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)
Box in Hand
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of em
Lay em a death warrant
Ah, yo, show it off, kid, show em, what, what
Let em have it, bust it, hey yo, hey yo
Blend wine, who want to win mine
Shorty get a ten-round for floatin
Flexed out, Flinstone style
Your crimi-nal pen pal kidnapped Loud, jetted the
Mosyin, posin for them niggas up in Poland
Rollin wax style museum, G 'em
Them richest niggas bless this
Like Russian cut VVS's
Slide the hatchback, black were finessing this
Them niggas over there know, Gazelle goggles
And them Lottos, 88 style, throwin' bottles (bottles)
Scenario rap, rap imperial, material (uh, yo yo, yo, yo)
Murderin' cats is like that real
Yo come do me somethin word to Michelob peep the Land Rov'
Sleeper hold club faggots lay your dome on a stove
It's like space kid, the whole world is pitch black, granola rap
Dough got smaller famous team, walked up in Fotomat
Black down, numerous rounds, boots is brown
Getaway driver, this white bitch from out of town
We love horse races shakin Jakes and high-speed chases
Porno stations, drinkin violations, godly nations
90 minute Maxell tapes, instrumental breaks
Bangin earaches, lay my verse down in two takes
The speaker pops, the Winchester rifle's in the kitchen
Murder the DJ's eyes twitchin, woofer hissin
Yo, he's strong armin, manipulatin niggas, scrapin niggas
Takin play from niggas, hate fakin niggas, yo you hear me?
The whole shit's like wrestling
What you dare me? Back the fuck up kid, we flexin
This rap shit bust yo' gums, and leave you stunned
Pull your plug, now you can't function
There's no to-tal or sum to this equa-tion, you fro-zen
Many may come but few are cho-sen
Pretty niggas want to play the war po-sin
When the ruckus come, they be the first to get their shine stolen
Do or die, it be I, Meta-physical Man
Holding court from my Wu, indivisible clan
I see your thoughts and your hand reachin
It's getting deep in this mud
Cats heat seekin, for one blood
Nameless thugs with aimless slugs, shootin at these stank bitches
Less he gon' bring this above, I make switches
From the lamp I grant three wishes
Johnny be parlayin, I Blaze britches, then I roll
One hundred percent mind, one hundred percent body
One hundred percent soul, individual
Assholes tend to run
From this PLO extortion to the one
The next chamber, you fuckin with the star spangler
To the dawn's early light with this head-banger
Boogie, represent this shit fully
Like I'm constantly at war with the town bully
Who want that pressure, about to get smacked silly
Like a fat bitch in Spandex, free Willy!
We on some milli, check the joint, engine number nine
Niggas wastin time worryin about me and mine
Get your own shit
In Method Man's song Box in Hand, he asks his friends to gather around and listen to his music. He then raps about his luxurious lifestyle, including owning expensive items such as wine and jewels. He also talks about committing crimes such as kidnapping and robbery. Through his lyrics, he portrays a tough persona and claims that he is not afraid to use violence to protect himself. He also takes a shot at people who are only in the rap game for the money rather than the art form. Throughout the song, Method Man delivers his rhymes with his signature aggressive style, making it a classic Wu-Tang Clan track.
The song is one of the Wu-Tang Clan's most popular tracks, and it was included on their debut album, Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off). It features a sample from the song "Nautilus" by Bob James, a popular source of sampling for many hip hop producers. The lyrics are full of references to Wu-Tang's signature slang, including the use of the term "Gazelle goggles," which refers to sunglasses that are popular in the hip hop community. The song is also notable for its use of metaphors, such as when Method Man compares his rapping to wrestling.
Line by Line Meaning
Get all my peoples, get all my peoples headphones
Gather all my friends and give them headphones
Lay em a death warrant
Tell them to prepare themselves
Ah, yo, show it off, kid, show em, what, what
Go ahead and display your skills
Let em have it, bust it, hey yo, hey yo
Go ahead and show them what you've got
Blend wine, who want to win mine
Who wants to compete against me?
