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)
Retro Godfather
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take it back (take it back)
70's style (style)
I'll do anything
All y'all old school Studio 54ers
That's my word!
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you if you want me to
That's my word!
O.D.'n on this one fleein all eyes seein
Dominant supreme being face the mental
Deep concentration break the point on a pencil
Keep my cliches out your dental, capiche?
Shit that I been through is cause for parental
discretions no question my Westside Connections
L.A. Confidential, world don't stop
'less it's mental, Staten residentials, you wit it?
Wu-Tang, Forever and a day, 'til I'm old and decayed
I'm commited; look ma, we did it
Top of the the world, tell it to my firstborn
and my baby girl, did it my way, take the low ride
on the highway, out the sunroof, yellin
"Thank God it's Friday!" Show a nigga love
If he got my sound pull the plug, he's not underground
call him mud, when I flood the airwaves
Household and stairways (rainy days)
Waiting for these paydays, think not of the ends
If I got twenty, my brother get ten
Now let the madness begin motherfuckers!
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything.. anything..
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything..
Yo, yo, yo!
We got love for those with love for us
Baby you can look but don't touch, I'm fried off the dust
And plus, the only thing I trust is a fund
Ain't no fun, just paranoid niggaz totin guns
in apparel, keep us camouflaged in the shadows
That's where I bring this tale that you never get to tattle
Obliterate the tri-state, and the crime rate
Tell them swine niggaz fly straight, you can call it fate
And if it ain't mine, call it fake, bottom line
End the case, spoonfeed the track just a taste
of the side dish, soup of the day, I come Wright like N'Bushe
for them Dead Presidents
Fuck what you say, and he say, and she say, and they say
Vacate the premises, caught up in the melee
Sentence this song, to twenty-five years hard labor
in the system, where it takes the form of my wisdom
Respect mine, take my time and protect nine
Next on the frontline, Mr. Meth
No more no less, what you see is what your ass get
Set it off I suggest
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything.. anything..
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything..
Not a problem that I can't fix
Cause I can do it, in the mix
Not a problem that I can't fix
Cause I can do it, in the mix
The lyrics to Method Man's song Retro Godfather are about his dedication to his craft and his willingness to do anything to become successful. He references the 70s style, Studio 54 and his commitment to his music career. He talks about the struggles he's been through, including his connections to the Westside and his commitment to the Wu-Tang Clan. He also talks about his willingness to give back to his community, as evidenced by his willingness to share his success with his friends and family.
The lyrics also discuss the paranoia and violence that can be present in the rap music industry. He talks about the need to be secretive and blend in with the shadows, as well as the constant fear of violence. He discusses the importance of trusting in funds and the need for financial security in this cutthroat industry.
Overall, the song is a reflection of the challenges and dedication that are necessary in the music industry, and the importance of trust and loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on (come on)
Encouragement to take a step forward
Take it back (take it back)
To revert back to the past or to remember the good old days
70's style (style)
Referring to the fashion, music, and culture of the 1970s
I'll do anything
Willingness to do anything asked for
All y'all old school Studio 54ers
Referring to people who frequented the Studio 54 club in the 1970s
That's my word!
An expression of affirmation or agreement
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
A commitment to do anything without limits or boundaries
I'll give my world to you if you want me to
Willingness to give everything that he has to please the other person
O.D.'n on this one fleein all eyes seein
Going overboard and experiencing things that are overwhelming to the senses
Dominant supreme being face the mental
Empowered and confident in oneself
Deep concentration break the point on a pencil
Intense focus and determination to the point of breaking things
Keep my cliches out your dental, capiche?
Don't use his phrases or overused expressions
Shit that I been through is cause for parental
His life experiences could be used as guidance for parents
discretions no question my Westside Connections
Being careful and secretive while maintaining relationships on the west side of the US
L.A. Confidential, world don't stop
Confidentiality is important to maintain order in Los Angeles
'less it's mental, Staten residentials, you wit it?
If it's not about mental actions, it's about life in Staten Island, asking if the other person understands
Wu-Tang, Forever and a day, 'til I'm old and decayed
A lifelong commitment to his music and the Wu-Tang Clan
I'm commited; look ma, we did it
Committed to his goals and accomplishments and acknowledging his mother's support
Top of the the world, tell it to my firstborn and my baby girl
Confident in his success and wanting to share it with his children
did it my way, take the low ride on the highway, out the sunroof, yellin 'Thank God it's Friday!'
Celebrating his achievements and enjoying life on his own terms
Show a nigga love If he got my sound pull the plug, he's not underground call him mud, when I flood the airwaves
Supporting other artists who share his style and rejecting those who don't
Household and stairways (rainy days) Waiting for these paydays, think not of the ends If I got twenty, my brother get ten
Living with humility and sharing his success with his family
Now let the madness begin motherfuckers!
