Method Man (born Clifford Smith, 2 March 1971 in Hempstead, Long Island, Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Method Man (born Clifford Smith, 2 March 1971 in Hempstead, Long 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 spent a childhood split between separated parents in Long Island and Staten 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 1992.

Since the 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) 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 To Get By") won a Grammy, before recording the second Wu-Tang album, Wu-Tang Forever.

His second solo album was Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998), 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 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 criticised 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.

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 187 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.

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. There was good news in early 2005 for fans who were disappointed with The Prequel as Method Man announced that a new RZA-produced album would be released later in the year. The album ultimately never materialized in 2005, though RZA and Meth continue to work on the album and are now aiming for a mid-2006 release date.

Aliases
Big John Stud
The Ghost Rider (from the comic Ghost Rider)
Hot Nickelz
Hot Nixon
Iron Lung
John-John
Johnny Blaze (from the comic Ghost Rider)
Johnny Dangerous
John-John Blaizini
Methtical (Meth-tical)
Meth
Mr. Meth
MZA ("The Mizza")
The Panty Raider
Shakwon (5% Nation "righteous name")
Tical
Ticallion Stallion

Albums
1994 Tical (Platinum)
1998 Tical 2000: Judgement Day (Platinum)
1999 Blackout! (with Redman) (Platinum)
2004 Tical 0: The Prequel
2006 4:21 The Day After
2009 Blackout! 2 (with Redman)

Singles and EPs
1994 "Bring The Pain"
1995 "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By" (with Mary J. Blige)
1995 "Release Yo' Delf"
1998 "Break Ups 2 Make Ups"
1998 "Judgement Day"'
1998 "Grand Finale" (with DMX, Nas & Ja Rule)
1999 "Tear It Off" (Method Man & Redman)
1999 "Da Rockwilder" (Method Man & Redman)
1999 "Y.O.U." (Method Man & Redman)
2004 "What's Happenin" (with Busta Rhymes)
2005 "The Show"

Appears On
1993 Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
1994 "The What" (from the The Notorious B.I.G. album Ready to Die)
1995 "Dirty Dancin" (from the Ol' Dirty Bastard album Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version)
1995 "Got The Flava" (from the Showbiz & AG album Goodfellas)
1995 "Wu-Gambinos" & "Ice Cream" (from the Raekwon album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx)
1995 "Living In The World Today", "Shadowboxin" & "Gold" (from the GZA album Liquid Swords)
1995 "The Riddler" (from the Batman Forever Soundtrack)
1996 "Box In Hand" (from the Ghostface Killah album Ironman)
1996 "Box In Hand (Remix)" (Ghostface Killah single)
1996 "Got My Mind Made Up" (from the 2Pac album All Eyez On Me)
1996 "Do What Ya Feel" (from the Redman album Muddy Waters)
1996 "Extortion" (from the Mobb Deep album Hell On Earth)
1996 "Hit 'Em High" (from the Space Jam soundtrack)
1997 Wu-Tang Forever (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
1997 "Milk The Cow", "Supa Ninjaz" & "Dart Throwing" (from the Cappadonna album The Pillage)
1997 "Next Up" & "Collaboration 98" (from the Sunz Of Man album The Last Shall Be First)
1997 "4,3,2,1" (from the LL Cool J album Phenonemon)
1998 "Well All Rite Cha" (from the Redman album Doc's Da Name 2000)
1998 "Pussy Pop" (from the Xzibit album 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz)
1998 "Whatcha Gonna Do" (from the Jayo Felony album Whatcha Gonna Do)
1998 "The Worst" (from the Onyx album Shut 'Em Down)
1999 "Rumble" (from the U-God album The Golden Arms Redemption)
1999 "Am I My Brother's Keeper" (from the Shyheim album Manchild)
1999 "Fuck Them" (from the Raekwon album Immobilarity)
1999 "Left & Right" (from the D'Angelo album Voodoo)
1999 "Stringplay" (from the GZA album Beneath The Surface)
1999 "N 2 Gether Now" (from the Limp Bizkit album Significant Other)
1999 "Half Man Half Amazin" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
1999 "Three Amigos (If It's On)" (from the Popa Wu album Visions Of The Tenth Chamber)
1999 "NYC Everything" (from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo)
1999 "Simon Says (Remix)" (from the Pharoahe Monch album Internal Affairs)
2000 "Buck 50" (from the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele)
2000 "Fuhgidabowdit" (from the LL Cool J album G.O.A.T.)
2000 "Rollin' (Urban Assault Vehicle)" (from the Limp Bizkit album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water)
2000 The W (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2000 "Ghetto Celebrity" (from the album In The Mode by Roni Size & Reprazent
2001 "La Rhumba" & "Glocko Pop" (from the RZA album Digital Bullet)
2001 "Enjoy Da Ride" (from the Redman album Malpractice)
2001 "Dog In Heat" (from the Missy Elliott album Miss E...So Addictive)
2001 "Party & Bullshit" (from the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack)
2001 Iron Flag (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2001 "Red Meth And Bee" (from the Cypress Hill album Stoned Raiders)
2002 "Flowers" (from the Ghostface Killah album Bulletproof Wallets)
2003 "Respect Mine" (from the Mathematics album Love, Hell Or Right)
2003 "Love @ 1st Sight" (from the Mary J. Blige album Love & Life)
2003 "We Pop (Remix)" (RZA single)
2003 "Bring The Pain" (from the Missy Elliott album This Is Not A Test!)
2003 "Ice Cream Part 2" (from the Raekwon album Lex Diamonds Story)
2003 "Noble Art" (from the IAM album Revoir Un Printemps)
2003 "Rock 'N' Roll" (from the Naughty By Nature album Icons)
2004 "Secret Rivals" (from the Masta Killa album No Said Date)
2004 "The Drummer" (from the Theodore Unit album 718)
2004 Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
2005 "Head Rush", "John 3:16" & "Spot Lite" (from the Mathematics album The Problem)
2005 "All My Niggas", "Shoot On Sight (S.O S.)" & "Street Education" (from the Streetlife album Street Education)
2005 "High Rollers" (from the Proof album Searching for Jerry Garcia)
2005 "Still On It" (from the Ashanti album Collectables by Ashanti)
2006 "9 Milli Bros." (from the Ghostface Killah album Fishscale)

