With the release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in 1994, Raekwon helped expand the global influence of the Wu-Tang Empire, while establishing himself as a credible solo artist, and sparking a new subgenre of hip-hop, Mafioso rap. The vivid and intense criminal narratives in Raekwon’s lyrics laid the foundation for popular albums that would soon follow, including Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Following the release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Raekwon went on to record two more incredible albums with the Wu-Tang Clan and another two solo albums, which were also both critically acclaimed.

Now, ten years after his debut album first dropped, Raekwon is busier than ever, releasing the debut album from Ice Water, a group of MCs from his native Staten Island. The group consists of Cigar, Polite, Stumik, and PC. However, Raekwon is also out on the Rock the Bells tour with the Wu, gearing up for the release of 8 Diagrams, the first Wu-Tang LP in nearly six years.

HHNLive.com writer Aaron Frank sits down for an in-depth chat with Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan. Rae opens up about "Cuban Linx 2", working with Dr. Dre, southern Hip-Hop, longevity in the game and much more.

Raekwon on Hip-Hop today: "you see a lot of children in the game right now. It’s the children’s millennium of hip-hop right now...You ain’t really catching too many grown niggas buying records anymore...they can’t really relate."

Aaron Frank: So how has the Rock the Bells tour been so far?

Raekwon: It’s cool. It’s been a lot of real good turnouts, you know what I mean? The real die-hard fans of hip-hop, so it’s a good look.

AF: So how do the crowds on the West Coast compare to the crazy shows you all did earlier in the tour in New York?

Raekwon: Same type of shit. It ain’t nothing different really. 100,000 here. 50,000 here. 30,000 there. Everybody’s showing up, so I can’t complain.

AF: Out of all the places you have performed over the years, do you have a favorite city or favorite venue?

Raekwon: Nah, not really. You know, going out of the country is fun and being on different spots on the east coast and the west coast is all different. Some places might be good one day and then bad the next time you go. It’s just about the way the people respond. It’s love all over though. I really can’t call it.

AF: What would you say is the craziest show you’ve ever done?

Raekwon: Probably the recent one we just did in Europe. We just did a 35 city tour in 30 days. So, you talk about going to Belgium, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, Germany, Iceland, you know what I mean? Just imagine doing that shit everyday. This last one was a killer right here, but it was all good though.

AF: After the Rock the Bells tour, are you gonna be going out and doing more shows to promote Ice Water and the new Wu album?

Raekwon: Yeah. We’re just trying to get the people aware of what’s going on and letting them know that we’re coming back together to do another album for them and we hope they’re ready for this real hip-hop. Niggas is begging for this shit right now, so we’re doing everything right now. Touring, marketing, and just intertwining with the people and that’s it, you know what I mean?

AF: So let’s talk about the Ice Water project. Exactly how long has this one been in the works?

Raekwon: Oh this has been a project that I’ve been dealing with for a minute. You know, these guys are from my neighborhood and they’ve got a lot of respect out there. These are like my sons when I come to town. But for the most part, they have a lot of lyrical talent and I let them marinate for a couple years before I wanted to let them take on a project for themselves. I wanted them to be able to develop their image a little bit more, so it was just a matter of time before they got out there and did their thing and they really went and did that.

AF: What do you feel like Ice Water is bringing to the game with this album?

Raekwon: They’re bringing that real hip-hop. Like I said, these are dudes that respect the culture, the music, the industry, and they came up with that strong build. So I think with that kind of training under their built, you’re only going to come in and represent to the fullest. And I think they’ve got a lot of skills, when you’re not really hearing too many skilful artists lately. So I think just the combination of them being from the Shaolin and having that Wu-Tang sound is just showing the longevity of our music. And like I said, I’m just trying to give an opportunity to some brothers that deserve it and got it. I don’t fuck with nothing that don’t got it, so hopefully we can introduce a new team to the game. And I believe that everybody’s gonna like these boys. They’ve got a real strong album. It’s no silly, petty shit. It’s strong, cement rap. They got good dudes on there with them, good dudes that I respect in the game and that respect me. And they gonna come and do their thing. They gon’ bust they gun.