Starting something crazy or chaotic with excitement
We got love for those with love for us
Appreciating those who appreciate him
Baby you can look but don't touch, I'm fried off the dust
Warning someone not to interfere with his lifestyle
And plus, the only thing I trust is a fund
Money is the only thing he trusts
Ain't no fun, just paranoid niggaz totin guns in apparel, keep us camouflaged in the shadows
Living a dangerous life with people who carry weapons
That's where I bring this tale that you never get to tattle
Sharing a secret of his dangerous lifestyle that should never be told
Obliterate the tri-state, and the crime rate Tell them swine niggaz fly straight, you can call it fate
Wanting to eliminate crime in the tri-state area and telling police to do their job without being corrupt
And if it ain't mine, call it fake, bottom line End the case
If it's not his, then it's fake and he doesn't want to be involved
spoonfeed the track just a taste of the side dish, soup of the day
Sampling a small section of his music
I come Wright like N'Bushe for them Dead Presidents
Rapping with the same intensity as actress N'Bushe Wright in the movie 'Dead Presidents'
Fuck what you say, and he say, and she say, and they say Vacate the premises, caught up in the melee
Ignoring rumors and drama and leaving a chaotic situation
Sentence this song, to twenty-five years hard labor in the system, where it takes the form of my wisdom
Comparing his song to an inmate in prison, where he will gain experience and wisdom
Respect mine, take my time and protect nine
Protecting himself and his possessions
Next on the frontline, Mr. Meth No more no less, what you see is what your ass get Set it off I suggest
Referring to himself as the next big thing in hip-hop and telling the audience what they see is what they get
Not a problem that I can't fix Cause I can do it, in the mix
Being able to handle any situation and coming out on top
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, CLIFFORD SMITH, JOHN MICHAEL CLEVELAND, RONALD S. MILLER, CHARLES REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oscar Roldan
Come on (come on)
Take it back (take it back)
70's style (style)
I'll do anything
All y'all old school Studio 54ers
That's my word!
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you if you want me to
I'll do anything
That's my word!
O.D.'n on this one fleein all eyes seein
Dominant supreme being face the mental
Deep concentration break the point on a pencil
Keep my cliches out your dental, capiche?
Shit that I been through is cause for parental
discretions no question my Westside Connections
L.A. Confidential, world don't stop
'less it's mental, Staten residentials, you wit it?
Wu-Tang, Forever and a day, 'til I'm old and decayed
I'm commited; look ma, we did it
Top of the the world, tell it to my firstborn
and my baby girl, did it my way, take the low ride
on the highway, out the sunroof, yellin
"Thank God it's Friday!" Show a nigga love
If he got my sound pull the plug, he's not underground
call him mud, when I flood the airwaves
Household and stairways (rainy days)
Waiting for these paydays, think not of the ends
If I got twenty, my brother get ten
Now let the madness begin motherfuckers!
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything.. anything..
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything..
Yo, yo, yo!
We got love for those with love for us
Baby you can look but don't touch, I'm fried off the dust
And plus, the only thing I trust is a fund
Ain't no fun, just paranoid niggaz totin guns
in apparel, keep us camouflaged in the shadows
That's where I bring this tale that you never get to tattle
Obliterate the tri-state, and the crime rate
Tell them swine niggaz fly straight, you can call it fate
And if it ain't mine, call it fake, bottom line
End the case, spoonfeed the track just a taste
of the side dish, soup of the day, I come Wright like N'Bushe
for them Dead Presidents
Fuck what you say, and he say, and she say, and they say
Vacate the premises, caught up in the melee
Sentence this song, to twenty-five years hard labor
in the system, where it takes the form of my wisdom
Respect mine, take my time and protect nine
Next on the frontline, Mr. Meth
No more no less, what you see is what your ass get
Set it off I suggest
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything.. anything..
There's nothing in the world that I won't do
I'll give my world to you, if you want me to
I'll do, anything.. anything.. anything..
Not a problem that I can't fix
Cause I can do it, in the mix
Not a problem that I can't fix
Cause I can do it, in the mix
Jeannette Corujo
CLEARLY ONE OF HIP-HOP BESTS BEATS OF ALL TIME! !!!!
Bardock
Listen his feat with channel live ghetto b.i , it will change your mind
Joe Hynes
RZA🙌
Changed Up! Now What? Podcast
Jeannette Corujo LoL! This is yo jammmmm!
Jeannette Corujo
AIN'T A PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T FIX, CAUSE I CAN DO IN DA' MIX!!!!. GET'EM METH!!
Marcus Garrison
RZA Went In With This Beat Straight Up 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Bundy
This is meth best album i can listen to this with the skits straight thru everytime!!! CLASSIC
major johnson
Gtfoh this ain't got shit on tical
Self love and sports talk
This really sound like some old school shit💯💯
Sammy Clark
love this track