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.
Planet Of The Apes feat. Capone & Sheek Louch
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just have to say you my nigga, understand?
It don't get no realer than this, man
Let's slow the fuck down
You gettin' like a hundred worth for real, man
Eh yo, thug niggas know the code, lock and load
Hit 'em in the head, watch a nigga brain explode
Shaolin' boys, they bang them fifths
Thug niggas know the code, lock and load
Hit 'em in the head, watch a nigga brain explode
Yo from Y.O. to Q.B., they bang this shit
Shaolin' boys, they bang them fifths
Eh yo, late night, candle light, fiend with a crack pipe
It's only right, feelin' higher than an airplane, right?
I'm tryin' to get this money, right? So I move cautiously
No more frauds, you see? I'ma live bossy
Way out on Fantasy Island with Mr. Roth. be
I gotta play the ghetto, everyday the hood endorse me
I'm destined for triple, left hand crippled and the right hand fury
Will block the shots, that's simple, I dented a tomb for style
A toast to the death of my foes, respect violence, the criminal codes
Hammer smack a nigga out his five senses
Leave him dumb, deaf and blind, I ride on rinses
Interest so tight, strobe lights follow my grace
Bang bullets by the gates, might hollow ya face
Me and Chef smark massive murder, kill 'em
I scramble anywhere in Shaolin, right in Castalano buildin'
Eh yo, real niggas get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
Real niggas get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
Eh yo, I'm a motherfuckin' nigga wit an attitude
Heavy gun play, cock back, niggas is screwed
Stomach wounds make it hard for you to swallow ya food
Throw them Purple Tape off for me to get in the mood
Sheek Louch, who fuckin' wit' that kid?
I'm sick in the head, they need to make a throwback straight jacket
White tee on, a light G. on
These bitches you wife and the God try pee on
I don't care if it's a gram or brick
I'ma make it sell, get off my dick
Pump or the Desert E., take your pick
Money too long, the case won't stick
D-Block niggas fuck with Rae
Nigga act hard and get hit up in the middle of day
Tough guys and all that but I know that you pay
And I don't give a fuck, niggas, better watch what they say
Eh yo, real niggas, get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
Real niggas get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
Body specialist, full cam F50 with vans
A pull up, do it to ya mans, yo scrams
If you take niggas ears, niggas ain't really queers
Listen, it's grown men in the town, niggas is their's
Fluck niggas, I cut niggas, stuck niggas
Come up, pluck niggas, pop niggas in chucks, it's business
You in this? We non shoulder style, son, relentless
They four lettered me Chef, nigga get down
Drop you, piss on you, get this, it's official on you
Yo, twist the clips hits, yo, this was on you
I'm just a business head ridin' with visual
Don't force me to put out ya head
One for the money, two for the crime round up
Peep it, all major niggas holdin' they ground, get up
Let's form an army millennia, Ice Water
From Q.B. to Y.O. with Shaolin, I'm feelin' you
Eh yo, real niggas, get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
Real niggas, get up, live niggas, what up?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Shaolin, get up or get yo' ass hit up
We gon' ride for our team
(Yeah, ride for my motherfuckin' team, nigga)
My niggas'll kill you
(My niggas kill you, nigga)
We gon' ride for our team
(Y'all niggas want war? Nigga pop up)
My niggas'll kill you
(Yeah, ride for ya motherfuckin' team, nigga)
(Death before dishonor, you heard me?)
We gon' ride for our team
(The motherfuckin' Lex Diamond Story)
(Y'all niggas better wake the fuck up)
My niggas'll kill you
(Yeah, Ice Water Inc., you heard me?)
D-Block, what up?
We gon' ride for our team
(Pain, time and glory, word, you heard?)
My niggas'll kill you
(Yeah, yeah, my niggas'll kill you, nigga)
(Bitch ass niggas)
The lyrics to Raekwon's song "Planet of the Apes" showcase his gritty and raw lyrical style. The song touches on themes of violence, drug use, and loyalty to one's team. The opening lines express admiration and respect for Raekwon, with the singer expressing that "it don't get no realer than this, man." This signals to the listener that what follows is an authentic and unfiltered representation of the artist's worldview.
The chorus of "Thug niggas know the code, lock and load / Hit 'em in the head, watch a nigga brain explode" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the violent and aggressive nature of the lyrics. The verses focus on Raekwon's experiences growing up in New York and the criminal environment that he came up in. He raps about being involved in drug deals, shooting at rivals, and making money by any means necessary.
The last few lines of the song repeat the chorus and offer a final warning to those who might cross Raekwon and his team. He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, concluding with the lines "We gon' ride for our team / My niggas'll kill you." Overall, "Planet of the Apes" is a powerful and uncompromising representation of Raekwon's experiences and worldview.
Line by Line Meaning
I just had to say that right there, Rae
I just have to tell you that you're my friend and I appreciate you
It don't get no realer than this, man
This is as real as it gets
Let's slow the fuck down
Calm down and take a breather
You gettin' like a hundred worth for real, man
You're worth so much, it's unbelievable
Thug niggas know the code, lock and load
Criminals know what they need to do to get ready for action
Hit 'em in the head, watch a nigga brain explode
Shoot someone in the head and see their brains splatter
Yo, from Y.O. to Q.B., they bang this shit
People in Yonkers and Queensbridge listen to and enjoy this music
Shaolin' boys, they bang them fifths
People in Staten Island use guns to solve problems
Late night, candle light, fiend with a crack pipe
At night, a drug addict is smoking crack with only candlelight to guide them
It's only right, feelin' higher than an airplane, right?
