Fly International Luxurious Art
by Raekwon
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
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  1. BIGMAN22
    Mar 2, 2016
    5
    as much as i understand that raekwon wants to reach a broader audience he seems to be forgetting his core fanbase as well. the album is weighed down by too many guest appearances. not a problem, but as we noticed on his past works hes gotten stellar production as well as guests to rap side by side with, here most of them are like the production itself on a few songs are not reallyas much as i understand that raekwon wants to reach a broader audience he seems to be forgetting his core fanbase as well. the album is weighed down by too many guest appearances. not a problem, but as we noticed on his past works hes gotten stellar production as well as guests to rap side by side with, here most of them are like the production itself on a few songs are not really inspiring. seems on here raekwon has abandoned the production from his wu tang brothers and affiliates to more radio friendly sound. as a fan i will love his past works with wu and a few solo projects but this one will be forgettable.… Expand
  2. geedup
    Apr 28, 2015
    5
    As I started listening to the album by the Wu-tang member and I got to the 3rd song, I began to realize why I haven't liked his previous efforts- there is no variation in his work. By the time you get to the 3rd or 4th song, his voice his nauseating -almost irritating. Wrapping nonsense into rhymes has always been his "flare." Although there are some nice beats and guest appearances to theAs I started listening to the album by the Wu-tang member and I got to the 3rd song, I began to realize why I haven't liked his previous efforts- there is no variation in his work. By the time you get to the 3rd or 4th song, his voice his nauseating -almost irritating. Wrapping nonsense into rhymes has always been his "flare." Although there are some nice beats and guest appearances to the album, I can't keep this in my collection… Expand
  3. jrodfilms
    May 1, 2015
    7
    i like this but too many guest appearances such as 2chainz, french montana, and asap rocky. best songs heated nightz, all for you, i got money. i enjoyed this better than ghostfaces last few.
  4. Djwarzone
    Jun 14, 2015
    8
    Solid overall project by the Chef. Best job fusing allot of craic sounds with new. The production was unique to each track yet sill seemed cohesive. Rae brings his signature crime stories but allowed the features to shine with Snooo returning to Deep Cover Form, Asap Rocky with a killer closing verse. Busssa buss delivers then we had some late 90s early 2000 Reggae in the mix. Just a fewSolid overall project by the Chef. Best job fusing allot of craic sounds with new. The production was unique to each track yet sill seemed cohesive. Rae brings his signature crime stories but allowed the features to shine with Snooo returning to Deep Cover Form, Asap Rocky with a killer closing verse. Busssa buss delivers then we had some late 90s early 2000 Reggae in the mix. Just a few skipable tracks in Wall to Wall French Migrants Montana and , the track with 2 chainz for an obvious attempt to fill in a weed track. Ghost appears as expected and kills it so Overall with the varied production , good features even by Ross and who I don't normally credit but he did his thing. The replsy value is good and Chef mixed up a Gumbo b of style sounds, old and new along with clever skits make this a very good listen… Expand
  5. BlackReeseBobby
    Aug 12, 2016
    7
    Don’t let the album features or the cover art deter you. This is a Raekwon the Chef album, sans a couple of tracks. Kudos to Rae for not trying to emulate any other regional sounds on this album. This is some straight up, gritty, NYC, gutter, street hip hop….. sans a couple of tracks. I got 12 seconds in to the joint with Estelle and just couldn’t. The cut with Melanie Fiona was palatableDon’t let the album features or the cover art deter you. This is a Raekwon the Chef album, sans a couple of tracks. Kudos to Rae for not trying to emulate any other regional sounds on this album. This is some straight up, gritty, NYC, gutter, street hip hop….. sans a couple of tracks. I got 12 seconds in to the joint with Estelle and just couldn’t. The cut with Melanie Fiona was palatable until they Felicia Keys it up on the chorus. Aside from those 2 whiffs and couple more debatable tracks, very solid album. My favorite tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, & 10.… Expand
  6. TheKuz
    Apr 15, 2019
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The production on Fly International Luxurious Art is by far the worst of any Raekwon album. It holds the album down criminally... to the point of boredom.

    While there are some surprise features (A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, and French Montana—though I'd prefer to remove French from that because he is starkly horrible), the production becomes rather annoying—actually moving into horrible at "F.I.L.A.." It shouldn't be hard to nod your head to a beat.

    Another thing that I dislike is how the beats and lyrical content don't seem to go together; they don't accord. I'll hear the beat and then the lyrics, and think, "This doesn't seem right, he picked the wrong beat."

    Raekwon's lyrics were something to listen for and definitely the only thing worth listening to. I was holding my breath as the album progressed, hoping and waiting for that extra edge of lyricism that he displays in all of his albums up to this and after. Something—maybe flow, maybe hunger—was slightly missing. I only got a vague taste of what I wanted at "Live to Die," and still, when the album concluded, I was left wishing for that cherry to top it off.

    This album is discernibly Raekwon's worst album, I'm regretful to say. I was glad to hear The Wild departed from Fly International Luxurious Art's worrying tangent.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. PopMatters
    May 19, 2015
    40
    While the monster-sized guest spots and lyrics about larger-than-life luxury were intended to give the album an international flavour, the result is merely one of boring homogeneity.
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  2. RapReviews.com
    May 19, 2015
    70
    1 and 2 and lack the incentive and inspiration even great rappers need to make great albums, but it's an impressive compendium of what Shallah Raekwon is capable of.
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  3. AllMusic
    May 19, 2015
    70
    More fine than fierce, Fly International Luxurious Art may not be on the man's top shelf, but it's a sturdy and entertaining effort well worth its place in the Chef's catalog.
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