Shorty get a ten-round for floatin
Someone will get punched in the face
With the richest, huh
In the company of the wealthy
Flexed out, Flinstone style
Showing off in a flashy manner
Your crimi-nal pen pal kidnapped Loud, jetted the
I kidnapped Loud and fled the scene
Mosyin, posin for them niggas up in Poland
Pretending to be someone else in Poland
Rollin wax style museum, G 'em
Traveling in a car with a valuable collection
Them richest niggas bless this
The wealthy admire my lifestyle
Like Russian cut VVS's
Referring to high quality diamonds
Slide the hatchback, black were finessing this
Make a smooth escape in the black hatchback
Them niggas over there know, Gazelle goggles
Those guys know they're in trouble
And them Lottos, 88 style, throwin' bottles (bottles)
Causing trouble in an outdated fashion
Scenario rap, rap imperial, material (uh, yo yo, yo, yo)
Rapping about my life story, my reign as king, my possessions
Murderin' cats is like that real
Killing people is a part of life
Yo come do me somethin word to Michelob peep the Land Rov'
Come with me and see my luxurious Land Rover
Sleeper hold club faggots lay your dome on a stove
I will violently attack those who bother me
It's like space kid, the whole world is pitch black, granola rap
The world is a dark and scary place
Dough got smaller famous team, walked up in Fotomat
I used to be wealthy, but now I go to a cheap photo store
Black down, numerous rounds, boots is brown
Wearing black clothing and carrying weapons
Getaway driver, this white bitch from out of town
A white woman is our driver for this escape
We love horse races shakin Jakes and high-speed chases
We enjoy gambling and speeding away from the police
Porno stations, drinkin violations, godly nations
Watching pornography, breaking laws, and feeling powerful
90 minute Maxell tapes, instrumental breaks
Music is an important part of my life
Bangin earaches, lay my verse down in two takes
My music is loud and intense
The speaker pops, the Winchester rifle's in the kitchen
The music is so loud that the artists are breaking
Murder the DJ's eyes twitchin, woofer hissin
Harming the DJ and causing damage to the equipment
Yo, he's strong armin, manipulatin niggas, scrapin niggas
This person exerts power and control over others
Takin play from niggas, hate fakin niggas, yo you hear me?
Taking advantage of fake and weak people
The whole shit's like wrestling
The situation is like a staged fight
What you dare me? Back the fuck up kid, we flexin
Don't challenge me, I am strong and tough
This rap shit bust yo' gums, and leave you stunned
Rap music can be overwhelming
Pull your plug, now you can't function
Stopping someone from functioning properly
There's no to-tal or sum to this equa-tion, you fro-zen
There is no easy answer to this problem
Many may come but few are cho-sen
Many people try, but only a small number are successful
Pretty niggas want to play the war po-sin
Weak people pretend to be tough
When the ruckus come, they be the first to get their shine stolen
When trouble arises, weak people are the first to lose their status
Do or die, it be I, Meta-physical Man
I am a philosophical and powerful person
Holding court from my Wu, indivisible clan
I am the leader of my close group of friends
I see your thoughts and your hand reachin
I can anticipate your actions and intentions
It's getting deep in this mud
The situation is becoming difficult
Cats heat seekin, for one blood
People are looking for conflict
Nameless thugs with aimless slugs, shootin at these stank bitches
Unknown criminals are shooting at women
Less he gon' bring this above, I make switches
I will make changes if I can improve the situation
From the lamp I grant three wishes
I am powerful and can offer assistance
Johnny be parlayin, I Blaze britches, then I roll
I am successful and continue to thrive
One hundred percent mind, one hundred percent body
I am completely focused and committed
One hundred percent soul, individual
I am unique and true to myself
Assholes tend to run
Cowards are likely to flee
From this PLO extortion to the one
From one problem to another
The next chamber, you fuckin with the star spangler
The next phase will be even more challenging
To the dawn's early light with this head-banger
I will continue to enjoy the loud music until sunrise
Boogie, represent this shit fully
Dance and enjoy this music completely
Like I'm constantly at war with the town bully
I feel like I am always fighting against someone
Who want that pressure, about to get smacked silly
Whoever wants to fight will regret it
Like a fat bitch in Spandex, free Willy!
I am free and confident like a fat woman in tight clothing
We on some milli, check the joint, engine number nine
We are wealthy and proud of our possessions
Niggas wastin time worryin about me and mine
People are jealous and focused on me and my success
Get your own shit
Stop worrying about me and focus on your own life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Clifford Smith, Dennis David Coles, Patrick Charles, Robert F. Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BenThuAlot
Rae 1st album
Wu 1st album
Ghost 1st album
Meth 1st album
Odb 1st album except prob like 1 track
GZA 1st album except prob like 1 track
Thats my order but not in no order..ALL pop in and let plays
Hon mention: War report(whos not wu tang)
@rcole718
Rza is a genius for this beat. All the different sounds coming in one time each, the piano sounds chaotic, and it all goes together.
@sauditate4562
I call it extra crunchy..word up
@returnedtheslab2126
@@sauditate4562 word to mova
@miaporche2256
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@i1mz
Rza is a genius full stop!!!
@ToniOhNo
Tha way that piano loop and bass line comes in and out in Meth verse is INSANE
@mikeamara7410
INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
@adamgordon2572
Dope AF 🔥🔥
@The808Prophet
that beat is sick
@gyjuanlucad6484
808MixMaster Right Sir! The Abbot