Reacting to "Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx" by Raekwon

Got the link from the patreon app. "I love you like I love my dick size" is the greatest line of all time and fuck you Bob for hinting on its corniness lol. Also wanted to add that corniness is a lot about delivery. A line can be super corny if you read it out loud, but if it's delivered in the right way, it can be hilarious.

Bakke

Video preview isn't working for me for some reason, tried inkognito and both firefox + chrome.. Could anyone post a direct link for me?

Bakke

It's also hard to quantify how different the production was for its time. When you've listened to so much stuff from the 2000s and beyond, it doesn't hold the same weight as when OB4CL came out in 1995.

Tim Marlowe

One of my my favorite albums of all time. It’s so hard to pick a favorite Wu Tang member, but mine has to be Raekwon. Lyrics are complex and hard to comprehend sometimes but I almost prefer it that way because I’ve realized I pick up something new every list. He released a Part 2 to this album in 2009. You’ll have to do it at some point. Might one of the only sequels to a classic 90s album that actually lived up to the hype. Did well commercially and critics loved it as well. I don’t think it gets talked about enough

brendon hall

Raekwon exploring comic Con is a must see lol https://youtu.be/BLNFYqo_XgI

snooza

lol, thanks for joining :)

Bob_the_Poppop

Season 3 is getting really good, real be on 4 very soon

Bob_the_Poppop

I feel like such a dumbass for thinking they were talking about Jake Brakes lol

Bob_the_Poppop

Thanks for joining me :)

Bob_the_Poppop

It's crazy to consider these kind of areas being real, especially for someone like me who is so far removed from it all. Just wild

Bob_the_Poppop

We're getting near the end of Season 3, shit is great

Bob_the_Poppop

Oh wow, that's kinda cool, I'll keep that in mind as I listen more

Bob_the_Poppop

Ah okay, thank you 👍

Bob_the_Poppop

I like that he doesn't like the song either... glad it's not just me lol

Bob_the_Poppop

Cool write up, thank you for this one. I did kinda blow over the Verbal Intercourse track. The voice sample still bugs me :(

Bob_the_Poppop

Omar! Great character

Bob_the_Poppop

ll that's awesome

Bob_the_Poppop

Bob I dont know if anyone has mentioned it yet but I think you'd really enjoy the Wu-Tang show on Hulu. It's phenomenal!

Ish

"Jakes" or "Jake" is police

Number16

The one thing you never really mentioned is Ghostface and Raekwon as lyricists. Ghost killed this album. I noticed u laughing at a lot of his stuff bc that's what makes him great: funny, raw, storyteller that says crazy shit like, the strength of 80 midgets. He's really got 3 great albums you should get to at some point. Ironman is his first but his second is considered his best, Supreme Clientele. The 3rd being Fishscale.

Tim Marlowe

After watching your videos for over 1.5 years, I just now subscribed to your patreon just because I wanted to see your full reaction to my favorite HH album oat

James van Rijckevorsel

There's nothing corny about being a Bob from Middle America.

Wasp Genocide

MORE UGK PLEA$E! 2007 self titled album Underground Kingz it came in #2 on billboard hot 100 when it was released and has their biggest hit ft OUCATST international players anthem and the music video is ICONIC

miss texas

Great reaction like always! You should react to Savage Mode Extended play by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin.

Jessica

Pleeeeease react to the Scaring The Hoes deluxe and the youtube music video for the deluxe!!!

Oliver Hed

Heaven & Hell is the outro of the album. North Star is like a bonus or whatever.

Curtis

Yeah, it's more of a tone and a loose narrative about being a drug dealer in NY during that era. Not a straightforward story like GKMC. Sometimes Bob gets too wrapped up in preconceived notions when he does these reactions lol but at least it's authentic.

Curtis

Imagine "Bob the Poppop" from middle America referring to a classic Wu song like Ice Cream as "corny".... Lol. Although Wu-Tang did have some pretty cringey moments later in their catalogue, but this was not one of them.

Curtis

Great reaction! Been waiting on this one for months, even more so than Liquid Swords probably. I wouldn’t worry too much about the narrative though. It’s not really a straightforward narrative as it is kind of a mood, and the general trajectory of the tones of each song up until the end. I’d say what’s most important is where it starts out with Striving, Knuckleheadz, KG; where it turns with Rainy Dayz and CIBASS; and where it ends with Heaven & Hell and North Star. But if you try to track a straight narrative like GKMC across the whole album, you’d go crazy (like I think you started to notice by the time you hit Spot Rusherz and Ice Cream).

