In an ongoing effort to provide value to readers and the very lazy, YFWB presents the “The Streets Say”: a summary of reviews and views from around the raposphere on the hottest hip-hop LPs and mixtapes. If you want your review included, hit me up.

THE STREETS SAY: 4.5 out of 5

AllHipHop (4.5 out of 5)

Summary: “Is Cuban Linx II the classic, genre-turning opus that was the original? No, but it’s as close as one can possibly get. As the great Chicago poet Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. stated, “This ain’t ’94 Joe/We can’t go back.” But that doesn’t mean one can’t tap those old spirits to assist in creating genuine, new art. Like Nas did on Stillmatic, Shallah Raekwon has done well by the legacy of his greatest work. Now, we fans should let him rest. The Cuban Linx saga is complete, and the Chef should be allowed to move on to other artistic endeavors if he so chooses. Well done, Rae.”

Liberators of Hip Hop (5 out of 5)

Summary: “This album is the best release in recent musical memory. You can’t call it underground because everyone knows who Raekwon (or at least Wu Tang) is. You can’t call it mainstream because they don’t get radio play. Which is ironic because the very style of hip hop radio rappers tried to imitate is displayed in full force on this album. Buy. this. album. Blast in every audio outlet you own, and let people know that REAL HIP HOP STILL LIVES”

Hip Hop Chronicle (No Rating)

Summary: “Has the Chef lost any game? Hell no! Is his flow still flawless? Hell yes!  I know people will ask “Is it better than the first OBFCL?”. My response would be, don’t compare Raekwon to Raekwon, compare the album to whats out now. The first album was in a different time, the artist was in a different place so it would be impossible to compare.  There isn’t one joint where I’m going ‘yeah, I’ll skip that’.”

Potholes In My Blog (4.5 out of 5)

Summary: “It would be rash to claim that Raekwon has followed up the original Only Built 4 Cuban Linx with another classic, but it’s near impossible to imagine a more dignified attempt at doing so. Consequently, he has achieved what very few artists are able to in relation to building upon their best material, especially in a thematic sense. A spectacular and almost flawless effort, albums this well done just don’t come along very often. For that, compliments to the Chef.”

Tags: OB4CL2, Only Built For Cuban Linx II, Raekwon, Review