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.
Rich And Black
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When God sends prophets and messengers
They don't care nothing about your power
Because they come from the power
Rare nigga, I'm a wonder
Your best success is my worst blunder
Feds tap the number
Weed to alleviate the pain
Eddie King, Richard Pryor pinky ring
Watch your conduct nigga
Throw parties for my niggas that's living, you guessed it
Models y'all keep them if they anorexic
Love em but can't trust them
Hate em but won't bust them
Caking in savings, spending, wasting
It's like a custom
Tats are hieroglyphics
Lipstick on the collar
I got more to lose than you do but I'm a rider
When did the rules change
Y'all living trendy on pennies
Meeting deadlines with ease, no game
You fire, I'm butane
Gator Timbs, ostrich belts
These be the times that I surprise myself
My niggas looking like black crows and packed shows
The Don voice stay pristine like I'm still seventeen
I'm rich, Black, African
Rocking the golden Mack
Shearling leather, Gucci leg it's on my back
Willie Bosket hoodlum in the trench
Rinse these niggas
'86 Cazals dicing near the fence
Mike Tyson disciple
Trifle with my pen, it's a rifle
Sixteen ways to shoot you through your Chrysler duke
Exhaling with niggas, the jails argue
Bring the best niggas to the table
I'll sic all my whales on you
Custom wooden speakers, rock Elysses, rump on polices
Dump on creatures, holidays and preachers
Stainless steel watches, ostrich turtlenecks
Here's the deal
If we can't come in, they can't have the field
Bones in Cisco', murder instrumentals
Cayenne Porsche rap, how many horses live official
I run with generals who flash Uzis in interviews
My shit is deep, we fly, swiming, dude
Verse two gotta be all murder just like the first verse
Timbs yellow like the hair on a Malibu surfer
Yellow like my Harry Winston glistening arm B
Yellow like New York City piss-stained concrete
That's right, yo, who voted toasting in the wind
Las Vegas Otis
What you know
Leave it right here we ghost in the Lotus
Put a package on your head, be promoted, keys in effect
Paying these dumb fucking D's off with donuts
I hate, to see you, acting like a slave
To get an advance here, an advance there
Because somebody else controls your destiny
Aiyo, I'm rich, Black, umbrella calico captain
Wes Craven with a blade and a black
I'm hood ornaments
Junkies win awards in my tournaments
My shit is listed like informants pics
You know we order hits
Planes flying, niggas is sure to get you
Whether in Costa Rica, Lisa, she sure to twist ya
Eating Chow Lo Mein with chopsticks
Glocks with aim
Watermelon chips, pop some 'pagne
For all the riches
Niggas forcing out they feelings, kid
Whether in hallways or the boats, now feel us, kid
Out in Alaska, in the Astons, remember my passion
Hungry wolf who never eat in his castle
Bolivian connects restless, yeah
Chef ambidextrous
Quick to back you in like the Lexus shit
Hunted by the FBI
We gracious, more demonstrations
Shit is tough, milk the Carnation
The song "Rich and Black" by Raekwon featuring Nas is a powerful statement of affluence and Black empowerment. The first stanza speaks to the superiority of God's prophet over powerful men. The verses that follow express their wealth and status, with the hook "I'm rich, Black, African" reiterating the pride and power of Black individuals in America. The artists reinforce their wealth by sprinkling brand names and luxury items throughout the lyrics. Raekwon and Nas write their verses in the first person, owning their positions and wealth, daring anyone to question their power. The song is a testament to Black success in America, achieved despite systemic racism and other obstacles.
One of the most interesting facts about the song is that Raekwon and Nas are longtime collaborators and friends, and have worked together on multiple occasions. Another notable fact is that the track's producer, Sean C & LV, has also produced for big-name artists such as Jay-Z and Big Sean. The song samples a track from Bobby Bland's "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City," which was also used in Jay-Z's "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)." The song was released as part of Raekwon's album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II," which was a commercial and critical success after its release over a decade after the original album. Nas later called "Rich and Black" his favorite song to have been featured on in the past few years. Raekwon has called the song "special" and "one of his favorite collaborations with Nas."
