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)
Shaolin What
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pull a sting like a yellow jacket makin maneuvers
Through the slums nigga iron lung ladies and gentlemen
Welcome to my torture chamber pen and pendulum
Foul play T two thousand be judgment day
Face millennium hell to pay
My knuckles soft from the star wars of han solo
Stay hardcore my clan logo move to quick to catch a photo
Jettin' on land like jet motto now we lord on the conduit?
These niggaz actin like they beactinen' through it
As if the hardcore to the truest, I can't lose like Parker Lewis
Set in my ways
Got you corny niggaz askin' who is Johnny Blaze
Get a late pass stinkin' ass sucker ass
Now you sufferin' like succotash
While johnny cash is makin moves on your moneybags
I'm strict love stickin' hundreds in your honeys ass
My verbal bucket in the background
Holdin me down watching these clowns
As they eyeballin all day eyeballin in the mind
Gettin' high y'all, put it on the sky fold the night trol night
Rap infected get the Lysol to disinfect it
You don't know me or my fuckin method
That's the shit that made me tip
When I wrote a pitch how many leech it
Stapleton, the wild west park hill
Now borne jungle nils one more game hit me with
That shit they be smokin'
Got cali niggaz loc'in new york niggaz open
John hay phenomenon the megabomb
Transformed in a firearm like megatron
You get stepped on and shit upon, I'm a stay calm
Knowin' brothers wanna do me harm
Shaolin Whylen what punks
We got love for those who got love for us
Now go to your home
In the first verse of Method Man's song "Shaolin What," he introduces himself as the "bastard" who possesses a variety of skills and tactics to take down his opponents. His maneuvers are compared to that of a yellow jacket, quick and painful like a sting. He then takes us into his torture chamber and gives us a glimpse of his hardcore nature by mentioning "foul play" and "hell to pay." Han Solo's "Star Wars" is brought up as a metaphor for his battles, while his southpaw technique is likened to a bell-ringing Quasimoto. Throughout the verse, there is an intense focus on strength, survival, and endurance.
The second and final verse begins with a boastful statement that his clan is "too quick to catch a photo," indicating that they move faster than the speed of light. He then reiterates his hardcore nature and how his ways are set. The lyrics shift to the actions of other rappers, who seem to be faking their hardcore nature, and he compares himself to Parker Lewis, touting his unbeatable nature. The lyrics switch back to self-referencing and introspection, as he mentions "Johnny Blaze," his alter-ego, and his love for putting "hundreds in your honey's ass." He ends the verse by asserting his dominance, saying that he watches from afar as others try to emulate his style.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the bastard the total package like Lex Luger
I am a complete package, just like the wrestler Lex Luger
Pull a sting like a yellow jacket makin maneuvers
I can attack like a yellow jacket, making quick moves
Through the slums nigga iron lung ladies and gentlemen
Going through the slums with ease, like a professional fighter
Welcome to my torture chamber pen and pendulum
Welcome to my writing style that can be both painful and sharp
Foul play T two thousand be judgment day
Foul actions will lead to a bad outcome like in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Face millennium hell to pay
As we move into the future, there will be consequences for bad actions
My knuckles soft from the star wars of han solo
My hands are hurting from fighting like Han Solo in Star Wars
South paw ring your bell like its quasimodo what is the law?
My left hand is strong enough to knock you out, like Quasimodo ringing a bell; what are you going to do about it?
Stay hardcore my clan logo move to quick to catch a photo
I'll always be true to my hard style and my crew is too fast for you to take a picture
Jettin' on land like jet motto now we lord on the conduit?
We move quickly like a jet, and now we're in power
These niggaz actin like they beactinen' through it
Some people act like they're experienced or knowledgeable, but they're not
As if the hardcore to the truest, I can't lose like Parker Lewis
Some people claim to be the most hardcore, but I'm just as hard and can't be beaten like Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Set in my ways
I know who I am and won't change
Got you corny niggaz askin' who is Johnny Blaze
People who don't know anything about hip-hop are asking who I am (Johnny Blaze is Method Man's alter ego)
Get a late pass stinkin' ass sucker ass
You're behind the times, you stink, and you're a sucker
Now you sufferin' like succotash
Now you're in trouble, like the cartoon character Sylvester the Cat saying 'sufferin' succotash'
While johnny cash is makin moves on your moneybags
While I'm taking your money, Johnny Cash is also making moves
I'm strict love stickin' hundreds in your honeys ass
I'm giving money to my girl and keeping her satisfied
My verbal bucket in the background
My rhymes are always there, in the background, ready to be pulled out
Holdin me down watching these clowns
My crew is always there, holding me down and watching the haters
As they eyeballin all day eyeballin in the mind
People continue to stare, even if it's just in their minds
Gettin' high y'all, put it on the sky fold the night trol night
Let's get high and enjoy the night sky
Rap infected get the Lysol to disinfect it
Hip-hop is everywhere and can't be stopped, so let's clean it up with Lysol
You don't know me or my fuckin method
You don't know who I am or how I operate
That's the shit that made me tip
That's the kind of thing that gets me upset
When I wrote a pitch how many leech it
When I wrote a verse, how many people copied or stole it?
Stapleton, the wild west park hill
These are neighborhoods in Staten Island, NY (Method Man's hometown)
Now borne jungle nils one more game hit me with
Now it's a chaotic battlefield and someone else is trying to take me down
That shit they be smokin'
The drugs that people are using
Got cali niggaz loc'in new york niggaz open
People in California are crazy (loc'in), while people in New York are just getting started
John hay phenomenon the megabomb
This is a reference to the John Hay project housing development, which was notorious for violence and crime
Transformed in a firearm like megatron
I've become a weapon, like the Transformers character Megatron
You get stepped on and shit upon, I'm a stay calm
Even if someone tries to bring me down, I'll stay cool and collected
Knowin' brothers wanna do me harm
I'm aware that people are out to get me
Shaolin Whylen what punks
Here, Method Man is talking about how he'll respond if someone tries to mess with him
We got love for those who got love for us
We're loyal to those who are loyal to us
Now go to your home
You don't belong here, so leave
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Clifford Smith, Selwyn Dajuan Bougard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind