4:21... The Day After

1993’s Enter the Wu-Tang introduced the world to M.E.T.H.O.D. Man, a mischievously blunted twenty-two year old with a twisted sense of humor and a blindingly dexterous, effortlessly charismatic flow. By merging the classic punch-line style of past masters like Grand Puba and Lord Finesse with an infectious sing-song cadence of his own invention Method Man made his mark in an era of giants, going toe to toe with Biggie, Redman, Mobb Deep, and his own gifted Clan-mates in exhilarating brawls for lyrical supremacy. The awkwardly titled 4:21… The Day After is a conscious effort to recapture Method Man’s past glories and throughout much of the album Method Man sounds thoroughly reinvigorated and happy to once again be spitting over beats worthy of his talents. He impresses on “Walk On”, which sees Meth and old partner Redman trade verses over a pounding Jackson 5 derived beat. Elsewhere, Rza, Erick Sermon and Scott Storch contribute uncompromising beats that evoke the dark, labyrinthine soundscapes of the Wu at their height, helping Meth make 4:21 his best sounding record in years.