Raekwon: The Vatican Mixtape Vol. IV

So in celebration of the Liquid Swords announcement I'll post the new Raekwon mixtape (I know it doesn't make sense, but I couldn't find a GZA mixtape and I was also talking about Raekwon in the announcement post. It's all Wu anyways.) Raekwon started the Vatican Mixtape series back in 2007 with DJ Riddler. It seems that he's been just sitting on the last release for awhile now, but lucky for us they've decided to finally release it. Rae has been releasing mixtapes like crazy ever since he announced that he was working on OB4CL2. 

I admittedly didn't care for his other 2 albums that came after the first Only Built For Cuban Linx, but his mixtapes has been straight fire and the OB4CL sequel an instant classic. While searching for an "official" link for this mixtape I read quite a few comments from guys calling his recent releases (INCLUDING Only Built for Cuban Linx II) everything from "garbage" to "hipster bullshit" and even going so far as to call Raekwon irrelevant. I don't know how these people can call themselves Hip Hop "heads" but to me an MC that not only manages to release this many strong mixtapes, but an album like OB4CL2 after 15 years is far from irrelevant. And I'm not going to even try and fathom how ANYONE can consider anything Rae has done "hipster bullshit." Back in the day Raekwon was not even in my top 5 Wu-Tang MCs but he has fast become my favorite in recent years.

Mixtape releases has always confused me, I could never tell what was "official" and for sale and what was being given away for free. Especially now that most have co-opted the "mixtape" title for anything that's not an album instead of for DJ made blends. The 1st three Vatican releases for instance can all be found on Amazon for sale but every other website I found has them for free download. What I could figure out was that this newest Vatican mixtape was co-released by NY clothing boutique Boundless, and that they have this for download on their website. That's good enough for me. If you enjoy any or all of these mixtapes be sure to pick up Only Built For Cuban Linx II and be on the lookout for the RZA-produced sequel to GZA's classic Liquid Swords out this Fall.

Download The Vatican IV Here: Raekwon: The Vatican IV

Link to the Post with Torrents to the 1st three Vatican Mixtapes: Boundless NYC

Buy OB4CL2 in Stores Now or Here: Only Built for Cuban Linx II

Wu-Tang Official Website: http://www.wutang-corp.com/