20 years is a long time. I, myself won’t even turn 20 until near the end of the year, but that’s how long legendary MC Raekwon has been in the game. As you all know, the man recognized for making classics for the streets while captivating a worldwide audience as part of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan as well as a solo artist has been able to do what many have thought of and few have accomplished: Longevity, consistency and survival. Lasting 20 years in a cutthroat industry spanning over two generations of hip-hop while continuously being relevant for making new music as opposed to living off the hits in the past is something rare in this current world of music we live in. Consistency because you as you move into the future, all kinds of factors get in the way such as age, physical and mental fatigue, and an ever-growing fan base that could grow tired of something and move onto the next at any given moment. Rae’s never had that problem as even though he’s still making music, he launched his own ICEH20 label not too long ago hoping to supply the future of hip-hop with a few of his own in JD Era and Camoflauge. He’s certainly found a way to leave his mark. Survival? You get fed to the wolves when you enter the rap game. Only the strong survive.

Interview + Words by Michael Nguyen

I was able to get a hold of Rae over the phone for a lengthy chat while he was making his way to Upstate NY to continue the leg of his Unexpected Victory tour. The tour had also made its way around Canada, so don’t be surprised when you feel that Canadian vibe throughout our chat.

How’s the touring life going so far?
Excellent, man. I mean it’s wonderful, I can’t even complain. It’s good seeing JD Era getting accepted. I’ve always seen it in him. Just for people to be responding right makes me feel good.

Does it ever get tiring doing all these shows on consecutive nights?
I mean it’s a job. This is what we were born to do. Of course, you’ll feel tired and don’t want to get up in the morning or have a little hangover, but if you love your job, it’ll come naturally. So nah, I’m not even tired. I think I can do another show for the next six months. [Laughs]

Did you know that this year marks your 20^th year in the rap game?
Yeah, definitely. I’ve been paying attention. 20 years in the business is a long time. Just being able to look at it is a moment that has to be recognized. Wu-Tang, man. That’s where it all came from. Everybody recognizes all of our 20 years in the business. It feels good. I get on stage and tell the fans about it all the time. I tell them, “Do you know how long I’ve been here? Shining. Looking good. Feeling good.” People just start giving me encores in the crowd. It’s a good feeling. We have a lot of things lined up for next year. It’s going to be a great wave for y’all.

What’s your greatest memory over that time?
More less be chilling with the Wu, of course. Just going through cities and playing the oldies and writing raps on the bus. Just being in the studio with them. We got a little spreaded out and everybody started doing their own division, and it’s cool but they’re still my brothers at the end of the day. Being around Ol’ Dirty’s crazy ass. He would do anything to keep the life of the party going. But because he’s gone right now, it doesn’t feel the same anymore.

You and the Wu-Tang began making their mark in the 90s, which is known as the golden era of hip-hop. As a veteran MC, what’s your vibe like towards some of the current-day hip-hop?
I’m feeling a lot of dudes. I think right now, hip-hop is about bringing energy and a trendsetting path for the new generation. It’s really evolving. You have a lot more smart kids who believe in themselves. You have the college scene where people adapt to hip-hop even more because the kids are younger. It feels good to know everybody is trendsetting and making it something exciting. I always tell everybody you have different kinds of hip-hop. You have the real hardcore, street hip-hop, the educational, the lyrical, the flossy –all that comes with the game. More importantly, everybody’s doing their thing. If you doing it right, I’ll watch your back whether I’m your uncle or a role model to you. I really want hip-hop to be here forever. When I see the youngsters doing their thing, it’s like “Wow.” They came from this, or went through that. You see a lot of kids coming in and getting their respects.

And when you dropped Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, it was pretty much a street album, but sold a bunch of records. With the hip-hop era we’re in right now, do you think a street album would have any chance of commercial success?
I mean it depends. It depends on who the narrator of the album is. It has to be a solid album. That’s what’s missing from hip-hop. A lot of cats look at the legends who came with classic albums like myself. I was trying to make a classic and to go back and try to do it, people always want to look at you for wanting to do it now. I would say it depends. It may not be a record that’s going to be commercially respected, but as far as reaching the streets or the Internet world, people will say it’s a solid record and they’ll spread the word. Really, it’s more about the dignity of doing it and getting it done right than looking at it from a political perspective. Every time I made a classic, I was making it for respect. Of course I was making it for money, but I was making it for respect. I was making it for the art that it was supposed to be first and foremost. I knew I would eventually make money but it had to be right first. I think every artist should think like that. Make sure your music is right. If you make a record with 12 or 13 songs that are hot, make sure they hot.

Yeah. So basically, you just focus on the art and the money and all that will come.
Yeah, of course. That’s what music was based on. It was made to come out from the heart, and then everything comes. The money, the fame, and the wealth. Whether you’re a singer or artist, you know this is your job and this is what you’re supposed to do. You got to keep creating and coming up with different elements for your people so they can be healed by this shit. It’s for the mind. The mind needs to be healed. We just have to be creative and not come from one place. You can’t go to a pharmacist and just get one drug, you got to be able to get everything. [Laughs] Word up.

Just quickly, who do you have on your top 3 list of current-day rappers right now?
I would say JD Era, and I’m feeling my man Mac Miller right now. I think he’s coming from out of nowhere and doing his thing. Also, Camoflauge. Get ready for him. That’s my secret protégé right there. He’s starting to make his circus big, too.

