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Method Man (born Clifford Smith, April 1, 1971 in Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. Method Man takes his name from The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man, a 1979 film by Jimmy Shaw starring Peter Chen Lau.

Pre Wu-Tang

Method Man spent a childhood growing up in 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 Meth 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.

Career

As Wu-Tang Clan ascended to hip hop stardom, Method Man was always one of the most visible members of the collective. He was the only member 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, 1994 in music) 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 for a series of hit singles, one of which (the Blige duet "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need") won a Grammy, before recording the second Wu-Tang album, Wu-Tang Forever. His second solo album was Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998, 1998 in music), which was heavily influenced by the apocalypse theories surrounding the forthcoming end of the millennium, and which featured myriad guest appearances, from his fellow Clansmen to Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, D'Angelo, Chris Rock, Mobb Deep, Redman, and brief cameos from Russell Simmons, Janet Jackson, and even Donald Trump. The album sold even better than his first, though reviews were mixed and its long runtime and abundance of intermittent comedy skits were widely criticized. 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.

Acting career and recent history

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 One Eight Seven,The Great White Hype, Oz, How High (a stoner film with Redman), The Wire, My Baby's Daddy, Garden State and Soul Plane, also Cop Land, 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. Most recently Method Man had a role in an episode of CSI named "Poppin' Tags" about murder between Street Teams as Drops.Also him and Redman were the voices of the two lead "Pixies" when they rap, in "Fairly Odd Parents".

He had a guest appearance in the music video for the 2003 "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys, where he played the role of her boyfriend.

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.

Method Man's fourth album, entitled 4:21: The Day After was released in August 2006 With guest appearances from the likes of Ginuwine, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Redman,Fat Joe, Megan Rochell, Raekwon, Lauryn Hill, and much more, with a star lineup of producers, Havoc, David Hackworthy, Chris Widder "Criss-Cross Widder", Chucky "Chizzle" Brown, Erick Sermon,Scott Storch, Mathematics, Mr. Porter, and RZA. This time around, a more focused Method Man went back to his hip-hop roots and both hip hop fans fans and the media took notice. Despite this being one of Meth's strongest solo efforts to date, the album failed to do well commercially due to it having no single or video, which Method Man has held discontent towards his own label for. However he has been touring strongly throughout the country to promote the album, and has appeared onstage with fellow Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck, as well as New York up and comers Saigon, and Gat Murdah.

Method Man has two sisters, Terri and Missy. Method Man has two children; a son born in 1997, and a daughter born in 1998.

Method Man has been featured in the Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, Def Jam Vendetta, and Def Jam: Fight for NY video games. Method Man is a big fan of video games himself and has publicly stated that he loves playing SOCOM online with other PS2 users, and is even part of a clan.

Recently, Method Man has had a conflict with New York radio host Wendy Williams. Williams talked about Method Man's wife having cancer on air, which was something he had wanted to keep private. He said that people who lived next door to him didn't even know, but Williams made it public over the radio. [1]

Aliases

• Gregory Ward
• The Ghost Rider (from the comic Ghost Rider)
• Johnny Blaze (from the comic Ghost Rider)
• Jonathan Blazeen
• Meth
• Mr. Meth
• Mef
• Mr. Mef
• Hot Nikkels
• Hot Nixon
• Hot Nix
• Big John Stud
• MZA ("The Mizza")
• The Method Mizza
• Shakwon (5% Nation "righteous name")
• Tical
• The Iron Lung
• The Panty Raider
• Methtical
• Metaphysical Man
• Ticallion Stallion
• Jamie Ross (Of YJL London)
• John-John McLane
• John-John Blazini
• Johnny Dangerous
• Johnny Trechorous
• Joe Quarry (in the "Gravel Pit" music video)
• Long John Silver
• Johnny Storm (from the comic book group Fantastic Four)
• Ma
• John Doe
• The Shaolin Assassin
• Pepe la Pue
• The Blunted One
• Blaziblaza
• John Blaze-Zeeny
• The M-E-T-H-O-D Man
• John J Phenomenom
• The Super Sperm
• The Heatmeister
• Methodome

Samples

• of "Sub Crazy" from Tical

Discography

For Full Discography see Method Man Discography.

Albums

Image:Tical.jpg|Tical
(November 15, 1994)
Platinum U.S. Image:Tical2000.jpg|Tical 2000: Judgement Day
(November 17, 1998)
Platinum U.S. Image:Blackout.jpg|Blackout!
(September 28, 1999)
Platinum U.S. Image:Tical0.jpg|Tical 0: The Prequel
(May 18, 2004)
Gold Image:421thedayafter.jpg|4:21...The Day After
(August 29, 2006)

Awards

Filmography

Films & TV

Image:yomommalogo.jpg|Yo Momma
Himself
2006 Image:Wild n out.jpg|Wild 'N Out
Himself
2006 Image:CSI Season 6.jpg|CSI
Drops
2006 Image:venom2005film.jpg|Venom
Deputy Turner
2005 Image:mindofmenciaseason1.jpg|Mind of Mencia
Himsel as Guest
2005 Image:MethRedShow.jpg|Method & Red
Method Man
2004 Image:The Wire2.jpg|The Wire
Cheese
2003-2004
4 Episode Apperance Image:Soul Plane poster.jpg|Soul Plane
Muggsy
2004 Image:Garden State Poster.jpg|Garden State
Diego
2004 Image:My Baby's Daddy DVD.JPG|My Baby's Daddy
No Good
2004 Image:Volcanohigh.jpg|Volcano High
Mr.Ma(MTV Eng.Dub)
2004 Image:Scary-movie-3-poster-3.jpg|Scary Movie 3
Himself
2003 Image:Ozposter.jpg|Oz
Tug Daniels
2001
4 Episode Apperance Image:How High poster.JPG|How High
Silas
2001 Image:Blacknwhiteposter1999.jpg|Black & White
Himself
1999 Image:Belly.jpg|Belly
Shameek
1998 Image:Cop land movie poster.jpg|Cop Land
Shondel
1997 Image:One eight seven ver1.jpg|One Eight Seven
Dennis Brodway
1997 Image:Great white hype ver1.jpg|The Great White Hype
Himself preforming Bring Da Pain
1996

DVDs

Image:Disciples36dvd.jpg|Disciplines Of 36th Chambers : Chapter 2
2004 Image:WuTangVideos1.jpg|Wu-Tang Video Antology Vol.1
2004 Image:WuTangVideos2.jpg|Wu-Tang Video Antology Vol.2
2005 Image:MethStripgame.jpg|Method Man Presents : The Stripgame
2005 Image:LegendWuTangdvd.jpg|Legend Of Wu-Tang The Videos
2006 Image:MethRedPlayboy.jpg|Meth & Red : How To Throw A Party At The Playboy Mansion
2006

Video Games

Image:WuTangPc.jpg|Wu-Tang:Iron Flag Arcade Game Image:WutangPSX boxart.jpg|Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style Image:Def Jam Vendetta - Front Cover - NTSC - Gamecube.jpg|Def Jam Vendetta Image:Def Jam Fight for NY.jpg|Def Jam Fight for NY

External links

• Method Man official site
• Wu-Tang Clan official site
• Method Man Interview: No Primadonnas Here
• Method Man Fansite - The #1 Meth Fansite
• Method Man at the Original Hip-Hop Lyrics Archive
• Method Man at the IMDB

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