Tracklist:
Side A
Side B
RAEKWON — THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
Rating: 3.5 Mics
Raekwon shows once again why he’s one of hip-hop’s elite veteran MCs on The Emperor’s New Clothes. What stood out to me immediately was his smooth rhyme-scheme delivery. Rae doesn’t sound like he’s forcing anything. His flow is controlled, confident and seasoned, and his storytelling is still on point.
The production is cool, but nothing special. There aren’t many beats that completely blew me away. For me, it’s really Raekwon’s performance as an MC that gives the album its strength.
The eight records that stood out to me are “Bear Hill,” “Pomegranate,” “Wild Corsicans,” “1 Life,” “The Omerta,” “Mac & Lobster,” “Debra Night Wine” and “The Guy That Plans It.” Those are also the eight songs that have the most replay value for me. I wouldn’t necessarily keep running the entire album back, but I would definitely go back to those records.
As far as the guest appearances, Nas and Ghostface Killah delivered the standout verses for me. When you put MCs of that caliber alongside Raekwon, you’re getting veteran lyricism from artists who understand how to make their verses count.
Even the album title, The Emperor’s New Clothes, is catchy. It grabs your attention and fits Raekwon’s veteran presence.
Overall, this is a solid album. The strongest elements are Raekwon’s smooth rhyme schemes, delivery and storytelling. The production could have been stronger and more memorable, and that keeps the project from reaching the next level for me. But with eight records I’d personally replay, there’s definitely enough quality here.
Final Rating: 3.5 Mics out of 5.
Very happy with my order and glad I got it. Great album!