The chords for "Rich and Black" are not widely available, as the song is primarily hip-hop and rap, which do not typically utilize complex or traditional chord structures. However, the track's instrumental includes samples and synths that create a specific mood and tone to match the lyrics, further enhancing the impact of the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
And regardless to how much power you have
God's prophets don't care about your power, because they come from a higher power.
When God sends prophets and messengers
God has the power to send his prophets and messengers.
They don't care nothing about your power
God's prophets and messengers only care about following God's will.
Because they come from the power
God's prophets and messengers come from God's power.
Rare nigga, I'm a wonder
I'm a rare, unique and wonderful person.
Your best success is my worst blunder
My worst mistake is better than your best achievement.
Feds tap the number
The government is monitoring my phone calls.
Jewelry Jacqueline Onassis appreciate
My jewelry is so expensive even Jacqueline Onassis would appreciate it.
Weed to alleviate the pain
I smoke weed to help manage my pain.
Eddie King, Richard Pryor pinky ring
My pinky ring is like those of Eddie King and Richard Pryor.
Watch your conduct nigga
You need to watch how you behave.
Throw parties for my niggas that's living, you guessed it
I throw parties for my living friends.
Models y'all keep them if they anorexic
If the models are anorexic, you can keep them.
Love em but can't trust them
I love them but I don't trust them.
Hate em but won't bust them
I hate them but I won't hurt them.
Caking in savings, spending, wasting
I'm saving money, but I'm also spending and wasting money.
Tats are hieroglyphics
My tattoos are like Hieroglyphics.
Lipstick on the collar
There is lipstick on my collar, probably from another woman.
I got more to lose than you do but I'm a rider
I have more to lose than you, but I still take risks.
When did the rules change
When did the rules become different?
Y'all living trendy on pennies
You're living a fashionable life on a limited budget.
Meeting deadlines with ease, no game
I'm meeting deadlines easily without being challenged.
You fire, I'm butane
You're good, but I'm explosive.
Gator Timbs, ostrich belts
I'm wearing alligator boots and ostrich belts.
These be the times that I surprise myself
I'm surprising myself with how good I am during these times.
My niggas looking like black crows and packed shows
My friends look like black crows during our sold-out shows.
The Don voice stay pristine like I'm still seventeen
My voice is still as good as when I was seventeen years old.
I'm rich, Black, African
I'm wealthy and proud to be black and African.
Rocking the golden Mack
I'm wearing a golden jacket.
Shearling leather, Gucci leg it's on my back
I'm wearing a Shearling leather jacket and Gucci pants on my back.
Willie Bosket hoodlum in the trench
I'm wearing a trench coat like the notorious criminal Willie Bosket.
Rinse these niggas
I'm going to defeat these people.
'86 Cazals dicing near the fence
I'm wearing 1986 Cazal sunglasses and standing near a fence.
Mike Tyson disciple
I'm a follower of Mike Tyson.
Trifle with my pen, it's a rifle
Don't underestimate my writing, it's powerful like a weapon.
Sixteen ways to shoot you through your Chrysler duke
There are many ways I can harm you in your Chrysler car.
Exhaling with niggas, the jails argue
We're smoking together, while prisoners argue in jail.
Bring the best niggas to the table
Bring the best people to the table.
I'll sic all my whales on you
I'll unleash all my powerful friends on you.
Custom wooden speakers, rock Elysses, rump on polices
I have custom wooden speakers, I'm wearing Elysee's perfume, and I'm outrunning the police.
Dump on creatures, holidays and preachers
I'm shooting people who deserve it, even during holidays and towards preachers.
Stainless steel watches, ostrich turtlenecks
I'm wearing a stainless steel watch and an ostrich turtleneck.
Here's the deal
Let me explain the situation.
If we can't come in, they can't have the field
If we can't participate in something, no one can.
Bones in Cisco', murder instrumentals
I'm killing it with my music.
Cayenne Porsche rap, how many horses live official
My rap is fast and powerful like a Cayenne Porsche, how many horses can handle that?
I run with generals who flash Uzis in interviews
I'm friends with powerful people who show off their weapons in interviews.