A Bitch Is a Bitch
Method Man Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Method Man]

Ooh yea I'm on my way to get some hay
I'd Rather not say right now, but anyway
I'm F**kin wit this gangsta bitch around
the way. Who was ?? and the games
people play. A Hoe is a M-O could keep
shit down low. I'm wit dat ya know my

style so what da flow? Its been 3 weeks
now my girl still don't know but what
she don't know can't hurt her or make
a murder. The next peace..? She don't
want to have peace, she just wants
to have fun so I hook her and I treat her
like one. Bust it! Look in tha local
project, when I buzz her; on the 5th
rather brother make a dozen? Floor she
had a child but because I'm half poor kids
buy dread the next door. He don't know
the meaning of child care, 'cause she's on
welfare looking at..? So raps the same
yearSo I took advantage of dat before it
was..? and pull'd a stack, and now what
I'm stickin it up without a doubt, and then
should I go upstrairs? F**k dat rap too
many hoes up in dat place. I just can't
wait to find out til (??) All around town
the Meth is gettin down. With ? and..?
BITCH! don't rock the buck? I'm not a
buck smakin bitch's teeth down their
throats. So I avoid all of dat, and call
her back I was drinking all night, Kid
I need it bad, wassup ho? how you?
Loungin Through..I aint got nuthin to
do so wassup wit you? Treat her like
a rough situation, You know whats on
my mind you wit it? Now she's all(?)
and need some water, Before she had
to ask her 'cause to watch her daughter
Yea, come down down strairs were
goin where? Straight to da vid..(??)
Sum-it up check my dough for body (??)
She comes back out of her house we in
da cab. Not much longer to want,(??)
Step right in and got a (??) Then I seen
her wit a man down the curl, [Pause]
Ooh Shit! Dats my girl! Whats goin on
kid? Hear all my words motherf**ka..
F**k dat Bitch! I'm gonna f**k her!

[Meth talking] (Da f**k you doin with dat nigga?)

[Method Man]

A Bitch is a Bitch..and is always
a bitch. Cracked and shit like a witch

[Closing] Out from the slums..there she comes

Overall Meaning

The song "A Bitch Is a Bitch" by Method Man starts on a provocative note where the singer is on his way to see a woman whom he calls his "gangsta bitch." He views her as someone who is no more than a "hoe," and he intends to use her for his pleasure while keeping their liaison hidden from his actual girlfriend. He takes advantage of the woman's lack of education and poor financial situation and treats her merely as a sex object. In the end, he is surprised to see her with another man, and his reaction is to indulge in physical violence, reaffirming the toxic message of the song.

The song was released in 1994 as part of Method Man's debut album "Tical," which was widely acclaimed by critics and music lovers for the rapper's distinctive flow, gritty lyrics, and dark beats. The song, however, drew controversy due to its misogynistic and violent overtones, which many found unacceptable. Despite the backlash, the song has remained a cult classic, with many fans admiring Method Man's raw energy and his ability to create vivid imagery through his lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Ooh yea I'm on my way to get some hay
I'm headed to hook up with someone secretly.

I'd Rather not say right now, but anyway
I won't reveal my partner's identity yet.

I'm F**kin wit this gangsta bitch around the way.
I'm having sex with a thug lady in my vicinity.

Who was ?? and the games people play.
I don't know who she is, but she's playing games.

A Hoe is a M-O could keep shit down low.
A promiscuous woman is an object that one keeps hidden.

I'm wit dat ya know my style so what da flow?
I like doing it secretly, and so what?

Its been 3 weeks now my girl still don't know
It's been three weeks, and my girlfriend hasn't found out yet.

but what she don't know can't hurt her or make a murder.
What she doesn't know can't harm her or lead to trouble.

The next peace..?
What's next up?

She don't want to have peace, she just wants to have fun
She doesn't want a peaceful relationship, just a good time.

so I hook her and I treat her like one.
So I sleep with her like she's just an object.

Bust it! Look in the local project,
Listen carefully, check out the nearby housing project.

when I buzz her; on the 5th rather brother make a dozen?
When I ring her bell, is she making too many children?

Floor she had a child but because I'm half poor kids buy dread the next door.
She resides on the floor below me and has a child, but since I'm kinda poor, kids fear me.

He don't know the meaning of child care,
He doesn't understand how to take care of kids.

'cause she's on welfare looking at..?
Since she's receiving government assistance, what's she doing with her time?

So raps the same year
So it goes this year in our society.

So I took advantage of dat before it was..?
So I seized the opportunity before it'd go away.

and pull'd a stack, and now what I'm stickin it up without a doubt,
Then I earned a lot of money, and now I'm confident.

and then should I go upstrairs? F**k dat rap too many hoes up in dat place.
Should I go upstairs? Crap, too many promiscuous women in that location.

I just can't wait to find out til (??) All around town the Meth is gettin down.
I can't wait until I find out what it is. Meth is having sex everywhere.

With ? and..?
With someone, who knows who.

BITCH! don't rock the buck?
WOMAN, don't ruin the situation. (literal meaning of phrase uncertain)

I'm not a buck smakin bitch's teeth down their throats.
I'm not a person who targets women viciously for no reason.

So I avoid all of dat, and call her back I was drinking all night,
So I dodge all that, and contact her later after drinking all night.

Kid I need it bad, wassup ho? how you?
I'm really needy, what's up girl? How are you doing?

Loungin Through..I aint got nuthin to do so wassup wit you?
Just hanging around… I have nothing to do, so what are you up to?!

Treat her like a rough situation, You know whats on my mind you wit it?
I'm treating her like a tough situation - do you know what's on my mind, and can you handle it?

Now she's all(?) and needs some water,
She's now gasping for air and needs some water.

Before she had to ask her 'cause to watch her daughter
Before she had to ask for her mother to take care of her daughter.

Yea, come down downstairs were goin where? Straight to da vid..(??)
Yeah, come downstairs, where are we going?! Straight to the video…(uncertain of the next word).

Sum-it up check my dough for body (??)
Let's summarize it; check my money to see if it's right.

She comes back out of her house we in da cab.
She comes out of her building, and we get into the cab.

Not much longer to want,(??) Step right in and got a (??)
It won't be long until we're there. (uncertain of the next phrase).

Then I seen her wit a man down the curl, [Pause]
Then I saw her with a guy from around the corner. [Pause]

Ooh Shit! Dats my girl!
Oh dear! That's my girlfriend!

Whats goin on kid? Hear all my words motherf**ka..
What's going on man? Listen to what I'm saying.

F**k dat Bitch! I'm gonna f**k her!
Screw that promiscuous woman! I will have sex with her!

A Bitch is a Bitch..and is always a bitch. Cracked and shit like a witch
A women with loose morals is such whether you like it or not - like a crazy witch.

Out from the slums..there she comes
Here she comes, from the underprivileged neighborhoods.

Contributed by London D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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