleep and rest while I finish my count. I'll get you out of here later, man.
Mop wringer magic, mess hall murder's the best
Come through the yard, getting fed lead burgers
Testing anything with bling
Fresh sneakers, we the best teachers
True, watch me move in the cling
We're experts at hiding things, and it's easiest to smuggle things out of the mess hall. We test anyone who's got something valuable. Our fresh sneakers make us stand out, but we're also the ones who know how to do things. See how I move unnoticed?
Six A.M., the cells unlock
Horn the child, I'm half sleep, yo, hearing the pots
I see the same ice grills, bum niggaz talking to me
With coal in they eye, I can't finish my meal
(Under the grits, two pieces of steel)
At 6 AM, our cells unlock, and we wake up to a blaring horn. I'm half-asleep, hearing the sounds of utensils. I see the same cold stares from the bums who talk to me. They've got dust in their eyes, and I can't even have my meal in peace. There are two knives hidden under my grits.
Then Spoon had left, we got guns though, we trying to chill
Big Will walked in, him and Seville
(With blood in they eyes, early bird like they ready to kill)
Once Spoon was gone, we took our guns out, but we were trying to calm ourselves down. After that, Big Will and Seville walked in, with looks like they were ready to kill.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: COREY WOODS, DENNIS DAVID COLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind