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)
C.R.E.A.M.
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Word up, look out for the cops (Wu-Tang five finger shit)
(Cash Rules) Word up, two for fives over here baby
Word up, two for fives them niggas got garbage down the way, word up
Know what I'm sayin'?
(Cash Rules Everything Around Me
C.R.E.A.M. get)
Yeah, check this ol' fly shit out
(Cash Rules Everything Around Me) Take you on a natural joint
(C.R.E.A.M. get the money) Here we here we go
(Dolla dolla bill y'all) Check this shit, yo!
I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side
Staying alive was no jive
Had second hands, moms bounced on old men
So then we moved to Shaolin land
A young youth, yo rockin' the gold tooth, 'Lo goose
Only way, I begin to G off was drug loot
And let's start it like this son, rollin' with this one
And that one, pullin' out gats for fun
But it was just a dream for the teen, who was a fiend
Started smokin' woolas at sixteen
And running up in gates, and doing hits for high stakes
Making my way on fire escapes
No question I would speed, for cracks and weed
The combination made my eyes bleed
No question I would flow off, and try to get the dough all
Sticking up white boys in ball courts
My life got no better, same damn 'Lo sweater
Times is ruff and tuff like leather
Figured out I went the wrong route
So I got with a sick ass click and went all out
Catchin' keys from across seas
Rollin in MPV's, every week we made forty G's
Yo nigga respect mine, or here go the TEC-9
Ch-chick-POW! Move from the gate now
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
It's been twenty-two long hard years, I'm still strugglin'
Survival got me buggin', but I'm alive on arrival
I peep at the shape of the streets
And stay awake to the ways of the world 'cause shit is deep
A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M.
Which failed I went to jail at the age of 15
A young buck sellin' drugs and such who never had much
Trying to get a clutch at what I could not
The court played me short, now I face incarceration
Pacin' going upstate's my destination
Handcuffed in back of a bus, forty of us
Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough
But as the world turns I learned life is hell
Living in the world no different from a cell
Everyday I escape from Jakes givin' chase, sellin' base
Smokin' bones in the staircase
Though I don't know why I chose to smoke sess
I guess that's the time when I'm not depressed
But I'm still depressed, and I ask what's it worth?
Ready to give up so I seek the Old Earth
Who explained working hard may help you maintain
To learn to overcome the heartaches and pain
We got stickup kids, corrupt cops, and crack rocks
And stray shots, all on the block that stays hot
Leave it up to me while I be living proof
To kick the truth to the young black youth
But shorty's running wild smokin' sess drinkin' beer
And ain't trying to hear what I'm kickin' in his ear
Neglected, for now, but yo, it gots to be accepted
That what? That life is hectic
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all
The song C.R.E.A.M. by Method Man is a depiction of the struggle for survival in a world where cash rules everything. The opening lines of the song establish this central theme by suggesting that even God is interested in cash, with the singer warning his companions to look out for cops, highlighting the omnipresence of the law when it comes to the economy. The entire song is structured in a way that highlights the desperation and struggle of people living in poverty, with the singer detailing his own personal experiences of growing up in a crime-ridden neighborhood.
In the first verse, the singer reflects on his childhood and the hardships he faced, such as his mother bouncing from one old man to another. He talks of starting to sell drugs to get by, and reminisces about his dreams of being able to make more money to escape the harsh realities of life in poverty. However, he is eventually caught and sent to jail. In the second verse, he reflects on his present, detailing how he has learned to survive in the brutal world he finds himself in.
Overall, C.R.E.A.M. is a powerful commentary on the dehumanizing effects of poverty and the struggle that people in this situation have to go through to make ends meet. It is a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding, particularly for people who are living in poverty, and a call to action to address the systemic issues that underlie this kind of cyclical poverty.
Line by Line Meaning
What that nigga want God?
Asking for someone's desire or intention
Word up, look out for the cops (Wu-Tang five finger shit)
Stay alert, the police are nearby
(Cash Rules) Word up, two for fives over here baby
I sell drugs and I'm offering a deal to customers
Word up, two for fives them niggas got garbage down the way, word up
My drugs are superior in quality compared to others around
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do you understand me?
(Cash Rules Everything Around Me
C.R.E.A.M. get)
Money is the driving force of everything in my life, so I must obtain it
Yeah, check this ol' fly shit out
Word up
Listen to me, I am about to tell you something impressive
(Cash Rules Everything Around Me) Take you on a natural joint
Let me take you on a journey that comes naturally to me due to my lifestyle
(C.R.E.A.M. get the money) Here we here we go
(Dolla dolla bill y'all) Check this shit, yo!
