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.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 05/18/2004