Birth Name: Corey Woods

a.k.a.: The Chef, Rae, Lex Diamonds

A member of the Wu-Tang Clan, rapper Raekwon was born Corey Woods; he first surfaced on the group's 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), issuing his first solo single "Heaven and Hell" on the soundtrack to Fresh a short time later.

Renowned for his inventive way with slang, Rae received wide acclaim for crafting dark tales of the streets and the criminal minds who walk them on his 1995 solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. He recast the Wu-Tang crew as an Italian mafioso family dubbed the Wu-Gambinos, rechristening himself "Lex Diamonds" in the process.

Immobilarity followed in 1999. On this release emphasized Raekwon's underrated ability to tap into human emotions better than most MCs, whether through rhyming recollections, plaintive piano samples, or vocal hooks, Raekwon floods the beat-constructed walls of his tracks with wave after wave of pop culture references, nostalgic remembrances, and mischievous fantasies. Raekwon can rock songs strictly on the strength of his vocal cadence, and often it seems like the booming drum hits, occasional guitar licks, and piano riffs are just there to buoy up his natural rhythm.