My shit is deep, we fly, swiming, dude
My music is profound, it can take us anywhere, we can even swim through it.
Verse two gotta be all murder just like the first verse
The second verse is as intense as the first verse.
Timbs yellow like the hair on a Malibu surfer
My Timberland boots are yellow, like a surfer's hair in Malibu.
Yellow like my Harry Winston glistening arm B
My jewelry is yellow and shimmering like Harry Winston diamonds.
Yellow like New York City piss-stained concrete
The yellow color is also reminiscent of the piss stains on New York City's concrete.
That's right, yo, who voted toasting in the wind
Who agreed to celebrate something that will soon go away?
Las Vegas Otis
I'm in Las Vegas, like the famous singer Otis Redding.
What you know
What do you know about that?
Leave it right here we ghost in the Lotus
Let's park the Lotus car here and disappear.
Put a package on your head, be promoted, keys in effect
If you have a hit out on you, I can help spread the word and make it happen quickly.
Paying these dumb fucking D's off with donuts
I'm bribing law enforcement with donuts.
I hate, to see you, acting like a slave
I hate to see you acting like a slave to your record label, always chasing advances.
To get an advance here, an advance there
You're always pursuing advances from your record label.
Because somebody else controls your destiny
Your record label controls your future.
Aiyo, I'm rich, Black, umbrella calico captain
I'm rich, I'm black, and I carry a calico gun while wearing an umbrella hat.
Wes Craven with a blade and a black
I'm like a character from a Wes Craven horror movie, brandishing a knife and wearing black clothing.
I'm hood ornaments
I'm a symbol of wealth like a car's hood ornament.
Junkies win awards in my tournaments
Even drug addicts can be winners in my competitions.
My shit is listed like informants pics
My music is as informative and important as law enforcement's profile pictures of informants.
You know we order hits
You know we have ordered hits on people.
Planes flying, niggas is sure to get you
People will come after you, even if you're flying away on a plane.
Whether in Costa Rica, Lisa, she sure to twist ya
Even in Costa Rica, Lisa will betray you.
Eating Chow Lo Mein with chopsticks
I'm eating Chinese food with chopsticks.
Glocks with aim
My guns are accurate and deadly.
Watermelon chips, pop some 'pagne
I'm eating watermelon chips and drinking champagne.
For all the riches
For all of my wealth.
Niggas forcing out they feelings, kid
People are talking about their feelings, even if they don't want to.
Whether in hallways or the boats, now feel us, kid
Whether we're in hallways or boats, you can feel us.
Out in Alaska, in the Astons, remember my passion
Even in Alaska, while driving Aston Martins, remember my passion for music.
Hungry wolf who never eat in his castle
I'm a hungry wolf who never eats in my luxurious home.
Bolivian connects restless, yeah
My Bolivian drug connections are restless and always on the move.
Chef ambidextrous
I'm a chef who can cook with both hands.
Quick to back you in like the Lexus shit
I can back my car up quickly, like a Lexus.
Hunted by the FBI
The FBI is after me.
We gracious, more demonstrations
We are polite and more demonstrations of power may follow.
Shit is tough, milk the Carnation
Things are difficult, I'm making the most of what I can.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: RAEKWON, DELANO MATTHEWS, LEVAR COPPIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonez2020
Let's get this straight..When Nas is around Rae, Ghost, AZ , ..the Illmatic comes out...
@MarcBurr
Facts
@daviddigregorio5840
He could have and can still write another illmatic but "its always forward im moving"
@ElGeeEm777
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight
@chancregister2714
@@daviddigregorio5840 why recreate something timeless, incomparable, one of one, certain pieces of art are just in there own right and should be enjoyed, celebrated, and felicitated as such...there's only one of you right. Shalam
@anthemmakersmusic
Hey they kill it but they should have left my verses up. I ripped it
@Dee_Nice89
if Nas & Raekwon did a collabo album together that shit would be fire tho
@354allday
it wouldnt be better than Nas and AZ but I'll cop it
@Dee_Nice89
Put all 3 of them on it: instant classic
@354allday
That's too much knowledge on one album thats its scary..the industry would be shook