Kevin Bahr

In the skit Shark Ninjas, they were insulting Biggie for copying Nas' album cover of Illmatic with the baby photo theme.

Curtis

Yea ice cream is corny. As a 19 year old these wu gang album are me going back and not being there. I’ve listened to this album for a couple years and everytime I try going back to ice cream I just can’t with the lyrics. Beats amazing as always

Omgtheykilledkenny

I think The Infamous is probably next. Given that it was planned and shelved so many times. I don't think there's many other classic albums high on the list right now.

Dylan Woods

I would love to see an OB4CL Part II reaction. It was better than anyone even thought possible.

Dylan Woods

Old heads rejoice. xD

Dylan Woods

OB4CL II is exceptional. I know he will likely do Ironman or The Dirty Version next. But I would be fully on board with OB4CL II.

Dylan Woods

Wait till Bob gets to season 4 of the wire

Timothy Payton

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II is mindblowing. They outdid themselves. Shockingly good.

Dylan Woods

can feel how griselda found inspiration from this era

Psykopomp

that also allowed hiphop to grow and become a huge market to make money

james moore

snooza

Jakes Is Their Way Of Saying Cops 👮‍♂️

Roberto Duenas

There's alot of shots at Biggie and others in his lane on this album. The whole niggas biting Nas album cover is a shot at Ready to Die.

Paul Salvador Estrada

I enjoyed this video a lot! Not an easy album to process on a first listen for sure. This will probably not happen for some time, but I am very curious if Bob will at least add to his many considerations, A reaction to Bruiser Wolf's album 'Dope Game Stupid' (affiliated with Danny brown's Bruiser Brigade). I think Raphy's very distorted and dark production with some of the best one liners and lyrical moments 2021 has seen... is somewhat of a safe bet to impress Bob (in my opinion). Regardless, keep up the good work Bob! It's amazing to see your progression.

TheDdaniel10000

I never listened to this when I was younger, so it was interesting experiencing it with you. Great reaction as always.

Wasp Genocide

Bob u watching the wire i grew up in Baltimore and was in the streets during that time lets just say my city is way worse than it is portrayed on the tv series but all the slang and culture is accurate. Dirty cops on dirty blocks is part of the norm it’s Charm City but if u don’t C 👁️ it’s Harm City. Baltimore always been like that check out the Nina Simone song Baltimore she described it perfectly in 1970 what is still relevant to this day

Livin Legin

I need to know your thoughts on The Wire when you’re done watching it 😫😫

Sive Mdlalose

I look at this album in four parts. The first part is about Rae and Ghosts drug dealing past (being Knuckleheads and pushing ‘Knowledge God’ = ‘KG’ KiloGrams of Coke) The second part is dealing with the consequences of dealing in the streets (Incarceration, getting shot, and going insane). The third part is about forming the Wu Tang, leaving the drug dealing alone, and enjoying all the perks that come with it (glaciers of ice aka diamonds, and Ice Cream aka women) And the fourth part is about overcoming and reining on top with your brothers, and leaving your past behind (Wu Gambinos, and escaping hell)

Brandon Williams

oh by the way “what’s todays mathematics” is the 5 percent nations (which all the Wu members were apart of) of asking the date the “mathematics” refers to the supreme mathematics. the 5 percenters believe each number has a meaning so for example with today being the 14th today’s mathematics would be 1- Knowledge 4- Culture/Freedom. The five percent nation or Nation of Gods and Earths as their also known is greatly inspired by the Nation of Islam and believe black people are the original people and black men are Gods and women are Earths. hense why Ghost and Rae call each other God so much in the album. a lot of black folk in NYC at the time were 5 percenters…

shaunntsak0

staying with amazing albums from 95’ hope you do Mobb Deep - The Infamous soon😓

shaunntsak0

Around this time, thanks mostly to Puffy, labels required at least one commercial/crossover song that would connect with women. There was a lot of backlash at the time from hiphop fans that these singles disqualified albums from reaching classic status. Rae didn't like Ice Cream himself but bowed down to the label pressure and included it. Luckily, the track was pretty much universally loved and didn't detract from the classic status of this album. As these crossover songs became bigger and bigger hits and catapulted hiphop to the number one genre in the world, they became the norm and albums were flooded with them. Thus leading to the watered down version of hiphop we have today.

