Raekwon "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" (25th Anniv. + Sampler)

Remember that feeling when you first saw Scarface or King of New York? Well that's how it feels when you listen to the new album by Raekwon The Chef. 'Only Built...' is the third solo project to come out The Wu-Tang stable, and they just keep getting better and better. Yes that's right, Raekwon's debut is better than both ODB's and Method Man's and, although it has much of the same personnel of the other Wu-Tang joints, it has a vibe and personality all of its own. This is not just a rap album with nine tracks on each side. This is a piece of hip-hop cinema. The cinematic vibe is achieved by interspersing tracks with conversations between Raekwon and Ghost Face Killer discussing their hopes and fears for the future alongside scenes from gangsta movies. All featured rappers playing the roles of G's and hustlers have taken on alias for the occasion. Raekwon becomes Lou Diamonds, Ghost Face Killer becomes Tony Starks, Method Man makes an appearance as Johnny Blaze, the RZA steps up as Bobby Steeles, and there's a special cameo from Nas as Nas Escobar. The eerie menacing vibe is further added to by the spooky vocals of Blue Raspberry...

The story of 'Only Built...' ostensibly charts the struggle of the Wu-Gambino family of Gatin Island, and their struggle to get paid and stay alive long enough to spend it. They fiend with the obsession of a crack head for the trappings of a material success, every song seeming to have a reference to some designer label or other, be it Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Lexus, Cristal, or Liz Clayborne. But beneath this surface negativity they express the positive values of self sufficiency and the importance of maintaining the family unit. Like any good gangsta film there are moments of tension and menace ('Rainy Days'); moments of excitement and violence ('Glaciers Of Ice' and 'Spot Rushers'); a love interest ('Wisdom Body' and 'Ice Cream'); and the obligatory sad reflective ending ('Northstar'). Although, thanks to the production from the ever present RZA, the Wu-Tang vibe is in there, the element and vivid New York state of mind style of Raekwon and Ghost Face Killer is more reminiscent of that other golden child of the rotten apple, Nas. 'Only Built...' represents the cream of east coast rap up there with Nas and Mobb Deep and definitely the best from the Clan so far. It's so good it's scary. - HHC (9/95). Only Built 4 Cuban Linx celebrates it's 25th anniversary today!

Below is the album sampler for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. It was released on cassette in 1995 with the title "Latest & Greatest Hits," and the artwork boasts: "The next chapter from the 'platinum' Wu-Tang camp... Once again servicing up that hot sh*t! The one featured on the hit singles - "C.R.E.A.M." & "Can It All Be So Simple" ... lyricist, producer & director... Member of Staten Island's most infamous rhyme family ... the debut single from Raekwon The Chef." The audio features an exclusive Freestyle, "Criminology," "Glaciers Of Ice," "Can It All Be So Simple Remix," "Eye For An Eye," "C.R.E.A.M." and "Heaven & Hell." I've always cherished this cassette, a gem in the collection via Loud Records. The blurb they included with it is confusing as f#ck though, no? lol. Listen to Rae's Latest & Greatest Hits below, and peep between some of the tracks for additional exclusive conversations!

Raekwon's album review in Hip Hop Connection (August, 1995)...

Gang Starr "The Ownerz" (June 24, 2003)

"I declare Gang Starr among the most consistent acts in hip-hop. Ever since Step in the Arena and Daily Operation laid down the law for East Coast hip-hop back in '91 and '92, Gang Starr have slowed their pace with an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" aesthetic, releasing albums every four or five years between Guru and DJ Premier's increasingly busy extracurricular schedules. And while they haven't broken any new ground since those early 90s classics, their records have been astoundingly solid in bearing the standards set by those canonical discs. In the five years since Moment of Truth, Guru and Premo have watched as the face of mainstream hip-hop hardened into a countenance chiseled out with bling-bling braggadocio and self-hating diatribes. Fortunately, for a duo that's been hard from day one - don't let that No More Mr. Nice Guy cover fool you - there's a distinct possibility their credibility could translate into commercial success, almost as if the rap world has finally caught up with a group that was ten years ahead of its time. The combination of Guru's tough, streetwise lyrics and delivery and Premier's highly polished production fits in perfectly as an honest alternative to today's heavy rotation; it's a situation Gang Starr are well aware of, judging from several lyrical and interlude reminders that pop up throughout The Ownerz.... Premier's jazzy horn breaks underscore Guru's eloquent manifestos with assured refinement on every single track they turn on their own.... And while it's probably too late in their career for a breakout hit record, more people are definitely going to know who they are, which will hopefully translate into the same veneration from the establishment they've enjoyed from their fans since back in the day." - Pitchfork (7/03) // Gang Starr's 6th LP, The Ownerz, was released on this day in 2003. R.I.P. Guru.

