Aritst: Raekwon
Album: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. II (2009)
Track: “House Of Flying Daggers” (ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface & Method Man, prod. by J Dilla)

This makes 16 albums on the Best of 2009 list. And it’s a certified banger.

Rarely does a sequel (be it an album or movie) live up to it’s original, much 10 years after the fact. Rae’s official follow-up to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx has been pushed back and back, he’s gone through label issues, and put out a few other solo joints that never quite matched the grimy intensity of his solo debut. But he always assured us that the true follow up would arrive some day. And has exceeded any expectations that have built in that time.

Well that day happened in 2009. When I heard “House of Flying Daggers” for the first time, I thought, “yeah, this is going to be the shit. This is it. This is that grimy RZA-production I was waiting for Raekwon to hop on.” Turns out it’s a Dilla-banger but that RZA sound is found throughout, plus more Dilla, Pete Rock, and Marly Marl. And it’s front-to-back another Wu-classic.

Tracklist:

01. Return Of The North Star (ft. Papu Wu)
02. House Of Flying Daggers (ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface & Method Man)
03. Sonny’s Missing
04. Pyrex Vision
05. Cold Outside (ft. Ghostface)
06. Black Mozart (ft. Rza & Inspectah Deck)
07. Gihad
08. New Wu (ft. Ghostface & Method Man)
09. Penitentiary (ft. Ghostface)
10. Baggin Crack
11. Surgical Gloves
12. Broken Safety (ft. Jadakiss & Styles P)
13. Canal Street
14. Ason Jones
15. Have Mercy (ft. Beanie Sigel & Blue Raspberry)
16. 10 Bricks (ft. Cappadonna & Ghostface)
17. Fat Lady Sings
18. Catalina (ft. Lyfe Jennings)
19. We Will Rob You (ft. Slick Rick, Masta Killa & GZA)
20. About Me
21. Mean Streets (ft. Inspectah Deck & Ghostface)
22. Kiss The Ring (ft. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa)