Felix "Cuban Link" Delgado was born in Cuba, his family arrived from Mariel to Miami, then permanently settling in The Bronx. Passionate about hip-hop, he starts writing and rapping under the moniker Lyrical Assassin, meeting Christopher "Big Moon Dawg" Rios and Samuel "Joker Jamz" Garcia. The three formed the rap group Full-A-Clips. Richard "Toom" Perez bka Prospect joins the group in 1994 as the fourth member. In 1995, Full-A-Clips (without Toom) is freestyling in the Bronx, when Fat Joe is impressed by Big Pun's skills and decides to sign him, Pun brings with him both Lyrical Assassin both Joker Jamz.
Fat Joe deals with Atlantic Records and starts his own imprint Terror Squad Productions in 1997, signing Big Pun and creating his own Bronx hip-hop group Terror Squad, composed by himself, Big Pun, Lyrical Assassin, now known as Cuban Link, Joker Jamz, now known as Triple Seis, John "Armageddon" Eaddy and Richard "Prospect" Perez. In the same year, Cuban Link signs with Atlantic and Terror Squad Productions, and starts recording songs for his debut album.
Always in 1997, the rapper debuts in the industry as guest on the single "Off the Brooks" by The Beanuts for the album "Stone Crazy", along with Big Pun. The single enters Hot 100, peaking #12 among rap singles. He and Punisher are guest together even in Veronica's "Someone to Hold", another single that reaches the charts. In 1998 he's guest in the posse track "On the Mic" by DJ Honda (#89 on the rap chart) and is credited as featured guest on Fat Joe's third LP "Don Cartagena" in the track "Bet Ya Man Can't (Triz)", another minor hit in the rap chart, appearing also in the Terror Squad tracks "The Hidden Hand" and "Terror Squadians". In the same season, is guest in Big Pun debut disk "Capital Punishment" with Terror Squad in "Glamour Life".
In September 1999, Terror Squad releases the first album, peaking #4 on the hip-hop chart and being welcomed positively by specialized critics, the record is robust and Cuban Link is the main rapper, nevertheless, the sales results are considered disappointing. In February 2000, Big Pun died due to a heart attack caused by weight issues. Cuban Link keeps working on his debut, with several tribute songs for Big Pun, and releasing three singles: "Flowers for the Dead", "Still Telling Lies" and "Why Me?" featuring Fat Joe. Atlantic Records publishes "Play How You Want" featuring P!nk and "Toe to Toe" as promotional singles. "Why Me?" in included in the movie "Bait" and "Project Party", another song from his debut CD, is inserted in the film "Girlfight".
Originally scheduled to be released in the summer of 2000 with a distribution deal with the major Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic pushed it to early 2001. The disk is starting to have some problems: tensions emerge between Cuban Link and Fat Joe, Cuban Link is not getting any decent promotion for his album, this is caused by Atlantic but mostly by Terror Squad Productions run by Fat Joe, the boy doesn't want him to go out soloist, it comes down to legal action and Joe claims that he doesn't need him and that he could help him with his record deal only if Cuban Link begged him, the latter refuses. Fat Joe then dumps him, Joe is both his producer (through his own label), the leader of his group (Terror Squad) and his manager.
Cuban Link says he can find anyone else willing to nurture his artistic talent and the two separate their paths. From the legal vicissitudes between the two, they parted with an agreement that for Cuban Link's new recording contract, Fat Joe would receive nearly half a million dollars for his previous work in promoting him as an artist.The CD is plagued by bootlegging and Atlantic Records puts the project on indefinite hiatus. In 2001, Cuban Link should be the main character of "Scarface" sequel, "Scarface 2: Son of Tony", but the project is cancelled.
The Set Up
April 13, 2001. Cuban Link is invited by Angie Martinez to her album release party held at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe — usual meeting place for all Terror Squad members — and where he's to perform the song "Live at Jimmy's" in which Cuban Link is featured on her album. Cuban Link arrives and is refused entry to the club by the bouncers, on Fat Joe's orders. Cuban Link arrives and is refused entry to the club, on Fat Joe's orders. Delgado manages to talk to the club owner and get in, but he can't bring his friends with him; the only other person who manages to get in is Sunkiss. Deshawn "Sunkiss" Barzey is a New York rapper, friend of Big Pun, who at one point was an honorary member of Terror Squad group. He made his debut as DeShawn E. Thunder on the first album of Showbiz & AG, "Runaway Slave" (1992), then featured also in the duo's second disk "Goodfellas" (1995), in Big Pun's second LP "Yeeeah Baby" (2000), in Cuban Link "24-K" and in that Angie Martinez album, in the same song with Cuban Link.
