Method Man Tical O: The Prequel CD

While the RZA is the Wu-Tang Clan's beat-driver and Ol' Dirty Bastard garners the most attention with his high-profile dementia, Method Man is arguably the group's fulcrum. One of the collective's first hits was entitled "Method Man," and he was the first to bust out of the solo gates with the hugely successful TICAL in 1994. Blessed with his signature gruff voice and a twisted lyrical prowess, Method Man has consistently released his particular brand of madness with a proficient calculation befitting his name.

As with the Ghostface record released in early 2004, TICAL 0: THE PREQUEL contains fewer hints than usual of the distinctive Wu world. RZA introduces the record, Ghostface and Raekwon drop by for one track apiece, but that's about the sum of Wu representation on the album. Method's rapping/acting partner Redman pops up for one track, the instant classic "We Some Dogs," which also features the inexhaustible Snoop Dogg. On this and other tracks, Meth is at best when playing off the rhymes of others, and this outing boasts a stunning hip-hop guest list that also includes Ludacris, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes. As the titles implies, TICAL 0: THE PREQUEL is vintage Method Man.

While the RZA is the Wu-Tang Clan's beat-driver and Ol' Dirty Bastard garners the most attention with his high-profile dementia, Method Man is arguably the group's fulcrum. One of the collective's first hits was entitled "Method Man," and he was the first to bust out of the solo gates with the hugely successful TICAL in 1994. With his signature gruff voice and a twisted lyrical prowess, Method Man has consistently released his particular brand of madness with a proficient calculation befitting his name.

Method Man's third solo work, following 1998's uneven Tical 2000 (and released a month after Ghostface's superior-in-every-aspect Pretty Toney Album), arrived with many conflicting rumors and circumstances attached to it. On the M2 program Spoke 'n' Heard, Meth informed journalist/host Touré that Tical 0 is his best record, and alluded to being boxed in when working with one producer and one sound. Around the same time, the official Wu-Tang website reported that the MC was not pleased with the version Def Jam opted to put out, due to its scant number of RZA productions -- one single cut, when an entire record's worth was allegedly put together throughout the past couple years. Whatever the circumstances might be, there's no doubt that Tical 0 is even

Recording information: 36 Chambers Studio, New York, NY; Buzz Soundworks, New York, NY; Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Daddy's House, New York, NY; Dnab Studios, Detroit, MI; Dog House Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Mirror Image Recorders, New York, NY; Selah Studios, Detroit, MI; Sound on Sound, New York, NY; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; The Island Def Jam Recording Studio; United Technique Audio, Chicago, IL.

Photographers: Walik Goshorn; Matthew Doyle.

Unknown Contributor Role: Dawud West.

Personnel: Method Man; Shawnna (vocals); Mike "Dat Nigga Chav" Chavarria (guitar); Streetlife (vocals); Chinky, Ghostface Killah, Kardinal Offishall, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Raekwon, Redman, Saukrates, Snoop Dogg, Black Ice, Busta Rhymes.

Audio Mixers: Segal; Glen Markezi; Rich Keller; Rick St. Hillaire.

Q (p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[I]t's the essential hip hop album of the year so far."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.113) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A] bullish, belligerent return....There is much here to be enjoyed."