Raekwon: 

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Raekwon Departed Wu‑Tang, but The Emperor’s New Clothes Proves the Chef Still Cooks
Raekwon returns with The Emperor’s New Clothes, his first solo album since 2017. Featuring Nas, Griselda, and Wu-Tang legends, the LP blends reverence and grit—but critics say it leans on nostalgia over innovation.

After an eight-year hiatus, Raekwon the Chef dishes out his eighth solo album, The Emperor’s New Clothes, dropping July 18, 2025 via Ice H2O and Mass Appeal. It marks his first solo release since The Wild in 2017  .

As part of Mass Appeal’s “Legend Has It” album series, the project headlines a roster featuring Nas, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, and more  . On this album, Raekwon shares the mic with Hip-Hop royalty—Wu-Tang brethren like Method Man, Ghostface Killah, and Inspectah Deck—and gritty collaborators from Griselda including Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn, while Nas joins him on the production-heavy “The Omerta”  .

While fans have praised The Emperor’s New Clothes for reminding them of Rae’s storytelling and resilience, some critics argue the album leans on legacy and lacks the bold risk-taking of his classics  . Still, with its lean 40-minute runtime and that classic Raekwon grit, it’s earned respect for its tight execution and reverent lyricism  .

The Emperor’s New Clothes stands as proof: decades into the game, Raekwon can still deliver raw rap with heart and heritage. Assign that to your “Viral Music” spotlight and cue the applause.