One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made.
It pioneered Mafioso
rap, and you can hear it's influence in all the albums that came after it. The cinematic, elaborate beats, with the
heavy use of
horn and string sections, introduced an entirely new sound to the rap game. The
clean, polished beats of Cuban Linx contrasts starkly against Tical or 36 Chambers.
Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z? Life After Death by Big? They all owe their entire style to this album.
The production on this album is a
perfect testament to RZA's skills. If anyone tells you
Dr. Dre is the best producer, just laugh at them, they have shittier taste than you. Do them a favor and hand them a copy of Liquid Swords or Cuban Linx.
Ghostface Killah also laid down some of his best verses and lines on this album. Some
people say this was Ghostface at his peak.
The original
name was "Only Built 4 My Cuban Linx Niggaz".
A Cuban link is a type of chain necklace with a distinct pattern. "Cuban Linx" isn't a secret code word, he's basically saying for his styled up niggaz.
Ghostfaces verse on Criminology - Only Built
4 Cuban Linx...
Yo, first of all son,
peep the arson
Many brothers I be sparkin' and bustin' mad light inside the dark
Call me dough snatcher, just the
brother for the rapture
I handglide, holdin' on strong, hard to capture
Extravagant, RZA bake the track and it's militant
Then I react, like a convict, and start killin'
shit
It's manifested, the Gods
work like appliances
Dealin' in my cypher I revolve around sciences
The ninth chamber, nigga trapped inside my hallway
You try to flee but you got smoked up by the doorway (blaow! blaow! blaow!)
No question, I send your ass back, right to the essence
Your whole frame is smothered in
dirt, now how you restin'
While I'll be trapped by sounds, locked behind loops
Throwin' niggaz off airplanes cause
CASH RULES
Everything around me
black as you can see
Swallow this murder one verse like God degree
Then analyze my soundtrack for satisfaction
You adapt like a flashback chain reaction
