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)
The Riddler
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See that's what I'm talkin bout
When you take the Johnny Blaze
And you take that game and you plug that here into Bobby Steels
Now, you are playing with power
With power
With power
Unrealistic wavelength draining on your brain-strip inflicted
Crossword puzzling your delf
Questioning your own mental health, yeah, it's like a maze within itself
Yeah, check the grimey, slimey, crimey
Crim-inim-inal indivi-dual I be
Searching for the Dark Knight
Lurking in the shadows of the city, he roll with jiggy
My crime committee, robbing every Gotham piggy bank blind
Take a journey through the mind of a Riddler
Tax free money not a problem
A heist to get the ice not a problem
A body for a price not a problem
It's The Riddler
Once again it's the mind bender, three-time felony offender
Demented, brain cemented, mixed in the blender
I lose ya, mass-confusion, question mark clues in
What where why whose-it, quiz
Time to ask yourself who it is
Sheisty P.L.O. underhanded biz, invading brothers wigs
Can I live corrupt and bringing all the misery and suffering
Pain, you couldn't cure with a Bufferin
Rotating, ridiculous, rapid-fire riddles
Bat get trapped in the middle of The Riddler
Murder for the evil not a problem
To the gen there is no sequel not a problem
Big up to all my people not a problem
It's the Riddler
Observe if you will
I'm in my hide-out in the back of the hill
I crack a wall then I caught about a mil
Co-defendant Johnny Blaze and Bobby Steels
We was blazing hot wheels
Turn the corner you can hear the wheels squeal
On that ass fast was the Batmobile
I could tell by the demon on the grill, this was real
Alley-cat screaming, I hit a trash can
Garbage everywhere, money flying out the bags and
Trying to escape, code nine with the cape
Or else he'd be headed upstate, it's The Riddler
Talking suicide, not a problem
If you're speaking homicide, not a problem
You want to talk genocide not a problem
That's not a problem, it's The Riddler
Word up, that's no problem
Stim-ulim-uli, stim-ulim-uli
Feel good don't it
And you know it
Got the, hotter
You're playing, with, power
In Method Man's song The Riddler, he explores the mind of the infamous Batman villain, The Riddler. The opening lines, "dead crosswords puzzling your delf, see that's what I'm talking about," suggest that the Riddler enjoys confounding and confusing his victims. Method Man understands that the Riddler's intricate puzzles can take a toll on one's sanity, leading to a feeling of being lost in a maze within oneself. The Riddler is portrayed as someone who is always searching for something, in this case, Batman, symbolized by "the Dark Knight." He is a criminal and "three-time felony offender" who leads a crime committee in Gotham. He has no problem with murders-for-hire, the heists to get diamonds, or draining every piggy bank in the city. In the end, the Riddler is challenging and intimidating, as his riddles trap Batman and anyone who dares to oppose him.
Method Man brings a sense of urgency, excitement, and suspense to the song with his powerful, rapid-fire verses. He adopts a "bad boy" persona, speaking of "stim-ulim-uli" and "playing with power." The line that sticks out the most is, "Can I live corrupt and bringing all the misery and suffering pain you couldn't cure with a Bufferin," claiming that his brand of evil can't be easily remedied. The chorus sums up the Riddler's attitude towards life in three simple words; "not a problem."
Line by Line Meaning
Dead crosswords puzzling your delf
Your mind is twisted, and you feel lost in a maze of self-doubt
See that's what I'm talkin bout
I'm explaining how Johnny Blaze and Bobby Steels can bring power to your game
When you take the Johnny Blaze
If you use Johnny Blaze to enhance your game,
And you take that game and you plug that here into Bobby Steels
And you connect Bobby Steels to your game,
Now, you are playing with power
You will be able to play at a higher level and with new confidence and strength.
With power
You will have power.
I got your mind twisted
I have you questioning yourself and feeling confused.
Unrealistic wavelength draining on your brain-strip inflicted
You are being mentally drained and pushed to your limit.
Check the grimey, slimey, crimey
Look at the dirty and criminal actions
Crim-inim-inal indivi-dual I be
I am the criminal individual committing these actions.
Searching for the Dark Knight
I am looking for Batman.
Lurking in the shadows of the city, he roll with jiggy
I am hiding in the city streets, and Batman is with a flashy attitude.
