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Legendary hip-hop artist coming to Garf’s April 16
As the 2006 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) draws near, musical performances of all kinds are being confirmed. This year hip hop fans are sure to be happy with a great lineup of acts set to come through Whistler. One of the highlights is sure to be the legendary Wu Tang Clan’s Raekwon, a.k.a. Raekwon the Chef, who will cook up a stellar performance at Garfinkel’s on Sunday, April 16.
New York is known as the birthplace and breeding ground for hip hop. In the early 1990s a group of nine emcees from Staten Island broke ground and cemented their “clan” in hip hop history.
Raekwon’s first solo LP, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, was released in 1995 and went gold, changing the face of hip hop for many fans. Ghostfaced Killah, also of Wu Tang Clan, lent a hand throughout the album but Raekwon's storytelling abilities on tracks such as “Spot Rusherz” led to many a comparison with Kool G Rap, and the album as a whole is often credited for popularizing the use of mafia and gangster movie motifs in rap music. In fact, Only Built 4 Cuban Links was to hip hop what Scarface was to gangster movies — the real, uncut deal.
His most recent album, The Lex Diamond Story, was released in 2003 on the Universal Records label to mixed reviews and moderate success, though true fans will attest to the quality of his work. To his credit, Raekwon has stuck to his fundamental roots, not swaying, as so many artists do, to ensure increased airplay with the all-too-jiggy Top 40 radio stations.
Raekwon's success has given him the chance to branch into other businesses, become a creative officer of a major label and begin the creation of his own hip-hop team, Ice Water Inc. He plans to release the long-delayed sequel, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, in 2006, to be executive produced by Busta Rhymes and the RZA, with RZA handling most of the production, including the first single "State of Grace".
GZA will be taking the co-host spot that Ghostface Killah held in the first volume of Cuban Linx. The album is slated for an April release, so there’s a good chance Whistler will get to preview some of the new material at the upcoming show.
This show is almost sure to sell out so be sure to cop your pre-sales early to ensure you’re one of the lucky ones to get a chance to see this legend perform. Speaking from experience, Raekwon is sure to put on a top-notch show and although there is a list of great acts coming for the WSSF, this one is a must-see.
Doors open Sunday at 9 p.m. Sunday night curfew is in effect so show up early to catch the entire show. Pre-sale tickets available at Electric Daisy and The Circle for $25.
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