Album review: Method Man 'The Meth Lab'

Image: Method Man 

Originally titled The Crystal Meth prior to release, but changed at last minute, The Meth Lab is the first full-length solo effort from Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man in nine years.

Despite the record’s title which could easily be misconstrued as a gimmicky nod towards Breaking Bad, the content in fact bears little relation to HBO’s cult TV series - although a convenient double entendre of sorts.  But a reference to the name of the Staten Island emcee’s studio, and the gritty, raw and uncut rhymes that have been cooked up in the recording booth, which make up this long-awaited follow up to 2006’s 4:21…The Day After.

What we have here is very much a collective effort from the extended Wu-Tang family. The majority of guest rappers on board are straight out of the Killa Bee’s breeding ground - Staten Island aka Shaolin.

Consisting of both long-serving Wu affiliates like Streetlife, Carlton Fisk, Killa Sin and Hanz On - who also plays the role of executive producer, the record also features the next generation of hungry up-n-comers such as Chedda Bang, Donny Cacsh, and iNTeLL to name a few.

The album primarily acts as a platform for Meth’s hometown brethren to showcase their skills - a point which the rap legend hammers home on the album’s intro declaring “Staten Island artist done by Staten Island, made in Staten Island”.

From here on it’s nothing but straight up, hardcore rhymes about life on the mean streets of Shaolin, narrated by Johnny Blaze and his local comrades, along with a select few NY-based rhymers who lend a helping hand elsewhere. And the narrative continues in this vein across the LP’s 19-strong track-list.

The title track swiftly sets the tone with Mr Meth, Streetlife and Hanz On – who incidentally both appear on around half the album’s cuts - spitting grimy, metaphoric bars atop a moody sound bed that coke-rap specialist Pusha T wouldn't sound out of place on.

Second single ‘Straight Gutta’ follows, which does exactly what it says on the tin and finds Meth’s regular partner in rhyme and reefer, Redman, getting in on the act.

Each emcee take turns to spit fire over a boisterous Ron Browz produced joint, while the menacing 'Bang Zoom' welcomes new Staten Island blood Eazy Get Rite, who assists on the hook, leaving the seasoned pros to handle business on the verses. 

Although a lion’s share of the The Meth Lab’s tracks are dominated by a deluge of guest artists, which the Ticallion Stallion has willingly taken a back seat to allow, there’s still enough leeway for the iconic rapper to display his own lyrical prowess and trademark killer flow which in no way whatsoever has faltered over the course of his 20 plus years career.   

A number of his quotable verses on offer here are testament that he’s still up there lyrically with some of the best in the rap game, and still poised to shut down any competition within his warpath.

An early stand out cut is the cinematic ‘2 Minutes of Your Time’ (check it out below) where he takes a swipe at weak emcees with bars like: “I ain’t trying to bring the city back/And all that pretty boy rap ain’t where I’m really at/Besides rapper’s don’t really ride, they piggyback/I trade ‘em all to have 2Pac and Biggie back”.

They're  all delivered in a frank conversational manner that reveals the raspy voiced rapper’s disdain for much of today’s watered-down hip hop. It’s the only cut Meth holds down solo, and as the song title implies is all over too soon, which leaves you with the feeling of wanting more. 

Further highlights appear in the shape of ‘The Purple Tape’, which sees the Stallion reunite with his fellow clansmen Raekwon and Inspectah Deck to show the amateurs how it’s really done - each of whom trade iron hot verses over a banging Dr. Dre inspired number, crafted by emerging beatmaker J57.

The pace continues on the equally rousing ‘Intelligent Meth’, bringing together the next generation of Wu-Tang talent in iNTeLL - the son of clan member U-God - who shines on the opening sixteen, with core forefathers Johnny Blaze and Masta Killa, plus the ubiquitous Streetlife all delivering tight rhymes on 4th Disciple’s piano-laden production, that fittingly matches the rhythmic flow of each performer.

Surprisingly though,  there’s not a single track produced by Wu Tang’s Clan’s visionary leader RZA – which is a first for a Meth album, but what the assortment of producers bring to the table makes up for the prolific producer-turnt-film director’s absence to a degree. The overall balance is just about adequate for what is essentially an independent release.

As a whole, The Meth Lab is a strong follow up to 4:21, with a consistent sound that marks a triumphant return for Method Man as an artists in his own right, who shows no sign of slowing down on the microphone, and is very likely to satiate die-hard Meth heads and Wu Tang fans alike.

Therefore if hardcore East Coast hip hop is your thing – particularly when it’s coming from one of the 90’s-era elder statesmen of the genre, you probably won’t be disappointed.  

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