It’s unlikely that F.I.L.A. will mushroom into a revered work of snuff literature, as 1995’s Mafioso epic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx did, but pornographic specificity is still part and parcel of the Chef’s music.
For all its unintended sonic drawbacks, Fly International Luxurious Art goes a long way to remind everyone of why Raekwon is one of the greatest to ever wield a microphone.
What F.I.L.A. lacks in overt emotional content is made up for with the pleasure Raekwon takes in listing off his lavish purchases and seemingly constant jet-setting.
Collaborations with Akon and Snoop Dogg set the alarm bells ringing here, but F.I.L.A. finds plenty of space to showcase Rae’s legendary flow, too.
Horn-blasted tales of dodgy deals and a crackling cinematic alliance with Snoop Dogg are as tender and rich as Chateaubriand, but gristly duets with Estelle and the ubiquitous 2 Chains prove he’s perfectly capable of cooking up mediocre shit under his own steam.
Raekwon’s passion and well-crafted rhymes show he’s still capable of creating high quality work as an MC, but F.I.L.A. is too disjointed to stand beside his best work.
It’s an uncomfortable fit for the Staten Island rapper, and a far cry from the intense, opaque poeticism of his two Cuban Linx volumes, making for an effort that feels both overextended and under-conceived.
Fly International Luxurious Art is an often awkward and fumbling attempt to update Raekwon’s music.
Ultimately, FILA suffers not from any sort of egregious mistakes, but rather from being almost entirely forgettable.
This cover cracks me up everytime I see it lol. The joy I get laughing at the cover outweighs the joy I get listening to the music on the album, which is uh.. not good, to say the least.
*S.P.H.I.N.X.*
At the age of 24 I am beginning to face the daunting realization that maybe, just maybe, Wu-Tang isn't forever. Raekwon was quick to criticize the mess that was "A Better Tomorrow" saying RZA, of all things had a bad creative direction, when Raekwon simply lacks any. He's made masterpieces, both Only Built 4 the Cuban Linx, but now he's sold out, just let the studio throw some beats and features together around his ever-hard mafioso flow. The result isn't bad, just overcluttered with ... read more
Usually when I listen to a relatively new Raekwon album, I end up wishing I got RZA production. But I actually really like the production here. Raekwon's rapping isn't up to his usual standards tho
1 | Intro 1:05 | |
2 | 4 In The Morning 3:17 feat. Ghostface Killah | 73 |
3 | I Got Money 3:20 feat. A$AP Rocky | 50 |
4 | Wall To Wall 5:02 feat. French Montana, Busta Rhymes | 40 |
5 | Heated Nights 3:02 | 73 |
6 | F.I.L.A. World 4:20 feat. 2 Chainz | 50 |
7 | 1,2 1,2 3:19 feat. Snoop Dogg | 50 |
8 | Live To Die 3:11 | 70 |
9 | Soundboy Kill It 3:07 feat. Melanie Fiona, Agent Sasco | 30 |
10 | Revory (Wraith) 3:23 feat. Ghostface Killah, Rick Ross | 73 |
11 | All About You 3:23 feat. Estelle | 40 |
12 | Nautilus 2:35 | 73 |
13 | Worst Enemy 3:41 feat. Liz Rodrigues | 45 |