With its emphasis on american mafia insinuations and organized crime, the album is widely regarded as a pioneer of the mafioso rap subgenre. Only built 4 cuban linx… is the solo debut album of raekwon, released august 1, 1995 Raekwon's debut album, only built 4 cuban linx in it's entirety. Only built 4 cuban linx is the sonic equivalent of a john woo movie Tales filled with gunshots (glaciers of ice), assassins with their own special codes of morals (incarcerated scarfaces), and a beautiful woman mourning the loss of a lover caught up in the drama (rainy dayz). Raekwon’s only built 4 cuban linx… is a cinematic event, a new york crime story painted in sharp verses and layered beats
The heavy use of movie samples by rza is an integral part of this narrative, shaping the transition from raekwon's life before fame to his life as a celebrated artist.
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