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.
Striving For Perfection
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Aight, word, aight I'ma set it"
"Let's get it, fuck it, let's get it, tell me how you feel, man"
"Yo son, check the fly shit son"
"Sup, cousin, how you doin'?"
"Yo, baby, check it man, I got a new connect son, for real, man
Fuck all this twenty for a brick shit, man" (no doubt)
"My man got out of state for fifteen" (yeah)
"Yo, you know my man's and 'em is in VA they politickin' to death"
"Right, right, right"
"So it's all good, what's up? What you wanna do?"
"God, God, we gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
Get the f-, get the fuck outta New York, you know what I'm sayin'?
Bounce man, start fuckin' with bigger and better shit, man"
"So you tellin' me no more big eights, strictly bricks"
"No more, no more, no more, man"
"Then I'm with you, I been waitin'"
"No more, God"
"What's up?"
"It's a pot of gold right here, man
This is it man, this is glory, you know what I'm sayin'?
"So yo, the first thing we gotta do, man
Is just know what we gonna do with this cream when we get it, man" (right)
"'Cause I'm not tryna just be, sittin' on motherfuckin' two-hundred thou'" (right)
"And acting like I'ma just be a drug dealer all my life, son" (nah, nah)
"I got bigger and better plans, son"
"No doubt, we gonna move on, man"
"And you know I be fucking with anybody, man"
"Son, long as the love and the trust is there, son
We gon' grow, God" (you know-, yo, Tony)
"We gon' grow like a plant, son" (yo, you comin' at me like that, son?)
"For real son, come on you know me, man" (you know my style, son)
"You know how my heart feels though, God" (no doubt)
"But yo, God, for real, this is my last time, God
I'm hangin' this shit up, man, if this shit don't work right here, God"
"Word up, I feel the same way, I feel the same way kid" (you know what I'm sayin'?)
"Yo, God, you know what I'm sayin'?
When I got shot at, man, my mom's windows got shot the fuck up, man" (yeah)
"Yo God, my baby's in here God, see I gotta take the time, man
And raise my family, man" (yeah, yeah, yeah)
"You know what I'm sayin'? Sit around man, my grandkids, man"
"But yo son, it's like this man
We all living, man, we here now, man"
"Word, man"
"You know what I'm sayin'?
Let's not think like we gon' be stagnatin', man
Let's keep moving ahead, man
Keep our head up man
Take care of our families, man"
"God, word is bond, I'm your eyes that's in back of you kid"
"Let's do it"
The lyrics to Raekwon's song "Striving for Perfection" depict a conversation between two drug dealers who are tired of their current lifestyle and want to make a change for the better. They discuss moving away from New York and pursuing bigger and better deals involving larger quantities of drugs. The singers also express their desire to eventually get out of the drug game and focus on taking care of their families and living a more fulfilling life.
The song's lyrics reflect the struggle and desire for success that many people in difficult situations face. The two men in the conversation are striving to achieve their dreams and make a better life for themselves and their loved ones. However, they also acknowledge the risks and difficulties that come with their lifestyle and the possibility that their plans may not work out. Despite this, they remain committed to their goals and determined to make a change.
The lyrics to this song offer a glimpse into the reality of drug dealing and the motivations behind it, while also highlighting the desire for something more meaningful in life. It is a powerful message that emphasizes the importance of striving towards one's goals, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
No disrespect, but for real I'm tired of this shit
I don't mean any disrespect, but honestly, I'm fed up with this situation.
Aight, word, aight I'ma set it
Alright, I understand. I'm going to proceed with the plan.
Let's get it, fuck it, let's get it, tell me how you feel, man
Let's do this, no holding back. How do you feel about it?
Yo son, check the fly shit son
Hey, check out this cool thing.
Sup, cousin, how you doin'?
Hey, what's up? How are you doing?
Yo, baby, check it man, I got a new connect son, for real, man
Fuck all this twenty for a brick shit, man (no doubt)
My man got out of state for fifteen (yeah)
You know what I'm saying?
Hey, listen, I have a new supplier for drugs. Forget about paying $20 for a smaller amount, my guy can get us a larger quantity for $15 from out of state. Do you understand?
Yo, you know my man's and 'em is in VA they politickin' to death
Right, right, right
So it's all good, what's up? What you wanna do?
Hey, my friend and his group in Virginia are working their connections to get us what we need. However, what do you want to do?
God, God, we gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
Get the f-, get the fuck outta New York, you know what I'm sayin'?
Bounce man, start fuckin' with bigger and better shit, man
We need to leave New York and find better opportunities. We need to move on and deal with bigger and more profitable things.
No more, no more, no more, man
Then I'm with you, I been waitin'
No more, God
What's up?
I'm done with the way things are currently going. I'm with you and have been waiting for a change. What's the plan?
It's a pot of gold right here, man
This is it man, this is glory, you know what I'm sayin'?
This is a big opportunity for us to make a lot of money, this is our glory.
So yo, the first thing we gotta do, man
Is just know what we gonna do with this cream when we get it, man (right)
'Cause I'm not tryna just be, sittin' on motherfuckin' two-hundred thou'" (right)
And acting like I'ma just be a drug dealer all my life, son (nah, nah)
I got bigger and better plans, son
The first thing we need to do is decide what we're going to do with the money we make. I don't want to just have $200,000 and be a lifelong drug dealer. I have bigger and better plans for my future.
No doubt, we gonna move on, man
And you know I be fucking with anybody, man
Son, long as the love and the trust is there, son
We gon' grow, God (you know-, yo, Tony)
We gon' grow like a plant, son (yo, you comin' at me like that, son?)
For real son, come on you know me, man (you know my style, son)
You know how my heart feels though, God (no doubt)
Definitely, we're going to move forward. And you know I can work with anyone as long as there's love and trust. We're going to grow and build something great. For real, you know me and how I operate. You know how much I care about this plan.
But yo, God, for real, this is my last time, God
I'm hangin' this shit up, man, if this shit don't work right here, God"
Word up, I feel the same way, I feel the same way kid
But seriously, this is the last time I'm doing this. If this plan doesn't work, I'm retiring. Word, I feel the same way.
Yo, God, you know what I'm sayin'?
When I got shot at, man, my mom's windows got shot the fuck up, man (yeah)
Yo God, my baby's in here God, see I gotta take the time, man
And raise my family, man (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You know what I'm sayin'? Sit around man, my grandkids, man
You know what I mean? When I got shot at, my mother's windows were also shot. And now that I have a child, I need to take the time to raise my family. I want to be around for my grandchildren too.
But yo son, it's like this man
We all living, man, we here now, man"
Word, man"
You know what I'm sayin'?
Let's not think like we gon' be stagnatin', man
Let's keep moving ahead, man
Keep our head up man
Take care of our families, man"
But seriously, we're alive and here now. So let's not get stuck and stop here. We need to keep moving forward, keeping our heads up and taking care of our families.
God, word is bond, I'm your eyes that's in back of you kid"
I swear to God, I have your back and I'm looking out for you.
Let's do it
Let's go for it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Corey Woods, Robert F. Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind