Opinz

Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II

The long awaited sequel to what is easily one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II delivers about as completely as one could hope for, as evidenced only a few minutes in with the ferocious “House of Flying Daggers” and continually reaffirmed with each track, as Raekwon and a host of Wu-Tang cohorts and guest stars tear through high tension drug narratives atop sweet but undistracting production from the likes of J Dilla, RZA, and many others; while Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II doesn’t sound like a complete throwback, it has the classic energy of Wu-Tang’s best releases, the kind of energy that seems sorely lacking in most hip-hop today.

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Tags: beanie sigel, busta rhymes, cappadonna, dr. dre, ghostface killah, gza, inspectah deck, j dilla, jadakiss, masta killa, method man, only built 4 cuban linx ii, pete rock, raekwon, rza, slick rick, styles p, suga bang, wu-tang clan

N.A.S.A. – The Spirit of Apollo

The sprawling, star-studded music collaboration known as N.A.S.A. is likely to fall somewhat short of the inevitable Gorillaz comparisons and your expectations when you see the list of guest stars (featuring the likes of David Byrne, Chuck D, Method Man, Karen O, Tom Waits, Kanye West, Santogold, M.I.A., George Clinton, and Ghostface Killah, to name a few), but it functions very well as a big, feel-good hip-hop album that runs a gamut of sounds and topics as diverse as its cast of creators. More »

Tags: amanda blank, barbie hatch, chali 2na, chuck d, david byrne, del the funkee homosapian, dj am, dj babao, dj qbert, dj swamp, e-40, fatlip, george clinton, ghostface killah, gift of gab, john frusciante, kanye west, karen o, kool kieth, kool kojak, krs-one, lovefoxxx, lykke li, m.i.a., method man, n.a.s.a., nick zinner, ol' dirty bastard, ras congo, rza, santogold, scarface, seu jorge, sizzla, slim kid tre, spank rock, the cool kids, the spirit of apollo, tom waits, z-trip