Major Lazer is headlining Saturday night's A&O Ball at the Riviera Theater, and you're probably excited to pound a few shots of tequila and bust out dance moves so dirty they might get you arrested in a number of other states. It's cool – so are we.
But you may have been so busy checking out how many ways Diplo can be an asshole that you overlooked the opening act: Method Man is one of hip-hop's most enduring MCs, and will be bringing his stoned, old school beats to the Riviera Theater as well. Known in recent years for his role as Cheese on HBO's critically acclaimed show The Wire, Method Man has had musical success as part of an iconic hip-hop group, as a collaborative artist and as a solo act. Check out these Method Man basics so you're in the know for Saturday's show:
"Method Man" by Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
Method Man got his start as a member of one of hip-hop's most acclaimed groups of all-time, the Wu-Tang Clan. "Method Man," off the group's debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), is a showcase of the MC's lyrical talents as well as RZA's signature production. The verses Method Man contributed to Wu-Tang's debut walked the line between violent, street-cred worthy material and weed anthems, making him the group's first standout member.
"The What" by The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Method Man (1994)
Ready to Die, the only album The Notorious B.I.G. released in his lifetime, is famous for a lot of things. One of the record's notable qualities is that Biggie doesn't feature any other rappers – other than Method Man, that is. The Wu-Tang rapper contributes a guest verse to "The What," in what some have since claimed is the best collaboration hip-hop has ever produced. Keep an eye out for the interplay between the different styles the two MCs bring to the plate – both are quintessentially New York and timeless.
"I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need to Get By" by Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige (1995)
This is the best it got for Method Man outside of Wu-Tang, both in terms of critical acclaim and popularity. "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need to Get By" is actually a RZA-produced remix of the grittier "All I Need" off Meth's well-received 1994 solo debut, Tical, but Mary J. Blige's guest vocals help make the signature Wu-Tang sound digestible for a larger audience. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1995 and earned Method Man and Blige the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
"How High" by Method Man & Redman (1995)
Fellow Def Jam rapper Redman has often been considered an unofficial, auxiliary member of Wu-Tang, and his collaborations with Method Man have been consistently excellent. Although the duo didn't release a proper album until 1999'sBlackout! they enjoyed plenty of early success, especially with their marijuana ode "How High." True to its name, "How High" is more drugged out than Method Man's other recordings and is indicative of Redman's general influence on the rapper.