Raekwon

Raekwon, born Corey Woods, is an American rapper from Staten Island, New York, and a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He rose to prominence in the mid-1990s as part of the Clan’s collective breakthrough before establishing himself as a solo artist with his 1995 debut album «Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…», widely regarded as one of the defining records of 1990s East Coast hip hop.

That album, built around vivid, cinematic storytelling and heavy collaboration with fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah, helped popularize the Mafioso rap subgenre, with tracks like «Verbal Intercourse», «Incarcerated Scarfaces» and «Criminology» showcasing dense, crime-narrative lyricism over RZA’s atmospheric production. The album’s influence extended well beyond its release, shaping a generation of rappers drawn to its noir aesthetic.

Raekwon continued to release solo material in the following decades while remaining an active member of Wu-Tang Clan, frequently collaborating with Method Man, Ghostface Killah and other members. He is regarded as one of the genre’s most respected lyricists, praised for his intricate wordplay and street-level storytelling that helped define an entire era of hip hop.