HHDX: So far the rumors about the album sound dope. It’s like Q-Tip, Easy Mo Bee, a real old school vibe to it. Can you confirm that vibe is gonna be there?
Raekwon: They definitely gonna be involved with the project. When you think of them guys right there you think of legends in they own belt class. Easy Mo Bee had a lot to do with B.I.G. – God bless the dead. Q-Tip, he made classics with A Tribe Called Quest. These are dudes that we look up to in the game that don’t necessarily have to be on the forefront, but they know how to deliver. I think that’s so important because people get caught up in today’s music and not art music. We make art. We don’t make commercial music that just pop overnight and then it disappears. Nah, our shit is classic. We ain’t never been dudes to go outside of our character and be something that we’re not. Wu-Tang, we always had our own different sound. We had our own style. We a concept clique. You gotta be prepared for all of that. If you not prepared for all of that then how much of a Wu fan is you really? If you looking for a nigga to come out sounding like Puffy and all that shit then you got the wrong dudes. Puffy is Puffy. Wu-Tang is Wu-Tang.

HHDX: I guess it may be too early to get any details about Cuban Linx II?
Raekwon: Nah, it ain’t never too early. That’s my baby right there. I feel 900% good about it. What I don’t feel good about is just dealing with the drama of these bullshit-ass fuckin’ record companies. I’m dealing with a classic record that I know everybody wants. But I can’t go up to the labels and be frontin’ with them, and I don’t feel secure about the company that I’m around.

HHDX: And what is that… It’s like, I’m not trying to put you in a bad spot…
Raekwon: Nah, keep it a 100.

HHDX: Is it Aftermath or is it Interscope? Is it Dre or is it Jimmy?
Raekwon: It’s not Dre. And actually I never had a conversation with Jimmy [Iovine]. It’s just more about who’s gonna appreciate it. Who’s gonna sit here and say, Yo, we believe in you Chef. You already know Dre believes in me. Dre ain’t the type of nigga to be fucking with something if it ain’t worth it. So I can’t say anything bad about Dre. It’s just, I understand Dre is a very busy dude, but I need quality time too. And if you can’t give the kid that dealing with a classic, then we gonna have some problems. But other than that I respect Dre’s integrity. I respect his work ethic. Jimmy is looking at it on a business level. And when everything pan out correct, it’ll pan out correct. So I’m not gonna step on nobody and be on bad terms. It’s just that politics is a muthafucka. Continued on page 5 »