METHOD MAN & REDMAN
Blackout! (Universal/Island)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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The Panty Raider (Meth) meets Funk Doctah (Redman) head on for a long-deserved dual effort on wax. Or CD. Method Man teams up with his good friend, Reggie Noble on sixteen new songs (and three bonus tracks), once and for all proving that he is the one voice of the Wu-Tang Clan that everyone listens for. While bandmates U-God and the Gza brought out less than amazing albums recently, you can always count on Hott Nikkels to deliver the goods.

With "Blackout!" I've become positive that part of Tical's appeal, aside from his shifty, relaxed drawl on the microphone, is his mastery of off-handed clichés and phrases that make him sound unique ("land-sharks get their chin checked when I Jabberjaw"). Likewise the Gza has lyrical mastery, and finds use of even the most bizarre lyrical references on "Enter the Wu-Tang," but it's Johnny Blaze who got a track in his own name on the record. "Don't make me pull a Tyson and bite a nigga ear" says Iron Lung, the king of the Clan. Redman, who subsequently needs a lot more nicknames, is beyond superb on this album, which comes very close to matching the brilliance he showed on "Doc's Da Name 2000." Redman's more aggro vocal style meshes quite nicely with Method Man's slow and low vibe.

Overall, it's a compelling listen, unspoiled even by LL Cool J's brief scatological cameo (the always great Ghostface Killah and Streetlife also do quick spotlight steals). If you like the guys from Staten Island, this will make you wanna trade in the plodding Wu-Tang Forever to make space for it in your collection. Effortlessly fantastic, even at over seventy minutes, which is a staggering length by any listener's standards.

© 2000 - Jason Thornberry