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)
Shadowboxin'
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ill speaking Scud missile heat seeking
Johnny Blazing, nightmares like Wes Craven
Niggas gunning, my third eye seen it coming before it happen
You know about them fucking Staten kids, they smashing
Everything huh, in any shape form or fashion
Now everybody talking bout they blasting, hmmm
Is you busting steel or is you flashing, hmmm
You shoulda learnt about the flow and peasy afro
Ticallion stallion, chinky-eye and snot-nosed
From my naps to the bunion on my big toe
I keeps it moving, know just what the fuck I'm doing
Rap insomniac, fiend to catch a nigga snoozing
Slip the cardiac arrest me, exorcist hip-hop possess me
Crunch a nigga like a Nestle, you know my steez
Burning to the third degree, sneaky ass alley cat top pedigree
The head toucher, industry party bum rusher
You don't like it dick up in you fuck ya
Allow me to demonstrate
That's right, you corny-ass
The skill of Shaolin, rap motherfuckers
The special technique, better go back and check
Of shadowboxing, your fucking stacks
Shadowboxing, cause your naps ain't nappy enough
And your beats ain't rugged enough, bitch
I slayed MC's back in the rec room era
My style broke motherfucking backs like Ken Patera
Most rap niggas came loud but unheard
Once I pulled out, round em off to the nearest third
Check these non-visual niggas, with tapes and a portrait
Flood the seminar, trying to orbit this corporate
Industry, but what them niggas can't see
Must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly
Protect Ya Neck, my sword still remain imperial
Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial
We reign all year round from June to June
While niggas bite immediately if not soon
Set the lynching, and form the execution date
As this two thousand beyond slang suffocate
Amplify sample through vacuum tubes compressions
Cause RZA, to charge niggas twenty G's a session
When my mind start to clicking and the strategy
Is mastered the plot thickens, this be that Wu shit
I don't give a cotton-pickin' FUCK
About a brother tryin to size a nigga up, I hold my own
Hard-hat protect your dome
Look at Mama baby boy acting like he grown
No time for sleep, I gets deep as a baritone
Killa bee, that be holding down his honeycomb, lounging son
Wu brother number one, protect your neck
Flying guillotines here they come, bloody bastards
Hard times and killer tactics, spitting words plus
Semi-automatic slurs, peep the graphic
Novel from the genie bottle, hit the clutch
Shift the gear now, full throttle, time to bungee
To the next episode, I keeps it grungy
Hand on my nut sack, and spitting lunghies
At a whack nigga dat, don't understand the fact
When it come to RZA tracks I don't know how to act
Real rap from the Stat, killa hill projects
How to be exact, break it down
All in together now
Things are getting good looking better now
In the lyrics of Method Man/The Genius's song Shadowboxin', the artist speaks about the violent culture and state of crime in Staten Island and the art of "shadowboxing," or practicing fighting moves on your own. The lyrics are filled with vivid and gritty imagery, describing the dangers and threats in the neighborhood, and the artist's confidence in his own skills to defend himself from any threats that may arise. He talks about the skill involved in rapping and how it is similar to the skill of shadowboxing. He aims to prove his worth through his talents as a rapper and his ability to hold his own.
The lyrics also touch on the Wu Tang Clan’s influence and success in the music industry. He insists that his style is unique, and no one can replicate it, emphasizing that they are successful because of their individuality. Throughout the song, he portrays himself as a tough, aggressive, and confident rapper who is entirely conscious of his surroundings and can protect himself. The song is an excellent example of the Wu-Tang Clan's gritty and aggressive rapping style, with a focus on the violent culture of the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
I breaks it down to the bone gristle
I break it down to the smallest detail
Ill speaking Scud missile heat seeking
My rhymes are powerful and precise
Johnny Blazing, nightmares like Wes Craven
My rhymes are intense and scary
Niggas gunning, my third eye seen it coming before it happen
I can sense danger before it happens
You know about them fucking Staten kids, they smashing
Those kids from Staten Island are causing destruction
Everything huh, in any shape form or fashion
They will destroy anything in any way they can
Now everybody talking bout they blasting, hmmm
Everyone is claiming to be dangerous now
Is you busting steel or is you flashing, hmmm
Are you actually carrying a weapon or just pretending?
Talking out your asshole
You're talking nonsense
You shoulda learnt about the flow and peasy afro
You should have learned to rap and have a good hairstyle
Ticallion stallion, chinky-eye and snot-nosed
I have distinct physical features
From my naps to the bunion on my big toe
Every part of my body is unique
I keeps it moving, know just what the fuck I'm doing
I always stay active and focused in what I do
Rap insomniac, fiend to catch a nigga snoozing
I'm constantly writing rhymes and ready to catch someone off guard
Slip the cardiac arrest me, exorcist hip-hop possess me
The rhythm and energy of hip-hop take control of me
Crunch a nigga like a Nestle, you know my steez
I crush my opponents easily and everyone knows it
Burning to the third degree, sneaky ass alley cat top pedigree
My rhymes are intense and I am a skilled fighter
The head toucher, industry party bum rusher
I am a respected leader and a party crasher
You don't like it dick up in you fuck ya
If you don't like it, tough luck
Allow me to demonstrate
Let me showcase my skills
That's right, you corny-ass
You are not cool
The skill of Shaolin, rap motherfuckers
My rapping skills are like those of a Shaolin master
The special technique, better go back and check
My technique is unique and impressive
Of shadowboxing, your fucking stacks
I am competing against other rappers like a shadowboxer
Shadowboxing, cause your naps ain't nappy enough
Other rappers are not as skilled as me
And your beats ain't rugged enough, bitch
Your music is not intense and rough enough
I slayed MC's back in the rec room era
I defeated other rappers in the past
My style broke motherfucking backs like Ken Patera
My rap style is powerful and can defeat anyone
Most rap niggas came loud but unheard
Most rappers talk a lot but are not actually heard
Once I pulled out, round em off to the nearest third
Once I start rapping, I quickly defeat others
Check these non-visual niggas, with tapes and a portrait
Other rappers rely on their looks and music videos, not their skills
Flood the seminar, trying to orbit this corporate
Rappers are trying to impress corporate executives
Industry, but what them niggas can't see
Those rappers can't see the true power of hip-hop
Must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly
Hip-hop must surprise everyone, like the Wu Tang Clan
Protect Ya Neck, my sword still remain imperial
My rhymes will always be powerful and impressive
Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial
Before I start rapping, RZA produces the beat
We reign all year round from June to June
Our music is popular and dominant year-round
While niggas bite immediately if not soon
Other rappers try to copy our success quickly
Set the lynching, and form the execution date
We are executing our plan and taking control
As this two thousand beyond slang suffocate
Hip-hop is changing and evolving
Amplify sample through vacuum tubes compressions
We use advanced technology to produce our music
Cause RZA, to charge niggas twenty G's a session
RZA charges a lot of money for his production skills
When my mind start to clicking and the strategy
When I start thinking and planning my next move
Is mastered the plot thickens, this be that Wu shit
Once I have a plan, things start getting intense (like Wu Tang Clan)
I don't give a cotton-pickin' FUCK
I don't care
About a brother tryin to size a nigga up, I hold my own
I don't need anyone's approval, I am confident in myself
Hard-hat protect your dome
Protect your head
Look at Mama baby boy acting like he grown
Other rappers are acting like they are better than they actually are
No time for sleep, I gets deep as a baritone
I am always working and thinking deeply
Killa bee, that be holding down his honeycomb, lounging son
I am a hard worker and always at my best
Wu brother number one, protect your neck
I am the best in the Wu Tang Clan and others should be on guard against me
Flying guillotines here they come, bloody bastards
I am going to attack others ruthlessly and quickly
Hard times and killer tactics, spitting words plus
I am using intense and effective strategies to defeat others
Semi-automatic slurs, peep the graphic
I am delivering powerful and visually striking rhymes
Novel from the genie bottle, hit the clutch
My rhymes are unique and impressive
Shift the gear now, full throttle, time to bungee
I am moving forward quickly and powerfully
To the next episode, I keeps it grungy
I am always ready for the next challenge
Hand on my nut sack, and spitting lunghies
I am confident and powerful
At a whack nigga dat, don't understand the fact
I am attacking a weak rapper who doesn't understand the power of hip-hop
When it come to RZA tracks I don't know how to act
I am so impressed with RZA's music that I don't know how to react
Real rap from the Stat, killa hill projects
I am delivering real hip-hop from Staten Island
How to be exact, break it down
Let me explain it clearly
All in together now
Let's work together
Things are getting good looking better now
Things are improving and we are on the right track
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, GARY E. GRICE, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hectorhervas3749
@@tool27 I have slightly different top 5s depending if it's my favorites or the ones I think are the best, with a more objective point of view.
My Favorites would be:
- To Pimp A Butterfly
- Illmatic
- Stankonia
- A Piece of Strange by Cunninlynguists
- Funcrusher Plus by Company Flow.
And What I think are the best:
- A Piece of Strange
- To Pimp A Butterfly
- Illmatic
- Madvillainy
- Liquid Swords
@rodcarew1353
Who’s here in 2024🤚🏽
@omancripe5686
Thast how rap's supposed to sound
@rhyme70Four
Just watched it. I remember losing my mind when this video first dropped. #WuTangForever
@hanswurst9437
Still here, never left...
@rodcarew1353
@@hanswurst9437 word
@SkyIsTheLimitEntertainment
Yessss'Siiiirr 🙌🙌🙌
@TJiscool1
Method Man could literally rap a bunch of gibberish and it would still sound better than 99% of other emcees.... his flow is so cool and has never grown old... same too for The GZA...
@haliburtonhighlandshouseof8759
Cadence
@ojmosby5755
Oh god 🙏
@naturalvibemusic3021
no jibberish, pure mathematical bars fa yuh intellect