Albums Raekwon - The Emperor's New Clothes (July 18th)

[Ironman]

I've gave it a few listens front to back so far. I have genuinely enjoyed it so far. Some of the production isn't the strongest but it's nothing bad enough that it distracts me. Raekwon sounds revitalized Looking forward to Ghosts album.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Exactly! Honestly, Rae needs to find his Hitboy, theres no reason he cant go on a King's Disease run like Nas, he just needs a solid established producer to create a sound for him.

A big problem with all these new age beatmakers too is the mix engineers are mostly mid af now, theres very little attention paid to the final mix with a lot of these beats.

It would never come out with Dre "producing" but having Dr Dre mix OB4CL3 would be a great idea. Or even shyt, Rae and Havoc could probably make a classic.

But yeah, the problem isn't with the rhymes, Rae still operating at top tier levels with the pen.

I think Alchemist would be a perfect choice for Rae.

Or even Conductor Williams or someone that understands the lane Chef is in. But it needs to be somebody that's been producing forever and really knows how to put full classic projects together. I would even say Pete Rock would be a good choice. I loved "Sneakers" and "The Game". They could definitely cook up some dope sh*t together.

 

[Figaro]

The production doesn’t sound dated at all, don’t know where that’s coming from. Dated production is some of that last Redman album, but he still has so much energy and charisma that you kinda ignore it.

A lot of them lesser producers beats do sounds like "Imitations" of other producers beats in some form.

I don't really mind it though but can see why people would be turned off by it.

Probably the only major flaw about the album because album is dope to me.

 

[Mike Wins]

I've listened to it about 281 times since it dropped, and it's the same for me.

I like a little more than 1/2 the album, but the other 1/2 and change does have that generic and cheap feel, when it comes to the beats. Chef is top tier on this, lyrically, though! And there's very few MC's from that era that can still drop quality sh*t today, so I appreciate the album and like it. But I think Rae's still a couple of producers away from being able to drop an actual classic in this era. He's close, but he just needs the right people behind the boards.

Yeah if someone with the precision and skill of Rae is locked in, I just need the production to be solid. Which it is here. I think he gonna spend more on sample clearances and have bigger name producers on Cuban Linx 3. Nonetheless this one been worthy of a bunch of spins for me so far.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Yeah if someone with the precision and skill of Rae is locked in, I just need the production to be solid. Which it is here. I think he gonna spend more on sample clearances and have bigger name producers on Cuban Linx 3. Nonetheless this one been worthy of a bunch of spins for me so far.

True.

Some legends need to be produced. Rae came in the game working closely with a dude that's a Top 5 legend, in RZA. He went from that, to quickly needing to bring in 9-10 producers per project. That's not an easy adjustment. Now he's just copping beats from mad people and trying to piece together his work. RZA was overseeing direction and the production before, so Rae didn't have to do anything, other than just be himself and spit.

Now, he has to do RZA's old job and basically play A&R. That's tough. But legends on his level kinda have to spend and have bigger budgets to make the type of music the fans want to hear from them. Chef can't be out here on bargain basement beats, lol. So next time, he should definitely lock in with just one other legend on the boards and go crazy.

 

[KingSol81]

I think Alchemist would be a perfect choice for Rae.

Or even Conductor Williams or someone that understands the lane Chef is in. But it needs to be somebody that's been producing forever and really knows how to put full classic projects together. I would even say Pete Rock would be a good choice. I loved "Sneakers" and "The Game". They could definitely cook up some dope sh*t together.

Oooohh yeah Pete Rock would be a great choice, or even Muggs maybe, he seems to have no issue doing full projects for artists

 

[Mike Wins]

True.

Some legends need to be produced. Rae came in the game working closely with a dude that's a Top 5 legend, in RZA. He went from that, to quickly needing to bring in 9-10 producers per project. That's not an easy adjustment. Now he's just copping beats from mad people and trying to piece together his work. RZA was overseeing direction and the production before, so Rae didn't have to do anything, other than just be himself and spit.

Now, he has to do RZA's old job and basically play A&R. That's tough. But legends on his level kinda have to spend and have bigger budgets to make the type of music the fans want to hear from them. Chef can't be out here on bargain basement beats, lol. So next time, he should definitely lock in with just one other legend on the boards and go crazy.

Hope he will set aside his weird relationship with RZA and have him oversee Cuban Linx 3, with beats from True, 4th and some select outsiders with a real budget for samples. A Cuban Linx album HAS to have RZA involved.

Wouldn't be mad at a project with Alc at all, but for whatever reason Alc never seem to work with the legends he could make classics with on full projects. Maybe he want too much of the cut you know Rae gonna want a way bigger slice than Boldy

 

[tremonthustler1]

I've gave it a few listens front to back so far. I have genuinely enjoyed it so far. Some of the production isn't the strongest but it's nothing bad enough that it distracts me. Raekwon sounds revitalized Looking forward to Ghosts album.

