“Unexpectedly moving ... An unusual degree of self-awareness about this fact. He describes how difficult it can be to maintain his craft and his confidence, a rare sort of candor in an art form typically premised on effortless cool. But the memoir’s most endearing moments involve the small victories that come with surviving ... “Raw” feels cathartic, as Hawkins finds the language and perspective to reckon with his past.”
“Those hungry for an insight into the Wu's lifestyles or their inner creative process will get a few peeks into the mansions and the recording booths here [...] The bigger story, though, is his life. He writes with a mixture of braggadocio, insight, pride and weariness about the years leading up to the Wu-Tang, with the occasional laugh to break up the litany of horror.”