My crime committee, robbing every Gotham piggy bank blind
My criminal group is stealing money from every bank in Gotham.
Take a journey through the mind of a Riddler
Experience the thoughts of the criminal mastermind, The Riddler.
Tax free money not a problem
Money gained from illegal deeds is not an issue.
A heist to get the ice not a problem
It's easy to steal valuable items.
A body for a price not a problem
I am willing to kill for money.
Once again it's the mind bender, three-time felony offender
I am The Riddler, a repeat offender.
Demented, brain cemented, mixed in the blender
I am crazy, and my brain is mixed up in a blender.
I lose ya, mass-confusion, question mark clues in
I confuse and mislead my pursuers with riddles.
What where why whose-it, quiz
I give quizzes with difficult questions.
Time to ask yourself who it is
You need to question who is behind all of this.
Sheisty P.L.O. underhanded biz, invading brothers wigs
I am performing underhanded illegal activities and causing chaos in Gotham.
Can I live corrupt and bringing all the misery and suffering
I am content living in evil ways, bringing pain and suffering.
Pain, you couldn't cure with a Bufferin
The pain I cause can't be fixed with a simple solution.
Rotating, ridiculous, rapid-fire riddles
I intimidate my enemies and mess with their minds with fast and complex riddles.
Bat get trapped in the middle of The Riddler
Batman gets caught in The Riddler's trap.
Murder for the evil not a problem
Killing is not an issue when dealing with evil.
To the gen there is no sequel not a problem
I feel that there is no equal to my genius.
Big up to all my people not a problem
Shout out to my crew, no problem.
Observe if you will
Take a look and observe what is happening.
I'm in my hide-out in the back of the hill
I am hiding in a secret location.
I crack a wall then I caught about a mil
I broke into a wall and stole around a million dollars.
Co-defendant Johnny Blaze and Bobby Steels
Johnny Blaze and Bobby Steels were involved in the crime with me.
We was blazing hot wheels
We drove away quickly in fast cars.
Turn the corner you can hear the wheels squeal
We made a sharp turn which was heard from the wheels.
On that ass fast was the Batmobile
Batman was driving quickly in his car.
I could tell by the demon on the grill, this was real
I knew it was Batman because of his spooky car.
Alley-cat screaming, I hit a trash can
A cat runs away, then I crash into a trash can.
Garbage everywhere, money flying out the bags and
Money is falling out of bags all over the place.
Trying to escape, code nine with the cape
Trying to get away from police while wearing a cape.
Or else he'd be headed upstate, it's The Riddler
If caught, I would be headed to jail somewhere far away.
Talking suicide, not a problem
Talking about killing yourself isn't a big deal to me.
If you're speaking homicide, not a problem
If you're talking about killing someone else, that's not a problem to me.
You want to talk genocide not a problem
Even discussion of mass killing doesn't bother me.
That's not a problem, it's The Riddler
None of these illegal deeds and violent actions bother me, it's just The Riddler's way of life.
Word up, that's no problem
Yes, that is truly no problem for me.
Stim-ulim-uli, stim-ulim-uli
I am heavily stimulated and energized after committing these crimes.
Feel good don't it
I feel great.
And you know it
I'm aware of my feelings.
Got the, hotter
I have a growing desire to commit criminal acts.
You're playing, with, power
You're putting yourself in a position of strength and possibly making yourself dangerous.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Robert F Diggs, Neal Hefti, Clifford Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Walter Melon
This is the type of beat that will pop into your head randomly at any moment.
Frank Lucas
If you speed the beat up it's the ORIGINAL Batman beat
Rapchat app.AT.RecKleSs BaStArD
Same here WOW WTF …. Cool
YCKFides
That's why I'm here lmao
ALIEN VILLAMIL DJ ALIEN PR
The reason I'm here.... again... I need to rip the cd to my phone lol
rgw1380rw
I still have the CD single with the remix on it as well.
JohnTaylorshow
This beat And this flow... turned Gotham into GOT DAMN!!!
Joel Benitez
Lol ha! I like that.
I fucks with cha'.. lol
Nicholas Maggio
2022 and this song is still 🔥🔥🔥
Aaron Creagh
One of the best songs ever by Method Man.