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.
R.A.G.U.
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you get out of here, I'm warning you
(You bastards can't push us around, wanna fight?)
I'll take you on
That nigga's twisted
Stop playing with that clip man
Close them fucking blinds too man, ya know what I'm saying?
Get away from the stove nigga
Stop playing man, the fuck is you talking 'bout?
I'm in the crib watching Larry King Live, the new Gucci's on
Refrigerator, smoking some kush, this nigga's a lighter
Swisher, becoming a roach, go get the glass ashtray
Pour the glass of Crut, tap the bottle then toast
Barrie took a sip for the cause, yeah my son
Soon to be 3, tried to fill his bottle then run
Then I got a collect call, heard niggas down the block is fighting
Some nigga got, knifed up brawling
Heard the kid was 19, Lil' Infinity too
His father worked up at the dealer he loved boo
They tried him for his Louis', son wasn't having it though
Yeah, yeah my nigga, the color of glue
Decided on a intervene, guess who tried to wild on me my nigga
This is like out of the blue
I'm in the Range stretch, jumped out, tucked the chain
Proceeded to talk to him, then you heard the heavy face slap
Think I broke my wrist, now I'm at the hospital vexed
Fucked up my writing hand, that's my check
Now I wanna kill this lil' nigga true
Only thing that stop my gun flaming 'cause he related to you
Who? He ain't related to me
Just that I knew him for like 18 years until he violated, stealing my gear
If my lil' homie, yo he eat anything for me
Send him uptown, he get bagged, yo he never call me
Come home and still blow cats for me
Pump crack, stabbing all them hoodrat shorties
A live gunslinger well known, born to dance
When the heat is on, Stapleton days, shoot himself in the groin
The gun went off, it looked like a flick
When he fell to the floor, holding his nuts, screaming "God dammit
Shit I put one in my balls, what the fuck y'all looking at me for?
Call the police, do something
Motherfuckers standing around, watch when I get better
All hell's gonna be terror
Death to you, you, he pointed at Red
I said chill that's fam duke
He put real work in that make you cute, fuck that
But anyway son indeed, he stole two Polo rugbies
Swore to his dead mother, I couldn't take it
Yo Lord I knocked out his teeth
Now he's rocking those false joints like everything's peace
In "R.A.G.U." by Raekwon and Ghostface, the rappers describe their lifestyles and how they handle challenges. In the beginning, Raekwon is chilling at home watching Larry King Live, smoking some weed, drinking alcohol and minding his own business. Suddenly, he gets a collect call and learns that someone is fighting down the block. He decides to intervene and ends up breaking his wrist in the process. As he contemplates revenge, he realizes that the person who hurt him is related to Ghostface and decides to drop the issue. Meanwhile, Ghostface discusses his relationship with a man who violated him by stealing his belongings. Ghostface explains that he knew the individual for many years and even relied on him to commit crimes for him. But when Ghostface discovered the theft, he knocked out the guy's teeth.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold it!
Wait a minute!
Now you get out of here, I'm warning you
I won't let you push me around. If you want to fight, I'll take you on.
That nigga's twisted
That guy is acting strange.
Stop playing with that clip man
Put the weapon down.
Close them fucking blinds too man, ya know what I'm saying?
Also, close the blinds.
Yo Don my man, get out of the stove man
Get out of the kitchen, Don.
Get away from the stove nigga
Stop cooking.
Stop playing man, the fuck is you talking 'bout?
Stop joking around, what are you talking about?
I'm in the crib watching Larry King Live, the new Gucci's on
I'm at home watching TV and wearing my new Gucci shoes.
Refrigerator, smoking some kush, this nigga's a lighter
I'm smoking marijuana and the lighter is in the fridge.
Swisher, becoming a roach, go get the glass ashtray
The cigar is almost finished, get an ashtray.
Pour the glass of Crut, tap the bottle then toast
Pour a drink, tap the bottle, and let's make a toast.
Barrie took a sip for the cause, yeah my son
My friend Barrie took a drink too, cheers.
Soon to be 3, tried to fill his bottle then run
My son, who is almost 3 years old, tried to fill his bottle and run away.
Then I got a collect call, heard niggas down the block is fighting
Then I got a phone call and found out some guys down the block are fighting.
Some nigga got, knifed up brawling
Someone got stabbed while fighting.
Heard the kid was 19, Lil' Infinity too
I heard the kid who got stabbed is 19 years old and goes by the name Lil' Infinity.
His father worked up at the dealer he loved boo
Lil' Infinity's father worked at a car dealership and was in love with his car.
They tried him for his Louis', son wasn't having it though
They tried to steal Lil' Infinity's Louis Vuitton bag, but he didn't let them have it.
Yeah, yeah my nigga, the color of glue
Okay, okay my friend, let's change the subject.
Decided on a intervene, guess who tried to wild on me my nigga
I decided to intervene, and guess who tried to attack me.
This is like out of the blue
It was unexpected.
I'm in the Range stretch, jumped out, tucked the chain
I'm driving my Range Rover, and I jumped out and hid my chain.
Proceded to talk to him, then you heard the heavy face slap
I started talking to him, and then I slapped him hard in the face.
Think I broke my wrist, now I'm at the hospital vexed
I think I broke my wrist, and now I'm at the hospital upset.
Fucked up my writing hand, that's my check
I messed up my hand that I use to write, and that's how I make money.
Now I wanna kill this lil' nigga true
Now I want to kill Lil' Infinity for what he did.
Only thing that stop my gun flaming cause he related to you
The only reason I didn't kill him is because he is related to you.
Who? He ain't related to me
Who? He's not related to me.
Just that I knew him for like 18 years until he violated, stealing my gear
I knew him for a long time, but he violated our friendship by stealing my clothes.
If my lil' homey, yo he eat anything for me
If my friend needed anything, he would get it for me.
Send him uptown, he get bagged, yo he never call me
I would send him uptown to get drugs, but he never called me.
Come home and still blow cats for me
Even after getting caught, he still sold drugs for me.
Pump crack, stabbing all them hoodrat shorties
He sold crack and slept with many women in the hood.
A live gunslinger well known, born to dance
He was well known for being a skilled shooter, and liked to dance.
When the heat is on, Stapleton days, shoot himself in the groin
When he faced danger in Stapleton, he accidentally shot himself in the groin.
The gun went off, it looked like a flick
The gun discharged, and it looked like a scene from a movie.
When he fell to the floor, holding his nuts, screaming "God dammit
When he fell to the ground, he was holding his genitals and screaming in pain.
Shit I put one in my balls, what the fuck y'all looking at me for?
I shot myself in the testicles, why are you guys staring?
Call the police, do something
Call the police or do something to help me.
Motherfuckers standing around, watch when I get better
Everyone is just standing there watching, but they will pay when I'm better.
All hell's gonna be terror
Everyone will be afraid.
Death to you, you," he pointed at Red
Red, you will die.
I said chill that's fam duke
Relax, Red is family.
He put real work in that make you cute, fuck that
Red worked hard for us, let's not harm him.
But anyway son indeed, he stole two Polo rugbies
Anyway, Lil' Infinity stole two Polo shirts.
Swore to his dead mother, I couldn't take it
Lil' Infinity promised to his dead mother that he didn't steal the shirts, but I didn't believe him.
Yo Lord I knocked out his teeth
I punched him so hard I knocked out his teeth.
Now he's rocking those false joints like everything's peace
Now he's wearing fake teeth and acting like everything is fine.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt F Bacharach, Corey Todd Woods, Dennis Coles, Hal David, Peter O Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind