Today marks the forty-ninth birthday of Method Man, Wu-Tang legend and an all-around incredible emcee. With an impressive discography under his belt, including the classic Tical, the Redman-collaboration LP Blackout, a vast repertoire of Wu-related endeavors, Method Man remains one of the most appreciated voices in the hip-hop pantheon of greats. And yet still, he doesn't always get the appreciation he deserves. Therefore, it seems only fitting to pay homage to the Man himself with a throwback banger off Tical 0: The Prequel.
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It's always interesting to go back to the onset of the millennium, specifically 2004 in this instance, and contrast the music with that of today. For some context, the Busta Rhymes-assisted "What's Happenin'" was a single, earning rotation with its nostalgic beat from DJ Scratch and heavy emphasis on bars and flow. The pair are well-matched, with Meth's cool charisma striking a match and Busta Rhyme's madcap energy serving as the fuel. "Be in hell with gasoline drawers just for the hell of it, and I ain't delicate, flows hot as kettle get," spits Mef. "Now if you ain't fucking with that, you must be celibate."
While Tical 0: The Prequel wasn't exactly well-received at the time of its release, "What's Happenin" has aged particularly gracefully, sounding almost fresh despite its raw aesthetic. The premise is simple: two veteran emcees going back and forth in the name of fun and sport, a pickup game that rises in competitive intensity with every taunt. Big respect to M-E-T-H-O-D Man, and happy birthday!
QUOTABLE LYRICS
I came to bring the pain, more hard to the brain
I'm busting that ass again
I burn like acid rain, that ass is lame
These n***s tryna see how I come, ask your dame
Ain't it evident I'm hittin' it? Yes, Meth for President
Be in hell with gasoline drawers just for the hell of it
