via TSS
TSS: It’s been a good 10 years since the original Blackout! Do the planets have to align, lunar eclipses, Apocalypse Now-type shit to get y’all in the studio?
Method Man: Nah we been in the studio, y’all know that the work was still there. Red has his solo project, Def Squad, Gilla House and numerous mix CDs he was working on. I had my solo project and the Wu-Tang joint. So we was staying in the loop but the label didn’t come around to the table because they were going through their staff changes at the time — but it’s here now though.
TSS: What was the creation process of Blackout 2! ? Was it a totally different experience or more of the usual routine.
Method Man: It was a casual approach. We went in with our heads clear. We didn’t have any pressure from the label and we went in comfortable. No pressure to do radio songs or none of that. And I actually, honestly LISTENED to the music to and conceptualized from that point on.
TSS: What should fans expect when they pick up Blackout 2!? The first record “A-Yo” got a good response online even if it wasn’t your typical Red & Meth sound.
Redman: I think it ties in with the first record on a different level. I love the video and how it didn’t cost a lot.
Method Man: My thing was: I knew it was a good record but I didn’t think people would receive it as well because like you said, it wasn’t a Red & Meth-type record, ya know? The whole vibe of track and everything was real soulful when usually you get a more party, fun vibe from us. But we made that soulful joint fun all in the same time.
TSS: How important is this album to you at this stage in your careers?
Method Man: Well it’s important to me because I really haven’t been celebrated for my MC skills in a while and it’s good to be looked at in a different light in a kind of a…”I told you so” moment but I’m never the one to say something like that, ya know?
TSS: “City Lights,” with Bun B also got a good response. How did the you get into contact with Bun B?
Method Man: Well, Bun always has been a friend of mine. I actually met Bun B and Pimp C the day that Pac died.
TSS: What was the environment like at that moment?
Method Man: Well, we were all standing and smoking outside of this hotel, and we heard the news come through on the radio. That shit was fucked up. We held a little forum right there. Talked about staying safe in Hip-Hop. But yeah, Bun is hot; I known him for years.
Redman: Bun B’s that nigga! Me and Bun have a relationship where we reach out to each other to do work. When we did that song, we was talking like it felt like Pimp C’s spirit was in the studio. He helped us out with that track. Yeah, pick up that new UGK record.
Method Man: I don’t go for that spirit shit really, but we down with UGK. But you know who does set the tone for the record? Reggie Noble.
Redman: Maaaan, Meth is professional. Bun is professional. We sent Bun the track and he did his thing and sent it right back. I love people that do it like that. Do it for the love, not the money. Then again, that’s probably why I’m broke (Laughs).
TSS: Aside from the Bun B feature, Blackout 2! is genuinely an pure East Coast record but coincidentally, I heard a skit on a new album that basically stated NYC Hip-Hop can’t move forward without some of the older artists getting out of the way. What do you say to these claims?
Method Man: Oh wow! I think I know who said this but check this out: it’s like that’s the problem with the game now. There’s so much separation and dudes can’t even pay homage to the ones who paved the way. They know they been at a cookout or birthday party and was rockin’ to dude’s tunes. It don’t hurt a dude to big somebody up or see ‘em in the streets like “Yo, I fux with your music” and keep it moving, know what I’m saying? It’s like the way we at it now, everybody got this “I-I-I…me-me-me” attitude and I can feel where they coming from. “We the new cats; we need our shine too” but ain’t none of us sitting at our labels like “Yo, don’t sign them niggas.” That’s a label decision. That has NOTHING to do with us. If anything, we in the water too, swimming with niggas, trying to keep pace.
Redman: We made it easier for them to get their foot in the door. Everybody is going to have their opinions but there needs to be a clear understanding that there’s room for everybody. We ain’t in your way, you in your own way! The Internet allows you to do whatever you want without having to wait on a label. And it’s not exactly an ignorant statement because I understand where dude’s is coming from because they trying to find a solution to get their foot in the door…But you know what I say to that? Why don’t you talk to some of these old heads with their foot in the door?
Method Man: If they got room in their fuckin’ entourage or room in the label or want to walk your record up in there then fine. If not, fuck it! Basically niggas can learn something from those same old heads they feel is blocking they fuckin’ path.
TSS: Funny that you mention that because Joe Budden just made some comments wHere he was kind of throwing jabs at your way over a Vibe Magazine top rappers list. He basically said he can outrap you any day of the week Meth and he was questioning your #9 rank Red.*
Method Man: Who?
TSS: Joe Budden!
Method Man: Oh Benjamin Buddens! Yeah, that movie was dope, Brad Pitt did his thing in that shit.
Redman: Ehh…great. I need more haters so whatever it is…ya know.
*(At the time of the interview, Method Man was bent on taking the high road with the Joe Budden situation. Days later, well, you see how that turned out…)
TSS: Disgruntled rappers aside, what about the some of the younger fans? How do you expect to get their attention?
Method Man: I think a lot of the younger dudes like up to the OGs. Like they say, if you got 25 squares in a room and 3 dudes that know what’s up, if those 3 dudes say it’s hot, then the rest of those 25 squares are gonna follow…
TSS: (Laughs!!!)
Method Man: Yeah, I’m not saying that the young’ns is squares; I’m just saying listen to the OGs, they know what they talkin’ bout.
