On November 15 last year, the world watched in awe as Mike Tyson, at the age of 58, stepped back into the boxing ring against Jake Paul. His enduring passion for boxing and legendary skills captivated fans, proving that even at an age when most athletes have long retired, “Iron Mike” still had the fire that made him a cultural icon.

Fast forward to the present—another legend from a different sphere, the rapper, from the iconic hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon The Chef is making his much-awaited return to music with his 8th studio album, “The Emperors New Clothes”, with his last one being in 2017 (The Wild). In the build-up to the album’s release, Raekwon, real name Corey Woods, made an appearance on Joe Rogan‘s JRE podcast, where the two delved into deep discussions about music, growth, staying true to one’s craft, and of course, Mike Tyson.

Joe Rogan thrilled by Raekwon finding kinship in Mike Tyson’s love for boxing

Towards the end of the discussion, Raekwon while sharing the story of his evolution as an artist, emphasized his still-evident passion for creating music even deep into his fifties. “Today, I’m sitting here as a 55-year-old man that still have that kid in them to love what helped me be who I am today. So I’m still at my best when it comes to making music,” Raekwon confessed. For the rapper, music is not just a career but a cornerstone of his identity, and his latest work represents the culmination of decades of experience he has accrued.

Elaborating on his artistic growth to Joe Rogan, Raekwon further explained, “Like today, the Chef is more of an architect artist now. I don’t consider myself a gangster rapper or a funny rapper. I’m an architect rapper because I like to reflect on things about growth and development.” Why? Because, according to the Brownsville, Brooklyn native, it signifies a shift from his former raw, aggressive self to a more thoughtful approach. He distinguishes himself from labels like “gangster rapper” or “funny rapper,” because his music now serves as a medium to explore deeper themes, offering insights about the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Despite his age, the 54-year-old then claimed, “When people hear this album, they’re going to be like, damn, like, yo, he still fu**** g got it. I tell people all the time, don’t ever think we’re going to lose that sh*t.” Raekwon’s passion reached a crescendo as he then drew a parallel between his music and Mike Tyson’s continuing love for boxing.

“That’s like sitting here and saying, Mike Tyson can’t fight. When you know at the end of the day, he ain’t lose a fu**** g bit when it comes to how he feels that passion for boxing or whatever. I feel the same way with my music. So get ready,” Raekwon proclaimed with conviction as he then plugged his upcoming album, adding, “Check for that sh*t.” To this, Joe Rogan, visibly thrilled by the declaration, responded, “I’m ready.”

As a lifelong fan of Mike Tyson, Raekwon shares a deep connection with the boxing legend, stemming not only from Tyson’s prowess in the ring but also from their shared roots in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Their friendship has flourished over the years and well into their fifties. So much so, that when asked, the Chef made a bold prediction for the Tyson-Paul fight.

Raekwon’s incorrect forecast for the Jake Paul fight

In the lead-up to Tyson’s rumored fight with Jake Paul, Raekwon, during another podcast appearance, was asked about his thoughts on their matchup. His admiration for Tyson was evident as he confidently predicted the fight’s outcome. He affirmed, “You know, Mike. Mike is a fu**** g animal.”

When asked if he could call the round, Raekwon replied, “Sh*t, the first round. Always the first three rounds, or really the first two rounds to me, is where you really, really go after each other.” He acknowledged Jake Paul’s rise as a legitimate contender, saying, “I ain’t mad at the white boy, Jake Paul. He proved himself to be, you know, from coming from the social media sh*t and becoming a rising star. It’s like we could tell he’s working. He doing what he’s supposed to do. It don’t look fixed.”

Alas, the hip-hop veteran’s prediction fell flat on its face. In fact, more true was his assessment of Jake Paul’s skills than his belief in Mike Tyson. Still, you can’t disagree with Raekwon—Mike Tyson eats, sleeps, and breathes boxing, does he not?

So what do you think about Raekwon’s comparison between his music career and Mike Tyson’s boxing career? How do you feel about the idea that age doesn’t limit one’s ability to create and perform at a high level?