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)
Method Man
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is your man doodoo stain Ed Lover on the microphone
Blazin' hittin' you in your head
Yo that was a fat joint that was the Wu-Tang, doo-ha-hoo-ha-hoo-ha
Word up man, speakin' of the Wu-Tang, where the fuck is Method Man?
I mean goddamn how long is it gon' to take one nigga to make another album?
I mean come on I'm sittin' here scratching my balls, dog I'm thirsty
I got a big cup of Method Man lemonade right here, nigga
Anybody seen this motherfucker? I mean somebody call me
Somebody from Staten Island, Long Island
I don't give a fuck if you from Worcester, Massachusetts
If you seen Method Man, get at a nigga
So I know wear he at man
Meth, when you gonna do another album?
Mr. Tical, Johnny Blaze, Method Man, Ticalion Stallion, Flallion Glallion
Whatever you call your fuckin' self
Could you please hit these niggas with another album please?
I bet you he somewhere getting blazed up with Redman
You know what Meth you don't want to make another album
Ah, you know what, you don't want to make another album
Fuck you, whatever man
The lyrics of Method Man by Method Man are aggressive and explicit in nature, depicting violence and torture towards an unknown individual. The song's opening lines describe various heinous acts, including tying someone to a bedpost and inserting a hanger into their rectum. The second verse shifts to the rapper's self-promotion as he highlights his unique style and rhyming abilities. The outro features a sample from the movie Shaolin & Wu-Tang, with RZA warning of the deadly power of the Wu-Tang Clan.
The song's lyrics and delivery style are typical of the Wu-Tang Clan's early work, known for their gritty and often intense content. The song is an example of the hardcore rap sub-genre, which is characterized by aggressive delivery, explicit lyrics, and often contains themes of gang culture and violence. Although the song's violent lyrics may not resonate with some listeners, Method Man's rhyming ability and delivery are impressive and help make the song a classic within the Wu-Tang Clan's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeahhh, torture motherfucker what?
Challenging the listener to a battle
I'll fuckin tie you to a fuckin bedpost with your ass cheeks spread out and shit
Threatening extreme physical violence
Put a hanger on a fuckin stove and let that shit sit there for like a half hour
Describing how to torture someone with a hanger
Take it off and stick it in your ass slow like Tssssssss
Further describing the hanger torture technique
I'll fuckin lay your nuts on a fuckin dresser Just your nuts layin on a fuckin dresser And bang them shits with a spiked fuckin bat
Describing a violent act against someone's testicles
I'll fuckin pull your fuckin tongue out your fuckin mouth and stab the shit with a rusty screwdriver, BLAOWW!!
Describing a method to torture someone using a screwdriver
I'll fuckin hang you by your fuckin dick off a fuckin twelve sto-story building out this motherfucker
Describing yet another torture method
sew your asshole closed, and keep feedin you and feedin you, and feedin you, and feedin you
Lamenting the fact that even if the person being tortured were to beg for death, they would be kept alive and continue to suffer
From the slums of Shaolin, Wu-Tang Clan strikes again The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef U-God, Ghost Face Killer and the Method Man M-E-T, H-O-D, MAN
Introduction and naming of the members of Wu-Tang Clan
Hey, you, get off my cloud You don't know me and you don't know my style Who be gettin flam when they come to a jam? Here I am here I am, the Method Man
Declaring Method Man's superiority and talent as a rapper
Patty cake patty cake hey the method man Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan Peanut butter, cuz I'm not butter In fact I snap back like a rubber band
Referencing a children's game while also asserting Method Man's originality as an artist
Style will hit ya, wham!, then goddamn You be like oh shit that's the jam Turn it up now hear me get buckwu-wu-wild
Praising the quality of his music and encouraging listeners to crank up the volume
I'm about to blow light me up Upside downside inside and outside Hittin you from every angle there's no doubt I am, the one and only Method Man
Saying his style is unparalleled and all-encompassing
The master of the plan wrappin shit like Saran Wrap, with some of this and some of that Hold up (what?) I tawt I taw a putty tat Over there, but I think he best to beware Of the diggy dog shit right here
Displaying his rap skills and throwing in some humorous references
Yippy yippy yay yippy yah yippy yo Like Deck said this aint your average flow Comin like rah ooh ah achie kah Tell me how ya like it so far baby paw
Boasting about his flowing style and asking listeners for their opinion
The poetry's in motion coast to coast and Rub it on your skin like lotion What's the commotion, oh my lord Another corn chopped by the Wu-Tang sword
Possibly more references to sexual acts and praising the talents of Wu-Tang
All right, y'all get ya White Owls, get ya meth, get ya skins Don't forget your fourty And we gonna do it like this I got, fat bags of skunk I got, White Owl blunts And I'm about to go get lifted Yes I'm about to go get lifted I got, myself a fourty I got, myself a shorty And I'm about to go and stick it Yes I'm about to go and stick it
Describing his ritual before getting high and preparing to have sex
Question what exactly is a panty raider Ill behaviour savior or major flavor All of the above oh yeah plus producer Also flam I'm the man call me super
Joking about his sexual prowess
Not an average Joe with an average flow Doing average things with average hoes Yo I'm super I'll make a bitch squirm For my, Su-per Sperm (check it)
Making vulgar statements regarding his sexual abilities
J-U-M-P jump and I thump Make girls rumps like pump and Humpty Hump Wow, the Shaolin style is all in me Child, the whole damn isle is callin me
Expressing his sexual prowess and referencing previous Wu-Tang songs
P-A-N-T-Y-R-A-I-D-E-R mad raw I don't fry Meaning no one can burn or toss and turn me Ooh I be the super sperm Chim chimmeny chim chim cherie Freak a foe and flow fancy free Now how many licks does it take For me to hit the Tootsie Roll center of a break
Referencing oral sex and making crude sexual jokes
Peep who don't sleep the crews mad deep Wu-Tang Fadin motherfuckers like bleach So to each and every crew You're clear like glass I can see right through You're whole damn farce, ya catch animosity cause ya didn't have runs to begin with I'm Here I am, here I am, the Method Man
Asserting the dominance of Wu-Tang Clan and belittling other rap groups or individuals
Straight from the slums of Shaolin Wu-Tang Killa B'z on a swarm
Declaring the Wu-Tang Clan's origins and style
Your soul have just been taken through the 36 chambers of death, kid
Using a martial arts reference to emphasize his skill and prowess
Word to mother, Method Man signing off, peace
Signing off and saying farewell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Clifford M. Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Shmeeby9411
Who here in 2024?
@user-vd1dk7co4m
Just got done watching Wu-Tang and I had to come see the original
@ArTak88
🇦🇲✊🏼
@Dness24
🤜🏽🤛🏽
@marcelohenricus2367
Eu mermo
@raindose7033
Yerrrr
@joetotheflow
Wu tang can never be replicated. 9 different guys with different styles coming together, incorporating Shaolin culture and hip hop into rapping and making it work. Are you fuckin kiddin me? Crazy.
@jetmet3638
It would be cool if someone tried
@christophergibbs2616
Jet Met Japan has a similar group called Nitro Microphone Underground. It's a remarkably well-put-together group with a similar ethos but way different style.
@joetotheflow
Christopher Gibbs
Cool