The Passion of The Purple Tape: Raekwon – OB4CL II (Album Review)

I’ve seen pictures of Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. Hell I even thought I saw Tupac the last time I was in Los Angeles. It was not until I held my pre-ordered copy of Chef Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx PT. II in my hands did I believe that such a thing could even exist. I heard rumors of its existence but after 14 years of rumors and myths, I’m sure you can understand my skepticism. As I started the now extinct ritual of struggling with the cd packaging and listening to the disc on my home stereo, all I was hoping for was at least a glimpse of the impression I was left with from the original OB4CL 1995 release. What I got was much more.

In every interview I read or watched Raekwon spoke about bringing in outside producers for the project. I have to admit this fueled my worries about this album not having the same feel of the first album. OB4CL II begins exactly where the original left off except this time instead of U-God, its Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Method Man who have the honor of blessing the albums first track, the J-Dilla produced House of Flying Daggers. Producer Pete Rock is credited with crafting the first vintage Chef crime story on the record “Sonny’s Missing” followed by the equally dark crack cooking tale “Pyrex Vision”. This track to my surprise was produced by the Legendary Queens Bridge producer Marley Marl. I know I shouldn’t be surprised. Not to be out done the RZA provides Rae with that vintage Wu sound on the Inspectah deck assisted Black Mozart. If there were any questions about Raekwon’s rhyming ability all those questions are answered on The Alchemist produced Surgical Gloves where Rae rhymes “Teddy with the red range/supercharged kangol’s/ Rae and Ghost CD in his change yo/ Angelo Spanish kid lango/all I know is where he hang though/kept it sideways angle/.” I didn’t say I was going to explain it to you.

The featuring of Ghostface Killah on the original Purple Tape set off a pairing of one of the best rap duo’s since EPMD. It’s become as if you don’t expect to hear on without the other. OB4CL II has plenty to offer from the two but one of the many highlights is “Penitentiary” that finds Rae and Ghost attempting to break out of prison. If you can stand to listen to the cab driving Capandonna you’ll love 10 Bricks as well as the RZA produced New Wu, which features a fired up Method Man. There are a ton of features outside of the Wu family on the album from Slick Rick, Beanie Segal, Jada Kiss, Styles P, Busta Rhymes and Lyfe Jennings on the Dr. Dre produced Catalina, but none take away from the albums cohesiveness or appear out of place.

After I finished listening to the album I couldn’t help but think to myself that the possibility of this project held my curiosity for 14 years. The uncertainty of the album’s release date coupled with the production being handled by someone other than the RZA and the lack of a Nas appearance initially brought down my enthusiasm for this album. Upon listening to each leaked track and getting a glimpse of the updated version of the original album artwork my excitement grew. Some may not understand the excitement probably because they were too young when the first one was released or they didn’t grow up in a time when New York rap still had a prominent place in Hip Hop. If you’re looking for some unapologetic New York Hip Hop, OB4CL II is that album. Let’s just hope others will follow suit and stop trying to get in where they fit in and just Get It IN! Cheers to the Chef Raekwon for no apologies.

Download Raekwon – The BadLands (UK Release Bounus Track)

Download Raekwon – Walk With Me (iTunes Bonus Track)

[Via Fresh Theory]