By Robbie Ettelson

With Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2′ finally out, the Chef hits London town on October 3rd with RZA for a very special gig. Click here to check out details of the night – and keep reading on for a flashback to Rae’s HHC Digital 002 cover interview…

Back in ‘95 the Wu were at the peak of their creative powers and on the crest of world domination, a position capped by Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…’ dropping to universal rapture. Now, after 14 years of false starts (’RAGU’ (Rae And Ghost United) anyone?), graveyard talk (head of Aftermath Dr Dre losing interest and getting distracted by ‘Detox’), a slew of slated tracks leaking via the Chef’s numerous mixtapes (’State Of Grace’, ‘Baggage Handlers’, ‘Blu Eaglez’, heaters the lot of ‘em), and the imminent feeling that the flames of anticipation were about to flicker to ash, its architect has finally readied a sequel. So we grabbed Rae on the record on ‘OB4CL2′ business, and then asked him about a few things not related to the record just to give the guy a break from the same old line of questioning…

‘Only Built For Cuban Linx 2′ was on par with ‘Detox’ as most awaited, most anticipated. How did you deal with that pressure?
“I’m just ready to bring it, man. It’s always gonna be some kind of peer pressure at some point, but when you really love this and you do this for a living and you have the passion for it, it becomes part of your hustle. I’m ready to show people what I can do. I don’t look at the fact that I’m a cat that’s been around for a minute, because I feel like at the end of the day I didn’t get my nut off the way I want to yet. So I’m kinda anxious to really see what people is really gonna place they judgment on me with this album. But as far as the way I feel, I’m stronger than ever. My lyrical content has grew so much that I still feel like I got so much to offer, so it’s still on. Non-stop.”

Is putting out a lot of material in the interim the way that you keep your verbal technique on point?
“Yessir. No question. That’s all I know how to do, baby – is just rhyme. I come from that era where lyrics is really important and your hustle game is important, so I’m just making sure that I stay on that side of the table and just really bring out the best in me. I’ve been surrounding myself with nothing but good energy lately, so I’m just on my A game right now, man. Fo’real, I feel good.”

On Mobb Deep’s ‘Nighttime Vultures’ you said, “Word to me, son – the uniform do mean a lot.” Do you still feel that way?
“[laughing] You was slick with that! Yeah, you know, I’m a story-telling dude. I vibe off of stories. I love telling action-packed stories – I write like I’m making a movie. So when you get stuff like that from me, that’s only just because I’m good at making them kinda records – visual records. I love to freestyle as well, but the people made me write harder. Y’all make me really get on my A game so hard that I have to come with the kinda content of music that I come with, ‘cos I’m put on so much of a high pedestal. A lotta my shit come from listening to brothers like Slick Rick and ‘em, so they kinda like groomed me to be a better emcee. I’m always gonna pay homage to the cats that done it before me, but some of the legends… I really feel I’m a part of them, you know?”

Tour money must be more important than ever these days, right?
“Yeah, I mean that’s what we work for. We work to make these albums and go let the people hear ‘em, so I think that’s the least that a fan can do is spend his little $15, $20 to come out and come see you perform. That’s what it’s all about, man. Us being artists, we work hard. So when we get back, when we finish the album, it’s like, ‘Okay, now we ready to go make some money’. Because we gotta leave our families and all of that to come hang out with y’all. So everything has to be dealt with a certain kinda way to respect the artist and respecting his fans.

“I love my fans, regardless of whether they feel however they feel, it’s just that when it comes to me touring, it’s like, ‘Yo! You gotta pay, B! You gotta pay, because I’m paying! I’m paying by leaving my family to do what I gotta do’. That just comes with the territory of being a artist, whether you Raekwon The Chef or whether you Luther Vandross – god bless the dead. People pay to see they top artists do they thing because they love they music. So why not come through, pay a couple of dollars to come see your boys perform? That’s what it’s all about! Nine times outta ten you’re probably just chilling in the fuckin’ crib anyway, waiting for an event to happen so you can go out and spend your money correctly! Right? I mean that’s what I would do! I remember back in the days going to see Rakim and Slick Rick at a show. I was excited to come spend my little $25 just to be in the mix, because you get inspiration from seeing your greatest hip-hop artists or whatever. You wanna see that shit? Spend that little bit of money, man, and go have a nice time, man. Bring a friend or two.”

You’re doing your thing on Twitter. Is that another way to reach out to the fans?
“It’s just all about interacting. I want my fans to know that outside of music y’all can still be close to me. There’s so many different, new, modern-day technology shit that’s going that we gotta coincide with. To me, I think it’s good ‘cos it gives you a hands-on with your fans – even more closer than them just waiting to hear you on the radio or waiting for your album. It’s like, ‘Yo, you can catch me in the lab, nigga! What’s good? I’m making me a turkey burger right now. How ya doing?’ I think that shit is hot right there! [chuckles] I think that’s live! Word up!

“Somebody may call me and be like, ‘Yo! Tomorrow’s my birthday, kid!’ I wanna hit a nigga back and be like, ‘Happy birthday, man! Enjoy your day, this is what you should go do.’ Or if you having a bad day, if it’s something I could help you on, that’s what I’m here for. I mean at the end of the day, y’all made me who I am, so I feel like it’s owed to do that to the fans. Especially at times they wanna be heard from – I appreciate that.”

So you can confirm that you’re writing your own Twitter updates? You don’t have someone typing it for you?
“Nah, all that shit is in the phones right now, so you know it’s not a problem to just say something real quick or whatever, whatever. After I found out a long time ago – like maybe four years ago – that it was like two or three other Raekwons acting like they was me, I had to really step in and really fix that shit. ‘Cos I would hate for fans to be lead by somebody else and not know that they talking to the wrong person. So I had to come in and really fix that situation.”