Since you just listed a couple Toronto guys, what do you think of Drake?
I mean, he’s alright. He is who he is. He’s doing his thing. At the end of the day, it is what it is. There’s a bunch of cats I see doing their thing. I don’t look at Toronto as one man, I look at Canada as one nation. I want to see the whole nation coming up. That’s how I see it. I’m the ambassador right now, so I make sure they all get their shot.

Outside of hip-hop, what else do you listen to that may surprise people?
I listen to all kinds of music. I don’t listen to just one genre. I really love my 70s music. Al Green, Temptations, Sam Cooke, that Marvin Gaye shit. A lot of old soul. Having that really helps me define what great music is all about because I listen to the greats. When I get ready to do what I do, I feel like I have that spirit in me to be the best at what I do. Those are the real legends, not the cardboard legends.

You said The Temptations. I love “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg.” What’s your favorite track?
It’s too many to choose from. “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “My Girl,” you know what I mean? Too many. Rest in Peace to my brother Dirty. He was happy with it. Anytime we were on the bus, we would just splash that shit. We’d be on that bus listening to that shit all day. Singing and everything. It was a family reunion. The O’Jays and all that. We were Gs. We weren’t young boys. We still have our ways of having fun but more importantly, we on our grown man shit.

Do you listen to Justin Bieber? You and Kanye even have a track together.
Yeah. That’s my little nephew. He represents motherfucking Canada, too. I see what he’s doing and he’s very talented. I knew that when I met him. More importantly, we got together and did something. He represents for the young generation heavy, man. When I go out on the road and see these kids, they know I’m there for them. That’s all I want them to know.

You share a lot of similarities with Ghost and the two of you work well together, but have you guys ever got into disagreements or arguments over music-related stuff?
All the time. We have our differences but more importantly, it’s good to have that kind of energy where we make different beats or whatever. It’s a part of thinking harder. We always consider ourselves as the worst critics. We would think about it too hard and the next day we would be doubting what we were thinking. Everybody around us would be thinking, “Y’all n***as bugging the fuck out.” Me and him always go back and forth but it happens because we’re creating. We always want work harder for people to know our shit is different, but live.

But just making sure –It never got physical or anything, right?
Nah, not even like that. Just word of mouth shit. We ain’t never had to take it there. [Laughs]

Do you guys still rock Cuban Link chains?
Nah.  I love my jewels and all that but I don’t rock that shit. I’m that guy where you can catch me with a nice watch. Something real casual. I’m more rugged –That motherfucking jean jacket shit…I’ll be styling with the ring on. [Laughs]

Gold rings, right?
Gold, platinum, whatever you want. N***as have to come out with that new shit. [Laughs]

You previously said the solo careers that members in the group had hurt the Wu-Tang. Was there jealousy and big egos involved during those times?
It was always friendly competition but as the money came, of course everything came with it. At points, certain guys were feeling a certain way towards each other but it was just all about us not acting bigger than the next man. Whoever’s time it was at the time, they might’ve been up in the crowds and some of us felt a certain way. When you put grown men in the room together, things are going to get emotional at times. N***as are going to handle it as men and move on. We don’t sit there and harvest it forever. We get it out real quick. You have 24 hours to get that shit out your brain and you come to work the next day and act like it never happened. That’s how we have always been. We never took it to a physical altercation because the day we put our hands on each other is the day we probably would never be friends again. We’re brothers but don’t bring that shit with you the next day or else we’ll really be on your ass. That’s like double trouble.

You’re from the streets, too. You know about that stuff.
Yeah I come the streets, but I also come from a loyal set. You do for your brother what you would do for yourself. I think a lot of cats are like that. They ride for their men and they want to know if their man is going to ride for them. Everybody goes through that with their family. You might have a discrepancy about something or feel like a n***a is hating on you because you’re doing this, or they don’t want to see you win because he feels like you want what he got. He don’t want you to win. That’s sucker shit. That’s the shit I don’t like. I don’t like people to come and use other people for greatness and then when you get a certain type of fame within yourself, you feel like you’re something different. That’s when the bullshit comes in because you didn’t stick to who you’re supposed to be. That’s what makes people start hating. You have to watch out for that shit with motherfuckers.

What’s happening right now with Wu-Block? Can you update us on the progress?
Executive Sheek and executive Ghostface Killah are making the project go right. I know we have a couple more things to do but check it out. It’s going to be a solid street hip-hop album. Get ready to see us on the road together. You’re going to see us making it pop.

Like a tour?
Yeah, definitely. We in meetings back and forth talking about how we’re going to pull it off and get it out there for the fans.

I know you’re probably biased, but is Triumph the greatest music video of all time?
I would say it’s one of the greatest. It’s in my top 10. There’s more though but that’s definitely one of my favorites because I actually was one of the narrators in the concept of that video. [Laughs]

And everybody has made their voice heard about this, but do you mind giving us your thoughts about the Trayvon Martin situation?
It was sad. He got caught in a situation where I think the dude [George Zimmerman] should’ve been more respectable on approaching him and dealing with him like a man instead of acting like [Trayvon] was an assailant running around with a gun or just caught in someone’s window or something. He should’ve taken more caution in approaching him and now look, we lost a shorty. We lost a soldier based on profiling. It’s just so fucked up on being another color. People always look at that shit. A mother lost a child. I’m not cool with that. He ain’t have to shoot him. It’s not like Trayvon came out a fucking window with a crane on him. It’s fucked up. At the end of the day, let the justice system serve and do what the fuck they get paid to do.

Follow Raekwon on Twitter
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**JD Era’s (Raekwon’s artist) new mixtape “No Handouts” will be available today at 4:16pm for download.
Special thanks to Cynamin Jones