Wu-Tang Clan‘s Raekwon and Ghostface Killah went to Sundance 2015 to release the trailer for their new documentary. The Purple Tape Files documentary follows the creation of Raekwon’s first solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Raekwon announced the trailer’s release on social media, “Twitter. It’s official, I released the trailer at Sundance for our documentary #ThePurpleTapeFiles…This is just the beginning…” The two rappers also announced the documentary is going to be fan-supported through the FanBacked.com website. Similar to the company Kickstarter, FanBacked is a crowd-funding system that allows fans to donate money to projects. FanBacked only funds projects for artists, music producers, and talent in the entertainment industry.
Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Link was released in 1995. The album featured all of the members of Wu-Tang Clan, except for Ol’ Dirty Bastard. The project was composed like a film, and Raekwon was the lead actor, Ghostface Killah was the supporting actor, and RZA was the director. Even though Only Born 4 Cuban Link was Raekwon’s solo album, the album’s artwork featured both Raekwon and Ghostface on the cover. After debuting at Number 4 on the Billboard 200 charts, the album sold 130,000 copies in its first week. In just two months after its release, the project was certified gold by Nielsen Soundscan. To date, Only Built 4 Cuban Link has sold over one million copies in the US.
Despite the fact that all of the members of Wu-Tang Clan have released solo projects, Only Built 4 Cuban Link is widely considered as the best solo Wu-Tang album. After his solo debut, Raekwon released a total of six more albums. His 2010 album, Wu-Massacre, was a project with Method Man and Ghostface Killah. The project creatively released three different album covers featuring each individual rapper. All of the covers were created by Marvel Comics artist Chris Bachalo. Raekwon is expected to release his sixth solo album this year. The album is entitled Fly International Luxurious Art, and it will be released through the rapper’s record label, H20, and by distributed by EMI. Raekwon confirmed that Snoop Dogg and Akon will make guest appearances on his Fly International Luxurious Art album.