Jae

you gotta listen to the sequel album, it works so well as a follow up, one album that actually deserves to be a part 2 for more than just 'reasons'

Tom

It’s only built 4 cuban linx it’s not for everybody especially if u wasn’t in the streets in 95 during that time this was the street culture back when you chop cracks up on mirrors and bag up in vials 🧪 I can understand if it’s not for you as u may not be a cuban link 💯

Livin Legin

Raekwon even to this day does not like the song Ice Cream the label wanted a radio song for the clubs so this was that song which is why it has so many listens 💯

Livin Legin

Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995) Official Music Videos Criminology https://youtu.be/l9oS0BFhA30 Incarcerated Scarfaces https://youtu.be/1ZYau0hJHFk Glaciers of Ice https://youtu.be/SuZ-pkIwH8s Ice Cream https://youtu.be/jgh10of6DKA Heaven & Hell https://youtu.be/fF4frZmtJ1U Live Performances Hood Shock NYC (1996) https://youtu.be/aQh7lW2IfsE BB King NYC (2002) https://youtu.be/0sAEEEH4ku0 Rhyme Schemes Verbal Intercourse https://youtu.be/rk-mA__Tnd4 Samples Power 106 Los Angeles https://youtu.be/wF0ry_aDPNw Interviews Master T https://youtu.be/Bg70bgqc4ek On the Record https://youtu.be/QkufOYtOMD0 Vlad TV https://youtu.be/kFzL1tHsMFQ Video Essays The Legend of the Purple Tape https://youtu.be/TV4du5Ma1Kc Reviews Dead End Hip Hop https://youtu.be/HdqUwOMLVTI

Dylan Woods

Incredible album. Though I would be lying if I said I didn’t prefer OB4CL 2.

VeganMilk

it's funny that you're watching the wire while listening to this album cause something you said in this album holds up really well in the show too

Aj styles212

Thanks for reacting to this one, Bob! Pumped since this is one I've been waiting for for weeks. 1. Don't feel bad about not completely getting the story. There's a very good write up on this somewhere online but it's basically a loosely drawn parallel between Ghostface/Raekwon's mafioso life and the movie "The Killer" by John Woo. A lot of Wu Tang's stuff is actually influenced by Woo. You got a lot of the beginning of it. In Woo's movie it's a gangster who wants to do one last hit, for Rae and Ghost it's getting out of "The Life". They mentioned this clearly on Striving to Perfection which you caught onto. The rest of the album is basically them going to war for their cause and trials and tribulations along the way. It isn't a direct narrative like "Good Kid M.A.A.D. City" or some other storytelling albums in hip hop. This one basically has some lines in each song that can be attributed. It's hard to get on first listen. 2. I was waiting all reaction with bated breath for "Verbal Intercourse" and then you hated the sample so I don't feel like you dove as deep into it lol. It's all good we all like different things but the Nas verse is widely considered one of the better ones in hip hop history. Also, I remember you mentioning that you may do "It Was Written". That's another great album and another that fits in with the mafioso theme, hence why Nas is on this album. 3. "Ice Cream" was the single and even though I agree with you on its corniness I've always liked it. I generally agree with your point though. 4. "Shark N*ggas" is a direct reference to Biggie who Rae and Ghost beefed with as they thought Biggie stole Nas album cover and some of their lyrics. Nas and Big would kind of go at each other around this time as well but reconcile. All in all a great reaction. Glad you listened to another one of the GOAT rap albums.

BCros2390

Classic! And Bob, Omar's that dude!

Jared

Can't believe you're watching The Wire! Enjoy, and watch more than once. Also, good album reaction :)

Craig Manning

i've always wanted you to hear this album, definitely my favorite out of the solo wu-tang releases. really love the use of music and voicelines that rza pulled from "the killer" by john woo only built 4 cuban lynx and amerikkka's most wanted within a month? thank you bob 🙏

Asertic

I could never get into this album.

John

This is the one of those albums I actually go and buy beers specifically to get to sit back (and sometimes lean forward to new ideas) and really enjoy Bob reactions to... Saw that the mp3 was out but waited for the video, now let's go. Cheers Bob!

Stefan Borglycke