Raekwon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raekwon
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Raekwon at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Corey Woods |
| Also known as |
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| Born | January 12, 1970 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Staten Island, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | East Coast hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1991–present |
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Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), known by his stage name Raekwon, is a famous American rapper. He is a founding member of the popular hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The group became a huge success after their first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), came out in 1993.
Raekwon also has a successful solo career. His first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., was released in 1995. Many critics say it is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made. He is known for his detailed storytelling, which often feels like watching a movie. Because of his unique style, Raekwon is considered one of the top rappers in the industry. He also started his own record label called ICE H20 Records.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Raekwon was born Corey Woods in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was raised by his mother. When he was young, he and his mother moved to Staten Island. He got the name Raekwon from the Five-Percent Nation, a cultural movement, when he was a kid. In 2009, he converted to Islam.
Growing up, Raekwon faced many challenges. He went through a difficult period in his youth. He saw how problems in his community were affecting people around him. This made him decide to change his life for the better.
Raekwon went to junior high school with his future rap partner, Ghostface Killah. In high school, he became friends with other future rappers like Method Man and Inspectah Deck. After a serious and life-changing injury, Raekwon decided to focus on rapping. He said the experience was an "important eye opener" for him.
Career as a Musician
Joining the Wu-Tang Clan
In 1992, Corey Woods joined the Wu-Tang Clan, a nine-member rap group from New York City. He began using the stage name Raekwon The Chef. He also used other nicknames like Lex Diamonds and Shallah Raekwon.
The Wu-Tang Clan released their first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in November 1993. The album was a massive hit and was certified platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies. Their song "C.R.E.A.M." became a top 10 hit on the Billboard rap chart.
The group's success continued with their next albums. Wu-Tang Forever (1997) was a double album that sold over four million copies. The group also released The W in 2000, Iron Flag in 2001, and 8 Diagrams in 2007.
First Solo Album: A Classic Hit
In 1994, Raekwon signed a solo record deal. His first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., came out on August 1, 1995. The album received amazing reviews and is now seen as a classic in hip-hop.
The album tells stories about overcoming struggles to achieve success. The group's main producer, RZA, produced the entire album. He described it as being "like a crime mafia story." Raekwon's fellow Wu-Tang member, Ghostface Killah, was featured on more than half of the album's songs. The album's style was inspired by mob and kung-fu movies.
Raekwon said the album was about "trying to get out the hood." He explained that it was made for people who understood that lifestyle. But he hoped others would see it "as a movie and respecting it." The album was a commercial success. It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold just two months after its release.
Later Solo Albums
After his first album, Raekwon was featured on songs by other artists, including Fat Joe. His second album, Immobilarity (1999), had a different sound because RZA and Ghostface Killah were not as involved. His third album, The Lex Diamond Story (2003), also received mixed reviews from critics.
The Highly-Anticipated Sequel
For years, fans waited for a sequel to his classic first album. Raekwon began working on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II. He worked with famous producers like Dr. Dre and RZA. The rapper Busta Rhymes also helped him get back into the right mindset for the album.
After many delays, the album was finally released on September 8, 2009. It featured many guest artists, including members of the Wu-Tang Clan, Slick Rick, and Jadakiss. The album was a huge success with critics. HipHopDX, a music website, named it the Album of the Year. They compared it to the classic movie The Godfather 2. The website also named Raekwon "Emcee of the Year."
Recent Music Projects
After the success of Pt. II, Raekwon released more music. In 2010, he teamed up with Method Man and Ghostface Killah for the album Wu-Massacre. In 2011, he released his fifth solo album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang.
In 2012, Raekwon started his own record label, Ice H20 Records. He released an EP called Lost Jewlry in 2013. His next album, Fly International Luxurious Art, came out in 2015. In 2017, he released The Wild, which was praised for focusing on his signature storytelling style.
Raekwon continues to make music. He was a guest on the 2019 album WWCD by the group Griselda. In 2020, it was announced that he would release a third part of his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... series. His most recent album, The Emperor's New Clothes, was released in 2025.
Discography
Studio albums
- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995)
- Immobilarity (1999)
- The Lex Diamond Story (2003)
- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II (2009)
- Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang (2011)
- Fly International Luxurious Art (2015)
- The Wild (2017)
- The Emperor’s New Clothes (2025)
Collaboration albums
- Wu-Massacre (with Method Man & Ghostface Killah) (2010)
See also
In Spanish: Raekwon para niños
