Product Description

One of the most interesting things about this collaborationbetween two of hip-hop's heaviest hitters is how little it relies on traditional hip-hop rhythms. Rather, most of the songs on BLACKOUT employ rhythms based on funk and dancehall reggae, giving the album a freshness that sets it apart fromthe hip-hop pack. Method Man and Redman have nothing if nota talent for drama, going so far as to back up their statements of gangsta superiority and sexual prowess with the sound of exploding bombs on "Fire in Da Hole".
The pair eschews the use of elaborate arrangements and overt samples so as to focus the tracks on their own forceful, dynamic delivery. Most importantly, Method Man and Redman don't appear to be in a contest to see who can rap the fastest. Their pace isdeliberate enough to ensure that their message is received,and their style is expansive enough to include vocal flourishes that play off the aforementioned dancehall rhythmic touches.

Track Listing

1. A Special Joint (Intro)
2. Blackout
3. Mi Casa
4. Y.O.U.
5. 4 Seasons - Method Man, Redman, LL Cool J, Ja Rule
6. Cereal Killer
7. Da Rockwilder
8. Tear It Off
9. Where We At (Skit)
10. 1, 2, 1, 2
11. Maaad Crew
12. Run 4 Cover - Method Man, Redman, Ghostface, Street, Dennis Coles
13. The ? - Method Man, Redman, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
14. Dat's Dat Shit - Method Man, Redman, Mally G, Jamal
15. Cheka
16. Fire Ina Hole
17. We All Rite Cha
18. Big Dogs
19. How High

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11654 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Running time: 71 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Blackout is a welcome joint effort (in more than one sense) from two of hip-hop's most entertaining, popular personalities: "two boys possessed by dough, hos and hydros", rap's self-proclaimed Cheech and Chong; Mans Method and Red. As one would expect from an album produced by ex-EPMD man Erick Sermon, many of the tracks tend towards the soporific; it can often be difficult to spot the tune amongst the tub-thumping beats and murky backgrounds. In these instances the distinct voices of our hosts more than compensate, and elsewhere Blackout covers a surprising variety of aural styles; meandering from the stadium-rocking title track to the infectious and irresistible ("Checka" and "Tear It Off") and the inevitably spliffed-out ("Mi Casa" and "The?") via the quickly forgotten and ridiculous ("Fire ina Hole" and "Cereal Killer"). Meth fans might feel a little short-changed by the fact that one of these standouts, "Big Dogs", appeared previously on Tical 2000: Judgement Day, but the whole affair is carried off with such humour, character and deftness of touch that they're unlikely to care. --Paul Philpott

Customer Reviews

Classic HipHop Duo
Love this album. Heard it for the first time when I was 16, I'm 24 now and still love it. It's a huge shame they haven't really done anything together since then but anybody who calls themselves a true hiphop fan and doesn't have this album is not yet bonafide!

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Perhaps this doesn't contain enough ninja mythology for the average Wu-head, but Method Man is miles better on Blackout than he is on Tical. It's the production that makes it really. I dig RZA's dusty, lo-fi beats, and this works great for the likes of Inspectah Deck and GZA, but Method Man has always been, at heart, a party rapper. My only experience of Redman is through Whut? Thee Album but I'd say the same for him as well. Have these two honestly ever done anything better than the renegade genius of 'Da Rockwilder'? There are only a handful of rap duos that match the charisma and fun that these two demonstrate when their lyrics play off each other. Sure, it's hard to make an entire album out of weed references, but very few projects have come together quite as well as this one. Fire Ina Hole!

BACK AND FORTH WITH RED AND METH
This is one of the greatest Hip-hop albums of all times.
I'll keep my review short as the great review before this said pretty much everything.
No one has the lyrical skill and humour of Meth (Not Marshall, not Nas, not anyone).
And no-one does that grimey street sound like Red.
And when they come together, Oh gosh.
This Album has stayed on rotation with me for years. I still listen now and it gets me fired up.
There's humour, grit, grime and unique flavour here in abundance.
This albums is a MUST-HAVE for all hip-hop fans. even in 2007
This album is CLASSIC