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)
Four Minutes To Lock Down
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha ha, Funk Doc in the building, bitch
Y'all already know the business, nigga, ha ha
Yo, let's get it, yeah, I'm with it
Streets on fire, I'm frying my dinner
Quick like Sugar Ray Leonard, one love
Any boy get served like tennis
Me and my pen form into Voltron
Cold, my heart built with a snowball
And I fuck old women like Zohan
Roll on like Michem, Barry Bonds this bitch
When the beat start pitching
I'm broke, my A-T-M ain't kicking
But what I drive, I build expensive
Look at me, nigga, I got it
In pocket, ask Houston how I rock-it
If I go hungry, you getting robbed
By me, Biggie Smalls and The Delfonics
Yo, man, yeah, yeah, take it back to Rae shit
Straight off the muthafucking concrete, nigga
You know how I go, word up, let's go
(Three minutes left)
Before all the cussing and the gunfights
Don't wanna run Nike's, yeah, scramble when it sunlight
G's in my pocket of juice, blue goose
I'm a goon under the moon, glow on the boosters
Yeah, deadily my sons regret me
Windpipe writing, the mic fighting, respect me
I'm from where it get down, machete your mother
Snatch your brother, scrap you down
You know the deal, when we do this, chill
Catch me in Brazil, ratchet on, little glass of Tequil'
I swear to the real, my real, if I don't win
Then I won't spend, I'm grabbing bill
That's the hammer, I'm a do this, nana
Niggas who hunt, snatch 'em up, bite the clip, the banana
And this is for them good niggas, blow that L
And that blow that well, and watch the book, niggas
Yeah, watch them jux, niggas, you know what it be, man
Word up, niggas staying alive gGotta kill these voices in my head)
(Two minutes left) Bunch of fucking roaches, man
Jeter, married to the game without a pre-nump
And she don't act up, if I don't eat her
Damn, now that's what I call a diva
You sick, man? I'm what you call a fever
And I don't put no snow up in my cheeba
Pack a little heater, the game get colder in the freezer
Hit your little corner with the sweeper
Dance with the reaper, sharper than a fuck
Plus I'm laying in the cut like a half-moon Caeser
What you getting is the truth
My bird eye visions spot the pigeon in the coup
Same way I live it, how I spit it in the booth
Next to RZA, ain't no nigga bigger than the group
Stat, fuck that, we come strapped
Bust gats, drug raps, and pump cracks
What you trying do nigga, we done done that
I'm off the gunrack, nigga put ya gun back
Yeah, you slow your blow, boy
You gon' lay where you lie, nigga
(Get rid of the crack, and flush that dust
Hurry, where the L, move, come on, freeze, freeze)
(One minute left)
Ayo, I woke up in handcuffs, heard the police wanted me dead
Big bullets and splashing all over
Kingpin's still moving that weight
And his main goon burned up a disco tech
He's a hazard, classic, nigga, we got a flick of him
He jacked Nate, while he took the picture
And we tapped his crib, bugs all in the jacuzzi
Under the seeds bed, we found an Uzi
Truly, and we know about his bitch in Charlotte
Pulled her over, State Troopers found two revolvers
And she told us them handguns "That's my fathers
And I'm licensed to carry those shits regardless
Y'all just played my man, caught her with a million dollars
Worth of fireworks, coming back from Japan
It's nothing, y'all police be fronting
And stop looking at my pussy, like y'all want to suck it, I'm out
On y'all pussies, catch me next time, bye bye"
Alright, fellas stand back and watch the closing doors
Lock 'em up! Let's go, lights out
Method Man's "Four Minutes to Lock Down" is a hip-hop collaboration with Redman. The lyrics of the song revolve around their life in the streets, trying to survive and fight through adversities within four minutes before being locked down. The first verse starts with Method Man's bragging about his rap skills with regards to his capability of serving any MC like a tennis ball. The rapper also highlights his cold-hearted approach to romance as he sings about his exclamation for an uncontrollable feeling towards old women. The second verse is from Redman, who talks about his expertise in holding it down in the game through all its changing dynamics. The rapper also confesses his association with deadly characters and his ability to take them down.
In the chorus, the two rappers sing that there are only four minutes left before lock-down. The word "lockdown" here could signify different meanings, such as the end of the night, the end of their lives or their next step in their careers. Also, the chorus serves to creates an overwhelming sense of urgency to restrict the listener's thoughts or behavior within the following minutes. As the verses and lyrics drift between brags, threats, and confession, the chorus remains a constant reminder that time is ticking, and something big is about to happen.
The lyrics of "Four Minutes to Lock Down" may seem to be a chaotic mix of threats, brags, and noises. However, the rapper's purposefully layers these words to create a specific mood among the fans as they prepare for the two rappers' performance. The lyrics are reflective of the lifestyle that they experienced in streets, with the urgency similar to the constant balancing act of executing their rap game while avoiding the police.
Line by Line Meaning
Get it!
Let's do this!
Ha ha, Funk Doc in the building, bitch
Y'all already know the business, nigga, ha ha
Method Man and Redman are here, you already know what it is!
