Disco de Juvenile: “Lex Diamond Story”

Rae is back after taking just over 4 years off since his last solo, the widely hated (for reasons I'll never know) "Immobilarity" (Which I like as much as "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..."). This album still deserves 4 stars, but I think it's by far his worst solo project to date. It has 20 tracks, but only 14 songs (1 of which he isn't on) so it has a little too many skits. The sound isn't very Wu either. Production is by 13 different people (and like his last album, none are Wu affiliated!!). Mizza does 2 songs, and Crummie Beats, Andy C (both who I never heard of, do very good jobs) and some other notable producers are EZ Elpee, Hangmen 3, Emile, DJ Khalil, Smith Bros. (the other 5 I never heard of). Guests are all over the album, so not enough of Rae is on here. It has 1 classic, 7 good songs, 3 that are ok, and 3 I skip. A good cd to have for his fans but his other works are better.

#2 - 8.5

#4 - 8.5 (f/ havoc -- odd but goo dbeat)

#5 - 8 (f/ shostface and American Cream Team --a good story about Rae's missing watch that cost as much as a mansion)

#6 - 8 (deeper song)

#7 - 10 (CLASSIC gangsta $h!+ -- great beat -- f/ ghostface killah (One of his best verses ever so you know its HOT), and Fat Joe)

#8 - 7

#10 - 8 (Ice Water Inc. -- no Rae on this track)

#12 - 6.5 (a story about the coke man -- bad beat)

#13 - 6 (f/ masta killa & inspectah deck)

#14 - 7 (remake of his classic "Ice Cream" -- nowher enear as good -- f/ cappadonna & method man)

#15 - 7 (f/ tiffany vilareal -- deeper song)

#17 - 9 (f/ sheek of the Lox & Capone of C-N-N)

#18 - 8.5 (f/ Ice Water Inc.)

#19 - 5 (f/ tekitha)

Corey Woods -- b. 1/12/68 -- Staten Island, NY

Check all my reviews

Although I had to wait almost a year for the goods (which is typical for any Wu album) Raekwon certainly brought a gourmet meal on this one. I only wish that RZA and the Genius/GZA would have made the album. Pitbull fights lets you know from the beginning what you were gong to be dealing with. King of all Kings - Great track. The album continues and really doesn't stumble until it gets to the track Robbery. It was Ok but I wish Rae would find some more talented emcees to sign. The rest of the album finishes up nicely. The only think I had a problem with aside from the lack of RZA & GZA, is that the skits were long and unnecessary, and that Ice Cream 2 was weak on the beat. But all and all, the album was great. I hope that Rae sells a lot of units but the way Hip Hop is on this bounce crap today, he has a tough road ahead. You got my money though Rae.

The album title begins the myopic vision, Raekwon telling the tales of a unknown fictional hustler and gangster named Lex Diamond. That doesn't automatically spell doom but I was suspicious that this LP was going to be a few notches below his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album (I love that crazy album). Unfortunately, there was no RZA on any of the production (sample clearance problems) so Raekwon went a different route, beat wise. Raekwon says his fans wanted it like that but you don't expect mix tape flavor from Raekwon. According to him "This album right here is nothing but hard beats. I came a little bit more gritty because that's what my fans wanted. They want me on that street sh*t. But at the same time I'm a conscious MC so I kind of mashed all of these thoughts together amongst hard beats." I have to disagree, this is not what Raekwon fans want and you can't be too conscious of an MC when you have drug glorification issues throughout even if the drug glorification comes in the form of guest artist bragging about how much weight they dropped on the block and who they killed over it. It's hard for today's MC to actualize being hard and tough without equating it with selling drugs and the homicides that ensue. I think Rae wanted to copy the success of his first album but not do the same thing as his last. However, he makes the mistake of being be too different from either of his previous works. When you are the type of artist that he is, that has a fan base that require certain integral things, you have to stay focused. Rae can still flow but conceptually this is not a vintage Raekwon album. Rae is not known for being the hardest rapper he is known for being original and clever something that is only present on skits and intro's. Rae of the Wu-Tang Clan is a different person on this album. Rae told Hiphopdx, "Why a ni$$ can't get a GRAMMY for being the hardest mutherf@*ker out there? It shouldn't be based on money and popularity. It should be based on originality and authenticity." Originality and authenticity is exactly what is missing. It's too many tracks like # 7 that have that brick (drugs) talk, "Planet of The Apes" has D-Block on it and they taking that rah,rah. He tries to praise women on "Ice Cream pt.2" but then he embarks on a path of the most profane type of "accolades". He tempers it all with some humor like on the 9th track and various intros and skits but the martial arts acknowledgement that Wu-Tang is known for is absent from this creation. Without it Rae gets a little lost, but that was a plus in the case of the 19th track which is actually an R&B gem featuring some unknown songstress, however it doesn't feel right on this gritty album. I longed for more of the creativity that he exhibited on the cut "Missing Watch", but felt the vibe on "Wyld in Da Club", which is targeted for the club. - nuff said

Answer this question. Is Raekwon a one-album-wonder? Only Built For Cuban Linx was a classic. Immobilarity was a dud and this album..... The problem is that Raekwon doesnt sounds as hungry as he did when he first came out with Wu-tang in 93. This is not to say that this album doesnt have its moments. Pit Bull Fights and Missing Watch(featuring Ghostface) are the best tracks on the album. All Over Again is a pretty good introspective track and The Hood(feat Tiffany Villereal) was a good first single. The problem is that that the production is boring and flat. Raekwon is one of those MCs that needs good production to bring out the best in him. You cant give him bland beats and expect him to rip it. Case in point with Pa-blow Escablow. Anytime Raekwon's stories are putting you to sleep its a problem! Ice Water Inc stinks and its shows in Robbery and Wyld In Da Club. Raekwon ruins a perfectly good thing with a horrible sequel called Ice Cream Part 2. Smith Bros, King Of Kings and Once Upon A Time are all dishonorable mentions. Clientele Kidd is the worst song on here and why why why is Fat Joe on this song?

Bottom Line: The Lex Diamond Story is not the best a gifted Mc like Raekwon can give you. On most of these tracks he sounds bored and the production is just as dull. Is Raekwon a one-album-wonder? You bet your a** he is! Standout Tracks: PIT BULL FIGHTS, MISSING WATCH, ALL OVER AGAIN, THE HOOD and PLANET OF THE APES.

This is for Rubby W. who just posted a message saying not to buy anything Wu related. I think he needs to wait for the new Masta Killa CD coming out on Tuesday the 1st. I'm having a feeling this disc is going to be off the hook. Main reason being that the majority of the production is in house (RZA, True Master, and Mathematics). Also this is MK's first album, I am sure his lyrics are going to bring nothing but wisdom. Why did Meth's CD suck? because he is getting way too commerical. Little girls that watch TRL probably even picked that CD up, which was aimed at that kind of audience. I think after MK's CD drops, the Wu will be back. I'm just hoping that the only reason RZA has not been on Wu albums is because he was too busy with Kill Bill. Well to review this Lex Diamonds album, it is very sub par. I think its worse than Immobilarity. I just wish Rae and Ghost put out another Cuban Linx (well no CD can be that great, but I want that same sound back). Also, Rae needs to drop this Ice Water group he is hyping up on this CD, because they just sound horrible on this CD.