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
