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Method Man

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Method Man
File:Methodman.jpg
Background information
OriginStaten Island, New York City
Years active1993-present (solo)

Method Man (born Clifford Smith, April 1, 1971 in Staten Island, New York) is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He is also well-known for his work both as a solo artist and with frequent collaborator Redman, as well as for recent forays into acting. Method Man takes his name from The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man, a 1979 film by Jimmy Shaw starring Peter Chen Lau.

Background

Method Man spent a childhood split between separated parents in Staten Island and Long Island, and in an apparent precursor to his career in hip hop was introduced both to playing drums and to poetry by his father. Not only was Method interested in music, he was also fascinated by comic books and particularly Ghost Rider, a fascination which manifested itself years later in several of his many rap aliases. His pre-hip hop adult life was mostly split between drug dealing and low-paid jobs (including a stint working at the Statue Of Liberty, along with future Wu-Tang colleague U-God). After becoming well known on the streets for his rhyming abilities, he joined with 8 friends to form the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s.

Career

Wu-Tang Clan's ascendancy to hip hop stardom, Method Man has always been one of the most visible members of the collective. He was one of only two of the group to get a solo song on the group's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers and he was the first to release a solo album under the Clan's unusual contract which allows its members to release albums under any record label (Method chose to sign with legendary rap label Def Jam). Method Man's solo debut, Tical (1994, 1994 in music) was critically acclaimed and extremely popular, entering the American charts at #4 and eventually selling in excess of one million copies. He soon collaborated with Mary J. Blige and Redman with a series of hit singles, one of which (the Blige duet "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need") won a Grammy, before recording the second Wu-Tang album, Wu-Tang Forever. His second solo album was Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998, 1998 in music), which was heavily influenced by the apocalypse theories surrounding the forthcoming end of the millennium, and which featured a vast amount of guest appearances, from his fellow Clansmen to Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, D'Angelo, Chris Rock, Mobb Deep, Redman, Billy Joel and even Donald Trump. The album sold even better than his first, though reviews were mixed and its long running time and the abundance of between-song comedy skits were criticized by many. Method Man then toured with Jay-Z and recorded Blackout! with Redman, a light-hearted, fun record with an EPMD-evoking emphasis on funky beats and the mischievous wit and cool flows of the two MCs.

Acting career and recent history

In the twenty-first century, Method Man forged a successful career in acting. As well as his 1998 appearance in the film Belly along with fellow rappers Nas and DMX, Method has also appeared in One Eight Seven, Oz, How High (a stoner film with Redman), The Wire, My Baby's Daddy, Garden State and Soul Plane, while continuing to record with the Wu-Tang Clan. He also co-starred with Redman in his own Fox sitcom called Method & Red, however after only a short time on the air the show was put on hiatus and never returned. Method Man later complained in the press about Fox's influence on the show's style, claiming that "there's been too much compromise on our side and not enough on their side" and bemoaning the network's decision to add a laugh track. Most recently Method Man had a role in an episode of CSI named "Poppin' Tags" about murder between Street Teams as Drops.

In 2004, Meth released his third album Tical 0: The Prequel, which spawned a successful single in "What's Happenin" with Busta Rhymes, but was poorly received both by critics and fans. There was trouble even before the album's release when Method apparently complained to the press about excessive interference from Def Jam over the album's beats (Meth supposedly desired more input from Wu-Tang leader RZA). On its release, many fans and critics were taken aback by its strong "mainstream" or "commercial" sound, highlighted by the guest appearances of pop-rap stars of the time Missy Elliot, P. Diddy and Ludacris. However, the album sold reasonably well, selling more than any of the other Wu-Tang solo projects released at around the same time.

Method Man's fourth album, entitled 4:21: The Day After is due to be released in August 2006 With guest appearances from the likes of Ginuwine, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Redman,Fat Joe, Megan Rochell, Raekwon, Lauryn Hill, and much more, with a star lineup of producers, Havoc, Erick Sermon,Scott Storch, Mathematics, Mr. Porter, and RZA.

Method Man has two sisters, Terri and Missy. Method Man has two children; a son born in 1997, and a daughter born in 1998.

Method Man has been featured in the Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, Def Jam Vendetta, and Def Jam: Fight for NY video games.

Recently, Method Man has had a conflict with New York radio host Wendy Williams. Williams talked about Method Man's wife having cancer on air, which was something he had wanted to keep private. He said that people who lived next door to him didn't even know, but Williams made it public over the radio. [1]

Aliases

  • The Ghost Rider (from the comic Ghost Rider)
  • Johnny Blaze (from the comic Ghost Rider)
  • Meth
  • Mr. Meth
  • Hot Nikkels
  • Hot Nixon
  • Big John Stud
  • MZA ("The Mizza")
  • Shakwon (5% Nation "righteous name")
  • Tical
  • The Iron Lung
  • The Panty Raider
  • Methtical
  • Metaphysical Man
  • Ticallion Stallion
  • John-John McLane
  • John-John Blazini
  • Johnny Dangerous
  • Long John Silver
  • Johnny Storm (from the fantastic four's Human torch)
  • Ma
  • John Doe
  • Hot Nix (from Hot Nixon)
  • The Shaolin Assassin
  • Pepe la Pue
  • The Blunted One
  • Blaziblaza
  • Mef
  • Mr. Mef
  • John Blaze-Zeeny

Samples

Discography

Albums

Album Name Release Date Status
Tical November 15, 1994 Platinum U.S.
Tical 2000: Judgement Day November 17, 1998 Platinum U.S.
Blackout! (with Redman) September 28, 1999 Platinum U.S.
Tical 0: The Prequel May 18, 2004 Gold U.S.
4:21...The Day After August 29 , 2006

Singles and EPs

Unreleased songs

  • "Mr. Meth" aka "Wu Headbanger"
  • "A Bitch is a Bitch"
  • "Ice Cream Man"
  • "Lost In the Masquerade" feat.Lauryn Hill
  • "Take the Heat"

Appears On

Filmography

Music Videos

With Wu-Tang Clan

  • Da Mystery Of Chessboxin
  • Gravel Pit
  • Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin a F*** With
  • M.E.T.H.O.D. Man
  • C.R.E.A.M
  • Triumph
  • Proteck Ya Neck
  • Proteck Ya Neck ( The Jump Off )
  • The Worst ft. Onyx

Solo

Only Apperance No Rap

  • Big Pun - It's So Hard
  • Cypress Hill - Lowrider
  • Redman - Whatever Man
  • Xzibit - X
  • Ol'Dirty Bastard - Brooklyn Zoo
Wu-Tang Clan
Members
GZA/Genius - RZA - Ol' Dirty Bastard - Ghostface Killah - Masta Killa - Raekwon - U-God - Method Man - Inspectah Deck
Albums
Words from the Genius - Ooh I Love You Rakeem - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - 6 Feet Deep - Tical - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx - Liquid Swords - Ironman - Wu-Tang Forever - The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel - Tical 2000: Judgement Day - Bobby Digital in Stereo - Beneath the Surface - Nigga Please - Blackout! - Uncontrolled Substance - Golden Arms Redemption - Immobilarity - Supreme Clientele - The W - Digital Bullet - Bulletproof Wallets - Iron Flag - Legend of the Liquid Sword - The World According to RZA - The Movement - Birth of a Prince - The Lex Diamond Story - The Pretty Toney Album - U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers - Tical 0: The Prequel - No Said Date - 718 - Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 - The Formula for the Cure - Mr. Xcitement - GrandMasters - Put It On The Line - Fishscale - Made in Brooklyn
See Also
Wu-Tang Clan affiliates
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