#4 Album for 2009: Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II

i know, i know: old guy rap.  but it’s only fair to acknowledge that the last great wu-related album could happen at any time, and may well have happened this year: i pushed play on cuban linx pt. ii with no expectations whatsoever, and got a bracing, engaging, almost perfectly sequenced record that spanned 15 or 20 years with no seams.  its 22 tracks contain an almost overwhelming haul of old soul samples, nearly abstract beats, interstitial dialogue, and verse after excellent verse from a crew of guys in the age 35-40 range.  seriously, it’s verging on unbelievable that everybody would sound so good, from career bench guys like styles p up to ghostface.  don’t get me wrong, i more than respect ghost’s right to follow his muse, but he never sounds more at home than he does on stuff like this—belting out hard, gritty lines with that urgent sound in his voice.  at the center of it all is rae, a guy so disinclined to draw attention to himself that he’s happy to cede many of this album’s thrilling moments to others.  but don’t forget about him because he gives this stuff a heart.  listen to his awesome, heartfelt tribute to odb, “ason jones,” above.