Raekwon - Unexpected Victory

Raekwon - Unexpected Victory (8 of 10 rating)

I've been a Raekwon fan from way back and I'm very delighted to see his career in a renaissance of sorts as of late.  His latest effort, Unexpected Victory, continues his trend of meshing that old classic Shaolin lingo witht he new generation of emcees.  Combining new names like Fred da Godson and Vado with established artists like Busta Rhymes and Styles P, Rae sets the stage for his IceH2O artists JD Era & Camoflauge.

The production remains cosistent throughout with names like Scram Jones, 9th Wonder and Statik Selektah as well as newcomers like Blue Rocks and BT. Rae continues the trend of using multiple producers but maintaining a consistent sound.  Standout tracks include "A Pinebox Story" & "Luxury Raps" where Fred da Godson steal the show with witty one-liners like "hand on the trigger, if that finger roll, he'll lay up." My personal favorite is "Gangsta Cazals," produced by the aforementioned Statik Selektah.  This tracks displays the potential of Camoflauge & Era as they rip a RZA inspired loop to perfection behind Styles P.

Having so many tracks (18) leaves room for missteps as "Good Good" feels out of place, with its westcoast influence.  The Mobb Deep feature leaves more to be desired.  But overall, this is a solid project worth checking out.