All I know is I heard Keisha Plum ruin a bunch of fire beats on her album. If GFK's beats are worse than that, shame on em all.

 

[Piff Perkins]

I think Alchemist would be a perfect choice for Rae.

Or even Conductor Williams or someone that understands the lane Chef is in. But it needs to be somebody that's been producing forever and really knows how to put full classic projects together. I would even say Pete Rock would be a good choice. I loved "Sneakers" and "The Game". They could definitely cook up some dope sh*t together.

While I agree....people including myself have been saying this about multiple rappers for a decade and it never happens. Which tells me these guys are so far removed from where underground rap is in 202x that they're never gonna do what we want. Rae and all these guys could have gone on a run with Conductor/Daringer/Alch/Sebb Bash/Graymatter/etc at any point this decade. But I think older rappers who are stuck in late 90s/early 00s major label shyt don't fukk with the type of shyt we fukk with. Because every time AZ or Rae or Jada or whoever drops an album you get the same off brand Dre/Just Blaze/Kanye shyt. Dramatic beats, familiar samples, etc. You play a Conductor track for these dudes and they're gonna be like ayo where's the bass, I can't get a singer on a hook for this shyt, etc lol.

 

[SAJ!!]

While I agree....people including myself have been saying this about multiple rappers for a decade and it never happens. Which tells me these guys are so far removed from where underground rap is in 202x that they're never gonna do what we want. Rae and all these guys could have gone on a run with Conductor/Daringer/Alch/Sebb Bash/Graymatter/etc at any point this decade. But I think older rappers who are stuck in late 90s/early 00s major label shyt don't fukk with the type of shyt we fukk with. Because every time AZ or Rae or Jada or whoever drops an album you get the same off brand Dre/Just Blaze/Kanye shyt. Dramatic beats, familiar samples, etc. You play a Conductor track for these dudes and they're gonna be like ayo where's the bass, I can't get a singer on a hook for this shyt, etc lol.

That's the exact same thing I was saying about Public Enemy's latest album. Chuck and Flav need to move on from C-Doc and Johnny Juice and bring in some real producers that can help update their sound.

 

[Awesome Wells]

While I agree....people including myself have been saying this about multiple rappers for a decade and it never happens. Which tells me these guys are so far removed from where underground rap is in 202x that they're never gonna do what we want. Rae and all these guys could have gone on a run with Conductor/Daringer/Alch/Sebb Bash/Graymatter/etc at any point this decade. But I think older rappers who are stuck in late 90s/early 00s major label shyt don't fukk with the type of shyt we fukk with. Because every time AZ or Rae or Jada or whoever drops an album you get the same off brand Dre/Just Blaze/Kanye shyt. Dramatic beats, familiar samples, etc. You play a Conductor track for these dudes and they're gonna be like ayo where's the bass, I can't get a singer on a hook for this shyt, etc lol.

I don’t even think Chef is stuck in the 90's. He's just cheap, lol.

He's worked with plenty of new artists and praises them, but working with certain producers today is gonna cost him. He doesn't want to pay. He didn't even want to pay RZA, lol. That's where the whole issue came from with them. So if he can get some no-name dudes today, or people he can get tracks from on discount, he'll go with that.

These legends ain't willing to spend today. Buckwild was speaking about this not too long ago. He said, "Why should I lower my prices because somebody else is willing to sell beats for nothing?" Sosa, Kiss and Rae always go out and cop budget beats now because they can get mad of those for nothing. I don’t even think Buck charged AZ a lot because that's his people. But if you go to these other legendary producers, you're gonna have to come out them pockets. Pete ain't selling no budget beats. Even today. HAHA!

 

[Cladyclad]

So now that the tour is over....it looks like they had zero promo plan beyond Rae going on IG Live? I gave Mass Appeal the benefit of the doubt, given the tour taking time away from Rae to get out there more. But we're nearly a week post the release date now, the tour ended a few days ago and it looks like there's just virtually no money behind this shyt. Again.

why does it matter? You got the music

yall don’t care about sales right?

 

[dubsmith_nz]

Rae and Muggs would be fire for an album. shyt let me get a Rae and Ev album, I'm sure he isn't charging a gang for beats.

 

[Big Homie Behemoth]

Open Doors is TOOOO crazy. Lol. I been running that shyt in the whip non stop for like 2 days. Lol

He’s SPITTING on that shyt, the flow is immaculate, haven’t heard him sound so vicious in years to be honest…needed a third verse from him, Ghost / Meth / Deck / Nas / AZ!!!

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

Ghostface & Nicholas craven would be so dope!!