The Lex Diamond Story [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Raekwon

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 16, 2003)
• Original Release Date: December 16, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B0000Z80FM
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,592 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Raekwon should be forgiven for his Immobilarity meltdown. Far greater emcees have crumbled under the task of following up near-perfect debuts, and Raekwon's 1995 debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx remains tough to beat. This time around, Raekwon curiously comes out swinging again without RZA--or any other credible producers to back up his reliable street manifestos. Beat deficiencies notwithstanding, "All Over Again" works as a great signifier of sorts because it lays out the template for future hustler-cum-emcees looking to get over. And certainly, the rhyme chemistry between Raekwon and Wu buddy Ghostface works as well as it always has on "Missing Watch." Sadly, the same can't be said for the bushels of guest rhyme spitters. And why Raekwon would employ the same dated Mafioso motifs he popularized nearly a decade ago is anyone's guess. Likewise, tracks like "Robbery" and "Wyld In Da Club" do nothing to disprove the accepted posse-cut theory, which posits that most homies of A-list rappers would serve better as hype men or security guards, for example, as opposed to collaborators. While Raekwon's original slanguage creations are still amusing, it's hard not to think that he, like most members of the Wu, have overstayed their welcome. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could've Been A Classic, March 8, 2005

By	madrox187 "DrewH" (Derby, VT) - See all my reviews

Whereas Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was all bout the music rather than deep lyrics, Raekwon has come with more emotional music on Immobilarity and the new Lex Diamond Story. The problem with Lex Diamond story is the same as the problem Rae had on Immobilarity. He comes out bumpin' with poor, no-name production, not to mention a bad crew. American Cream Team sucked, so what does Raekwon do? He searches for another crew in the dung-pile of mainstream wannabes. This time he comes out with Ice Water Inc. A silly-looking group of Harley-Davidson look-a-likes that can't rap that well. Fortunately, Raekwon has upgraded his lyrics and flow from Immobilarity, but still doesn't match Cuban Linx.

'Pit Bull Fights' kicks the album with the same energy as 'Knuckleheadz' and 'Yae Yo' did on his previous two LPs. The track opens for a down-right crap song featuring some chump named Havoc. He might be a mainstream rapper - I don't know - I'm into the underground scene. All I can tell you is that he is wack, and doesn't fit in with Raekwon and the gambino flow. Next comes 'Missing Watch' with my man Ghostface Killah. The chemistry between these two is as kinetic as ever, as they rap over a Wu-like looped beat. 'All Over Again' is a great track talking about Rae and Wu's longevity in both the rap game and in the streets of NY. "Clientele Kidd' feat. Ghostface Killah and Fat Joe forms a strong trifecta of tracks. This one is strictly gangsta, and Ghostface spits one of his best (and there are so many great ones).

'Smith Bros' begins with a funny interview, where Rae is disgusted with some jackhole's comments about his career, and leads into a dope track. At this point of the album though, the bass and snare is starting to wear thin. Luckily, unlike Immobilarity, it is mixed up a bit more. 'Robbery' would've been a decent track if Ice Water wasn't loaded with crap rappers. The Lox would've been a better mainstream group to put on this one. They would've sounded dope over the beat (Sheek Louch appears later). 'Pa-Blow Escablow' is a cool beat with Rae kicking it Gambino-style.

Now enter the Wu-Tang Clan! 'Muskateers Of Pig Alley' is the first track I listened to on the CD. How could I wait for a track with such an obscure track name featuring the Rebel INS (Inspectah Deck) and Noodles (Masta Killa)? But surprisingly, this track bit the big one. The beat was crazy-like, and distorted the sound of all three MCs. Masta Killa, one of my favorites, totally blew it. He was swearing too much, and didn't flow at all. INS did alright, but this was NOT a Wu-banga. 'Ice Cream Pt. 2' is even more silly than the original on Cuban Linx, but for some reason I dug it. The Ice Cream truck music samples added to the Ice Cream flavor. Method Man drops a nice verse, while my boy Cappadonna dropped the most ridiculous lyrics ever (and he has a lot of silly lyrics). But, that is what makes Cap who he is. To give you a taste of Cap's lyrics: "Yo, I love my d***-size like I love women and shxt, my head grew over the years now I gotta a nice d***." 'The Hood' is a good track lyrically - very deep. 'Planet of the Apes' with Capone and Sheek Louch is bumpin'. Even though Rae's flow doesn't fit with Capone and Sheek (the only member of the Lox I really enjoy), it is still a classic gangsta rap. I don't even want to speak of 'Wyld in the Club'. It IS that bad. 'Once Upon A Time' is a decent conclusion with Tekitha not only on the hook, but singing a verse. She has a purdy voice, and the song ends the album nicely. Overall, Lex Diamond Story is a nice upgrade. If Raekwon would stop being stubborn and get some good production, he could reach the high standards set by old school Wu-Tang clan.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Production, Production, Production...., July 9, 2005

By	MW - See all my reviews

It's true you can get by havin' decent or great beats paired w/ a sh*tty rapper(Chingy, Fabolous, Gucci Mane), but it's NOT the same tryin' to be one of the best lyricists w/ some of the worst beats possible. If you doubt that, than you didn't buy the `Lex Diamond Story'. Raekwon puts some of his best work on this album-LYRICALLY. But th beats...are pitiful. You think I'm lyin', try "Once Upon A Time" w/ Tekitha, "Smith Bros.", "Clientele Kidd" w/ Ghostface & Fat Joe, the opening "Pit Bull Fights", and some other song that I'll just say is a Kanye West-lite. The lyrics are CRAZY on pretty much every song, but lyrics can only go so far w/o at least C+ beats. 99.5 percent of the beats on here run from "hit the fast forward button now" to "oh, that's pretty nice". "Planet of the Apes" w/ Capone & Sheek Louch probably has the best beat on here, but is STILL nothin' that just jumps out at you. "Robbery" is pretty nice too, but Raekwon is not on the track, it's his Ice Water Inc group, which I wonder what they're doin' right now. On his next album, whenever it is, Raekwon needs to gets the original Wu-Producers or somethin', cause this was uncalled for. There's no RZA nor 9th Wonder material on here, just a bunch of no-names who are no names for a reason.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.8 stars, Pretty Tight, March 30, 2005

By	G-Funk 4ever "Honda Civic" (Listenin' to the Delfonics) - See all my reviews

In 2003, too many rappers went pop, with overuse of club and sex anthems with whack bubblegum pop beats. "The Lex Diamond Story" is different. Raekwon has some nice beats, a few even reminiscent of the older school mid 90's New York beats like "Clientele Kidd" and "Pa Blow Escablow". He does not go too pop. He does go "Wyld in Da Club," but doesn't overdo it. While his hard core raps like in "King of Kings," "Clientele Kidd," and others are not groundbreaking because gangsta rap has been around for so long, but he executes the songs well. His music sounds more like rap as opposed to pop! I have to give him mad props for that. If you love pop-rap, this one may not be for you; if you love classic rap, this one is definitely for you.