Angie Martinez starts performing her songs and she performs one with Fat Joe, who's also at the party, while Joey Crakk is on stage, Martinez also calls Cuban Link to perform the song with him. After the performance, Cuban Link and Joe back to enjoying the party and on the surface, things seem amicable between the two, however, Fat Joe has a falling out with Sunkiss, then Fat Joe suddenly punches Cuban Link in the face and afterwards, while bouncers keep Cuban Link and other bouncers help Fat Joe get up after the other one has responded to the punch he received, someone came from behind and sliced Cuban Link's face three times.
Found bleeding, the bouncers carry him out of the club, Cuban Link would like to go back inside the club to understand what is happening and above all who attacked him from behind, but while he's outside the club, by coincidence Cuban Link finds Remy Martin outside who has arrived by car and who offers to take him to the hospital, Cuban Link accepts and is taken to the hospital, where after the operation, while he's given stitches, he's questioned by the police, who are already with him and already know the whole story even before Cuban Link can speak, they know he was stabbed by someone came from behind.
Fat Joe claims innocence in Cuban Link ambush, but despite his vast knowledge, Cartagena is unable to trace the person who disfigured the rapper. A few weeks later, Cuban Link was paid for facial reconstruction by the best surgeon in Europe, on the condition that he never tell anyone for any reason what happened that April 2001 at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. Fat Joe is power enough to make end to Cuban Link career even before it starts, the kid ends in a blacklist of music industry. It's an intricate and complicated plan devised by Fat Joe, but it works.
Since 2022, the album is present on digital platforms.
The Album
The production is realized by Cuban Link, The Neptunes, Curt Gowdy, KNS, Guy Boogie, DJ Shok and JayO. The guest are Terror Squad members Big Pun, Prospect, Triple Seis, Fat Joe, future members Remy Martin and Tony Sunshine, the honorary member Sunkiss, along with Angie Martinez, Pink, Kool G Rap, Lord Tarik, MOP, Noreaga, Ja Rule, Lo-Key, Carl Thomas, Billy Klubs, Buck 50, Don Dinero, Raze Korleone, Reif Hustle and D'Mingo.
Intro, then the first real track is "90 Miles and Swimming": boom bap realized by DJ Shok, cheap drum, cheap samples, Cuban Link sounds inspired and in shape over this rhythm, delivering an extra-verse hardcore. Skit, then the Bronx rapper himself produces "For My Real Niggaz", boom bap with cheap uptempo drum, scarce hi-hats, nice piano keys loops, powerful rapping by the emcee, the hook is long as a brief verse and is not that fluid. The track sounds well. KNS and Guy Boogie are the beatmakers for "Project Party", pop rap track, weak drum, abrasive loops, reggaeton vibes, SunKiss is the first guest of the record, dropping bars flanked by the main rapper. The sixth pick is a tribute not too hidden to Biggie Smalls and Chic's "Le Freak". Cuban Link is also behind the keys for this cheap boom bap, poor samples, chaotic rhythm, inside the Terror Squad MC along with Angie Martinez. Tony Sunshine is uncredited singer for a bridge, then the cut is closed by a guitar solo.
"Still Telling Lies" is produced by The Neptunes. Fast hi-hats doubled, scarce crazy drum, uncontrollable and too fast piano keys in loop, sample interpolated from Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me". Over this uptempo rhythm Cuban Link delivers a sentimental song for girls. Tuny Sunshine is guests providing hooks and outro. Kelis does background vocals, Tammy Lucas is the chorister. There's also a sort of tribute/references by Cuban Link to Big Pun's "Tres Leches", but is almost hidden. Cuban Link is credited as producer of "Play How You Want", behind him there are the Neptunes. A piano scale leads the beat, rough bass, scarce drum, uptempo production, Cuban Link goes regular and rapid, Pink sings the chorus. The Terror Squad emcee spits three verses over his own rhythm for "24 Karat", cheap production with guitar licks and a weak drum.
