Method Man Ft. Busta Rhymes

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 1990s.

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 YouYou'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 Elliott, 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.

AliasesBig John StudThe Ghost Rider from the comic Ghost RiderHot NickelzHot NixonIron LungJohn-JohnJohnny Blaze from the comic Ghost RiderJohnny DangerousJohn-John BlaiziniMaximillionMethtical Meth-ticalMethMr. MethMZA "The Mizza"The Panty RaiderShakwon 5 Nation "righteous name"TicalTicallion Stallion

Albums1994 Tical Platinum1998 Tical 2000: Judgement Day Platinum1999 Blackout! with Redman Platinum2004 Tical 0: The Prequel2006 4:21 The Day After

Singles and EPs1994 "Bring The Pain"1995 "I'll Be There For YouYou're All I Need To Get By" with Mary J. Blige1995 "Release Yo' Delf"1998 "Break Ups 2 Make Ups"1998 "Judgement Day"'1998 "Grand Finale" with DMX, Nas & Ja Rule1999 "Tear It Off" Method Man & Redman1999 "Da Rockwilder" Method Man & Redman1999 "Y.O.U." Method Man & Redman2004 "What's Happenin" with Busta Rhymes2005 "The Show"

Appears On1993 Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers album by the Wu-Tang Clan1994 "The What" from the The Notorious B.I.G. album Ready to Die1995 "Dirty Dancin" from the Ol' Dirty Bastard album Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version1995 "Got The Flava" from the Showbiz & AG album Goodfellas1995 "Wu-Gambinos" & "Ice Cream" from the Raekwon album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx1995 "Living In The World Today", "Shadowboxin" & "Gold" from the GZA album Liquid Swords1995 "The Riddler" from the Batman Forever Soundtrack1996 "Box In Hand" from the Ghostface Killah album Ironman1996 "Box In Hand Remix" Ghostface Killah single1996 "Got My Mind Made Up" from the 2Pac album All Eyez On Me1996 "Do What Ya Feel" from the Redman album Muddy Waters1996 "Extortion" from the Mobb Deep album Hell On Earth1996 "Hit 'Em High" from the Space Jam soundtrack1997 Wu-Tang Forever album by the Wu-Tang Clan1997 "Milk The Cow", "Supa Ninjaz" & "Dart Throwing" from the Cappadonna album The Pillage1997 "Next Up" & "Collaboration 98" from the Sunz Of Man album The Last Shall Be First1997 "4,3,2,1" from the LL Cool J album Phenonemon1998 "Well All Rite Cha" from the Redman album Doc's Da Name 20001998 "Pussy Pop" from the Xzibit album 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz1998 "Whatcha Gonna Do" from the Jayo Felony album Whatcha Gonna Do1998 "The Worst" from the Onyx album Shut 'Em Down1999 "Rumble" from the U-God album The Golden Arms Redemption1999 "Am I My Brother's Keeper" from the Shyheim album Manchild1999 "Fuck Them" from the Raekwon album Immobilarity1999 "Left & Right" from the D'Angelo album Voodoo1999 "Stringplay" from the GZA album Beneath The Surface1999 "N 2 Gether Now" from the Limp Bizkit album Significant Other1999 "Half Man Half Amazin" from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor1999 "Three Amigos If It's On" from the Popa Wu album Visions Of The Tenth Chamber1999 "NYC Everything" from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo1999 "Simon Says Remix" from the Pharoahe Monch album Internal Affairs2000 "Buck 50" from the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele2000 "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 Water2000 The W album by the Wu-Tang Clan2000 "Ghetto Celebrity" from the album In The Mode by Roni Size & Reprazent2001 "La Rhumba" & "Glocko Pop" from the RZA album Digital Bullet2001 "Enjoy Da Ride" from the Redman album Malpractice2001 "Dog In Heat" from the Missy Elliott album Miss E...So Addictive2001 "Party & Bullshit" from the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack2001 Iron Flag album by the Wu-Tang Clan2001 "Red Meth And Bee" from the Cypress Hill album Stoned Raiders2002 "Flowers" from the Ghostface Killah album Bulletproof Wallets2003 "Respect Mine" from the Mathematics album Love, Hell Or Right2003 "Love 1st Sight" from the Mary J. Blige album Love & Life2003 "We Pop Remix" RZA single2003 "Bring The Pain" from the Missy Elliott album This Is Not A Test!2003 "Ice Cream Part 2" from the Raekwon album Lex Diamonds Story2003 "Noble Art" from the IAM album Revoir Un Printemps2003 "Rock 'N' Roll" from the Naughty By Nature album Icons2004 "Secret Rivals" from the Masta Killa album No Said Date2004 "The Drummer" from the Theodore Unit album 7182004 Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 album by the Wu-Tang Clan2005 "Head Rush", "John 3:16" & "Spot Lite" from the Mathematics album The Problem2005 "All My Niggas", "Shoot On Sight S.O S." & "Street Education" from the Streetlife album Street Education2005 "High Rollers" from the Proof album Searching for Jerry Garcia2005 "Still On It" from the Ashanti album Collectables by Ashanti2006 "9 Milli Bros." from the Ghostface Killah album Fishscale