Countdown to 8 Diagrams, Part 2: Raekwon.

With U-God in the books, we keep things moving, cooking up some marvelous shit with Raekwon, pictured here with Wu-Tang manager Oli “Power” Grant and Mike MOTHERFUCKING Tyson(!).

Quick aside — did anything think, say, 2 years ago, that we’d be seeing a new Wu-Tang album before Cuban Linx II?

Download: Raekwon – “State Of Grace” (12″ single only, 2006)

Out of all of the pre-Cuban Linx II cuts that have been released, this is my personal favorite (honorable mention to “My Corner” and the Pete Rock-produced “Kids That’s Rich”). My liking of “State Of Grace” grew after Rae, in a XXL interview, described it as “a piece of chicken on top of a plate at Thanksgiving.” That’s one of those statements that stays with you because you have no idea what the fuck it means. Don’t get me wrong, chicken is delicious and all, but would you really want it on Thanksgiving? Would it come in place of the turkey, or with the turkey? Before or after?

Download: Wu-Tang Clan – “Hollow Bones” (off The W, 2000)

Although the songs with Busta and Snoop on The W — not to mention “Gravel Pit”, which just never grew on me — brought down the overall quality of that album, it started off SO strong with the first few tracks. I wouldn’t have guessed Rae was capable of pulling off a flow and rhyme pattern like this. Much credit is due to legendary blues/soul singer Syl Johnson, whose timeless song “Is It Because I’m Black?” was sampled on this track (and also on this Styles P track featuring Black Thought on his new album, in stores tomorrow). Johnson’s music has been sampled a few times by RZA — most notably, “Could I Be Falling In Love” on Rae’s “Heaven & Hell”, and “Different Strokes” on “Shame On A Nigga”.

Download: Method Man – “Meth vs. Chef” featuring Raekwon (off Tical, 1994)

Murdered on his own shit? Considering that this track was intended to feel like a boxing match, complete with a “referee” giving instructions at the beginning and ringing bells, AND that Rae’s verse ends the track/fight, you could certainly say so. As hard as Rae came off on this track, I don’t think it really prepared anybody for his classic debut that would follow.

Download: Smif-N-Wessun Cocoa Brovaz – “Black Trump” featuring Raekwon (off The Rude Awakening, 1998)

In my eyes, Dah Shinin’ was to the Boot Camp Clik what Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was to the Wu — not their introductions to the hip hop audience (those would be Enta Da Stage and Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, respectively), but the works that solidified their reputations and let people know they were in it for the long-term, not just some overnight fad. So, it’s only right that they collaborated at some point. If you haven’t already, check for Smif-N-Wessun’s latest LP, The Album, which dropped back in October.