TSS: Tell me about BBC (Blunt Brothers Cinema). What kind of operations are going down over there?
Redman: Yessir! Glad you said that. It’s in full effect. I started blasting shit off on the Internet during the making of the album so hopefully in the future you’ll see a lot more of that. I got a lot to learn when it comes to acting and directing so I’ma do my research and take it serious.
TSS: And you have two albums in the works at the same time?
Redman: Oh yeah, just trying to keep it building. Just like we all know the game done switched around and it’s so fast-paced now. It’s not like the 90’s when you could drop an album and take a year off. Once you get that window open man, you gotta keep it open and it and takes more time to come back when it’s closed. Just trying to keep it focused and keep those wheels turning but I’m more of a “do-it-for-everybody” kind of guy. I’m trying to keep the door open in case anybody from Jersey wanna come out, the Wu members, Def Squad, Keith Murray, — whoever. I got that door open. So I’m dropping Muddy Waters 2 dropping next year and a new one Reggie Noble 9 ½ in September. We’re on the grind.
TSS: I saw a video where it looked like you had picked up DJing again…
Redman: Oh absolutely, I was just doing some a little bit ago. I’ve been fuckin’ wit’ my dude Kid Capri and shit and he keeps me up on all the latest records and I go over his house
TSS: Meth, we did a piece on 4:21: The Day After recently and even hinted that it may be your best album. Would you agree with that?
Method Man: Oh most definitely! I thought it was a great album. It could have been a lot better but time constraints puts a little heaviness on your head at times. But yeah, I think to date, it was my best besides the first one [Tical] because that was pure, unadulterated Meth.
TSS: What’s the craziest story you guys have from touring?
Method Man: Red’s harness popped in Chicago on the Hard Knock Life Tour. We were up on these harnesses, they were making it look like we were flying, you know? We like 25 feet in the air…
Redman: Well I was like coming down, they had the ladder out and everything, so I was about 10 feet up, and the harness popped and I fell on this dude. I was all right, but he had to go to the hospital.
Method Man: Oh, there was this one time when I almost got choked out with a T-shirt before a show by a crazy ass fan.
Redman: I’ll tell you, the time I was most scared about this dude! we were at this show and he jumped off the stage into a crowd of like 3,000 people. I was scared as hell. I was like, shit somebody need to go down there, but I wasn’t jumping! (Laughs). We ain’t need both of us down there in that mob.
Method Man: We got too many stories. Red been doin this for bout 18 years. I been doing it for almost 17. It’ll be 17 in November actually.
TSS: But this is a Smoking Session though. What up with Mary Jane? And we since Blackout 2! is here, what about a How High 2?
Method Man: How High 2 is not going to be a movie. We love the fact that they made the first one a cult classic and they don’t throw that term around loosely. So if we can’t do better than that movie, then we shouldn’t even bother to make a How High 2. But as far as doing another movie under the Red & Meth brand…of course! We gotta put something out for our smokers.
TSS: And I saw a video courtesy of BBC, Sour Diesel is the herbal choice at the moment?
Method Man: Sour Diesel’s top notch right now but I still rock with the OG bubblegum know what I’m saying? And the Strawberry…Strawberry’s good. Oh! But the Granddaddy Purp is top dog right now! That shit right there…! If you can get your hands on some of that shit, send me some.
Redman: Yeah, I like the Granddaddy Purp too as well as the Sour and I tried that Catpiss too.
Method Man: That Cheese is good too!
Redman: Yeah I was bout to say that next!
TSS: Do y’all smoke Phillies?
Redman: No sir!
Method Man: No we don’t smoke Phillies and I don’t fuck with flavored wraps either. Cuz it’s like we know want they doing; marketing that shit to kids. Us old cats, we don’t like the weed tasting sweet. It makes the weed taste distorted and shit. But I have fell for shit like banana backwoods but I threw some Strawberry Kush up in there and had a nice lil’ banana strawberry cocktail. You never tried that huh?
TSS: Nah, I’ll have to check it out.
Method Man: Yeah that shit is aiight (Laughs)
TSS: The chemistry that you guys have in the studio. Does it stem from competition like you both are trying to out perform each other?
Redman: That’s a good one. We just try to outdo niggas who aren’t in a circle know what I’m sayin’?
Method Man: More or less that’s how I approach the joint. Especially when I hear his verse first I be like “Yeahhh! All I gotta do is fill in the blanks here and here and we good.”
Redman: Yessir, cuz we know the haters is gonna come through and we know there’s a lot of opinions so we just try to make our shit tight. If he don’t look good, I don’t look good and vice versa. So when they hear it and shit, they like “Yeah, O.K. We can’t fuck with their circle right now.” That’s what I want. I want niggas to hear it and be like “Aiight, their circle is unfuckwitable.”
TSS: So on a song like 2Pac’s “I Got My Mind Made Up,” who would you say came the best?
Method Man: Well I like Red’s verse better than mine…
Redman: But I like Meth’s energy the best…
TSS: So it’s safe to say Red & Meth works as unit at all times.
Redman: Definitely.
Method Man: People don’t even have to have an open mind when it comes to our new shit though. If you ever been to Red & Meth show, if you ever seen that fuckin’ movie, if you ever seen us in the streets you already know what it do.