As part of Vevo’s exclusive content in honor of the historic 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, Wu-Tang Clan MC Raekwon–alongside the iconic director Ralph McDaniels, Rae’s manager Rashida Watler and others–break down and revisit the rapper’s timeless “Ice Cream” in a new edition of Vevo Footnotes.
“The song’s focus was to highlight and represent beautiful women of all colors by describing them as flavors of ice cream,” Rae laments. “The sound from the ice cream truck was a perfect way to put us in the pocket, and the hook really made it easy to attack the song.”
Rae continues, “We needed something soft but heartfelt for the album. I wanted to make sure women were incorporated in the concept, they played such a huge part in hip-hop culture…I had to make it happen.”
McDaniels recalled his intention with the treatment, noting, “I wanted women to love the video. ‘The Ice Cream man is coming’ was the first thing that caught my ear. We had to have a kid yelling that part, and the reference to the flavors. Butter Pecan Rican, Chocolate Deluxe, French Vanilla and Caramel Sundae. We had to have women that represented that complexion.”
He also recounted the crowd control issues once everyone learned of the video location; there was a hectic schedule that weekend, as “Incarcerated Scarfaces” was filmed the next day.
Featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Cappadonna, “Ice Cream” (which peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100) was the second single off of Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
Watch the full video below.
