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 Protection
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aight word, aight I'ma set 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-four brick shit man
My man got out of state for fifteen
Yeah
YouknowhatI'msayin?
Yo know my man's gonna represent PA, politickin to death so
Right right
It's all good, what's up? What you want to do?
We gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
Get the fur, get the fuck outta New York, yaknowhatI'msayin?
Bounce man, start fuckin with bigger and better shit
So you tellin me no more big eights strictly breaks
No more no more no more man
Then I'm with you, I've been waiting
No more God
WHASSUP?
It's the pot of gold right here man this is it, man this is glory
YouknowhatI'msayin?
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 trying to just be, sitting on motherfucking two-hundred thou
And acting like I'ma just be a
Nah
a drug dealer all my life
Nah
Son I got bigger and better plans Son
No doubt, we gonna move on man
And you know I be fuckin with anybody man
Son, long as the love and the trust is there Son
We gonna grow God
You know it Tony
We gonna grow like a plant Son
Yo you coming 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
YouknowhatI'msayin?
Word up, I feel the same way
I feel the same way kid
Yo God, yaknowhatI'msayin?
I got shot at man, my moms windows got shot the fuck up man
Yeah
Yo God, my baby's in here God, see I gotta take time man
and raise my family man
Yeah yeah yeah
YaknowhatI'msayin? Sit around man, my grandkids man
But yo Son, it's like this man
We all livin man, we here now man
Word man
YouknowhatI'msayin? Let's not think like we gon be stagnating man
Let's keep movin 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 then
In Raekwon's song Striving For Protection, the lyrics depict two friends discussing their future plans in the drug business. They talk about moving out of New York, away from the twenty-four brick life and into something bigger and better. The singer emphasizes his desire to make the drug game his last, while he focuses on raising his family and living out his life without the threat of violence. He stresses the importance of being strategic with their money and using it to fuel their growth, rather than just sitting on it. The lyrics display the struggle of balancing dangerous lifestyles with family obligations and personal desires for a better life.
Overall, the song emphasizes the character's desire for protection and growth, both for himself and his family. He discusses making a clean break from the dangerous lifestyle and moving forward in their lives to create something better for themselves. This theme of striving for protection and growth is a common thread throughout the song, as the character seeks to move beyond the violence and trouble that comes with the drug game.
There are multiple interesting facts about the song Striving for Protection:
1) Striving for Protection is the twelfth track on Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, the debut studio album by the Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon.
2) The song features Raekwon the Chef, Ghostface Killah and DJ Tommy Mattola.
3) The song is produced by RZA, who is also a member of the Wu-Tang Clan.
4) The song utilizes a sample of "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz.
5) The song was included on the soundtrack for the 1998 video game "Wu-Tang: Taste the Pain".
6) The album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time and has been described as a masterpiece.
7) The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 24, 1995.
8) The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
9) The album cover features a Cuban Link necklace and a handwritten message which says "100% pure cocaine".
10) The album features collaborations with other members of the Wu-Tang Clan, including Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and RZA.
Chords: Unfortunately, no chords have been published for Striving for Protection.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah yeah I'm tired of doing this shit
Expressing frustration and a desire for change
Tell me how you feel man
Asking for emotional feedback
Sup cousin how you doin?
A greeting to a family member
I got a new connect son, for real man
Announcing a new drug supplier
My man got out of state for fifteen
Referring to a drug-related prison sentence
Yo know my man's gonna represent PA, politickin to death so
Discussing his friend's involvement in Pennsylvania drug trafficking
It's all good, what's up? What you want to do?
Asking for a plan of action
We gotta move God, we gotta move God, we gotta migrate
Emphasizing the need to relocate for drug operations
Get the fur, get the fuck outta New York, yaknowhatI'msayin?
Preparing to leave New York for a new start
So you tellin me no more big eights strictly breaks
Discussing a switch in drug distribution methods
Then I'm with you, I've been waiting
Agreeing to the plan and expressing readiness for change
WHASSUP?
Asking for an update
It's the pot of gold right here man this is it, man this is glory
Viewing drug dealing as a lucrative opportunity
So yo, the first thing we gotta do man
Planning the next steps
Cause I'm not trying to just be, sitting on motherfucking two-hundred thou
Preferring not to remain stagnant in drug dealing and wanting to invest profits
a drug dealer all my life
Expressing a desire to move on from drug dealing
Son I got bigger and better plans Son
Aspiring to greater achievements outside of drug dealing
You know it Tony
Acknowledging agreement and trust with a partner
Yo you coming at me like that Son?
Challenging a partner's approach
You know my style Son
Asserting a personal style or approach
But yo God, for real, this is my last time God
Announcing plans to quit drug dealing
Word up, I feel the same way
Agreeing with a partner's statement
But yo Son, it's like this man
Making a point about the need to move forward
We all livin man, we here now man
Emphasizing the importance of taking action in the present
Let's not think like we gon be stagnating man
Encouraging forward thinking and action
Let's keep movin ahead man, keep our head up man
Advising to stay focused and positive
Take care of our families man
Prioritizing family responsibilities
God, word is bond, I'm your eyes that's in back of you kid
Expressing loyalty and commitment to a partner
Let's do it then
Agreeing to move forward with the plan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COREY WOODS, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind