His mother calls him Corey, last name Woods, but most people know him as Raekwon, one ninth of the world’s coolest rap collective, the one and only Wu-Tang Clan. His latest release, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, is also last year’s best hip-hop album.

Raekwon played a vital part in the renewal of hip-hop and the revival of the east coast rap scene when he released the masterpiece Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993, together with [long inhalation] RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and now diseased Ol’ Dirty Bastard (R.I.P). The album includes bangers such as Protect Ya Neck and C.R.E.A.M., and is still considered one of the genre’s best.

Two years later Raekwon released his solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, another indisputable classic. The lyrics revolve around cocaine, criminal activity and the hierarchy of the underworld, themes that were later adopted and explored by for example The Clipse and Rick Ross. Two more LPs followed, in 1999 and 2003 respectively, but we won’t linger on mediocrities here – we jump straight to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, the debut’s real follow up, both thematically and quality-wise.

Pitchfork gave it 8.8 out of 10 and wrote that the album was just as good as fans had wished and hoped for. Drowned in Sound claimed that it lived up to all the hype. What more can a rap fan ask? To experience Raekwon live, perhaps? And whaddya know, he’ll perform at The Oya Festival in August!

www.myspace.com/raekwon