Raekwon Previews OB4CL 2

While Wu-Tang Clansman Raekwon is gearing up for the release of his long awaited Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, the Chef’s team took the time out to give XXL an early preview at EMI’s offices in Manhattan yesterday (July 23).

Picking up where the 1995 classic left off, Papa Wu introduces the album over a reworked version of the original OB4CL’s closing track “North Star.” Like its predecessor, the second chapter in the Cuban Linx weaves cinematic street tales over dusty beats and has the Rza sharing production duties with the likes of Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, Marley Marl and the iconic J. Dilla.

On the lyrical side of things most of the Clan is accounted for with Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, Method Man and the Gza all making appearances alongside other artists like Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss.

Now, after a 14-year wait fans can finally get their OB4CL fix on September 8. In a recent interview with XXLMag.com Raekwon explained the wait. “Well, number one, I never wanted to rush any project that I make at this capacity of anticipation," he said. "It’s like when you sit here and you think about Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, the first one, the formula was so crazy that I had to really make sure that we capture the same kind of elements that we had in the first one. Don’t get me wrong, you could never make something that you already made and duplicate it the same. All you can do is really just grow from the first one and add on to the next one.”— Rob Markman