Raekwon

Creating a sequel to a classic album is always a tricky proposition. There's going to be anticipation, but there are also expectations. While Raekwon fails to match the intensity of his 1995 solo debut, this is a valiant effort. The Rae's flow has weathered a bit over the years -- he has the gristle of a middle-aged man -- but his knack for wordplay and imagery remain. Lyrically, this is his best work in a decade. And though nothing here matches "Criminology" or "Incarcerated Scarfaces" from the original, "House of the Flying Daggers" is a great late-period Wu classic.