Let's proceed and get this money, this is serious business for me
I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side
Staying alive was no jive
I come from a dangerous neighborhood in New York City where survival was not easy
Had second hands, moms bounced on old men
So then we moved to Shaolin land
My mother had to rely on old, used things and left her boyfriend for a new start in a safer place called Shaolin
A young youth, yo rockin' the gold tooth, 'Lo goose
Only way, I begin to G off was drug loot
As a young teenager, I wore gold jewelry and designer clothes, and the only way I could make money was by selling drugs
And let's start it like this son, rollin' with this one
And that one, pullin' out gats for fun
My friends and I carried guns for fun and rode around town
But it was just a dream for the teen, who was a fiend
Started smokin' woolas at sixteen
My wild lifestyle as a teenager was fueled by my addiction to smoking cigarettes and marijuana
And running up in gates, and doing hits for high stakes
Making my way on fire escapes
I committed break-ins and robberies, taking high risks and escaping through dangerous exits
No question I would speed, for cracks and weed
The combination made my eyes bleed
I would do anything to sell and obtain crack cocaine and marijuana, which caused me physical harm
No question I would flow off, and try to get the dough all
Sticking up white boys in ball courts
I would hustle and rob people, specifically targeting white males in public places
My life got no better, same damn 'Lo sweater
Times is ruff and tuff like leather
My life did not improve and remained difficult, as tough as an old leather jacket
Figured out I went the wrong route
So I got with a sick ass click and went all out
I realized that my way of life was not sustainable, so I joined a dangerous gang and took drastic actions
Catchin' keys from across seas
Rollin in MPV's, every week we made forty G's
We obtained drugs from overseas, and made $40,000 every week driving around in our MPVs
Yo nigga respect mine, or here go the TEC-9
Ch-chick-POW! Move from the gate now
Respect me and my gang or face the consequences, as I pull out my gun and threaten to shoot
(Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all)
Money is the sole purpose of everything I do, and I will do whatever it takes to get it
It's been twenty-two long hard years, I'm still strugglin'
Survival got me buggin', but I'm alive on arrival
I have been struggling for over two decades, barely surviving but still alive
I peep at the shape of the streets
And stay awake to the ways of the world 'cause shit is deep
I analyze the dangerous environment and stay aware of how the world works because it is complex
A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M.
Which failed I went to jail at the age of 15
I had dreams of making money and obtaining wealth, but my plans fell short when I was arrested as a teenager
A young buck sellin' drugs and such who never had much
Trying to get a clutch at what I could not
As a young man, I sold drugs to make up for my lack of resources and tried to obtain what I did not have
The court played me short, now I face incarceration
Pacin' going upstate's my destination
The legal system did not give me a fair chance, and I am facing imprisonment, with my destination being a state prison
Handcuffed in back of a bus, forty of us
Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough
I was transported to prison with many other young people, a life that should not have been so difficult
But as the world turns I learned life is hell
Living in the world no different from a cell
I realized that life is like a prison, and the world is not much different from being behind bars
Everyday I escape from Jakes givin' chase, sellin' base
Smokin' bones in the staircase
I evade the police every day while selling drugs and smoking marijuana in a stairwell
Though I don't know why I chose to smoke sess
I guess that's the time when I'm not depressed
I do not know why I started smoking marijuana, but I suppose it helps me forget about my problems
But I'm still depressed, and I ask what's it worth?
Ready to give up so I seek the Old Earth
Despite smoking marijuana, I am still unhappy and question whether it is worth it, so I seek advice from an older, wiser person
Who explained working hard may help you maintain
To learn to overcome the heartaches and pain
The wise person advised me that hard work can bring stability, and learning to overcome hardships can bring peace
We got stickup kids, corrupt cops, and crack rocks
And stray shots, all on the block that stays hot
Our neighborhood is full of dangerous people, corrupt law enforcement, and addictive drugs, with violence being a constant threat
Leave it up to me while I be living proof
To kick the truth to the young black youth
I will be an example for young black people and tell them the harsh reality of life
But shorty's running wild smokin' sess drinkin' beer
And ain't trying to hear what I'm kickin' in his ear
However, young people continue to engage in destructive behavior and do not listen to my advice
Neglected, for now, but yo, it gots to be accepted
That what? That life is hectic
My advice may be ignored for now, but it is important for people to understand that life is difficult and chaotic
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RAY CASH, DENNIS D. COLES, ROBERT F. DIGGS, ALEXANDER M. FITTS, GARY E. GRICE, LAMONT JODY HAWKINS, ISAAC HAYES, JASON S. HUNTER, RUSSELL T. JONES, MATT PENTTILLA, DAVID PORTER, CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Anthonydu01630
Every songs is a feeling man, thats why we listen to music, because music create emotions. It's not only lyrics and melody, it's a vibe, a frequency ... You can have the best lyrics in the world but if theres no energy and harmony in it most people wont like it. Music must be a reflection of you and your emotional state, it must come from your heart.
