Method Man (born Clifford Smith, April 1, 1971 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York) is an American rapper and member of the hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He is also well-known for his work both as a solo artist and with frequent collaborator Redman, as well as for recent forays into acting.
Method Man spent a childhood split between separated parents in Long Island and Staten Island, and in an apparent precursor to his career in hip hop was introduced both to playing drums and to poetry by his father.
Redman (born Reggie Noble on April 17, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey) made his rapping debut on the EPMD songs “Hardcore” and “Brothers on my Jock”, after Erick Sermon of the seminal group spotted him freestyling in a New York club and added him to their crew of aspiring emcees (along with K-Solo among others). Redman’s 1992 Def Jam debut Whut? Thee Album broke into the US Top 50, achieved gold status in the United States, and prominent hip-hop magazine The Source subsequently named Redman Rap Artist of the Year for 1993.