AF: How did you go about deciding on features for the album?

Raekwon: Rick Ross is a good dude to me. He just showed me mad love. He knew I was working on the project and he wanted to be part of it, so we just made it happen. We got Method Man on there, Three 6 Mafia, Jagged Edge. You know, it’s a well-rounded album. And at the end of the day, my peers came to the table to support what I was dealing with and to support these dudes because they got a lot of talent. My boy, Pimp C, is on there. It’s just an album for the brothers man and I’m just trying to let these cats be heard. It’s more important to give than receive. So that’s why my friends came to the table. They heard that these dudes we’re just sounding crazy and they just wanted to work with them because of their street credibility, you know what I mean?

AF: I was talking with someone the other day about Wu-Tang and Three 6 Mafia and we were debating whether or not a crew like Three 6 Mafia or the Hot Boys would have got on if it weren’t for the Wu. What do you think?

Raekwon: Well I don’t know. It really kinda depends. I know as far as Three 6 Mafia, they to me are like a southern Wu-Tang. Just the sound of their music and for the most part, they’re brothers that have been around for a while and really repped the South to the fullest. I’m not talking about all this latest shit. I’m talking about the shit that made the south the south. You had them standing up. You had Outkast then. These niggas could sell out 100,000 in an arena just based on the strength of their music. It ain’t just us that came in and did our thing. It’s other niggas out here that really played their part and opened up doors for other people, so I respect them. You got 8Ball and MJG. You got David Banner. You know, these are dudes that really take hip-hop for real. These dudes taught me “Yo, we don’t even really listen to a lot of our shit. We were caught up in all your shit trying to get our shit together.” You know, you can just tell that they speak from the heart and that’s what I love about them dudes. And I really respect their hip-hop. So, they’re kings, man.

AF: So you all are keeping the details pretty limited on 8 Diagrams. Can we still expect to hear that in November?

Raekwon: Yeah, we almost got all of that done, so everything is good. It’s gonna be a good, authentic record. You know when Wu-Tang gets down, we always come from left field with something totally abstract, but still hip-hop. So expect raw beats, raw emotions on the album. Expect a lot of lyrics, because this is what we do. Expect me being on there being a beast as usual. You know anything I get on is crafted, serious shit. So, just get ready for that man. 8 Diagrams.

AF: When can we expect to hear a first single off of that? Is the single gonna be the joint with DJ Scratch?

Raekwon: Yeah, I guess that’s still in the makings, because we’re still trying to determine if that’s the right move for the album, you know what I mean? We really want something that just gonna have the people’s heads going crazy. The joint we did with Scratch is a hood joint, straight fresh off the block shit. But it’s still in the makings on what it’s gonna be though.

AF: Can you talk about the joint you did with Q-Tip on the album?

Raekwon: Nah I can’t even reveal anymore details because I’m trying to keep it a surprise for the people man.

AF: Ok, so let’s get down to the real issue at hand which is that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2. What’s responsible for the delay and when can we expect to hear that?

Raekwon: I mean I’m not really the type of dude to just throw out an important album and not just feel good about the background of where the album is being distributed from. So, we still in conversations about what label we gonna fuck with, because we didn’t really do this album for it to be rushed and thrown out there without the proper respect given to the legacy, you know what I mean? So, you know, we just really got it on the shelf right now. We wanna get this Wu-Tang project poppin’ and basically just try to get that Cuban Link record in the summertime (2008). We still adding little elements to it. It’s already done, but it ain’t never done until we give it to y’all. So, the shit is sitting in a glass case waiting to be held, but we gotta make sure that we stand for something and don’t fall for anything when we’re dealing with the industry business.

AF: Well, I’m definitely not trying to get into any industry bullshit, but is Interscope holding it up or is it Dre? What exactly is the issue?

Raekwon: Nah, you know Dre and them want it, but he a busy man and I know that before he can even act like he wants to deal with this, he gotta take care of everything that he’s dealing with. We never really inked nothing. It was just a lot of hype. A lot of people just knew that it was so close to happening. But you know me, I ain’t gonna say that it ain’t gonna happen. I’m not gonna say that it is gonna happen. I’m just gonna know what it is when that paperwork’s sitting in front of my face and I feel comfortable. So, being that it ain’t get to that level yet, you know, it wasn’t the time yet. And like I said, I didn’t wanna just bang this record out in the fourth quarter and just be like “I just rushed it out there.” I’m not rushing this kind of project. It’s too much good shit on there. So, I’d rather just hold it and weigh my options. But it’s coming out. I’m giving everything a deadline and the deadline is definitely for Cuban Linx to come in the Summer of 2008, you know what I mean?

AF: Absolutely. You inspired a lot of creativity with that first Cuban Linx album. Do you feel like there are any other artists sparking that sense like you all did when you first came out?

Raekwon: I mean, honestly, my nigga, I don’t really see nobody doing it on that level because it’s like they’re bending with the times and the current generation and that’s cool, but when you think about being a real hip-hop dude such as myself and all of the shit that influenced me, I think I’m a little different. And I think that I take my craft a little more serious, because I’m still wanting to rhyme. I’m still wanting to show everybody that I’m a good MC. I’m still coming to the table believing in what I do. So, this project is like a grown man’s album. It’s not a children’s album. So, I’m expecting a lot of die-hard dudes that know what I’m about to adapt faster than these young kids. So, it’s like I said, this one is for the people. This one is for the fans that know how I really get down. But other than that, my nigga, I don’t feel like anyone is on my level right now. It could be anybody in the world. You’re not being innovative enough for a lot of people to be impressed. That’s why you see a lot of children in the game right now. It’s the children’s millennium of hip-hop right now, you know what I mean? You ain’t really catching too many grown niggas buying records anymore, because they can’t really relate to this kind of sound that everybody’s going crazy over. Because it’s preppy music. My shit is real shit. Like rottweiler spilling blood shit man. You know what I do. Like I said, I stand in my own box man. And this album right here, I went in. Like I said, there ain’t no sugar on this album or nothing where I felt like I had to cater to radio. Nah, I’m catering to the streets right now. That’s what y’all want. I hope y’all really ready for it, because it’s like, yo, I ain’t got no remorse no more.

AF: With that said, what are some of your most important sources for inspiration right now?

Raekwon: My inspiration is just knowing where I came from. Knowing where I came from makes me smart enough to know that when it comes to making an album such as Cuban Linx and saying that I need to move it up ten years later, it’s not a problem for me man. I’m a musician, man, and at the same time I’m an author. It ain’t nothing for me to paint pictures. So, I just take you in a zone where you picture yourself with your shirt off and your Timbs on and your ear plugged to the fuckin speaker like “Damn, this nigga’s a beast still.”

AF: As far as the things you’ve talked about in your music over the years, you’ve reflected on some stories in the news and things like that. What do you think about this upcoming election?

Raekwon: You know, it’s a situation where we all want Bush out of there, because he endangering the lives of so many people. The whole shit is political right now. It’s about money and oil. And now you got the black president there and you got the lady president there and it’s a real ill situation because that right there is something that people are really going to pay attention to. Like do we put a woman in there? Or do we put a black man in there? So, my whole thing is, at the end of the day, when it comes to elections and all that, that shit is programmed already man. Whoever it’s gonna be, it’s gonna be. I’m not telling people to not go out there and vote, but in my eyes, they already got it rigged up man.

AF: You’ve also talked about a lot of different movies in your songs. What’s the best new movie you’ve seen recently and is there anything you’re excited to see come out?

Raekwon: Nah I ain’t really been seeing anything crazy lately. I’ve been looking at a lot of European movies and shit, like when I’m out of town or whatever. I can tell you one scary movie that just came out that I really like and I think a lot of people haven’t paid attention to. You wanna see a scary movie? They got this movie called Dead Silence. It’s about puppets. That shit will scare the shit out of you.