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.
The Hood
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some day, I know you'll be far away
I'll be right here to stay, give me one day
Baby, baby, don't, run away, come see me
Some day, I'll be right, here today, just give me love, Rae.
To my hood, I'm always there for you
Rain, hail, sleet, snow, and I'm there
My life is all in your soul, daily, since nana left us
She took all of your blessings, 'cause she been there
My life change, yo, could never though be without you, yo
It's strange when I want it to rain
On my best friend's grooming, we all had visions of you
We broke nights, God, knowing you cared
Peace, nigga, only for a minute and I'mma break out
Come back and kiss you on your feet, here
I love my hood, I love my niggaz, there, yo
The older we get, we understand, you might tear
[Chorus]
You keep the little young ones, happy, true
Graduations occurred, you look so pretty and new
Look at the sky, all blue, all old people with you
Facilities mailing, jail brothers miss you
Wow, it gets crazy when I think about the money you made me
Slipped me away, but Jakes tried to rade me
Nighshifts, smokin' on spliffs, you kept yellin'
"Carry your fifth, the down the block niggaz is gay"
They keep police invadin' your space, we can't live
Plus, they gassin' the mayor, them niggaz want to give you away
We won't have that, suburban people mad at the fact
That you be gettin' more company then them, they just be scared of that
"Hood", look at your name, spell it backwards
Yo, "Dooh", that's what they yellin' in vain
You the realest, the most livest, flyest, you part of life
I gotta give you love, 'cause you gave it God and life
[Chorus]
Who ever said you ain't do right by me, they frontin', yo
They couldn't understand that we was a team
I used to come out, hear you words, talk to me, walk with me, brother
Cool, try to be successful and dream
The city lights is on, now, they want to turn 'em off
Try'nna start some shit, actin' like you never made a penny for 'em
Dun, they doin' you dirty, we had Summer Youth for that, though
No need to cry, never get worried
You gon' live forever, word to mother
'Cause she raised you right, and you got fifty-one brothers
I sat with the trees and had conversations at bees
We talked about throwin' money up, landscapin' your knees
You forget that, something to talk about
Show me where to take the check, pay these suckas off and be out
The'll never be another place, everybody happy to see
That's why I keep coming back to you, peace
[Chorus: x2]
The song "The Hood" by Raekwon reflects the deep connection and love he has for his neighborhood. He speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the underprivileged, and the importance of his community in his life. The chorus repeats the idea of being present and staying connected to those around him. He acknowledges the changes that have occurred in his neighborhood and the difficulties they face, but he still drives to give love to the community he grew up in.
One of the standout lines is "You the realest, the most livest, flyest, you part of life / I gotta give you love, 'cause you gave it God and life." This shows the immense power and importance of his neighborhood in shaping who he is and how he sees the world. He recognizes that it is his duty to give back to the community that gave him so much.
Overall, "The Hood" is a tribute to the people and places that have made Raekwon who he is. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's roots and giving back to those who have helped along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Some day, I know you'll be far away
One day, my hood will change and evolve beyond recognition
I'll be right here to stay, give me one day
But I'll always be here when you need me, just give me one chance to prove it
Baby, baby, don't, run away, come see me
Please don't abandon our community, come back and visit often
Some day, I'll be right, here today, just give me love, Rae.
I'll always be here to show my love and support for my hood, no matter how much it changes
To my hood, I'm always there for you
I'm devoted to my community and always willing to help
Rain, hail, sleet, snow, and I'm there
No matter the weather or conditions, I'll be there for my hood
For all the underprivileged, yo we here
I'm especially dedicated to helping those who are struggling and less fortunate
My life is all in your soul, daily, since nana left us
Ever since my beloved grandmother passed away, my life has revolved around my hood
She took all of your blessings, 'cause she been there
My grandma understood the value of community and instilled that in me
My life change, yo, could never though be without you, yo
My life would be completely different and empty without my hood
It's strange when I want it to rain
Sometimes I actually want bad weather, just so I can appreciate the beauty of my surroundings even more
On my best friend's grooming, we all had visions of you
Even when I'm with my friends, my thoughts often turn to my hood and the memories I have there
We broke nights, God, knowing you cared
I've spent many sleepless nights in my hood, knowing that it's a place that truly cares for its residents
Peace, nigga, only for a minute and I'mma break out
I may leave my hood temporarily, but I know I'll always come back because it's my true home
Come back and kiss you on your feet, here
I'm so grateful to my hood that I'm willing to literally bow down and show my appreciation
I love my hood, I love my niggaz, there, yo
I have an immense amount of love and respect for my hood and the people who call it home
The older we get, we understand, you might tear
As we grow older, we realize that our hood may face challenges and difficulties
You keep the little young ones, happy, true
My hood is a place of joy and happiness for children, who are given a sense of security and belonging there
Graduations occurred, you look so pretty and new
Even as things change, my hood remains beautiful and full of promise
Look at the sky, all blue, all old people with you
My community is made up of people of all ages and backgrounds, but we are all connected under the same bright sky
Facilities mailing, jail brothers miss you
Even those who are incarcerated or separated from the community still long for the comfort and love of my hood
Wow, it gets crazy when I think about the money you made me
Sometimes I'm amazed at how much my hood has given me, not just in material wealth but in emotional support and love
Slipped me away, but Jakes tried to rade me
Even though my hood has enriched my life, there have been times when I've been targeted by the authorities and treated unfairly
Nighshifts, smokin' on spliffs, you kept yellin'
Even during the toughest times, my hood always finds a way to make things better and keep spirits high
"Carry your fifth, the down the block niggaz is gay"
My hood is a place where slang and slang culture is embraced and celebrated
They keep police invadin' your space, we can't live
Outside forces sometimes threaten the safety and livelihood of my community
Plus, they gassin' the mayor, them niggaz want to give you away
Even elected officials may not always have the best interests of my hood at heart, and may prioritize their own political agendas over the well-being and happiness of the residents
We won't have that, suburban people mad at the fact
Despite these challenges, my hood is fiercely loved and protected by its residents, who are willing to stand up to even the most powerful entities to ensure its survival
That you be gettin' more company then them, they just be scared of that
Even people from other areas feel threatened by the close-knit and supportive community of my hood
"Hood", look at your name, spell it backwards
The very name of my hood is a sign of its resilience and strength, even when viewed from a different perspective
Yo, "Dooh", that's what they yellin' in vain
Even when outsiders try to mock or demean us, we know deep down that our hood is truly special and valuable
You the realest, the most livest, flyest, you part of life
My hood is not just a physical place, but an integral part of my identity and existence
I gotta give you love, 'cause you gave it God and life
Since my hood has given me so much, it's only natural that I give back to it and show it love and respect
Who ever said you ain't do right by me, they frontin', yo
Anyone who tries to say my hood has not done right by me is simply lying or ignorant
They couldn't understand that we was a team
Only those who have experienced the deep sense of community and camaraderie in my hood can truly appreciate its value
I used to come out, hear you words, talk to me, walk with me, brother
My hood is so much more than just a physical place; it's like a close friend and confidante who is always there to lend a listening ear
Cool, try to be successful and dream
Despite the challenges and struggles of life, my hood has taught me to never give up hope and always strive for success
The city lights is on, now, they want to turn 'em off
Even as the city grows and changes, some forces want to extinguish the vibrant energy and light of my hood
Try'nna start some shit, actin' like you never made a penny for 'em
Those who seek to harm my hood are often motivated by greed and a desire for personal gain, rather than any genuine concern for the community
Dun, they doin' you dirty, we had Summer Youth for that, though
Even when faced with injustice and unfair treatment, my hood always finds a way to band together and support each other
No need to cry, never get worried
Despite these external pressures, my hood remains strong and resilient, and we never give in to fear or despair
You gon' live forever, word to mother
My hood may change and evolve, but its spirit and legacy will always live on
'Cause she raised you right, and you got fifty-one brothers
My hood is like family to me and to all of its residents, and we will always look out for each other
I sat with the trees and had conversations at bees
Even the natural world in my hood is part of its special character and beauty, and is worth cherishing and respecting
We talked about throwin' money up, landscapin' your knees
Even as we dream and hope for greater prosperity and success, we remain grounded and committed to preserving the unique character of my hood
You forget that, something to talk about
Even when I'm away from my hood, I still can't help thinking and talking about it constantly
Show me where to take the check, pay these suckas off and be out
Even as outsiders try to threaten or fleece my hood, we remain resourceful and resilient, and will always find a way to fight back
The'll never be another place, everybody happy to see
There is truly no place like my hood, where everyone is happy to see each other and share in the sense of community and belonging
That's why I keep coming back to you, peace
No matter how much things may change or how far I may roam, I will always come back to my hood, because it is home
[Chorus]
The chorus reiterates the idea that my hood may change and evolve, but I will always love and support it, and will always be there for it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COREY WOODS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@posajnejkwahb
Tiffany killed that hook
@angelshadowofficial9218
Rae is up there with the best spitters in the game to me…
@brave7033
I still love you Tiffany 😍😍
@djalcide1
CLASSIC!!! LOVE AND MISS THIS ERA!!
@JuiceBigalow11
Facts
@BG-nr9qv
Rae!
@ianjames8043
Rae in the Maybach back in 2003 dang lol. People hated on him for dropping a joint like this which was a little different than his OB4CL style but to me it’s a classic and shows his versatility. I remember this song in 2003 on heavy rotation on BET and RapCity. So nostalgic to me.
@MrJaykahn
This song had true meaning when it came out and for some odd reason,it still does.
@thomascrowley9122
It's timeless
@l.e.s.4181
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN-ITS SPECIAL UNIQUELY SOMETHING LIKE HEADS TURN UGLY-METHAPHOR👈RESPECT THE CAINEYCE STYLISTIC MALODIC FLOW THIS IS HIP HOP TREASURY &HISTORY-M-Cs WERE CUT FROM A DIFFERENT CLOFT-GENERATIONAL BOSSES-1992-1999)