Latest news with #Raekwon
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Raekwon blames landlord after dispensary closure in NJ
Wu-Tang Clan legend Raekwon is facing business troubles after his New Jersey cannabis dispensary, HashStoria, was shut down over a $540,501 rent dispute. The rapper has pointed fingers at his landlord, BMHC LLC, claiming they breached prior rental agreements tied to construction delays on the property. According to court documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, BMHC LLC moved to shut down the dispensary after Raekwon allegedly failed to pay over half a million in rent. In response, Raekwon says the rent was originally agreed to be prorated during ongoing construction, which took far longer than expected. A HashStoria rep claims both parties agreed to pause rent payments until renovations were completed. The situation escalated when the landlord allegedly permitted an unlicensed dispensary to operate next door during this time. 'We were hoodwinked,' Raekwon told TMZ Hip Hop, adding that HashStoria plans to countersue. BMHC LLC, however, insists they gave the rapper ample time to resolve the payments following the 2024 grand opening. Despite the dispensary setback, Raekwon's music career is flourishing. He just released his first album since 2017, The Emperor's New Clothes, under Nas' Mass Appeal label. The album features appearances by Ghostface Killah, Nas, Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and more. In an Instagram post, Raekwon described the project as a 'bespoke creation' and thanked fans for their continued support. Earlier this year, Raekwon also reunited with Wu-Tang Clan for their final New York City concert on the 'Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber' tour. While the future of HashStoria remains uncertain, Raekwon's artistic legacy shows no signs of slowing.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Raekwon Dons ‘The Emperor's New Clothes' On New Album
Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan Staten Island-bred rapper Raekwon has been a looming figure in hip-hop since the Wu-Tang Clan's debut in the early '90s. In 1995, the 'Ice Cream' rapper showed he can easily stand alone with his platinum-selling debut solo album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… In the decades since then, Raekwon has continued to release music as a soloist and alongside his Wu-Tang Clan groupmates, though it's been a decade since the last Wu-Tang album and nearly just as long since Raekwon's previous solo effort. Now, eight years after his last album The Wild, Raekwon is back with his eighth solo LP, The Emperor's New Clothes. While the hit-making MC takes center stage on the project, he does so while being joined by other all-star rappers like Nas and fellow Wu-Tang members Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, and Method Man. He balances the old with the new, as rappers who have debuted in the past decade Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher also hop in on the party on 'Wild Corsicans.' To bring the project to life, he recruited top-tier producers like Swizz Beatz and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. The album's release comes the same day as the Wu-Tang Clan performs their final show together in Philadelphia. That follows the group's last-ever joint hometown performance at Madison Square Garden on July 16. Though it might be Wu-Tang's last tour, Raekwon isn't opposed to doing another album together down the road. 'I mean, we tryna get it together, you know? Everybody's spread out. Everybody's doing something great in their life, so when it's time for everybody to get in the room, it just seems like it's the hardest s**t in the world,' he said on social media last year. 'But it ain't like we don't want to. And then you got so many minds. You throw a beat out and a n***a be like, 'I like that, I don't like that.' It's hard. It's real hard, but don't count us out. Don't never count us out.' Wu-Tang Clan takes the stage together one final time in Philadelphia on July 18.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Raekwon Returns With ‘The Emperor's New Clothes' Featuring Nas, Westside Gunn & Method Man: Stream It Now
The Chef is cooking again. Raekwon is back with his first solo album since 2017's The Wild as the Wu-Tang Clan spitter served up his The Emperor's New Clothes LP on Friday (July 18). The 55-year-old recruited a savvy group of talented MCs to join him on the project, with hard-hitting verses coming from fellow Wu members Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Method Man as well as Nas, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher. More from Billboard Wu-Tang Clan Brings Out Redman, Lil Kim, Big Daddy Kane & More at Star-Studded Final NYC Show Flume Teams With Emma Louise for New Collaborative Album, 'DUMB' Soccer Mommy Covers Pavement's 'Gold Soundz' for 'Like a Version' On the production side, Rae made sure to assemble the right crew to supply heat behind the boards with beats from Swizz Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Nottz throughout the 17-track album. It's a busy and emotional week for Raekwon with the Wu-Tang Clan wrapping up their final tour collectively on Friday (July 18) in Philly. Rae and the Staten Island legends said goodbye to NYC on Wednesday night (July 16), which saw the iconic crew rock Madison Square Garden in front of a sold-out crowd. The Wu treated the hometown show to plenty of special guests, as Redman, Lil Kim, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, The LOX, SWV and Havoc touched the stage. While this is the Wu-Tang Clan's last tour, Raekwon isn't ruling out another Wu album down the line. 