Recognized for his "street epics" that are "straightforward yet linguistically rich,"[6] Raekwon is ranked among leading rappers.

"[10] Raekwon and rap partner Ghostface Killah attended junior high school together on Staten Island.

[14] Raekwon attended New Dorp High School, where he befriended rappers Remedy, Method Man and Inspectah Deck.

In 1992, he joined the Wu-Tang Clan, an originally nine-member rap group drawing mainly from the Staten Island but also from the Brooklyn boroughs of New York City.

[20] The album's narrative struggle is set to imagery of criminal activity, largely cocaine trafficking, and emergence from it into the good life.

"[22] Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah rapped in over half of the album's tracks,[21] and the two wrote some lyrics in Barbados and Miami.

[14] It also follows a cinematic narrative, inspired by mob and kung-fu movies and a plethora of references and samples in which the main rapping lines with an on-going story of struggle and success.

"[25] Raekwon's next album, Immobilarity, lacking RZA's record production and Ghostface Killah features, was issued in 1999 to mixed reviews.

[27] The album features Wu-Tang members and affiliates as well as Slick Rick, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Beanie Sigel, and others.

II album of the year, calling it "the Hip Hop equivalent to The Godfather 2, with Rae as revitalized as Marlon was".

Without compromising, the Chef made an edgy Hip Hop record that refused to bastardize the catalog he laid down 15 years ago.

On top of that, Rae (along with Ghostface) was a go-to for numerous rappers making albums, ranging from the Playaz Circle to Jadakiss to BK One.

II, Raekwon collaborated with Method Man and Ghostface Killah for Wu-Massacre, a short trio album designed to showcase unity within the group.

As originally planned, RZA did not participate on the project,[29] however, several other Wu-Tang members made appearances, as well as Black Thought, Nas and Rick Ross,[30] among others.

[35] On January 1, 2013, Raekwon announced that the title of his next album would be F.I.L.A., an acronym for Fly International Luxurious Art, and that it would be released during the second quarter of 2013.

[39] On March 24, 2017, Raekwon released a studio album, The Wild, his first not to feature collaborations with fellow members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

[42] On August 1, 2020, Elliot Wilson, of Tidal and Rap Radar, announced Raekwon will be releasing Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3 soon.

[23] In his most recent appearance, Raekwon provided guest vocals alongside Ghostface Killah and Busta Rhymes on "Science Class", a song off Griselda leader Westside Gunn's 2022 mixtape 10.