It's normal to feel euphoric while high on drugs
I'm tryin' to get this money, right? So I move cautiously
I'm being careful to not make any mistakes and lose money
No more frauds, you see? I'ma live bossy
I won't be fake anymore. I'm going to live the way I want to live
Way out on Fantasy Island with Mr. Roth. be
I'm living an extravagant lifestyle with a lot of money
I gotta play the ghetto, everyday the hood endorse me
I have to act like I'm from the ghetto because that's what people expect and respect from me
I'm destined for triple, left hand crippled and the right hand fury
I'm going to be incredibly successful even if my left hand is injured
Will block the shots, that's simple, I dented a tomb for style
I can easily block gunshots, and I'm so tough I even damaged a tomb just to show off
A toast to the death of my foes, respect violence, the criminal codes
Here's to my enemies dying, and let's all acknowledge that violence is a part of criminal culture
Hammer smack a nigga out his five senses
Hit someone so hard that they lose their sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch
Leave him dumb, deaf and blind, I ride on rinses
The person I hurt will be so messed up that they won't be able to function normally, and I will get away with it
Interest so tight, strobe lights follow my grace
I'm so popular that wherever I go, people flock to me and try to capture my awesomeness
Bang bullets by the gates, might hollow ya face
Shoot bullets near a gate, and they might hit someone in the face
Me and Chef smark massive murder, kill 'em
My friend and I will commit a huge massacre and kill everyone
I scramble anywhere in Shaolin, right in Castalano buildin'
I can go anywhere in Staten Island, even Castalano building
Real niggas get up, live niggas, what up?
True gangsters stand up! What's good?
We don't give a fiduck, you faggots'll get hit up
We don't care about anything! We'll shoot anyone who crosses us
Q.B., what up? Y.O., what up?
Queensbridge, what's good? Yonkers, what's good?
Eh yo, I'm a motherfuckin' nigga wit an attitude
I'm a badass who doesn't take crap from anyone
Heavy gun play, cock back, niggas is screwed
There will be lots of gunfighting, and anyone who tries to stop it will be threatened or killed
Stomach wounds make it hard for you to swallow ya food
Getting shot in the stomach will make eating difficult
Throw them Purple Tape off for me to get in the mood
Put on some classic Wu-Tang music to get me hyped up
Sheek Louch, who fuckin' wit' that kid?
Nobody can mess with Sheek Louch. He's too tough
I'm sick in the head, they need to make a throwback straight jacket
I'm mentally unstable. They need to make a straight jacket like they used to
White tee on, a light G. on
I'm wearing a white t-shirt and a gangster attitude
These bitches you wife and the God try pee on
Girls want to date me, and even God himself respects me
I don't care if it's a gram or brick
I don't care how much drugs I'm selling
I'ma make it sell, get off my dick
I will sell it regardless of how you feel about it
Pump or the Desert E., take your pick
Choose between a shotgun or a Desert Eagle
Money too long, the case won't stick
I have so much money that I can easily avoid getting caught for any crime I commit
D-Block niggas fuck with Rae
D-Block gangsters associate with me
Nigga act hard and get hit up in the middle of day
If someone tries to act tough, I'll shoot them in broad daylight
Tough guys and all that but I know that you pay
People who act like they're tough are usually the ones who pay others to do their dirty work
And I don't give a fuck, niggas, better watch what they say
I don't care what people say about me, but they should still watch their mouths
Body specialist, full cam F50 with vans
I'm a professional when it comes to killing, and I own a fancy car
A pull up, do it to ya mans, yo scrams
I'll show up and kill your friends, then you'll run away
If you take niggas ears, niggas ain't really queers
If you have someone's ear, they'll do whatever you say
Listen, it's grown men in the town, niggas is their's
There are powerful people in the city, and they're in control
Fluck niggas, I cut niggas, stuck niggas
I don't like certain people, so I'll hurt them or leave them stranded
Come up, pluck niggas, pop niggas in chucks, it's business
I'll rob or hurt people without a second thought. It's just business
You in this? We non shoulder style, son, relentless
Are you part of this? We don't show mercy, we're relentless
They four lettered me Chef, nigga get down
They gave me a four-letter name (R-A-E-K), and I'm so badass that people should get down on the ground in fear
Drop you, piss on you, get this, it's official on you
I'll kill you, then pee on your corpse to make it official
Yo, twist the clips hits, yo, this was on you
I shot you and it was all your fault
I'm just a business head ridin' with visual
I'm all about business, and I'm riding in a fancy car
Don't force me to put out ya head
Don't make me kill you
One for the money, two for the crime round up
Let's get ready to commit a crime
Peep it, all major niggas holdin' they ground, get up
All the big players are ready for anything. Are you with us?
Let's form an army millennia, Ice Water
Let's join forces and create a powerful organization
From Q.B. to Y.O. with Shaolin, I'm feelin' you
I have connections to all these places and their people
We gon' ride for our team
We are willing to fight and die for our group
My niggas'll kill you
My friends will kill anyone who crosses us
Y'all niggas want war? Nigga pop up
If you're looking for a fight, we'll be there ready to shoot
Death before dishonor, you heard me?
I'd rather die than be dishonored or embarrassed
The motherfuckin' Lex Diamond Story
This is the story of Lex Diamond and his life
Y'all niggas better wake the fuck up
You guys need to realize what's really going on and stop messing around
Yeah, Ice Water Inc., you heard me?
This is Ice Water Inc. and you better listen
D-Block, what up?
Hey, D-Block, what's going on?
Pain, time and glory, word, you heard?
It takes pain and time to achieve glory, do you understand?
Yeah, yeah, my niggas'll kill you, nigga
Yes, my friends will definitely kill anyone who crosses us
Bitch ass niggas
People who act like they're tough but are really weak and pathetic
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC CARMEN, COREY WOODS, KIAM HOLLEY, SEAN JACOBS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind