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 Scroll
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, word, similar story, you know?
Regardless, we all ninjas, and got money,
But the theme of the story
Is yo, checking how they came for me
(This is it, B)
Kinda brief from the gold teeth era,
Bro dreaming on C.R.E.A.M.
Complimentaries and beef
I'm from the wild side, a militant was made by the foremost elite
It sound good, brung my rifle shit, clean
Met the others, lit a blunt, begin
I'm like Nicole Kidman in the wind, niggas is wild, niggas is eat
Then I chanced it, blood can always beat mud
Mud is part of being thug, I guess it's advance, we from the street
This is me, I'm ready to beat, whatever, we gon' off' it
One time alone, yo, they pricked up Unique
Meth standing there, rare hustler hair, right in front of the building
Them niggas do them killings out there
This is deep, me, Rebel, U-G, he walked in the room
Scarf rap, pair of Timberlands, beat
This the potion, roll the scroll out, speaked and another walked in
Knowing now this is a thief
We from the same voc's, this is like a pot roast
Hottest niggas who rhyme, I know them from the time,
This is not 'posed to happen
Peace Black, we wasn't cool
Threw the piece back, everything good, I lit the leaf, captain
Got a mission, to make sure the world recognize our position
I'm standing near the kitchen
Shit just might work, I lit the stink, this could be the realest shit
This could be the realest flip quick
Everybody stand up in militant, army jackets down
I said to myself, this the realest clique
True champ, we gon' rep it through, keep it cool
No boot camp, no hard work, just some loot, family
All in, ball til you fall, loyal as ever
I grab my leather, I'm a lay til you call
[Chorus: x3]
Generals, demons, nighttime, vultures
Caught up on the ropes, let's team it
Everybody seen it, Zenith, what you mean?
Everybody C.R.E.A.M.'in', the all American dream
The Scroll by Raekwon is a song that explores the themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and the pressure that comes with fame and money. The chorus itself describes a scene of chaos and confusion, where everyone is chasing the American dream. Raekwon, however, takes a step back and reflects on his journey, from his gold teeth era to his current status as a successful rapper.
In the first verse, Raekwon reminisces about his early days in the game, when he was just a "bro dreaming on C.R.E.A.M." He talks about how he came from the wild side, and was made into a militant by the foremost elite. Raekwon then mentions meeting up with others, including Nicole Kidman (a reference to the movie Cold Mountain) and smoking a blunt before things took a turn. He regained his focus, however, and was ready to do whatever it took to succeed.
In the second verse, Raekwon speaks on the pressure that comes with success. He talks about a meeting where he encountered someone he once had beef with, but they were able to put their differences aside. Raekwon then refers to a mission he had, which was to make sure the world recognized their position. He stands by his brothers, all of them in militant army jackets, and pledges his loyalty to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, word, I heard about it, man
I heard about what happened, man
Yeah, word, similar story, you know?
I know a story that's similar to this
Regardless, we all ninjas, and got money,
Despite everything, we're all skilled and successful
But the theme of the story
The main idea of this story is
Is yo, checking how they came for me
To see how they tried to come after me
Kinda brief from the gold teeth era,
Quick summary from the era of gold teeth
Bro dreaming on C.R.E.A.M.
Thinking about money and success
Complimentaries and beef
Celebrations and conflicts
I'm from the wild side, a militant was made by the foremost elite
I come from a place of danger and have become a warrior among the best
It sound good, brung my rifle shit, clean
Everything seems alright, I brought my clean rifle
Met the others, lit a blunt, begin
I met up with the others and started to smoke a blunt
I'm like Nicole Kidman in the wind, niggas is wild, niggas is eat
I feel vulnerable like Nicole Kidman in the wind, while others are ruthless
Then I chanced it, blood can always beat mud
I took a risk, blood relationships are stronger than other alliances
Mud is part of being thug, I guess it's advance, we from the street
Being tough involves getting dirty, but it's necessary to succeed when you're from the streets
This is me, I'm ready to beat, whatever, we gon' off' it
This is who I am, I'm prepared to fight and handle whatever comes our way
One time alone, yo, they pricked up Unique
One time, they arrested Unique
Meth standing there, rare hustler hair, right in front of the building
Method Man was standing there with unique hair, in front of the building
Them niggas do them killings out there
Those guys commit murders out there
This is deep, me, Rebel, U-G, he walked in the room
This is serious, Rebel, U-G, and another person walked in the room
Scarf rap, pair of Timberlands, beat
Wearing a scarf and Timberlands while rapping to a beat
This the potion, roll the scroll out, speaked and another walked in
This is the plan, roll out the scroll, speak up and then someone else walked in
Knowing now this is a thief
Realizing now that this new person was a thief
We from the same voc's, this is like a pot roast
We have similar backgrounds, it's like a pot roast
Hottest niggas who rhyme, I know them from the time,
The best rappers, I've known them for a long time
This is not 'posed to happen
This wasn't expected to happen
Peace Black, we wasn't cool
What's up, we weren't friends
Threw the piece back, everything good, I lit the leaf, captain
I gave him the gun back, everything's cool, I lit up a joint, captain
Got a mission, to make sure the world recognize our position
We have a goal, to make the world see us
I'm standing near the kitchen
I'm standing close to the kitchen
Shit just might work, I lit the stink, this could be the realest shit
This might actually work, I lit the joint, this could be the most authentic thing ever
This could be the realest flip quick
This could become the most successful thing quickly
Everybody stand up in militant, army jackets down
Everyone be prepared and wear their military jackets
I said to myself, this the realest clique
I thought to myself, this is the most authentic group
True champ, we gon' rep it through, keep it cool
Real champion, we're going to represent it and stay calm
No boot camp, no hard work, just some loot, family
No military training, no hard work, just some money, family
All in, ball til you fall, loyal as ever
Everything in, play until you can't anymore, always loyal
I grab my leather, I'm a lay til you call
I grab my leather jacket, I'll be ready when you call
[Chorus: x3]
The chorus repeats three times
Generals, demons, nighttime, vultures
Leaders, evil, darkness, predators
Caught up on the ropes, let's team it
Caught up in struggles, let's work together
Everybody seen it, Zenith, what you mean?
Everyone noticed, what do you mean by Zenith?
Everybody C.R.E.A.M.'in', the all American dream
Everyone is focused on getting money, the American dream
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL TAYLOR PERRETTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marlon Clarke
That drum loop ALONE had me repeating this mixtape! Love this beat!
Gravedigga4Life
Daaamn...after all this time,still the MC with the coolest slang,and smoothest mafioso stories
missiemovic
This dude can rap about getting groceries and still make it dope as fuck..
joose
Dope song!!! Describing how the wu came together
Peter Hahn
and another one, love it how my favorite artists from those days are still puttin it down, darts!!! Peace
Ogu Offoaro
Still going
Johnny Hile
this is how you know the Chef is official he dropped this mixtape last year around this time, and just made a video for this and it still knocks!
prezacworld
this is a sick azz video, we need more music like this now dayz
ytwizzle
Classic Rae, and this the type of shit you ride listening in your 7 series and when you pull up on the youngins they like whats that? I say this that Lex diamonds shit and pull off lol. True stories
Andeez N
Lolz word