The official music video for the LP's 1st single, "Skills"...

Jeru The Damaja "The Sun Rises In The East" (May 24, 1994)

Jeru The Damaja is an MC, Producer, and Photographer that has been an essential part of Hip-Hop culture for over twenty-five years, from his early collaborations with the legendary Gang Starr to the present day. ​Born (Kendrick Jeru Davis) in the East New York section of Brooklyn, Jeru honed his skill as an MC while navigating the often-deadly streets of his notorious Brooklyn neighborhood. In The late 80s, Jeru was fortunate enough to be introduced to Guru of Gang Starr by a childhood friend. Gang Starr first introduced Jeru The Damaja to the world on a track entitled “I'm the man,” from their 1992 Daily Operation album. Jeru's first two albums The Sun Rises in The East and Wrath Of The Math were produced entirely by DJ Premier and are hailed as Hip-Hop classics. In fact, The Sun Rises In The East was released on this day in 1994, and Chuck D's This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History says: With masterful production by Gang Starr's DJ Premier, the acclaimed debut from Jeru combined Five-Percent and Rasta doctrine with witty rhymes, reached #36 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on the R&B chart. The Sun Rises In The East produced the classic hits "Come Clean," and "You Can't Stop The Prophet." Fellow Gang Starr Foundation member Afu-Ra guested on the track "Mental Stamina," where Jeru was awarded The Dopest Rhyme of the Year in The Source for 1994. If you dig into my archives HERE, you'll find album reviews, original promo, publicity photos, sure shot singles, videos and lots more, so please use the search and tags to learn more about the album and his follow-up releases! For the last few years, Jeru has lived in Berlin, Germany, and is planning to release a new album in 2020, so stay tuned for more! Danny Hastings did the original art below.

The House List Podcast "Danny Hastings Episode"

Another great episode of the House List Podcast, this time featuring the iconic photographer Danny Hastings. The host of the podcast Peter Agoston had the following to say on the episode, "An incredibly cool convo with the one and only Danny Hastings. His legacy as a hip-hop album photographer is one of legend - having shot multiple covers for Gang Starr, Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon, Eminem, KRS-One, AZ, Fat Joe, Big Pun, Souls of Mischief, The UMC's, Keith Murray, Mad Skillz, PMD, LL Cool J, The Lox, Tha Liks, Mobb Deep, Tony Touch, and many more." Listen to the full interview below and follow the legendary Danny Hastings on IG HERE.

Group Home "Suspended In Time" (The Source, May '96)

"With a solid debut album and 2 hit singles under their wing, the Group Home strike again with track #5 off the Livin' Proof album: "Suspended In Time." The simplistic lyrical style they've been notorious for is pretty much erased on this hypnotic head mover. With its positive message surrounded by pure street essence, "Suspended In Time" is bound to make your system and your mental bump. The beautifully produced track is another tight masterpiece by none other than DJ Premier. The melodic sounds of mystical flutes embrace the beat while, in the same tradition as "Livin' Proof," he brings his infamous scratch technique to the Rebel I.N.S. line, "Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk" ... Score another hit for the Group Home who, with all the bullshit feedback, still manage to deliver the realness." - The Source (5/96). Image by Danny Hastings.

