Immobilarity

Rolling Stone - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...his violent, ultravisual vignettes never sound cliched....[He] leaves his hardcore audience well fed....he shows good investment strategies, diversifying his portfolio and keeping all options open." CMJ - "...top-game flow and edgy wordplay proves compatible with any groove tossed at him....proves he can hold his own..." Q - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A slow-burning brilliance permeates...and his collaborations bear grade-A fruit..." CMJ (11/29/99, p.25) - "...top-game flow and edgy wordplay proves compatible with any groove tossed at him....proves he can hold his own..." Rolling Stone - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...his violent, ultravisual vignettes never sound cliched....[He] leaves his hardcore audience well fed....he shows good investment strategies, diversifying his portfolio and keeping all options open." Q - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A slow-burning brilliance permeates...and his collaborations bear grade-A fruit..." The Source - 3.5 mics out of 5 - "...quickly reminds us why he's still one of the best criminal-logic storytellers in the game. He yokes up melodic basslines and head-nodding drums while spitting his trademark editorial slang....Rae's lyrics remain as sharp as ever..."

It's a rare Wu-Tang solo album that doesn't bear the stamp of the collective's production mastermind, RZA, to some extent, and Raekwon's second full-length is no different. Except for the fact that RZA doesn't actually appear on Immobilarity, the paranoid synth-strings and soundtrack feel he pioneered on Wu-Tang's Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers and Forever are all over this album. The producers, including Raekwon's American Cream Team, Infinite Arkatechz, and Six July Productions, give Immobilarity the same sounds RZA gave to Raekwon's first album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Though few rappers are more entitled to the sound than Raekwon, most of these songs just don't contribute to the lyrical concerns or delivery (a notable exception is "Sneakers," the only track produced by Pete Rock). And since the album's success depends wholly on Raekwon himself, it's almost impossible for him to trump the excellence of his first album. ~ Keith Farley|