Sound: A collection of ominous, drama-fueled soundscapes; neck-snapping, head-nodding street bangers; mystical, hypnotic grooves, and solemn, soulful reflections—basically exactly what you’d expect from a Raekwon/Wu-Tang album, except for the Dr. Dre-produced, piano-driven, gangsta bouncin’ track “About Me.”
Lyrics: As usual drug-pushing and a violent, dangerous life of crime inspires the majority of the rhymes as Raekwon shares the mic with fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck frequently and Method Man, Masta Killa and GZA to a lesser extent—making Linx…Pt. II feel very much like many Wu-Tang group and solo albums and not too different from 1995’s Pt. 1. Solid guest verses from non-Wu MCs like Busta Rhymes, Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss, and a memorable hook from r&b man Lyfe Jennings do provide the album with a healthy diversity.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “About Me” featuring Busta Rhymes; “Catalina” featuring Lyfe Jennings; “10 Bricks” featuring Cappadonna and Ghostface Killah; “Surgical Gloves”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Black Mozart” featuring Inspectah Deck; “The New Wu” featuring Method Man & Ghostface Killah; “House of Flying Daggers” featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man; “Penitentiary” featuring Ghostface Killah; “Gihad” featuring Ghostface Killah
Recommended: There are few surprises on Cuban Linx…Pt. II. If you like classic Raekwon and Wu-Tang material, particularly the stuff from their mid-‘90s heyday, there’s plenty to like on here. They still do what they do quite well. And despite having a bloated 22 tracks, there are very few weak links on here. But there aren’t that many essential standouts or groundbreaking new ideas either.
Grade: B

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