Blahzay Blahzay "Danger II" (Review, 1996)

"Quick, name the two joints that had Brooklyn hard-rocks puffing and posturing with pride over the last few months of '95. Give up? Does the phrase "When the East is in the house" ring any bells? How 'bout, "Your death threater, sender / Head spinner / Rap beginner / Light dimmer / Three knock-out winner?" If the names Blahzay Blahzay and Smoothe Da Hutler, along with his brother Trigga, haven't popped into yo cerebrum as yet, you need to go to the back of the class and stick your face in the wall. Well, to the delight of the fates and lyric-lovers all over, these two acts have joined forces to revisit Blahzay's "Danger." You'll wanna click play below and then continue reading ...

"Blahzay's Outloud opens things up in his strident, straightforward baritone. "Medina animals eat you like purina / Cat chow I never bow still I aim to please / Drain what you got as if I was your main squeeze / Wack MCs ease / The end is here at last / Jet real fast with your tail between your ass." But it's the presence of Smoothe and Trigga that significantly ups the lyrical ante on this joint, particularly Trigga, who delivers a razor sharp piece of vocal ass-whip: "The misdemeanor / dreamer / money schemer / slip the clip in the infrared beamer." More dangerous indeed." All verses go!

Jeru The Damaja "Can't Stop The Prophet" (The Source, 12/94)

"For all of the unfair criticism Jeru caught over "Bitchez," the fact that he's a hip-hop philosopher with long term visions on how to master and improve the game was never lost on anyone who got past Premier's beats on The Sun Rises In The East. If the original version of "Prophet" earned Jeru mad respect from hip-hop intellectuals, then the Pete Rock remix should silence detractors and bring glee to the primitive. Peep the production credits. Look at them again. Yes, both Premier and Pete Rock - arguably the flyest beat ministers in the hip-hop cathedral - worked on "Can't Stop The Prophet." After Doug E. Fresh's "The Show" provides an intro, Pete chops up the bassline, and allows hollow vibes to echo up and down the track ... The arresting track is a perfect backdrop for Jeru's clever comic-book-styled metaphor. In Downtown Brooklyn, he tells us, a battle wages - between Ignorance and the Prophet. Using his razorsharp lyrical knives to get through Ignorance's henchmen Animosity and Envy, the Prophet is forced to kill Ignorance's girl, Jealousy. Jeru's use of an extended metaphor to prove a point - that intellectual strength could triumph over the root causes of plagues cuffing our community's growth - represents the future of hip-hop." The Source, 12/94. (Updated, 2018: I included an official version of the video + Jeru The Damaja discussing the roles Danny Hastings and Chris Cortes played in the classic visuals for the album). Watch it below...

If you'd rather read it directly from the source - or save a copy - check it out below.

Mic Geronimo "The Natural" (The Source, 12/95)

"Comin' straight outta "crazy ass Queens" is Mic Geronimo. The latest soldier of the Queens revolution opened heads up with "Shit's Real" a short while back. Now he returns with his long anticipated debut, The Natural. Close listening is a requisite for nearly all of Mic's songs. Slip, and you could miss the entire theme. He's the intricately abstract. Mic's got that Nas, Mobb Deep type flow, but he brings more cadence and expressiveness in his delivery - one that shines on the prior single release, "Masta I.C." Smooth melodic xylophone textures chime in and out as the beat drops and the hook flows: "I'm so high, you so high / I'll be gettin' money 'til the day that I die. The album also has a phat remix of Masta I.C." that hits you with totally new dimensions: female vocals, a phat guitar lick and the lyrical prowess of the Lost Boyz' Mr. Cheeks and Freaky Tah. Mic's call and response hooks work for most of the album, but at times the flava becomes monotonous. One workable exception is "Wherever You Are." The joint coats crisp handclap drums with a deliberate bassline and a smooth guitar. Mic the player gots to get high, chill, party with the ladies, have fun with the crew, and if need be, handle his business. Other cuts to peep are "Three Stories High," "Sharane," a phat toe tapper about a shorty goin' for the gusto and "Men vs. Many," which features lyrical appearances by O.C. and Royal Flush. Tho' The Natural possesses an overabundance of skits and intros, Mic Geronimo delivers enough flavors to prove that shit's real..." - The Source (12/95).

Photo by Danny Hastings and review in The Source below...

