Biography
Who is Raekwon?
Early life and real name
Raekwon was born Corey Woods on January 12, 1970, in Brooklyn, United States. During his early childhood, he was raised by his mother in Brownsville, Brooklyn, before they moved to Staten Island after a robbery. They eventually settled in Park Hill by the time he was an adolescent.
Growing up, he experienced a difficult household and witnessed domestic struggles. As a young man, he was kicked out of his home following an argument with his mother and her boyfriend. During this period, he struggled with substance addiction before managing to stop.
How Raekwon became famous
Raekwon attended New Dorp High School, where he befriended fellow rappers Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Remedy. After being accidentally shot four times in a crossfire, he decided to pursue rapping in earnest. He initially rapped under the name Sha Raider before joining the Wu-Tang Clan in 1992.
The group released their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in 1993, which achieved mainstream success and platinum certification. His work with the group established him as a prominent figure in East Coast hip-hop and hardcore hip-hop. He adopted several aliases throughout his career, including Raekwon the Chef and Lex Diamond.
Career highlights
In 1994, Raekwon signed a solo deal with Loud Records and released his debut solo single, Heaven and Hell. He released his first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., on August 1, 1995. The album received critical acclaim and became regarded as a classic of 1990s rap.
Following his debut, he released several other solo projects, including Immobilarity in 1999 and The Lex Diamond Story in 2003. His fourth album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, was released in September 2009 through his own label, Ice H20 Records. He also later released projects such as Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang and Fly International Luxurious Art.
Birthday and age
Raekwon was born on January 12, 1970, which makes Raekwon 56 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Raekwon shares the date with 40 other famous people.
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