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)
Perfect World
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First they dropped the bomb
Then came the disease
Then death
Your world my world
I like this world!
Yo on foreign land keep your toast up hot rocks
Catch a close up your snot box broke up
Land shark tryin to post up reptiles
Trying to throw cub with crooked smiles
Take your kindness for weakness yhey foul
New York niggas be lovin how the gun talk POW!
Another underboss pull a doublecross
Niggas ain't ready for the holocaust here and now
Want them games people play, catch these bullets over Broadway
Twenty-five to life up in Rahway get caught
Look deep into the black thought, a holy war is being fought
on Allah's court, my perfect world (if you will)
Mr. Sandman, bring 'em a dream, infa-red light beams
Homicide scene, perfect world
By any means get cream
Just don't let it come between you and I, seen
Everything is everything in this three ringed, circus
Peoples is swift, tryin to work us, lord
with devil worship and satanic verses
It takes place in the world, perfect, mine and yours
Heard when it rains, it pours
I came to bring the pain once more (once more)
Pedal to the floor, peep the Jim Crow law
The Big Apple, rotten to the core
These niggaz want war? (GIVE EM WAR)
They schemin and I-Beam'n
Hitmen like cryin freeman, they need cleanin
Keep it comin til they all runnin, screamin, bloody murder
At war with them inner demons, it's goin down
Invasion, U.S.A., spittin rounds
If these shells hit the battleground, pave the way
for birth of a Generation, X
Spoken with a project dialect, bomb threat
to the air waves, hit the deck
Pressed for time in a world lacking sunshine
Got love for my family, cause they mine
See niggaz dying in the streets over petty crimes
We gonna eat, or die tryin, got my mind made up
Young buck, just don't give a fuck, pressin they luck
When they best, best to give it up, perfect world
Baby what? Nigga head or gut, them or us
Welcome to the dark ages, dirty pages
Of filth, fine filth flavors
Dust to dust, and ashes to ashes, life flashes
Right before his eyes, then he passes
While the 666 got more tricks
Than the PD's got bricks
From bloods and crips
To pips with mints
We still lickin the scars from whips on slave ships
Mr. Sandman, bring 'em a dream, infa-red light beams
Homicide scene, perfect world
By any means get cream
Just don't let it come between you and I, seen
Everything is everything in this three ringed, circus
Peoples is swift, tryin to work us, lord
with devil worship and satanic verses
It takes place in the world, perfect, mine and yours
Uhh.. the children are the future
And Wu-Tang is for the babies!
Method Man's song "Perfect World" is a complex reflection on the state of humanity and society. Throughout the lyrics, he portrays a world that is chaotic and troubled, with references to nuclear war, disease, and death. Despite this, he still finds some beauty and positivity in this imperfect world, saying "I like this world!".
The first verse portrays a landscape of violence and danger, where people are constantly on guard and using guns to protect themselves. The second verse touches on themes of street violence and the struggle for power, with references to underbosses, double-crosses, and bullets over Broadway. Method Man's vision is bleak and uncompromising, with repeated references to death, Satanism, and "dirty pages / Of filth, fine filth flavors".
However, even amidst this darkness, Method Man still sees hope for the future. He references "the children" as being "the future", and suggests that Wu-Tang Clan is "for the babies". This hints at a belief in the power of youth to create a better world and make positive change. Ultimately, despite the chaos and darkness of the world, Method Man seems to suggest that there is still reason for optimism and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
First they dropped the bomb
The world was ruined by the wars, starting with the dropping of the bomb
Then came the disease
The destruction continued with widespread disease
Then death
The ultimate result of the widespread destruction is death
This our world
This world belongs to all of us
Your world my world
The world belongs to all people, regardless of race or social status
I like this world!
Despite its imperfections, the artist still loves the world and the people in it
Yo on foreign land keep your toast up hot rocks
In unfamiliar territory, be prepared for battle and stay vigilant
Catch a close up your snot box broke up
Be ready to fight and defend yourself at all times
Land shark tryin to post up reptiles
The world is filled with dangerous people, so stay on guard
Trying to throw cub with crooked smiles
Deceptive people will try to take advantage of others
Take your kindness for weakness they foul
Those who appear kind may actually have ulterior motives
New York niggas be lovin how the gun talk POW!
Gun violence seems to be glorified in New York despite its real-life consequences
Another underboss pull a doublecross
Even in organized crime, betrayal is possible and common
Niggas ain't ready for the holocaust here and now
Society is on the brink of destruction and people are not prepared for it
Want them games people play, catch these bullets over Broadway
People's love for entertainment and games will lead them to their own demise
Twenty-five to life up in Rahway get caught
Those who engage in criminal activity will face severe punishment
Look deep into the black thought, a holy war is being fought on Allah's court, my perfect world (if you will)
The artist sees a holy war taking place when he examines the darkest aspects of humanity and looks towards a perfect world
Mr. Sandman bring 'em a dream, infa-red light beams Homicide scene, perfect world
Despite the violence and destruction, there is a twisted sense of beauty in the chaos of the world
By any means get cream Just don't let it come between you and I, seen
The artist wants to achieve financial success, but not at the cost of his relationships with others
Everything is everything in this three ringed circus Peoples is swift, tryin to work us, lord with devil worship and satanic verses It takes place in the world, perfect, mine and yours
The chaos and corruption of the world is like a circus, with people constantly trying to take advantage of others through evil means
Heard when it rains, it pours I came to bring the pain once more (once more)
The problems of the world seem to multiply and become even worse during difficult times
Pedal to the floor, peep the Jim Crow law The Big Apple, rotten to the core These niggaz want war? (GIVE EM WAR)
People in power often use unjust laws to oppress others, and this leads to conflict and rebellion in society
They schemin and I-Beam'n Hitmen like cryin freeman, they need cleanin Keep it comin til they all runnin, screamin, bloody murder At war with them inner demons, it's goin down
Violent criminals need to be dealt with, and the way to accomplish that is to never stop fighting against them
Invasion, U.S.A., spittin rounds If these shells hit the battleground, pave the way for birth of a Generation X
The artist believes that if war were to break out in America, it would lead to a new generation of people who are strong and resilient in the face of conflict
Spoken with a project dialect, bomb threat to the air waves, hit the deck Pressed for time in a world lacking sunshine Got love for my family, cause they mine
The artist represents his community and speaks out against the problems plaguing society, and always puts his family first
See niggaz dying in the streets over petty crimes We gonna eat, or die tryin, got my mind made up Young buck, just don't give a fuck, pressin they luck When they best, best to give it up, perfect world
The violence and crime in society is often over petty things, and the artist is determined to succeed despite the odds
Baby what? Nigga head or gut, them or us Welcome to the dark ages, dirty pages Of filth, fine filth flavors Dust to dust, and ashes to ashes, life flashes Right before his eyes, then he passes While the 666 got more tricks Than the PD's got bricks From bloods and crips To pips with mints We still lickin the scars from whips on slave ships
The artist acknowledges the dark, violent nature of society, and how centuries of oppression and evil continues to affect people in the present day
Uhh.. the children are the future And Wu-Tang is for the babies!
The artist believes in investing in the next generation, and sees himself as a part of a bigger movement to inspire and uplift young people
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind