The Wild
by Raekwon
  • Record Label: Empire
  • Release Date: Mar 24, 2017
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
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  1. BigTyCoon
    Mar 28, 2017
    10
    Very solid album from Raekwon. He's very underrated among the Wu members for solo albums. With this, Shoalin Vs. Wu-Tang, and his two Cuban Lynx albums he's solidified himself as second behind Ghostface in Solo LP's.
  2. AlexDionisio1
    Apr 1, 2017
    4
    Raekwon is all too traditional in The Wild. He has simply failed to innovate musically, conceptually and lyrically. It's time he put down the gangsterism and pick up the intellectualism.
  3. ghostface187
    Mar 29, 2017
    10
    rae the chef is back at it again with amazing meterial , sound , and feeling . I can belive people are sleeping on this beasst . shaking my head , indeed .
  4. TheKuz
    Apr 15, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Raekwon recovers from the taint on his discography left by Fly International Luxurious Art. The production is smooth here, gritty there, laid-back here, hard there, and Raekwon's lyrics are sharp and cunning.

    Track two, "This is What is Comes To," is promising, and the following "Nothing" is ominously cold. "Marvin"—a sure highlight of the album—features Rae's storytelling capabilities set to the historical tale of Marvin Gaye's tragic life, with CeeLo Green's vocals appropriately accenting the verses. The interesting collaboration with Lil Wayne, "My Corner," is not a mistake; though the production of the track seems a reach at first, The Chef and Weezy are able to successfully cook together. Same with G-Eazy on "Purple Brick Road" (though the chorus' singer strains slightly).

    Raekwon's sharp lyricism is wonderful on The Wild. The storytelling on "Marvin" and alliterative acrobatics of "M&N" demonstrate that Raekwon is an MC.

    The previous path of production-blunder of his previous album, Fly International Luxurious Art, was left behind, evidently; The Wild's production varies enough to bring you from one point to another, while being connected enough to be cohesive. Also surpassing his last album is his successful adaptation to the modern era, without becoming a slave to an alien sound.

    My one complaint: singer Stalking Gia's chorus to "Purple Brick Road." It's trill, repelling, and deplorable.

    Satisfyingly to the ear, The Wild closes as a strong and notable album from Raekwon, worthy of his classics, but still withstanding its time, safely.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Pitchfork
    Apr 14, 2017
    74
    A quick glance at a recent list of his favorite hip-hop records of all-time--rooted firmly in the golden and silver ages of hip-hop--reveals what inspires him most. When Raekwon leans into those sounds and themes, the rhymes that flow through him are evidence that this OG can still hang with the best of them.
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  2. HipHopDX
    Apr 5, 2017
    86
    With The Wild, Raekwon firmly grabs another trophy for the squad while continuing to pad his own hall of fame legacy in the process.
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  3. AllMusic
    Apr 4, 2017
    70
    The majority of the verses are, however, devoted to street survivalism. The more combative, the better.
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