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Raekwon Quotes

Powerful Raekwon for Daily Growth

About Raekwon

Raekwon, born Corey Woods on January 12, 1970, in New York City, is an influential American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his intricate storytelling and detailed lyrics, he is a founding member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. Raekwon's introduction to hip hop began at an early age, inspired by artists like Melle Mel, Kool G Rap, and Rakim. His breakthrough came with his debut solo album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..." (1995), often considered a classic in the genre. The album's success solidified Raekwon's status as a solo artist and cemented his position within the Wu-Tang Clan. The album was heavily influenced by crime films, Chinese culture, and the streets of Shaolin (the nickname for Stapleton Houses in Staten Island, where Raekwon grew up). Its unique blend of storytelling, hard-hitting beats, and intricate rhyme schemes made it a seminal work in the East Coast rap scene. Following the success of "Cuban Linx...", Raekwon released several other critically acclaimed albums, including "Immobilarity" (1999), "The Lex Diamond Story" (2003), and "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II" (2009). He has also collaborated with numerous artists, including Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, and Kanye West. Raekwon's life has not been without its challenges. He struggled with substance abuse issues in the past but has since turned his life around and remains an active figure in hip hop culture. His unique style and contribution to the genre have earned him a place among the greats, making him a true icon of East Coast rap.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm the chef, and hip hop is my kitchen."

Raekwon equates himself to a masterful chef in the realm of hip-hop music. This suggests that he considers himself a skilled, creative artist who has control over his craft within the genre, much like a chef commands the kitchen. The "kitchen" represents hip hop, where he can blend, cook, and season elements like beats, rhymes, and stories to create unique pieces of art.

"In the streets of New York City, there's a code you must follow, it's a life or death situation."

This quote suggests that in the streets of New York City, there exists an unwritten set of rules or a culture where survival is paramount. It implies a harsh reality where adherence to these local customs, norms, or self-preservation tactics is crucial for one's safety and wellbeing. The quote underscores the high stakes and potentially life-threatening circumstances that may arise in such urban environments.

"I'm the purveyor of the fly shit."

In this quote, Raekwon is asserting his role as a prominent figure or authority in the world of luxury or high-end culture ("fly shit"), suggesting that he sets trends and represents the epitome of style and quality within that sphere. This phrase can be interpreted as a claim to both artistic influence and social status in the hip-hop community, particularly related to his unique style and the refined nature of his work.

"When I step on the scene, niggas gotta react, cause I'm a part of the Wu-Tang Clan, you know how we do that."

This quote from Raekwon reflects a sense of unparalleled impact and influence that members of the Wu-Tang Clan carry within the hip hop genre. When they appear on the scene, it causes a reaction because they bring something unique and powerful to the table, changing the dynamics and setting new standards for their peers. The "you know how we do that" part emphasizes the group's signature style and iconic presence in music culture.

"I've been through many trials, and tribulations, but I kept my faith in God, and that made me stronger."

This quote suggests a personal narrative of resilience and spiritual fortitude in the face of adversity. The speaker (Raekwon) acknowledges his experiences with hardships and challenges (trials and tribulations), but he emphasizes the role of faith in God as a source of strength and support. This perspective underscores the power of faith during difficult times, suggesting that it not only helps individuals endure trials, but also enables them to grow stronger as a result. In essence, this quote communicates the message that faith can provide hope, solace, and empowerment amidst adversity, promoting personal growth and resilience in challenging situations.

I'm my own biggest marketing tool. I know the history of the business and I might as well capitalize on it.

- Raekwon

Business, Own, Might, My Own

I'm not an artist that makes singles, I'm an artist that makes albums, and it's a totally different thing.

- Raekwon

Artist, Albums, Singles, Different Thing

I stay excited 'cause for me, this is something I love to do. I'm like Coca Cola with it. I been here for a long time, I just gotta keep it nice and stay up to date and also give them that quality taste that they been looking for. It's nothing to me. When you built for it, you born for it, you do it cuz you wanna do it, not cuz you have to.

- Raekwon

Love, Here, Date, Cuz

I remember I heard it in an interview with Michael Jackson one day, saying the art is gone, everybody makes records just to make a record. See, I always want the artist that try to build a whole body of music on one album, so you can enjoy it. So you could say, 'I went with him here, I went with him here.'

- Raekwon

I Remember, Here, Everybody, Interview

To be honest with you, I don't have one track that I consider better than the next because all I'm trying to do is still grow as an artist. I got way better since the early nineties, as far as putting words together. My best energy probably was the '90s, because I was new.

- Raekwon

Artist, Next, Putting, Nineties

We strivin' for perfection.

- Raekwon

Perfection

I want to show the world that you do have some artists that are ready to go to the next level, and instead of being selfish with their career they'll open up the door to other people. I'm in a position to open up the door to help other people do what I do.

- Raekwon

Door, Next, Some, Being Selfish

But 'Cuban Linx' was a project that really needed to come, and I really wanted to get it off my chest because I know that the fans were really skeptical about it, like 'is this really gonna be what it's supposed to be?' So once everybody caught it for what it was and everybody was happy, that's mission accomplished for me.

- Raekwon

Caught, Needed, Everybody, Skeptical

If you gonna challenge my ways, know my history. Don't put nobody in my face that don't know about me, or they here to write an article on someone they thought was hot when they was hot. Come on, man. I been hot.

