Method Man Awarded at the 38th Annual GRAMMY Awards
In 1996, Method Man was awarded "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get by." He is part of a larger rap group called the Wu-Tang Clan, whose primary rappers were, on its 1993 debut album, Prince Rakeem (aka The RZA), The Method Man, U-God, Rebel Ins, Shallah Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ol Dirty Bastard, and The Genius (aka The GZA), and whose music-mixer and producer was the 4th Disciple. The links below give articles which connect Method Man to violently racist music, and the article given below the links outlines Method Man's own albums.
Method Man's Solo Albums
Method Man's first solo album came out in 1994, and on it, he continues with the same themes that were on Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 debut album, the themes being violent imagery directing death threats at rival rappers and positive imagery promoting marijuana use. He gives shout-outs to whom he calls "my brothers in the belly of the beast [prison]." ("What the Blood Clot.") He gives a variation of a common Islamic greeting and says that he "drops bombs like Qur'an." ("Sub Crazy.") He makes two vague references to "85," possibly being references to 5 Percent Nation. He speaks of using his "third eye." ("What the Blood Clot" and "Stimulation.") A reference is made to the rapper Black Moon. ("I Get My Thang in Action.") Rappers from the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan joined in as guest rappers and helped produce the songs.
In the liner notes, Method Man sends out "peace" to the Nation of Gods and Earths, to radio stations, and to blacks in prison. He sends out "peace" to a long list of artists, some of whom are as follows: Shyheim (aka The Rugged Child), Hell Razah, Killah Priest, 60 Sec. Assassin, Sunz of Man, Gravediggaz, Black Moon, Smith N' Wesson, Helter Skelter, Doug E. Fresh, Pete Rock, Heavy D, Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, the Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, King Sun, Rakim, Big Mike of the Geto Boys, Shaquille O'Neal, The Lady of Rage, Apache, Nas, Keith Murray, Rampage, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, Spice 1, E-40, Cypress Hill, Lil One-Half Dead, Pharcyde, Gangstarr, Jeru the Damaja, A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, Redman, Lord Finesse, Onyx, Ultramagnetic, Biggie Smallz (aka Notorious B.I.G.), Craig Mack, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Naughty by Nature, Red Alert, Kid Capri, De La Soul, PMD, Das EFX, Ice-T, Conscious Daughters, Havoc, Yellowman, Funkmaster Flex, Dr Dre, Nice-N-Smooth, and Run DMC. In 1994 Method Man joined in as a guest rapper on a Notorious B.I.G. album, saying that his lyrics are "deep like the mind of Farrakhan." ("The What" track of the Ready to Die album.)
Method Man's 1998 solo album opens with the statement that historical slavery affects blacks today, and it is as follows: "while the 666 got more tricks. . . . we still licking the scars from whips on slave ships." "Niggas ain't ready for the holocaust," Method Man warns. "Look deep into the black thought," he says, "a holy war is being fought on Allah's court." "By any means, get cream [money]," he says. Method Man "came to bring the pain once more" because whites are trying to corrupt with "devil worship and satanic verses." He speaks in a "project dialect," he says, giving "bomb threat to the air waves." With his music, "it's going down," he says, "invasion USA." Blacks die in the streets because they cannot get enough to eat, Method Man accuses. ("Perfect World.") There are descriptions of natural disasters, and Method Man says that "God [is] hating ugly in the worst way." He pledges allegiance to the "dark side." He calls himself a "Wu-Tang Killa Bee," and he says that he likes to smoke marijuana. "Niggas better learn they math," he says. ("Cradle Rock--featuring Left Eye.") He destroys evil, he says, and using his "third" eye, he has knowledge of "the Seventh Sign." He will "synchronize minds [and] combine thoughts that motivate." He speaks of "street politicians" who are on a suicide mission. ("Dangerous Grounds.")
Listeners are told that they should not "snitch" when arrested. Whether it is "the rhyme or the crime," rapper Street Life says that he will "still shine." He adds the following: "crime is what I live for." He challenges other rappers, telling them that they are not true thugs. Praised are Ice Cube's rap group called Westside Connection and the movie called Dead Presidents, both being vehicles that glorify crime. ("Retro Godfather.") Wu-Tang Clan rapper Inspectah Deck claims that he makes thousands go "berserk" and that he brings "chaos to blocks like the riots in Watts." ("Spazzola.") Smoking marijuana is promoted again. ("Party Crasher.") Crime and gunfights are glorified. ("Grid Iron Rap--featuring Stree Life.") Method Man says that he must be heard "from the ghetto to the suburbs." On the album, he has given himself the additional name Johnny Blaze. "Welcome to the killing fields," he says, "where Johnny Dangerous" is making changes. He says that he has been in the ghetto all of his life. ("Killin Fields.") The rappers ally themselves with Da Lench Mob when they call themselves Guerrillas in tha Mist. ("Big Dogs--featuring Redman.") There is a description of the "collapse of civilization" with "anarchy, genocide, starvation," and plagues. Method Man gives the following countdown for "Judgment Day": "ten, let the countdown begin; nine, I was born in the mind; eight, take the head of a snake; seven, behold Armageddon; six, ain't no love for the rich; five, only strong will survive; four, because we live by the sword; three, plus sixty degrees; two, for the black and the blue; one, for the sun, step into the millennium." Being full of self-concern, he tells listeners the following: "don't blame me, blame society." In the year 2000, people should party and throw their hands in the air like they "just don't care." (Judgement Day.")
Other guest artists who contributed to the album are Cappadonna, Ed Lover, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Killa Sin, Mobb Deep, Star & Polite, Redman, D'Angelo, and Janet Jackson.
Method Man performed with Onyx on the 1998 soundtrack for the movie Ride.
References Tical, Method Man, 1994, Def Jam Recordings, PolyGram, Philips' Electronics. PolyGram merged with Universal Music Group in 1998, the parent being The Seagram Company.
Tical 2000: Judgement Day, Method Man, 1998, Def Jam Records, PolyGram Group Distribution, Philips' Electronics. PolyGram is now know as Universal Music Group under The Seagram Company.
Ready To Die, Notorious B.I.G., 1994, Bad Boy Entertainment.
Ride, Original Soundtrack, 1998, Tommy Boy, Time Warner.
Posted at http://home.att.net/~phosphor on June 30, 1999.
Last editing was posted September 15, 1999.
Update: 8-10-99: link to Onyx.
The linked articles are not a complete summary of Method Man's connections to violently racist music, and readers may want to research and expose more of it.