Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II cover

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II

Released

In one sense, this is only a sequel to Raekwon’s magnum opus in name: the three-years-gone J Dilla gets more beats (three) than RZA (two), the guest-verse roster spans far further outside the Wu than the original’s sole nod to Nas, and the production appears to sacrifice a cohesive sound for a Dream Team of sample-slayer icons like Pete Rock, Marley Marl, The Alchemist, Erick Sermon, and Dr. Dre. In another, more important sense, this is the much-needed return to form that arrived after a late ’90s/early ’00s run of neglectful, half-formed solo enterprises — the don reclaiming his turf with consigliere Ghostface at his side. As franchise continuations go, it’s like the difference between the tension-and-horror dynamic of Ridley Scott’s suspenseful Alien and the explosive action-flick bombast of James Cameron’s sequel.

Nate Patrin

Suggestions
The Album cover

The Album

Mantronix
All in a Day’s Work cover

All in a Day’s Work

Statik Selektah, Saigon
Population Control cover

Population Control

Statik Selektah
The Elephant Man’s Bones cover

The Elephant Man’s Bones

Roc Marciano, The Alchemist
Nineteen Ninety Now cover

Nineteen Ninety Now

Buckwild, Celph Titled
Well-Done cover

Well-Done

Statik Selektah, Action Bronson
Dour Candy cover

Dour Candy

billy woods
Raising Hell cover

Raising Hell

Run–D.M.C.