In this episode of “People’s Party With Talib Kweli,” Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, writer, author and one of Wu-Tang Clan’s founding members:

Shallah, Lex Diamonds…

RAEKWON (The Chef)

The impact of ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…’ aka ‘The Purple Tape’, cemented Rae’s legacy as one of the original kings of Mafioso hip hop. Here’s what we covered in this one:

• Rae and Talib meeting for the first time at Loud Records headquarters.
• Coming up in the Park Hill aka ‘Killa Hill’ projects of Staten Island.
• His past of identifying as a member of the five percent nation.
• How the Wu-Tang Clan came together, RZA calling on Rae to help form the group.
• A deep dive into the process of penning classics like ‘Can It Be All So Simple’.
• Discussion of the real story behind the backronym of ‘C.R.E.A.M.’.
• How Rae and Ghost became such close friends through sharing the same creative vision.
• Talk of the ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ series and Rae’s take on how it turned out.
• His 611 Purple Factory located in Toronto, Canada dedicated to Rae and the Wu.
• Breaking down notable verses on the song ‘Incarcerated Scarfaces’.
• The scientific study done on which rappers have the largest vocabulary.
• Explanation of the mindset when Rae and Ghost did the ‘Striving For Perfection’ intro.
• Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Kool G, Slick Rick, LL and KRS as Rae’s Justice League.
• Center piecing the cocaine underworld on ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..’
• Wu-Tang member Cappadonna and what he means to the Wu legacy.
• Rae’s favorite Gangster movies of all-time.
• The Force M.D.’s paving the way for future Staten Island artists.
• Love for all music and how special the 90’s were.
• Advice for up and coming emcees about not skipping steps to success.
• Bringing the East and South together on Outkast’s ‘Skew It On The Bar-B’.
• The pressure of meeting expectations on ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II’.
• Rae’s book ‘From Staircase to Stage: The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan’.