Ranking the Best Method Man Albums
Later this month, we’ll be marking 25 years (LAWD) since Method Man and Redman teamed up for fondly remembered debut collabo album. Since we haven’t looked at Meth Tical’s discography in full yet on this site, I figured it was no better time to give Johnny Blaze his time in the sun.
If you weren’t around for the emergence of the Wu-Tang Clan, a) I feel very sorry for you and b) Method Man almost immediately established himself as the star to watch. Although many members would go on to enjoy solo fame, Mr. Meth still remains one of the most distinct voices of 90s hip-hop, with one of the best flows of all time.
Despite his long tenure, he hasn’t had a lot of solo albums, so we’ll widen the playing field by recapping and ranking his solo AND collaboration LPs (excluding the Wu group efforts and the 2001 How High soundtrack).
10. Tical O: The Prequel (2004)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: Even though I own this album, I forgot it existed until I worked on this list. After relistening to I can see why I did. Sonically, Tical 0 is all over the place, which, as you’ll see on this rankings, is a constant struggle. Cohesive projects can be a challenge for our boy Tical. Album No. 3 does have its moments; at best it showcases Meth’s versatility. He can keep the party moving with more upbeat cuts and can be more menacing when the beat slows. But Meth struggles to maintain that momentum throughout. There are some shining moments (“The Turn” went triple platinum on my iPod) but many others aren’t a good fit for Meth’s style.
Forgotten favorites: “The Turn,” “Afterparty,” “The Motto”
9. The Meth Lab (2015)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: The Meth Lab was Meth’s first solo project in nearly a decade and, well, it’s more of a whimper than a roaring return to form. Credit where it’s due – even though there are a ton of guests on this thing, and I mean a TON – Method Man’s starpower shines brightest. Even in a crowded booth, all eyes – and ears – are on him. But the loooong tracklist and inconsistent features make this project a chore. It runs out of steam much too quickly.
Forgotten favorites: “Straight Gutta,” “Water,” “Soundcheck”
8. Meth Lab Season 2: The Lithium (2018)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: Yep, we’re back in the Meth Lab, but the results are largely the same. The album’s sequencing has improved and Meth himself continues to entertain but y’all know the deal by now – too many unremarkable guests and wildly inconsistent production make this another experiment that needed more time in the lab.
Forgotten favorites: “Eastside,” “Grand Prix,” “The Lab”
7. 4:21 … The Day After (2006)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: OK, so now things begin to pick up a bit. I wore this record out in 2006, likely because it featured the return of Meth’s best beatmakers. Erick Sermon, Mathematics, the RZA himself and more are back behind the boards, and Meth just feels right spitting among their soundscapes. But once again, Meth is plagued by the same curses. The 20-track runtime is entirely too long, with some really good songs getting lost among endless filler. There’s a strong project buried within that filler – drop six or seven of the weaker cuts and Meth would have had a real contender.
Forgotten favorites: “Somebody Done F***ed Up,” “Konichiwa B****es,” “Everything”
6. Wu-Massacre (2010)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Remember that time Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah dropped an album? Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t. What seemed like a sure-fire East Coast classic wound up a respectable but unremarkable project. There’s fire to be found no doubt – when they’re focused, they’re a formidable trio – but the album’s relatively short runtime and surprising lack of tracks that feature all three members make Wu-Massacre feel very rushed and unfocused. It’s a decent project if you look at it through the lens of one of those old Datpiff mixtapes, but a mild disappointment overall.
Forgotten favorites: “Gunshowers,” “Miranda,” “Our Dreams”
5. Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Anticipation was pretty high for Meth’s long-delayed sophomore set – I was first in line in fall 98 to get my copy that November morning. And though it did well commercially, that sophomore jinx was tough to shake creatively. It wouldn’t be a late 90s rap album without a spooky apocalyptic theme, and Meth pushed that concept throughout the LP, giving the tracks a connective tissue that previous albums mentioned on the list lacked. While I liked the album a lot in 98, it doesn’t hold up as well today, mainly due to (again) the absurdly long runtime and endless skits that cripple the project’s momentum. That Trump skit particularly looks funny in the light today. But hey, no one can deny the petty majesty of “Breakups 2 Makeups.” Still a banger.
Forgotten favorites: “Perfect World,” “Killin Fields,” “Play 4 Keeps”
4. Meth Lab Season 3: The Rehab (2022)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Third times the charm! After two underwhelming trips to the lab, Meth finally mastered the formula on The Rehab. The guest stars are more focused, the production is more cohesive and the runtime is much more reasonable. Meth’s performances – which, admittedly, rarely miss on any project – hit a renewed level of excellence here. He sounds rejuvenated. This project was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2022 and it still holds up today.
Forgotten favorites: “Guillotine,” “Live from the Meth Lab,” “Switch Sides”
3. Blackout! 2 (2009)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: The original Blackout! LP, the initial union of rap’s favorite smokers, was a dream project that I never expected to see the light of day. And I certainly didn’t expect a sequel a decade later. Though reactions to this project remain mixed to this day, I’m firmly in the camp that says “this is pretty dope!” It’s a much different project than its predecessor, or any other album on this list. You can tell Red and Meth are having a ball, with most of the songs being much more lighthearted than the usual Tical outing. However, the production is a winner and Doc n’ Meth’s chemistry remains untouchable. Blackout! 2 is so much fun.
Forgotten favorites: “Father’s Day,” “I’m Dope N****,” “City Lights”
2. Blackout! (1999)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: After Meth and Red teamed up for the incredible “How High” record on The Show soundtrack – one of my favorite songs of that era – I hungered for more from them, never expecting anything besides a random feature here or there. To my surprise, half a decade later, my wish was granted. Blackout! became the personification of Red and Meth’s frantic energy, with production from Erick Sermon and others being the glue that held their undeniable chemistry together. Though the project is mainly remembered today for “Da Rockwilder,” this album is much more than a one-hit wonder. I’ve knocked many of Meth’s albums for inconsistency but not this time. Blackout! gets the formula right.
Forgotten favorites: “Run 4 Cover,” “Fire Ina Hole,” “Blackout”
1. Tical (1994)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Here’s some Soul In Stereo trivia for you – Tical was the first CD in young Edd’s now massive collection of flimsy plastic discs. And here’s a bit more trivia for you: After the release of The Wu-Tang Clan’s undeniable debut, Meth was poised to be the Wu’s breakout star, leading to Tical being the first solo project to emerge from the land of Shaolin. Although it wasn’t the 5-star classic most of us expected, Tical was still a force, delivering unforgettable singles like “Bring the Pain,” spawning timeless remixes like Meth’s inescapable duet with Mary J. Blige, and adding fuel to the Wu’s fiery legacy. It’s not perfect, but it’s Meth at his best.
Forgotten favorites: “Tical,” “Meth vs Chef,” “What The Blood Clot”
What’s your favorite Meth album that’s NOT Tical? Let us know below.
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