Redman Shares How He & Method Man First Met & "Connected Through Music Organically"

BY Erika Marie 7.8K Views
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Method Man, Redman
He says the Month of the Man promo was one of the greatest in hip hop.

It's difficult to find a hip hop fan who truly doesn't like Redman. He's a gifted emcee who has put out classic hip hop records that have gone undisputed, but aside from that, Reggie Noble has maintained a reputation as being a respectable, positive character in the industry. According to the New Jersey native, that's something he's hoped people have picked up on throughout his career.

In a recent interview with Take It Personal Radio hosts DJ 360 and Philaflava, Redman was complimented for being one of the more personable personalities in hip hop. "I appreciate you guys noticing that balance of my career," he said. "Because I work hard for that sh*t. I work hard to be that guy that can roam with the richest of the richest and be around the tops of the circle and still get respected and then still be with the lowest and have-nots and still be respected. I love that balance."

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The rapper has linked up with longtime friend and collaborator Method Man for years, including their Blackout! series, and during the discussion he recalled how the pair of lyricists first met each other. “Honestly I gotta commend Def Jam for that move because at that time me and Meth was putting out material, and it was kind of Def Jam saying, ‘You know what, let’s put these guys on the road,'" he said. "'Let’s put them on the road and make a big promotion, "Month of the Man.'"' That was one of the most well-known promotions in hip hop during the ’90s, was the "Month of the Man." It happened business-wise through Def Jam, but organically it happened with Red and Meth as individuals.”

Redman also said that even on that first tour, he and Meth didn't see each other as competition or have any issues. "That’s how I can say how the Red and Meth brand came about was from us being on the road when Def Jam put us there," he shared. "They placed that scene I would say...they mapped out that scene for us to be on the road."

"It was up to us, organically, to make the Red and Meth brand happen because it could’ve went another way," he continued. "It could’ve went like, 'Alright, I ain’t f*ckin’ with this n*gga or I ain’t f*ckin’ with this n*gga,' and we could’ve just went on about our business after that promo tour. But after that promo tour, I threw them beats on and we literally connected through the music organically, and we came back home like real good friends and ready to say, ‘You know what? Let’s do an album.'”


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.