- Raekwon

Thought, Here, Been, Article

When I sit here and see that the eight brothers from the neighborhood that I grew up with still have success, it had to be magical. I doubt if you get another 'Wu-Tang Clan.' That might be harder than getting the new 'Jackson Five.' Certain groups you only get one time, and we just happened to be that group.

- Raekwon

Here, Another, Brothers, Neighborhood

I'm a storyteller - that's my chamber, that's my box. I'm always tryin' to give you the best story from our side of the table that you could really relate to quick. I understand where I wanna be at, but sometimes the production takes me where I need to go.

- Raekwon

Sometimes, Production, Quick, Table

I always give RZA that support as far as saying he brought Wu-Tang to the table. It was his philosophy. He picked certain dudes to be part of this group, and he said, 'This is what it's going to be called.'

- Raekwon

Give, Always, Brought, Table

I was having a lot of mixed feelings about the independent world as well as the label world. I feel like I've been in the game a long time, and you know, when it come to labels not seeing a fella being around the last five years, it's like, it's hard to convince them what I can do.

- Raekwon

Game, Independent, Been, Mixed Feelings

So for me, I had to get something going to promote the new project that I got. I decided to come with the 'Lost Jewelry' EP, which is a mixtape but it's more sexier because it's all fresh music.

- Raekwon

Project, Got, Had, Fresh

I've been living. I've been doing the writing thing. I've been being the family man. I've been traveling the world. I been to, like, 18 cities last year. I've been getting my thoughts together, trying to figure out what's going on with hip-hop itself.

- Raekwon

Doing, Been, Last Year, Hip-Hop

I love to get on tracks with brothers like Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, the GZA. The whole crew is golden, man. When you think of us, you gotta say, 'Yo, these are the Jacksons of hip-hop.'

- Raekwon

Love, Brothers, Deck, Hip-Hop

So my thing is we want come in and diffuse anything that's not real, anything that doesn't associate with real hip-hop. We want to be the one that says, 'Yo, we want to help build and build a bigger and better industry.' I'm just like, 'Yo, with talent from Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec. Who's paying attention?'

- Raekwon

Toronto, Industry, Diffuse, Hip-Hop

Well Ice H20 is my company that I plan to take to the next level with new artists, books, movies and so forth. It's more like a multimedia brand that I want to take to the next level and put some talented people on.

- Raekwon

Next, Some, Ice, Next Level

You know the things I went through as a youngster, coming into the business, all the good, the bad and the ugly that came. I'd had a rough life. I grew up single parent. My mom, she was like a father to me.

- Raekwon

Parent, Through, Rough, Youngster

As far as the creative side of making great, great albums and really trying to go down in history? I don't see that happening lately, you know what I mean? You have a lot of guys is talented, but at the same time, timeless music is more important to me.

- Raekwon

Down, Albums, Lot, Lately

I never been a hater of these other cats, who never really had nothing, being successful. That's not my problem.

- Raekwon

Nothing, Other, Been, Hater

I still wanted to see the family come back to life. And when that didn't transpire from the music, it kinda made me feel like I was bein' taken advantage of. I thought, when people heard '8 Diagrams,' they'd be like, 'Oh, Wu-Tang is a wrap now - they've lost it.' And I know that we didn't lose it.

- Raekwon

Thought, Back, Feel, Diagram

I could never say Rza's trash. But he didn't come with the right formula on '8 Diagrams.' I think 'Cuban Linx 2' will have the Clan back where they need to be, but then it's up for the Clan to be back where they need to be, too. 'Cos it ain't just the album, you know what I mean? It's everything.

- Raekwon

Back, I Think, Too, Diagram

Whether you hear me come out with another album or whether you hear any one of the Clan members, we're always going to involve everybody. When I look at 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Part II,' I look at that as a Wu album. You feel me? Even though it was my brand and my thing that I done, I had my dudes on it.

- Raekwon

Everybody, Another, Part, Brand

In a nutshell though, it's just all about opening up to the people that really care about my career and really listening to everybody who is listening to me. It's just made me stronger, to really be able to open up that door and listen to everybody else's opinions.

- Raekwon

Door, Career, Everybody, Nutshell

I definitely had to do some soul searching, and there would be a lot of times where I would sit back and look at the Internet and say to myself, 'This is a way of being able to communicate with all my fans all over the world, other than just being in New York and only hearing the New York side of things.'

- Raekwon

Communicate, Some, Other, Hearing

In the early 2000s, I was going through a lot. I didn't have my head screwed on right. Where I was at as a man, I was still growing up.

- Raekwon

Through, Screwed, Still, Early

I think that's a weak excuse, to say because a rapper's getting older that he ain't got it no more. Nah. Don't go by that philosophy. Let's just recognize that talent is within.

- Raekwon

Getting Older, I Think, Got, Rapper

And as long as your cats is loyal to what y'all are standing for, and they know how to play the game, it should be no way you can lose. It's about compromising; it's about respecting one another's position, and about going with your heart as far as what you believe in.

- Raekwon

Game, Play, Respecting, As Far As

I'm always gonna be compared to the greatest cats that's in the game, but I lack a little bit less when I'm not as visible as other guys. So I live with that thought right there - yo, you still gotta work, still got more to do. One thing where I come from you gotta remember is, don't get souped up.

- Raekwon

Game, Thought, Other, Compared

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