Raekwon Bio: Wu-Tang's Founding Member and Master Lyricist

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Colin is a content creator based out of New York City. Colin loves rap music because it brings together various things that he enjoys, like art, fashion, and film. He spends his time writing and producing music when he's not working. He's eager to share with you his first hand experiences in the industry.

Raekwon Quick Facts

Full Name	Corey Woods
Birth Date	January 12^th, 1970
Birth Place	New York City
Nick Name	Raekwon the Chef, Lex Diamonds
Nationality	American
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn
Siblings	Two brothers and one sister
Children	Jabairi Woods and Cori Andrea Woods
Partner/Spouse	Unknown
Most Successful Songs / Albums	Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Earnings	Unknown
Net Worth	$12 million
Social Media	@raekwon
Awards	2 Grammy nominations
Last Updated

Raekwon Birthplace

Raekwon was born on January 12th, 1970, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. When he was an adolescent, the family moved to the Park Hill neighborhood of Staten Island, where he met many of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Raekwon Parents

Raekwon’s parents’ names are not publicly available, but he was raised mainly by a single mother. His father was an addict who he only met once when he was six years old. After meeting him, his father asked if he wanted to see his grandmother, and they walked to her house together. But while Rae and his grandmother sat in the kitchen, his father slipped out the back door, never to be seen again. So, Raekwon lived with his mother and extended family in Brooklyn. But after his mother was robbed, she and Rae went to live in the Park Hill neighborhood of Staten Island.

Raekwon Early Life

Although Raekwon grew up in a loving home surrounded by relatives, he also witnessed his mother get abused by the various boyfriends that came in and out of her life. She was constantly working, leaving him vulnerable to the temptations of his neighborhood, which was full of crack dealers, robbers, and killers.

At one point, he got into an argument with one of his mother’s boyfriends that got physical. She sided with the boyfriend and kicked him out of the house, leading him deeper into the street lifestyle. That led him down a dark path of violent behavior and an addiction to cocaine and crack. But once he saw the drug’s impact on the community, he quit cold turkey.

Raekwon attended New Dorp High School, where he befriended future rappers, Remedy, Method Man and Inspectah Deck. He was already close friends with Ghostface Killah, who he met in middle school. Around this time, he started writing rhymes to escape what he was going through in the streets.

Early on, he wasn’t taking music all that seriously. But after he was shot four times by accident over a situation he had nothing to do with, he began to see music as an alternative to the life he was currently living.

Raekwon Professional Career

Joining the Wu-Tang Clan

Early on in his career, Raekwon performed under the name Sha Rider but later changed it to Raekwon to fit the aesthetic of the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan. Raekwon was introduced to the other Wu-Tang Clan members through Ghostface, with whom he grew up. Ghost was roommates with the RZA and helped assemble the whole posse.

They released their first single, Protect Ya Neck, in 1993, which helped them build a sizeable cult following. Every group member had a verse on the song (except Masta Killa), including Raekwon, who appeared second. The Wu-Tang was an immediate sensation, as there had never been a nine-member group in rap history. Raekwon was quickly recognized for his unique cadence and slang, which established him as one of the standout members of the group early on.

The crew released Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in November 1993 to widespread critical acclaim. Raekwon was featured on 8 of the 13 tracks on the album, as well as the intro to Method Man. His performances were praised by critics, including his verse on CREAM, which is one of Wu Tang’s most iconic songs. The project established him as one of the standout members of the group and set him up for a successful solo career.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…

In 1994, Raekwon signed a solo deal with Loud Records and began working on his debut album. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… was released on August 1st, 1995, to rave reviews. It was the third Wu-Tang solo project after Method Man’s Tical and Ol Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36th Chamber. Although it was billed as a Raekwon solo album, Ghostface Killah was featured on 11 of the 17 tracks. The RZA also handled the production, and it featured appearances from every other Wu-Tang Clan member.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is a classic record and helped lay the foundation for East Coast gangsta rap. Rae and Ghostface have unstoppable chemistry, and the production is top-tier. It has a real cinematic quality full of sparse yet operatic samples and dialogue from John Woo’s cult classic, the Killer. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is right up there with GZA’s Liquid Swords and Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele for best Wu-Tang solo albums and remains an undisputed classic.

Raekwon would return the favor and appear on many songs on Ghostface’s debut, Ironman, in 1996. The project also received universal critical acclaim but featured a very different sound and aesthetic, proving that the duo was capable of crafting their own musical identities.

Wu-Tang Forever

Raekwon would also rejoin the Wu-Tang clan for their second group project Wu Tang Forever in 1999. The double album came right at the tail end of the group’s run of solo projects and featured contributions from all the core members and notable affiliates like Cappadonna and Street Life. Raekwon was a pivotal part of the album and even provided a monologue for the outro to the album.

Wu-Tang Forever was also well received by critics and showed that four years into the game, the Wu-Tang Clan could continue to deliver heat and earned the group a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album that year. While not entirely as consistent and succinct as their debut album, Wu-Tang Forever is still a fantastic project by many standards. After a few years in the game, their performances seemed more refined and mature, and the RZA continued to experiment and elevate the production. Although inconsistent in some places and a bit bloated, it’s still a classic album with some of the best performances of any Wu-Tang project.

Immobilarity & The W

However, the period following Wu-Tang Forever saw Raekwon entering a bit of a creative slump. He dropped his sophomore album Immobilarity, which he has said is an acronym for I Move More Officially by Implementing Loyalty and Respect in the Youth. The project was notably devoid of any production from the RZA or features from Ghostface, although it did have verses from Method Man and Masta Killa.

