Raekwon teases ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3’
“It’s time we close that trilogy out,” the Wu-Tang mainstay said in a recent interview.
Raekwon is adding onto his famed Only Built 4 Cuban Linx series. Speaking with TIDAL’s Elliott Wilson on Saturday (Aug. 1), the Wu-Tang Clan legend revealed that the series’ third — and final — installment is on its way.
“I’ma make an announcement, you ready?” Raekwon asked Wilson, after talking about the makings of his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx series. “It’s time we close that trilogy out. It’s time to close that trilogy.
“I was holding all night back to tell you that. Cuban Linx 3 baby, the trilogy,” he continued, as Wilson cheered. “It’s over after that. it’s over.”
The news arrives after the inaugural Only Built 4 Cuban Linx celebrated its 25th anniversary. Raekwon released the series’ second installment, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, back in 2009. A large difference between the first album — which housed hits like “Ice Cream,” “Guillotine (Swordz)” and “Wu-Gambinos” — and the second was RZA’s involvement. While RZA helmed the first installment as its sole and executive producer, the Wu-Tang legend was joined by Dr. Dre, The Alchemist, J. Dilla and more on Pt. II.
“I allowed myself to track down some of the finest ni**as in the game that done it and basically get them involved with the project,” Raekwon said of the album’s production team at the 2009 Rock the Bells festival. “RZA was always there to do whatever, [whenever]… but at the same token I wanted more. You know what I mean, I wanted to go out and challenge myself even more with different production and different producers.”
In 2012, Raekwon mentioned getting several other artists involved in a potential third installment, including Kanye West.
“It’ll only be right,” he told MTV News. “One thing about me with that III, if I do that III the way I want to do it, I wanna break bread with everybody. There might be a young ni**a out there that I feel got it.”
While Raekwon didn’t offer a release date for the project, his announcement has given fans hope. Check out a snippet from his conversation with Wilson below.