Skit, then "Toe to Toe". Big Pun, Sean C, Kelo Saunders and Havoc behind the keys. The rhythm samples The Roots' "Clones", sound of the vinyl crackling, bass in background, harsh uptempo drum, good loops. The production is different compared to all the other pieces on this album, sounds like a track left over from the sessions for Big Pun's "Capital Punishment" album that remained on the recording studio floor. Cuban Link picked it up and put it on his disk, and it sounds like one of his best. The song has a similar structure to "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)," where Big Pun and Fat Joe exchange short verses back and forth. Hook by Punisher, then he paves the track with a harsh powerful rapping style, then around the minute mark, one of Cuban Link's dreams comes true, dropping fire bars over Moroder's music for the movie "Scarface" thanks to a wonderful bridge, the guys actually pick up a brilliant sample from Mobb Deep's "G.O.D. Pt. III". Over the Moroder synths Cuban Link runs at the best in career, while Rios continues to rap on the Roots sample.
"Men of Business" is a posse track with Noreaga, Lord Tariq, Kool G Rap and MOP. The beat is realized by Buckwild: rusty bass line, scarce hi-hats, dusty strings, horns loop, samples from "Leprechaun's Dream" by Chick Corea. This sounds like the Cuban Link version of "Tres Leches", in which he brings rapper from Queens (NORE and G Rap), Bronx (him and Lord Tariq) and Brooklyn (MOP). The friend of Punisher spits inspired among this pezzonovantes, Kool G Rap goes regular, then Billy Danze and Lil Fame tears the cut with their hardcore execution. Curt Gowdy invents the beat of "Murda Murda", cheap beat, tense strings, scarce loops, Cuban Link spits flanked by Ja Rule that uses again half a verse of his contribution on Do Or Die’s “Murderers, Pimps +Thugs”. Remy Ma and Lo-Key spits bars alongside the main rapper over a rhythm producer by him in "Cuban Sandwich", cheap rhythm, poor samples. Over a sweat liquid solution by The Hitmen's Younglord, Cuban Link is joined by Carl Thomas and Big Pun in a track about cheating.
Skit, then Cuban Link realizes a own version of Big Pun "Mamma" with "Hey Mama". As in Punisher song, we have Tony Sunshine at the chorus, a structure that is similar and even the lyrics are more or less the same. Production of John Maguire soaked in honey, with leading eletric guitar licks, scarce drum, poor loops and chorus by Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link drops a single stanza. After another skit there's "Taste of Pastry". Neptunes comes back behind the keyboards with a sample from Sade's "The Sweetest Taboo" for this tune for girls in which the main MC is flanked by Tony Sunshine, Triple Seis and Prospect, in a Terror Squad track.
"Carter" is produced by LES, sick loops, uptempo drum, rough bass, hardcore rapping by Cuban Link in a posse with friends. I think that the sample is from Big Pun's title track from his debut album, the beat was realized by Infinite Arkatechz. With a sample extracted from the movie "Scarface", the beatmaker JAO opens "Why Me": apocalyptic end-of-the-world beat, tense, dark, heavy strings, cheap drum, Cuban Link is joined by Fat Joe in one of the last singles of his career. Soon after, Joey Crakk will decide to expel him from the recording industry, making his pieces disappear from tv and radio too. After the last skit, this long LP is closed by the tribute song to Big Pun after his death, "Flowers for the Dead". Sad production by Cash "Chi" Brown, good piano keys in loop, cautious bass in background, dusty strings, sample from "Cotton's Dream" by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin Jr., soulful chorus by D'Mingo, Cuban Link ends his first disk with a highlight of his career.
It should have been released around 2000 by Terror Squad Production and Atlantic Records, with a distribution handled by Time Warner major label. Is defined as a concept album,
however, there are pieces for the club, autobiographical pieces, pieces about girls, for girls, street tracks and a lot of bravado. The album's structural template is borrowed from Big Pun's, with different results. The choice to place almost a skit on each track, seven at the end, don't help the fluidity of the record. It's a full album with 73 minutes, an ambitious effort and it could have potentially launched Cuban Link as a solo force in the industry, because ultimately the album has it all, and while it's not on the same level of quality as Big Pun's debut album, it pretty much has all those elements, plus Punisher himself, so it could have done well, both in terms of sales and critical and commercial reception.
Rating: 6.5/10.
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