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)
Ya
Method Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On top of the ya'meen, with a lil' bit of ya'meen mixed in
Ya'meen? Yeah... yeah... yo
How should I get it started, fuck it, just get it started
These trash talking artists is nothing, niggaz is garbage
When Meth strike his target, leave it dearly departed
His flow is clearly the hardest, y'all gon' feel me regardless
Some get popped and call for they mamma, when the drama unfolds
My block, hot as a sauna, never wind up and joke
Crack deals on every corner, fiends wanna foam you with soap
And, if life's a bitch, then I bet she bitter and cold
Everytime she thinking I fold, seven figures get sold
Meth, all in your chest, or inhale it all in your nose
Cops don't know about this Method, but smell it all in his clothes
Yup, I'm still intact, how real is that, I'm back
With enough, fits a million, to figure vanilla wraps up
New York, New York, rock tube socks and Timberlands
'Cause hip hop ain't feeling them flip-flops, they feminine
I'm the one shot dealing, one shot killing it (ya'meen)
Yeah, it's the top billing, the block feeling like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen)
If you not for squealing, and for spilling the (ya'meen)
The streets is watching the apple rotten like (ya'meen)
Plus the B.B. hot and the towers dropping like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen)
If you get it popping, or get to popping 'em (ya'meen)
You know the haters diss you, let's deal with bigger issues
You know New York is dying after all the shit we been through
And we done lost B.I.G., we done lost Pun
Homey, you can't live, gotta go and get them guns
You know the hammers'll lose your cabbage, them dudes do damage
Send Zulu Nation through Reaganomics, we move them package
We pushing rain pain, gotta go and get that money
Y'all going "hey hey", but don't that pen look lovely
You - must - not - know - who - y'all niggaz is fucking with
I - can - take - life - nig... just for the fuck of it
Crack's crazy, that nigga'll smack babies
Clap ladies for yackin' you gon' catch shady
Call it a mass shower, the way them hollow's drizzle
Mr. Potato Head, you know them things can't miss you
The Average Joe, with an average flow
Me and Meth bringing back New York, nigga
I'm the one shot dealing, one shot killing it (ya'meen)
Yeah, it's the top billing, the block feeling like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen)
If you not for squealing, and for spilling the (ya'meen)
The streets is watching the apple rotten like (ya'meen)
Plus the B.B. hot and the towers dropping like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen)
If you get it popping, or get to popping 'em (ya'meen)
You don't like me, you can get what's right above the testicles
S.P., turn your top five into vegetables
You don't believe me, get 'em all in a room
And the next five, I plan to getting all of them soon
Y'all can meet me at the table that's round, or get ya place in the ground
That's what you get, when you facing me, clown
Who got the crown, I'm piss on it now, while you wearing it
Nobody nicer than Ghost, I ain't hearing it
Been Nike Airing it, white tee out
Stick-up kid season when the dice be out
I'm a thug or star investing in living, niggaz sippin' soup
Ghost rapper, knocking out your icey mouth
Niggaz in the East wanna unite, not me
If you ain't sayin' I'm the best, you ain't come to be right
KnawImean? If you don't, then you not of being
Your four-four, knock little pieces off of your spleen, nigga
I'm the one shot dealing, one shot killing it (ya'meen)
Yeah, it's the top billing, the block feeling like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen)
If you not for squealing, and for spilling the (ya'meen)
The streets is watching the apple rotten like (ya'meen)
Plus the B.B. hot and the towers dropping like (ya'meen)
Yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen)
If you get it popping, or get to popping 'em (ya'meen)
In the song "Ya'Meen," Method Man delivers yet another lyrical masterpiece. The artist wastes no time getting the song started with a hard-hitting opening verse that brims with self-confidence. He takes aim at his haters, trash-talking artists he deems garbage, all while asserting his own lyrical prowess. Meth's flow on this track both preserves and builds on his past work as he raps with energy and precision, his words perfectly timed between the beat. The artist shows a mastery of rhyme schemes and metaphors that completes his picture as one of the top rappers in the game. The track feels especially raw and genuine, with Meth dropping lyrics about the harsh streets of Brooklyn and keeping it real no matter what.
The chorus of "Ya'Meen" itself is memorable and infectious, delivered in Method Man's trademark guttural tone. He layers his vocals with ad-libs, giving the song a raw and untamed feel that runs throughout. The beat is dark and hard-hitting, with powerful drums and a sample that permeates the background of the song. This only adds to the track's ominous tone, emphasizing the gritty, street-based themes that Meth consistently employs.
Overall, "Ya'Meen" is a reflection of Method Man's skill and dominance in the rap game. The song is confident, relentless, and aggressive, just like the artist himself. It is a textbook example of New York City hip-hop at its finest, displaying the genre's traditionally hard-hitting and aggressive style while incorporating Meth's own lyrical and stylistic mastery.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm bout to hit you with this ya'meen
I'm about to get real with you, you feel me?
On top of the ya'meen, with a lil' bit of ya'meen mixed in
I'm gonna give you a little extra on top of what you're already feeling.
Ya'meen? Yeah... yeah... yo
You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, you feel me?
How should I get it started, fuck it, just get it started
I don't even need a plan, let's just go for it.
These trash talking artists is nothing, niggaz is garbage
Other rappers are nothing compared to me, they're garbage.
When Meth strike his target, leave it dearly departed
When Method Man attacks, his target won't be coming back.
His flow is clearly the hardest, y'all gon' feel me regardless
My flow is the strongest, you're gonna feel me no matter what.
Might break a promise, but never, breaking the code
I might break a promise, but I'll never go against my principles.
Some get popped and call for they mamma, when the drama unfolds
Some people can't handle tough situations and will cry out for their mom when things get rough.
My block, hot as a sauna, never wind up and joke
My neighborhood is dangerous and serious, not a place to mess around.
Crack deals on every corner, fiends wanna foam you with soap
There are drug deals happening everywhere, and addicts are so desperate they might attack you with soap in order to get money for their fix.
And, if life's a bitch, then I bet she bitter and cold
If life is tough, then it's probably unforgiving and harsh.
Everytime she thinking I fold, seven figures get sold
Every time people underestimate me, I come back stronger and make millions.
Meth, all in your chest, or inhale it all in your nose
My rap is powerful and will hit you right in the chest, or you'll feel it all the way up in your head if you inhale it.
Cops don't know about this Method, but smell it all in his clothes
The police might not know who Method Man is, but they can smell his success just by looking at him.
Yup, I'm still intact, how real is that, I'm back
I'm still on top of my game and stronger than ever, I'm back at it.
With enough, fits a million, to figure vanilla wraps up
I have a lot of money, enough to buy a million dollars worth of vanilla wraps.
New York, New York, rock tube socks and Timberlands
In New York, people wear socks with Timberland boots.
'Cause hip hop ain't feeling them flip-flops, they feminine
Hip hop culture doesn't like flip-flops, because they are seen as weak and unmanly.
I'm the one shot dealing, one shot killing it (ya'meen)
I'm the one who's got the skills to succeed, and I'm doing it really well (you know what I mean?).
Yeah, it's the top billing, the block feeling like (ya'meen)
I'm the main attraction, and the whole neighborhood is feeling it (you know what I mean?).
Yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with me (ya'meen)
Don't underestimate me, you know what I'm talking about.
If you not for squealing, and for spilling the (ya'meen)
If you're not a snitch, and you're not telling secrets (you know what I'm talking about).
The streets is watching the apple rotten like (ya'meen)
Everyone is watching New York deteriorate (you know what I'm talking about).
Plus the B.B. hot and the towers dropping like (ya'meen)
The police are on high alert and buildings are being destroyed (you know what I'm talking about).
Yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen), yeah, fuck with this (ya'meen)
Listen to my music, you know what I'm talking about.