Jamal "Last Chance, No Breaks" (The Source, 12/95)

"By now you know the rules. Unless an MC kicks verses 'bout bitches, glocks, da ghetto and little white rocks, he ain't hard. But coming off hard, on the mic or on the corner, isn't about what you say but how you say it. That's the lesson the best MCs learn early. And on his debut solo record, Last Chance, No Breaks, 16-year old Jamal Phillips shows that for all his prodigal talent, it's a lesson he hasn't quite gotten down yet. Jamal, formerly known as Mally G, broke back in 1993 when he and Mr. Malik emerged as the rap duo Illegal. Their album, The Untold Truth, earned props from the press and the street. But the two parted amicably to pursue solo work. Now, like Redman and Keith Murray, Jamal counts himself a member of Erick Sermon's Def Squad. Last Chance... owes much to that background. Murray and Redman guest on two tracks, while Red and Sermon produce another two." Check out the official music video for Jamal's classic, "Fades 'Em All," article cont'd below...

"With beats rooted in the old skool rugged-and-raw sound godfathered by Sermon, and an on-point lyrical attack reminiscent of groups like Black Moon and Wu-Tang, Jamal keeps heads bobbin'. But his chest thumpin' raps - focused mostly on his own skillz and the tough streets of Southwest Philly - can come off hollow, slipping in and out of any real flow. It's the production of Sermon, Redman and executive producer Dallas Austin (along with Erotic D and Easy Mo Bee) that elevates the album. Nearly all the tracks feature juicy grooves and precision selection of understated samples - like the tip-toe piano of Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon In The Sky" heard on "Keep It Real" or the thick-funk backbeat of the lead single, "Fades Em All." The results are unassuming, rich and textured beats that fit Jamal like a phat down jacket while making up for most of his lyrical missteps. But no disrespect, Jamal is only 16 and does show much promise. He'll learn his lessons, and it's hip-hop that will be better for it." - The Source, December 1995. Full review below. Photograph above by Danny Hastings.

Big Pun "Capital Punishment" (XXL Review, 1998)

"After watching his mentor Fat Joe make the usual rookie mistakes, Big Punisher has had an easier time overcoming the exploitative rap music industry's many obstacles. Certainly Fat Joe defeated many stereotypes scarring the Boricua's place in hip-hop, and it's patently obvious that that fact benefited Big Pun on his debut album, Capital Punishment. This album unquestionably validates the Latino MC concept to a mass market. Even though Pun uses cliche'd, Biggie-fied skits ("Taster's Choice," "Pakinamac Pt.1") and features predictable guest MC's like B-Real, Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, Inspectah Deck and Prodigy, it's Pun's incredibly quick and fluid delivery that pleasantly recasts hip hop's played-out "reality." Check out Big Pun's "You Came Up," featuring Noreaga, cont'd below...

"Aside from the weak, R&B-hooked, Bill Clinton anthem "I Ain't a Playa (I Just Uff A lot)," the platinum playa/thug image is enhanced by vocal dexterity and skill. An example of this is the superb back-and-forth performance on "Super Lyrical," featuring the underground legend Black Thought of the Roots. Capital Punishment also covers a more diverse range of topics than many current albums. For example, Pun reflects upon genocide on the album's title track, and the controversy of one's realness through rhyme on "Parental Discretion." By merging social commentary and top-quality production, Big Pun makes an original and entertaining debut." - XXL, 1998. Full review below...

Gang Starr Foundation "Yo! MTV Raps" (Video, 1994)

Fab 5 Freddy and Yo! MTV Raps pay a visist to D&D Studios and conduct a 2-part interview with DJ Premier, Guru and the Gang Starr Foundation in 1994. You'll see Jeru The Damaja, Lil' Dap, DJ Scratch (EPMD), Afu-Ra, Eddie Sancho, and more. They go into the bat cave and DJ Premier lays down some fundamentals on being a DJ, producer and eMCee. The vinyl is the source of the music, it always has to be available. Without vinyl, there wouldn't be hip-hop. That's our contribution... bringing it back... I wanna see brothers just represent skills. Have people rock! Harcore is using the raw materials: records, the beats, the mics and gettin' busy. Very little resources can make a big thing." More from Jeru The Damaja, DJ Premier and Lil' Dap of the Group Home in '94 below...