The album did well commercially and peaked at number 9 on Billboard. But it received mixed reviews from critics who felt it didn’t live up to the hype built by his stellar debut. Although Raekwon’s lyrical ability is still evident on the project, the production is lackluster and doesn’t broach many concepts or themes that weren’t already covered in his early work.

Raekwon reunited with the Wu-Tang again in 2000 for The W. While still a solid album, the W marked the point where it seemed like the clan was going their separate ways creatively. Although they are all as lyrically sharp as ever and joined by legends like Busta Rhymes, Nas, Snoop Dogg, and Isaac Hayes, the W didn’t have the same cultural impact as their earlier catalog.

The W is still a fantastic album, in my opinion, but I did feel like the group struggled to keep their sound fresh and made some creative decisions that didn’t always pay off. But any time the Wu-Tang reunites, it’s bound to produce a few fantastic records, and the same is true for the W.

The Lex Diamond Story

Raekwon followed up with his third album, the Lex Diamond Story, in December 2003. Once again, the project featured no production from the RZA, although Ghostface made an appearance, along with Method Man, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, and Cappadonna. The album was a flop and peaked at 102 on Billboard. It also received negative reviews from critics and drew mixed feedback from fans. Raekwon has since cited a lack of budget and promotion from the label for the subpar quality.

After that, Raekwon took a bit of a break from music. Although he continued to appear on subsequent Wu-Tang albums like Iron Flag and 8 Diagrams, he would not release another solo project for six years.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II

In 2005, Raekwon announced that he was working on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II which would be executive produced by Busta Rhymes. This led to Raekwon signing a deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, to which Busta was signed, a joint venture with Wu-Tang Records.

After many years of delays, the project was finally released in September 2009 to widespread critical acclaim. It was his first album since the original OB4CL to feature RZA production, along with beats from J Dilla, Pete Rock, Dr Dre, the Alchemist, and more. It also featured many appearances from Ghostface Killah, along with other members of the Wu-Tang and legends like Beanie Sigel, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, and Styles P.

Many critics and fans saw OB4CL II as a return to form for the rapper. Some even compare it to the Godfather II in terms of sequels that live up to the hype.

Only Build 4 Cuban Linx II captures the same energy and attitude that made the original great, even though it came over 14 years later. It’s my second favorite Raekwon project and showed that the rapper could still deliver classic music close to 2 decades into his career.

Throughout the 2010’s Raekwon continued to work with the Wu-Tang and release solo projects. He appeared on their 2014 album A Better Tomorrow and their infamous album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. He also released the solo projects, Lost Jewelry, Fly International Luxurious Art, and the Wild. Plus, in August 2020, he announced that Only Build 4 Cuban Linx III was coming soon.

Raekwon Video

Raekwon Family

Raekwon has mostly kept his personal life out of the public eye. He has two brothers and one sister. One of his brothers, Kareem “Kay” Woods, managed the Wu-Tang and his brothers’ solo career. Raekwon also has two children, Jabairi and Cori Andrea Woods.

Raekwon Dating and Relationship History

Not much is known about Raekwon’s dating history. He’s believed to be married, but the identity of his wife is unknown.

Raekwon Controversies or Scandals

In 2006, Raekwon almost jumped Steve-O from Jackass after he got naked on stage at Rock the Bells. The concert was dedicated to ODB, who had recently passed away and Raekwon felt he was disrespectful to his friend’s memory, mainly because his mother was in attendance. He went up on stage, grabbed Steve-O by the neck, and threatened to beat him up if he didn’t apologize. But Steve-O did end up apologizing, and they later put it to rest.

Raekwon Net Worth and Career Earnings

Raekwon’s net worth is estimated to be around $12 million. He has six solo albums and has contributed to all 7 Wu-Tang projects. He continues to tour and sell merch and earns royalties from his music catalog.

He is also a major investor in CitizenGrown, a new startup that pays people to grow marijuana in their homes.

Raekwon Famous Quotes

“In order to be one of the greats, you’ve got to study the greats.” – Raekwon

“The better you get, the more your legacy shines. I always just try to go hard. If you don’t want do it for real, don’t do it at all.” – Raekwon

“When you devote yourself to being an artist, you have to stay on your craft and always try to get better and better.” – Raekwon

Raekwon Discography

1995 – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
1999 – Immobilarity
2003 – The Lex Diamond Story
2009 – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II
2011 – Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
2015 – Fly International Luxurious Art
2017 – The Wild

FAQs

Question: Are Raekwon and Ghostface Brothers?

Answer: No, Raekwon and Ghostface are not related by blood. However, they have been close friends since middle school. They both grew up in Staten Island and formed a close bond early on. Raekwon was one of the first people that Ghostface recruited when he began forming the Wu-Tang with RZA, and their creative chemistry is among the best in the Wu-Tang.

Question: Is Raekwon Still in Wu-Tang?

Answer: Yes, Raekwon is still a Wu-Tang Clan member and has contributed to all of their studio albums, including the infamous Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. The group is still active and continues to perform and work on their solo careers. But, they have not released an official studio album since 2014’s A Better Tomorrow, and it’s unclear if they have any plans to release another project.

Question: Is Raekwon Making an Only Built 4 Cuban Linx III?

Answer: Raekwon is still working on the third installment of his legendary debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. However, he recently gave an update to let fans know he’ll drop another project first. He has another album that’s already finished that he’s going to release soon while he finishes work on OB4CLIII.

Sources

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Raekwon Bio: Wu-Tang’s Founding Member and Master Lyricist