'I mean, we tryna get it together, you know? Everybody's spread out. Everybody's doing something great in their life, so when it's time for everybody to get in the room, it just seems like it's the hardest s—t in the world,' Rae said in a video. 'But it ain't like we don't want to.' He continued: 'And then you got so many minds. You throw a beat out and a n—a be like, 'I like that, I don't like that.' It's hard. It's real hard, but don't count us out. Don't never count us out.' Listen to The Emperor's New Clothes below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Brampton rap prodigy, 12, hits the stage with Wu-Tang Clan during Toronto farewell tour: ‘I was pumped'
' Wu-Tang is for the children,' Ol' Dirty Bastard famously declared at the 1998 Grammys. Over a quarter century later, the mighty Staten Island rap collective proved that they remain a potent cultural force — among both old heads and the kids — during their farewell tour stop at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on Monday. Midway through the show, Wu-Tang Clan's de facto leader RZA was taking stock of the audience when he spotted Cairo Snow FPTO, a 12-year-old rapper from Brampton. Seeing his enthusiasm, RZA invited Cairo up to the stage, where he bounced along enthusiastically with Masta Killa, U-God and other members of the clan for three songs. 'I was feeling the music and I was pumped,' Cairo told the Star. 'Like, a level of pumped I haven't experienced in so, so long.' At one point, RZA and Cairo encouraged the sold-out audience of 19,000 to jump up and down in unison. 'I wasn't really nervous,' he said. 'I'm a performer, so when I'm on stage, it triggers my adrenaline and releases that dopamine ... it was crazy.' After the show, Cairo got to meet the entire Clan backstage, where he snapped pics with RZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and others. 'To share the stage with legends in front of thousands in my hometown — this is something I'll never forget,' he said. Raekwon gives a hug to Cairo Snow FTPO after Wu-Tang Clan's performance at Scotiabank Arena. But the young artist's moment in the spotlight didn't come out of nowhere. Born and raised in Brampton, Cairo has been rapping since he was five — 'from the crib' he says. Growing up, he didn't have access to YouTube, and he learned about hip hop by listening to his dad's old CDs. 'Since birth, that's all I was listening to: Wu-Tang, Nas, Mobb Deep, Jay-Z — I was all listening to all of those guys.' By the age of seven, he started writing his own songs. A few years later, his lyrical flow caught the attention of MTStreets, a Los Angeles-based producer and beat-maker who has worked with industry heavy-weights like Dua Lipa and Lil Baby. In January, with an assist from producer B3, Cairo released his debut single, 'Cairo Snow FPTO,' a blistering track that showcased the young artist's remarkable charisma and confidence, and racked up thousands of streams on Spotify and other music platforms. When Wu-Tang Clan arrived in town this week, Cairo knew he wanted to try to meet his heroes, even though he didn't have tickets to the show. Just last summer, when he was just 11, Cairo had the chance to rap for Wu-Tang rapper Raekwon at a meet-and-greet prior to his solo show. 'Raekwon was so impressed by him, as many people who were there,' Cairo's father, Omar, recalled. Raekwon gave Cairo his contact information, and the new two stayed in (limited) contact for the next 11 months. A post shared by Cairo Snow | Prod.A3 (@ On Monday afternoon, Raekwon invited the young rapper to meet up before the show, where he also introduced the young artist to Inspectah Deck. 'The love and support that he was shown inside the meet-and-greet was surreal,' Omar recalled. Afterwards, someone from Wu-Tang's crew gave Cairo an extra ticket to the show. His mother bought a second ticket, and they headed into the arena Over the course of the show, Cairo managed to find his way to the front of the stage, where his enthusiasm caught the attention of RZA. 'I just remember RZA started asking (the audience) to shout out who is from different generations, and we he got to the 2000s, and I started waving and was like 'yo wassup!'' Cairo recalled. 'And he was like 'young man, please come up to the stage.' It was just crazy.' A post shared by Cairo Snow | Prod.A3 (@ Less than 24 hours later, Cairo said he feels super inspired to make more music. When asked if he had a message to share with his new fans, he said 'be unrelentingly yourself.' 'My message is to stay true to yourself no matter what anybody tells you. No matter what anyone wants you to do. Stay true to yourself. Stay true to your grind. Because if you stay true to your grind, you're going to get to the places that you want to be, that you strive to be.' Editor's note — July 16, 2025 This article has been updated.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
EXCLUSIVE: Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon talks connection with Toronto ahead of Scotiabank Arena concert
Video Jee-Yun Lee speaks with Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon head of the rap group's performance at Scotiabank Arena and his connection to Toronto.
