Raekwon’s seminal 1995 magnum opus Solely Constructed 4 Cuban Linx paved the way in which for Mafioso albums similar to Cheap Doubt and Life After Demise. Rae began rapping about having Tony Montana desires and all of the sudden, quoting crime motion pictures was one thing of normalcy in rap. Led by RZA’s beats, Raekwon rapped so poetically he ought to have gotten a pulitzer. Ghostface Killah’s 2000 masterpiece Supreme Clientele saved the group when Raekwon’s second solo album, Immobilarity was panned by critics. Ghost went to West Africa within the late ’90s after his diabetes was near killing him, and got here again with raps that not solely present the enjoyment in rapping, however stretched traditional Wu-Tang crime narratives into his personal separate type, other than the group. Ghostface informed us we may stage up with out sacrificing any of who we have been.
The overlapping nature of this Verzuz introduced a variety of inquiries to followers: Would Raekwon be allowed to do ‘’Criminology’’ though Ghostface is on there? What about Ghostface doing the Rae-featuring “Apollo Children”? May they each do the various songs they’ve collectively inside the Wu-Tang Clan? One factor was positive: We might get nice rap tales from two of the extra fascinating personalities in our tradition. Ghostface is darkly humorous on data and in actual life; Raekwon is extra gentle spoken, however has a preacher’s voice that makes you arise and pay attention.
Wu-Tang is right here ceaselessly. Here is how Billboard broke down the scoring of Raekwon and Ghostface’s epic Verzuz battle.
Spherical 1: G. Dep feat. Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray, Craig Mack and Diddy’s “Particular Supply” Remix vs. OutKast feat. Raekwon’s “Skew It on the Bar-B”
‘’Particular Supply’’ is wavy, however that Raekwon and Outkast collab introduced two fully totally different worlds collectively.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 2: Ghostface Killah feat. Excellent, “Ghost Deini” vs Raekwon feat. Cappadonna & Raekwon’s “10 Bricks”
‘’Ghost Deini’’ is like Allah himself was rapping within the bodily type of Ghostface.
WINNER: Ghostface.
Spherical 3: GZA feat. Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest & RZA’s “4th Chamber” vs. Raekwon feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Methodology Man’s “Home of Flying Daggers”
Cuban Linx Pt. II doesn’t get the credit score that it deserves, however nothing can beat GZA closing an all-star monitor with the perfect verse. ‘’4th Chamber’’ appears like a Pac-Man sport at first, being taken over by an impromptu live performance.
WINNER: Ghostface
Spherical 4: Ghostface Killah’s “Mighty Wholesome” vs. Raekwon’s “Incarcerated Scarfaces”
That is the toughest one but: Raekwon ought to have received a Pulitzer for what he spat on ‘’Scarfaces.’’ However, Ghostface’s attraction on ‘’Mighty Wholesome’’ is ubiquitous in our tradition. We wouldn’t have Kanye’s ‘’New God Circulate’’ with out it. Ghost just isn’t the herb.
WINNER: Ghostface
Spherical 5: Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon & U-God’s “Black Jesus” vs. Raekwon’s “Stay from New York”
Neither Ironman or Immbolarity is both of those two males’s finest work, so it’s a flex that they performed songs from this. The winner goes to Ghost right here although. Something with Popa Wu will get the automated benefit.
WINNER: Ghostface
Spherical 6: Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon “The Watch” vs. Wu-Tang Clan’s “It is Yourz”
Gotta go ‘’Its Yourz.’’ In case you play ‘’Its Yourz’’ at any underground evening spot within the gutter, folks will go loopy.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 7: Wu-Tang Clan feat. Tekitha’s “Unimaginable” vs. Raekwon’s “100 Rounds”
Immobilarity is taken into account the most important sophomore hunch subsequent to Michael Carter Williams’s second season with the Sixers, however it’s higher than given credit score for. It’s simply lacking RZA beats. Rae takes the win right here.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 8: Ghostface Killah feat. U-God and Madam Majestic’s “Cherchez LaGhost” vs. Raekwon’s “Ice Cream”
‘’Excuse me hon, the don imply no hurt, flip round once more.” Want we are saying extra?
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 9: Kanye West feat. Kanye West, Pusha T & Ghostface Killah’s “New God Circulate” vs. Raekwon’s “State of Grace”
Raekwon mentioned that ‘’State of Grace’’ was recorded in Miami whereas him and Ghostface rented a Villa down there to work on Bulletproof Wallets. They need to have had a actuality present collectively.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 10: Ghostface Killah feat. RZA, “Nutmeg” vs. Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah’s “Criminology”
Unimaginable to decide on however it needs to be ‘’Criminology’’: Could be cliché, however it’s the finest RZA beat of all time. All praises due for Supreme Clientele although.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 11: Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.” vs. Ghostface Killah’s “Holla”
‘’Money guidelines every part round me’’ is the kind of assertion that affirms American life, for all its good and all its evil. It’s a matter of reality, like Methodology Man is talking from the perspective of Uncle Sam.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 12: Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah’s “Wet Dayz” (Remix) vs. Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon’s “Daytona 500”
‘’Daytona 500’’ makes you need to disrespect the nun at your catholic faculty.