Yo, let's get it, yeah, I'm with it
Streets on fire, I'm frying my dinner
Quick like Sugar Ray Leonard, one love
Any boy get served like tennis
Let's go! The streets are hot, I'm cooking up dinner. I'm fast like Sugar Ray Leonard, and any rapper can get served like a tennis ball
Menace, you call a rap bulldog
Me and my pen form into Voltron
Cold, my heart built with a snowball
And I fuck old women like Zohan
I'm like a menacing rap bulldog, and my pen turns into a powerful weapon like Voltron. I'm cold and unfeeling, and I like to have sex with older women like Zohan
Roll on like Michem, Barry Bonds this bitch
When the beat start pitching
I'm broke, my A-T-M ain't kicking
But what I drive, I build expensive
I keep rolling like a Michelin tire and knocking it out of the park like Barry Bonds. My bank account is empty, but I can still drive a fancy car that I built myself
Look at me, nigga, I got it
In pocket, ask Houston how I rock-it
If I go hungry, you getting robbed
By me, Biggie Smalls and The Delfonics
Look at me, I've got money and I know how to rock a crowd. If I'm hungry, I'll rob you with help from Biggie Smalls and The Delfonics
Before all the cussing and the gunfights
Don't wanna run Nike's, yeah, scramble when it sunlight
G's in my pocket of juice, blue goose
I'm a goon under the moon, glow on the boosters
I don't want to resort to violence, I'd rather run than fight. I keep my money close and I'm always ready to go. I'm a dangerous goon under the moon, with glowing shoes that help me hide
Yeah, deadily my sons regret me
Windpipe writing, the mic fighting, respect me
I'm from where it get down, machete your mother
Snatch your brother, scrap you down
My enemies fear me, and my raps are so powerful they can choke someone. I come from a rough place where I would even kill someone's mother with a machete and fight their brother
You know the deal, when we do this, chill
Catch me in Brazil, ratchet on, little glass of Tequil'
I swear to the real, my real, if I don't win
Then I won't spend, I'm grabbing bill
When we do this, just relax. You might find me in Brazil, with a gun and a little glass of Tequila. I promise to keep it real, and if I don't win, I won't spend money foolishly
That's the hammer, I'm a do this, nana
Niggas who hunt, snatch 'em up, bite the clip, the banana
And this is for them good niggas, blow that L
And that blow that well, and watch the book, niggas
I've got a gun and I'm ready to use it. I'll capture bounty hunters and bite the bullet like a banana. This is dedicated to all the good weed smokers and people who like to chill
Yeah, watch them jux, niggas, you know what it be, man
Word up, niggas staying alive gGotta kill these voices in my head)
Watch out for thieves and robbers, you know what it is. Let's stay alive, gotta focus and stay sane
Jeter, married to the game without a pre-nump
And she don't act up, if I don't eat her
Damn, now that's what I call a diva
You sick, man? I'm what you call a fever
I'm deeply committed to the game and don't need any protection. The game doesn't complain as long as I don't neglect it. I love a good diva, and I'm so talented I'm like a fever
And I don't put no snow up in my cheeba
Pack a little heater, the game get colder in the freezer
Hit your little corner with the sweeper
Dance with the reaper, sharper than a fuck
I don't mix my weed with any other drugs. I carry a gun, because the game can turn deadly cold. I'll sweep the streets clean and face Death himself with confidence, because I'm sharp and deadly
Plus I'm laying in the cut like a half-moon Caeser
What you getting is the truth
My bird eye visions spot the pigeon in the coup
Same way I live it, how I spit it in the booth
I'm lying low and observing everything like a crafty thief. What you hear from me is the truth. I have a sharp eye and can detect threats from a distance. I rap about my life, just like I live it
Next to RZA, ain't no nigga bigger than the group
Stat, fuck that, we come strapped
Bust gats, drug raps, and pump cracks
What you trying do nigga, we done done that
I'm off the gunrack, nigga put ya gun back
Next to RZA, nobody is more important than the Wu-Tang Clan. We come fully armed and don't hesitate to use our guns. We rap about drugs and we sell them too. Whatever you're trying to do, we've already done it. I'm retired from violence, put your gun away too
Ayo, I woke up in handcuffs, heard the police wanted me dead
Big bullets and splashing all over
Kingpin's still moving that weight
And his main goon burned up a disco tech
He's a hazard, classic, nigga, we got a flick of him
He jacked Nate, while he took the picture
And we tapped his crib, bugs all in the jacuzzi
Under the seeds bed, we found an Uzi
I woke up in jail and heard the police wanted me dead. The bullets were huge and flying everywhere. The kingpin is still dealing drugs, and his main enforcer burned down a club. He's a dangerous and legendary criminal, and we even have a photo of him. He robbed Nate while he was taking a picture. We searched his house and found bugs in the jacuzzi and an Uzi gun hidden under a bed
Truly, and we know about his bitch in Charlotte
Pulled her over, State Troopers found two revolvers
And she told us them handguns "That's my fathers
And I'm licensed to carry those shits regardless
Y'all just played my man, caught her with a million dollars
Worth of fireworks, coming back from Japan
It's nothing, y'all police be fronting
And stop looking at my pussy, like y'all want to suck it, I'm out
On y'all pussies, catch me next time, bye bye"
We also know about his girlfriend in Charlotte. We stopped her car and found two guns, but she claimed they belonged to her father, and she had a license to carry them. You just made a mistake by arresting my man. We caught her with a million dollars worth of fireworks, coming from Japan. You police are always pretending to be tough, and stop staring at my private parts like you want to have sex with me. I'm done with you, catch me next time if you can, bye bye
Alright, fellas stand back and watch the closing doors
Lock 'em up! Let's go, lights out
Okay guys, get ready to leave and watch the doors close. Lock them up! Let's go, turn off the lights
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roosevelt Harrell Iii, Reggie Noble, Clifford Smith, Corey Woods, Dennis Coles, Buzz Clifford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind