August 30, 2006 @ 10:37 am

Method Man: No More Fun & Games

by: John Kennedy

Method Man may have dropped his latest album on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, but he is fighting to prove that his career is far from washed up. The 35-year-old rapper’s last album, 2004’s Tical 0: The Prequel, was dragged through the mud by critics for its scattered production, lengthy guest list and uninspired rhymes. In addition, Meth has taken flack for a flopped television series (Fox’s Method and Red), cheesy endorsements (Right Guard’s “Power Stripe” deodorant) and an overall preoccupation with anything but music. And now, as Ghostface basks in the critical acclaim of his latest album Fishscale and anticipation builds for Cuban Linx II, the sequel to Raekwon’s classic debut, fellow Clansman Meth is speculating on why three leading hip hop magazines have yet to request an interview with him, with his fourth solo album rapidly approaching its release date. “I think it’s personal,” says Method Man, whose 4:21… The Day After hit stores yesterday. “You would think I’d deserve at least an article.” left But all of the blows Method Man has taken from critics and the media only push him to work harder – and get even. “It gets to the point where [us artists] start second guessing ourselves,” he says. “Maybe I’m not as good. Maybe I’m not relevant to kids nowadays. That ain't even the case, it’s just you’ve been getting beat down so much it’s like you either accept it or you fight back. I don’t accept shit, I’m fighting back.” The brawl begins on “Say,” 4:21’s lead single, which matches sobering Method Man verses with a fitting Lauryn Hill sample. Over Erick Sermon’s strumming strings, Meth rhymes, “The last album wasn’t feeling my style / this time my foot up in they ass, bet they feeling me now / ’Cause Tical / he put his heart in every track he do / but somehow, y’all found some way to give a wack review.” Meth’s fury endures the entire album, which he calls his most aggressive to date. So for now, you can say goodbye to the good-humored lyricist and meet a more serious emcee with the same creative wordplay. “You play around a lot, you like to have fun and shit, that’s what people take it for, a joke,” Method Man says. “You gotta bark on motherfuckers every now and then.” By now, Meth has probably realized that with greatness comes even greater expectations. Along with the praise, he’s had his swagger knocked throughout his 13-year career, from complaints that he only performs well as a guest star to claims that he needs RZA beats to shine. “If I’m on somebody’s shit who’s selling millions of records, you goddamn right I’m trying to sway some of their fans over to my side of the gate,” Meth says. “I’m going in there with a vengeance. But when I’m in the studio [alone] and it’s more introspective… maybe my abstract shit is a little too abstract.” Method Man does admit that he is most comfortable over RZA’s backdrops (“I need those RZA beats”), so longtime fans will be pleased to hear Meth flowing over four RZA productions on 4:21, including the vintage Wu, Raekwon-assisted “Presidential M.C.” When presented with touchy queries about the post-retirement career of Def Jam’s presidential emcee, Jay-Z, Method Man evades with blurts of his own album release date. “I’ve been watching what I say around [the media] because y’all get it misconstrued.” That’s not the only lesson Meth’s learned. He says he’s falling back from the acting gigs to focus on music. But he would like to go to school for Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes roles, such as producing original shows. No matter what Method Man does, one thing remains certain – he’s going to keep it Meth. “Certain criticisms, you gotta take heed to that shit. Fuckers will talk you out of your game. You just have to know what to listen to and what not to listen to.” Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

Article tags: 4:21, Fishscale, Ghostface, Lauryn Hill, Method Man, Raekwon, Stay, Tical 0: The Prequel, Wu Tang Clan 

del.icio.us digg Furl Reddit YahooMyWeb

Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2006/08/method_man_no_more_fun_and_games/

Return to previous page