You know im french and sometimes i dont understand everything US rappers says, but i know when its real and when its not ... When i hear Numb or savage mode from 21savage i can feel his pain, his anger, his sadness and his frustration to have been a poor ghetto kid, to have made the wrong decision, to have become a gangster, to have lost many friends, almost lost his life and to be addicted to pain killers.
Same when i hear Pain from tupac, codeine crazy from future, my life from Lil wayne and game or lord give me a sign from DMX.
Then when i hear songs like streets is watching, Black gangster, people's court, i shot ya or jigga my nigga from JAYZ i know he really lived that life, i know he was a real drug dealer/gangster ... The lyrics, the energy, the tons, the flow .. It's really like he's telling you his story.
Same with Drake when i hear songs like Marvin's room, aston martin music or find your love i know he talk about a real girl and in songs like im on one, pound cake or over i know he meant everything he said .. Drake is 100%invested in his music, he is so confident he literaly spoke things into existence in im on one he said " And what's up with these new niggas ? And why they think it all comes so easy .. But get it while you here boy, cause all the hype dont feel the same next year boy, Yeahh, and i'll be right here in my spot, with a little more cash than i already got, trippin off you cause you had your shot, with my skin tanned and my hair long and my fan who been so patient, me and forty back to work but we still smell like a vacation, hate the rumors hate your bullshit hate these fucking allegations, im just feeling like the throne is for the taking .. Watch me take it !" ...
And like he said in pound cake "you know it's real when you are who you think you are" 💯💯💯
@imagameriguessb5997
In the sweltering summer of '96, I found myself wandering the streets of Paris, a wide-eyed teenager with dreams as big as the Eiffel Tower. Fate had a twisted sense of humor that day when I stumbled upon a chance encounter with none other than the legendary Wu-Tang Clan.
Lost in the labyrinth of cobblestone alleys, I heard the unmistakable basslines echoing from a hidden courtyard. Curiosity piqued, I followed the sound and found myself in the midst of a impromptu Wu-Tang cipher. Method Man's gravelly voice cut through the thick Parisian air as RZA worked his magic on the decks.
Mesmerized by the spectacle, I couldn't resist jumping in and spitting a few bars of my own. To my surprise, the Clan welcomed me with open arms, impressed by my raw talent. For a brief moment, I felt like I belonged among hip-hop royalty.
But fate had other plans. As the sun dipped below the horizon, darkness descended upon the City of Lights. Caught up in the euphoria of the moment, I let my guard down, only to be blindsided by a group of street thugs. They robbed me of everything I had, leaving me penniless and alone on the unforgiving streets of Paris.
With nowhere to turn, I roamed the city like a ghost, searching for scraps to survive. Nights turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months as I battled the demons of despair. But through it all, the memory of that fateful encounter with the Wu-Tang Clan burned bright, a flickering beacon of hope in the darkness.
And so, with nothing but the clothes on my back and the fire in my soul, I vowed to rise from the ashes like a phoenix, fueled by the music that had once saved me. For even in the darkest of times, the Wu-Tang Clan's legacy of resilience and strength endured, a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and triumph against all odds.
@youtubename1485
Respect to all the people who listen old school music. You the real MVP
@LilacZ373
Dunnowhoiam thx, I never was a fan of trap music. TOO generic and it all sounds the same. It's nice to go back to when hip hop had a meaning...
@xtrol4330
Its alright it something new to me and this is fire
@kogareuw
I'm playing LoL rn hello there c:
@danftwgg5999
My story:
First mumble rap
Then eminem and some lyrical new school
Third moved to 2pac
And now i listen to 80's 90's and some cool song from 2000 to 2019
@PlayStationLegendsLounge
DanFTWGG 975 great choice
@nonye1251
This is what I love about hip hop back in the day. The storytelling. By the end of the song u feel like you got a glimpse of their life.
@jay2dab677
It's a shame music like this isn't still being made.
@charlielayton6500
Jay 2DaB it is though listen to some To Pimp a Butterfly, Redemption or 4 Your Eyez Only
@jorgeisaacdoblesmata9137
Word!, today's rappers just rapping trash...bragging about shit.