Raekwon The Emperor's New Clothes
Raekwon's The Emperor's New Clothes arrives as a measured late-career statement that foregrounds legacy over reinvention, and critics are split on whether nostalgia suffices. Across four professional reviews, the record earned a 57.5/100 consensus score, with praise clustering around tracks that evoke Rae's trademark street cinema - notably “600 School”, “Bear Hill”, “The Guy That Plans It” and “Open Doors” - even as many reviewers found the larger project uneven.
The critical consensus emphasizes strong lyricism and veteran authority: reviewers repeatedly note Raekwon's husky baritone, precise storytelling, and moments of genuine chemistry on reunion cuts like “600 School” with Ghostface and Method Man. Praise centers on songs that let his narration and glamourised crime imagery breathe, while criticisms converge on production. Multiple critics call production dated or too safe, saying beats often feel like late-career comfort rather than risk, which undercuts otherwise potent verses and leaves several tracks listless.
While some reviews celebrate standout moments - Slant and Rolling Stone point to “600 School” and “Bear Hill”, Clash and Pitchfork highlight “Open Doors” and “The Guy That Plans It” - the overarching view is mixed: Raekwon's pen still matters, but the album struggles to justify its existence beyond reunion gestures and veteran polish. For readers searching for an honest The Emperor's New Clothes review or wondering what the best songs on the record are, critics agree the highlights justify attention, even if the full collection rarely feels essential.
This synthesis frames the full set of professional reviews below, mapping where the album's moments of clarity land and where its late-career choices falter.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Bear Hill
2 mentions
"On "Bear Hill," "The Guy That Plans It," and "Da Heavies," the three songs on the album where he appears solo, the production is disparate, but his presence feels the same."— Rolling Stone
Open Doors
2 mentions
"He’s one of the few who can sell a phrase as fragmented and vague as “a certain walk with a special bop” from “Open Doors.”"— Rolling Stone
600 School
3 mentions
"Ghostface Killah is solid on his three appearances, most notably “600 School,” where he, Raekwon and Method Man commandeer a Swizz Beats beat and show off the chemistry"— Rolling Stone
On "Bear Hill," "The Guy That Plans It," and "Da Heavies," the three songs on the album where he appears solo, the production is disparate, but his presence feels the same.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Intro
Bear Hill
Pomogranite
Veterans Only Billionaire Rehab (SKIT)
Wild Corsicans
1 Life
Barber Shop Bullies (SKIT)
Open Doors
600 School
The Guy That Plans It
Da Heavies
Officer Full Beard (SKIT)
The Omerta
Get Outta Here
The Sober Dose Gift (SKIT)
Debra Night Wine
Mac & Lobster
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Raekwon returns on The Emperor's New Clothes as an elder statesman, leaning into reunion gestures rather than reinvention. The review favors the more immediate collabs like “Wild Corsicans” and the Ghostface moment “Mac & Lobster”, even as it finds much of the record listless and dated. Pete Tosiello’s tone is measured and astringent, pointing out when a song - like “The Guy That Plans It” - nearly works but collapses, and when a ballad - “Debra Night Wine” - fails outright. Overall, the best tracks are the ones that recall Rae’s strengths while the album struggles to justify its existence in a crowded nostalgia market.
Key Points
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“Wild Corsicans” is best because it plays to Rae’s collaborative strengths and serves as the record’s main attraction.
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The album’s core strength is Rae’s presence and selective highlights, but it is undermined by dated production and listlessness.
Themes
Critic's Take
Raekwon’s The Emperor's New Clothes reads like a curator’s exercise more than a reinvention, privileging legacy over risk. The review repeatedly praises moments like “600 School” for Swizz Beatz’s orchestral flourish and notes that “Bear Hill” glides on a loungey loop while “The Omerta” benefits from Nas’s stately verse. Paul Attard’s tone is measured and mildly disappointed, admiring Raekwon’s pen and voice but lamenting the album’s cautious, late-career comforts. For listeners asking about the best songs on The Emperor's New Clothes, the review singles out “600 School”, “Bear Hill”, and “The Omerta” as the clearest highlights, even if none dramatically rejiggers his legacy.
Key Points
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The best song is arguabley "600 School" for its epic orchestral flourish that stands out from otherwise safe production.
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The album’s core strength is Raekwon’s enduring voice and pen, but it favors nostalgia and conservative production over risk.
Themes
Critic's Take
Raekwon knows his lane on The Emperor's New Clothes, and the best songs - notably “Bear Hill”, “The Guy That Plans It” and “Da Heavies” - show why: his husky baritone and deliberate cadence turn short crime vignettes into vivid street cinema. The chemistry on “600 School” with Ghostface and Method Man is a highlight, a moment that sounds like seasoned hunters still able to hunt. Production is the album's limiting factor, with only sporadic beats that stick after repeated listens, but Rae's lyrical precision keeps these tracks compelling. Overall, the best tracks on The Emperor's New Clothes are the ones that let Raekwon narrate old-school luxe crime tales over stripped, gritty backdrops.
Key Points
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The best song(s) let Raekwon's husky baritone and deliberate cadence paint vivid, classic crime vignettes.
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The album's core strengths are Raekwon's lyrical precision, New York street imagery, and Wu-Tang chemistry, despite uneven production.
Themes
Critic's Take
Raekwon on The Emperor's New Clothes is a portrait of a master whose pen still clicks but whose canvases are often dull. The reviewer highlights best tracks like “1 Life” and “Open Doors” for moments when his classic flow and moody elegance cut through, while calling out songs such as “600 School” and “Get Outta Here” where dated production undermines impact. The verdict is clear: Raekwon's lyricism and trademark glamourised crime imagery remain potent, but the album's two-decades-old production choices keep many of the best tracks from reaching their full heights.
Key Points
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The best song moments, especially on “Open Doors” and “1 Life”, are driven by Raekwon's enduring flow and moody elegance.
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The album’s core strength is Raekwon’s lyricism and imagery, while its core weakness is dated, overproduced instrumentation.