WINNER: Ghostface
Spherical 13: Raekwon feat. Masta Killah and Ghostface Killah’s “Glaciers of Ice” vs. Ghostface Killah feat. Jadakiss’ “Run”
Robust go towards the Purple Tape, however the Jadakiss verse on ‘’Run’’ is so rattling good. Ghost and Jada are two of essentially the most hilarious rappers of all-tine — they need to have a full collaboration album by now.
WINNER: Ghostface
Spherical 14: Fats Joe feat. Nas, Large Punisher, Jadakiss & Raekwon’s “John Blaze” vs. Ghostface Killah’s “Its Over”
Joey Crack, Pun, Nas, Rae: Assassin’s Row. Transfer over, 1927 Yankees.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 15: Raekwon’s “Yae Yo” vs. Ghostface Killah’s “One”
There isn’t one single bar that epitomizes life for Black children in New York than ‘’the satan planted concern contained in the black infants.’’ Ghostface is a poet.
Winner: Ghostface
Spherical 16: Raekwon feat. Nas’ “Wealthy and Black” vs. Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo’s “Again Like That”
‘’Again Like That’’ is peak Ne-Yo (and Kanye on the remix) with Ghostface, now a Def Jam soldier? Yeah, that. What a flex for Ghost to drag this out.
Winner: Ghostface
Spherical 17: Raekwon feat. Nas & Ghostface Killah’s “Verbal Intercourse” vs. Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon & Carl Thomas’ “By no means be the Identical Once more”
Nasir Jones is the proprietor of the best visitor verse of all time, however we overlook how nasty Raekwon is after him. ‘’Pyrex pots, we break, fiends licking plates/ Within the constructing, n—as constructing, like little kids staring/ The opposite n—as ain’t caring.’’
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 18: Wu-Tang Clan’s “Money Nonetheless Guidelines”https://www.billboard.com/”Scary Hours” vs Beyoncé feat. Ghostface Killah’s “Summertime”
Ghostface and Beyoncé collaborating is a spotlight on Fade to Black, however “Scary hours, no cash out, smash the guinness stout” is what you hear earlier than you get your Wu-Tang tattoo.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 19: Jodeci feat. Raekwon & Ghostface Killah’s “Freek’n You” Remix vs. Teyana Taylor feat. Ghostface Killah’s “Gonna Love Me” (Remix)
Raekwon pulling out the Jodeci characteristic is the equal to Prop Joe pulling out the ringer within the notorious basketball episode in The Wire: It modified the trajectory of the sport.
WINNER: Raekwon
Spherical 20: Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Easy” vs. Ghostface Killah feat. Mary J. Blige’s “All I Bought Is You”
Raekwon will get to double-dip right here just a little, taking part in Pete Rock’s all-legends “Tha Recreation” (additionally that includes Prodigy and Ghostface) after which going once more with the 36 Chambers all-timer “Can It Be All So Easy” — which is an ideal illustration of what could be carried out with rap laid over soul samples, two artforms coming collectively. Managed chaos within the type of Wu-Tang troopers and Gladys Knight.
WINNER: Raekwon
Wider Catalogue: Ghostface
Bringing out Kanye and Ne-Yo when it comes to versatile is a headlock. Raekwon isn’t almost as ubiquitous as Ghost is.
Winner: Ghostface
Greatest Snub: Ghostface (Level to Raekwon)
Was ready for Ghostface to drag out ‘’Buck 50’’ however he by no means did. That will have simply given him the win on a spherical.
Finest Banter: Ghostface
Ghostface confirmed up on time after which got here late, which is senseless, however Ghost can do no matter he desires, as a result of he’s Ghost. Additionally, every part that comes out of Ghost’s mouth appears like one thing divine.
WINNER: Ghostface
Greatest KO: Draw
Rae positively thought he had it when he did ‘’Glaciers of Ice’’ — after which Ghost places on ‘’Run,”, which is an ignored traditional. Poor Rae.
Folks’s Champ: Ghostface
This can be a bit unfair for Raekwon, however Ghostface was on 30 Rock. Everybody loves him. He’s Ghost Deini. He’s Tony Starks. He was on the third whereas Bruce Lee was on the fourth. Everybody desires buy groceries with Ghostface and listen to him inform tales.
FINAL SCORE: 12-12-1, Draw