If you get it popping, or get to popping 'em (ya'meen)
If you're getting involved in violent situations (you know what I'm talking about).
You know the haters diss you, let's deal with bigger issues
Don't worry about what the haters are saying, let's focus on more important things.
You know New York is dying after all the shit we been through
New York is in a bad place because of everything we've experienced.
And we done lost B.I.G., we done lost Pun
We have lost two important rappers: Biggie Smalls and Big Pun.
Homey, you can't live, gotta go and get them guns
You can't survive in this environment without a gun.
You know the hammers'll lose your cabbage, them dudes do damage
If you're not careful, you'll get severely hurt or killed by people who are violent.
Send Zulu Nation through Reaganomics, we move them package
We're involved in illegal activity, and we're moving drugs through Zulu Nation (an African-American cultural organization) and Reaganomics (economic policies introduced during the Reagan administration).
We pushing rain pain, gotta go and get that money
We're selling drugs and causing people a lot of pain, but we need to do it to make money.
Y'all going "hey hey", but don't that pen look lovely
Some people might talk about how they're gonna hurt us, but they'll end up in prison (where the pen looks lovely).
You - must - not - know - who - y'all niggaz is fucking with
You don't understand who you're messing with.
I - can - take - life - nig... just for the fuck of it
I could easily take someone's life just because I feel like it.
Crack's crazy, that nigga'll smack babies
People who are addicted to crack are crazy and might even hurt babies.
Clap ladies for yackin' you gon' catch shady
If you mess with these people (who sell drugs), you might get hurt or killed.
Call it a mass shower, the way them hollow's drizzle
When gunshots go off, it sounds like a mass of water droplets hitting the ground.
Mr. Potato Head, you know them things can't miss you
Bullets (referred to as Mr. Potato Head) are very dangerous and will hit their target.
The Average Joe, with an average flow
There are a lot of average rappers out there with no special talent.
Me and Meth bringing back New York, nigga
Me and Method Man are bringing back real rap music to New York.
You don't like me, you can get what's right above the testicles
If you don't like me, you can get punched in the balls.
S.P., turn your top five into vegetables
My group, S.P. (the Wu-Tang Clan), is so good that we'll make your top five rappers look bad.
You don't believe me, get 'em all in a room
If you don't believe me, put all the rappers in a room and you'll see that Wu-Tang Clan is the best.
And the next five, I plan to getting all of them soon
And after that, I plan to surpass even more rappers.
Y'all can meet me at the table that's round, or get ya place in the ground
You can either collaborate with me or get killed.
That's what you get, when you facing me, clown
That's what happens to people who face me and underestimate me.
Who got the crown, I'm piss on it now, while you wearing it
I'm the new king of rap and I'll disrespect the old king while he's still in power.
Nobody nicer than Ghost, I ain't hearing it
Nobody is a better rapper than Ghostface Killah, and I won't listen to anyone who thinks otherwise.
Been Nike Airing it, white tee out
I've been wearing Nike shoes with a white t-shirt.
Stick-up kid season when the dice be out
When people are playing dice, it's a good time for robbers to strike.
I'm a thug or star investing in living, niggaz sippin' soup
I'm either a tough gangster or a successful rapper, but other people are barely surviving and struggling to make ends meet.
Ghost rapper, knocking out your icey mouth
Ghostface Killah is the man who will knock out someone's gold teeth for fun.
Niggaz in the East wanna unite, not me
Some rappers in the East want to collaborate and unite, but I don't want to.
If you ain't sayin' I'm the best, you ain't come to be right
If you don't think I'm the best rapper, you're wrong.
KnawImean? If you don't, then you not of being
You know what I'm saying? If you don't understand me, then you're not really in the know.
Your four-four, knock little pieces off of your spleen, nigga
My gun is so powerful it can blow chunks off of your internal organs.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, JOSH JOERGENSEN, D. KLEIN, DAVID STYLES, JOSEPH CARTEGENA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind