Hip-hop fans have known for years that
Method Man and
Redman are two of the top MCs in the field, and their tour together not only proved the fact, but also showed they rap incredibly well together. Their deliveries are similar and the flow never falters, but the hint of gravel in
Meth's voice makes them easily distinguishable. Now, with
Blackout!, the duo's first album together (though both guested on each other's 1998 LPs), listeners have the proof on wax. Skating on top of spare, hard-hitting productions by
Erick Sermon,
Wu-Tang's
RZA,
Mathematics, and
Redman himself -- under his
Reggie Noble alias --
Meth and
Redman trade off on hardcore rhymes and freestyle over each other. There's barely room for breath, but the rhymes are tight and inventive throughout. There are only two guest appearances (for
Ja Rule &
LL Cool J on "4 Seasons" and
Ghostface and
Street on the hilarious Blair Witch Project send-off "Run 4 Cover"), and the focus on just
Meth and
Redman makes for an even tighter, more combustible LP. Even with the high expectations that come along with a project of this magnitude,
Blackout! rarely disappoints. [
Blackout! was also released in a "clean" edition, containing no profanities or vulgarities.] ~ John Bush