Already revered as a legend for his role in the Wu-Tang Clan, with new memoir From Staircase to Stage, Raekwon proves that his talent for storytelling isn’t limited to just music. With the help of co-author Anthony Bozza, readers are transported to the studios and stages that shaped the Clan, via the crack cocaine-plagued project Corey Woods – later to become Raekwon – called home during his childhood.
It’s the insight into those formative years that’s the most fascinating in From Staircase to Stage, as Raekwon analyses the forces that shaped his early life and led to the formation of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated groups. It makes for an immersive read, and the conversational format lets the pages flick by fast.
No punches are pulled when bitter grievances with other Wu-Tang members are aired, but that honesty extends into difficult topics, like his relationships with his family, his infidelity, and the tepid reactions to his middle-period albums. Raekwon openly valorises himself for his achievements but is equally willing to lay his mistakes bare.
From Staircase To Stage, Raekwon & Anthony Bozza (Simon & Schuster)
Price: £20. Info: here
words ALEX PAYNE