The Beverly Hillbillies of hip hop returns with the hit album "Tical 2000: Judgement Day" on Def Jam recordings. After four years of waiting for Method Man to release another album, it's a sure bet that fans are as excited as Ed Lover and Donald Trump that Johnny Blaze has returned. Method Man (a/k/a Ticalian Stallion, Hot Nikkels, and Johnny Blaze) has returned wih what has been called, "the rawest and most exciting music of his career." The success of this album is a product of Meth's genuinely unique style, guest appearances, and hard futuristic beats.
Method Man, born Clifford Smith, busted onto the Hip Hop scene straight out of Staten Island. As a core member of The Wu- Tang Clan, His success started in 1993 with the group's debut album, Enter The Wu- Tang (36 Chambers). His spotlighted solo single, "M.E.T.H.O.D. Man," helped acclaim him in time for his 1994 solo record debut in Tical on Def Jam. After four years and miscellaneous other projects, Meth has returned with Tical 2000: Judgement Day. In 1998 Tical 2000: Judgement Day was released into tremendous fanfare, selling 400,000 records within the first week of it's release.
Revered as a "genuine rap icon" by The Peeps Record Reviews, Method Man's unique hip hop stylings are matched only by his unique lyrical manipulations. This "gravelly-voiced rhyme-ologist" likes to present his keepin' it real presence with a no holds barred mentality. Method Man had this to say about his style and its place in society; "Somebody did an article on me recently and they had me saying that I messed up for gettin' a Grammy. I didn't say that, he misquoted me. I said that the Grammy voters are the ones who messed up. What they did by giving me the award was show people that we can say what we wanna say and still get a Grammy- without compromising anything, without having to make a song for the radio. My song was not made for the radio and there wasn't no watered down lyrics in that song. It was just one man talking to his woman. No holds barred." This album is solid, with jagged guitars, shear lyrical wit and effortless vocal cadence, Meth confronts any artist who may be fake. This is shown Johnny Blaze rocks the cradle of fake emcees in "Cradle Rock's"
Tical 2000: Judgement Day was not just a success of Method Man. Many other artists played roles in making this album what it was. A highlighted guest on this album was the star general of Def Squad and fellow Blunt Brother, Redman, reuniting on "Big Dogs" after the 1995 hit "How High." And to follow up his 1994 hit with Mary J. Blige, "I'll Be There For You (You're all I need)" Blaze again addressed relations between men and women in "Make-up to Break -up" featuring R&B crooner D'angelo. This album also features Wu members Inspectah Deck, RZA, Raekwon, and Masta Killa, Mobb Deep's Prodigy and Havoc, as well as comedic stylings of Chris Rock.
Method Man won't let his success stop with his music. Lately he's taken his talents to the big screen with roles in movies like; the Russel Simmons rap documentary The Show, The Great White Hype, Copland, and Belly. Meth had this to say about his acting career: "I'm Definitely trying to be serious about acting and bring something to the roles I play, not the roles bringing the same old thing to me. Right now, they're giving me roles that they know I can play- stereotypical gangster stuff. Don't get me wrong, I will play it. But I try to do it where I can bring something new to it. I got a flair," he explains. " I feel like there aint nothin that I can't do. Plus, I love it when somebody tests my intelligence. I feel like a daredevil."
Meth likes to compare himself with the Beverly Hillbillies. "They blew up and they're still real. Same with me." And The Ticalian Stallion has kept true to that statement, continuously rapping about what's real. When asked who his favorite rap artists were Blazer superstar Rasheed Wallace responded, "That real s###, like Method Man." Method Man will continue to keep it real, just check out the Blunt Brothers' new album. Method Man/ Redman Blackout, on Def Jam Recording.





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