Method Man Readies Prequel

He's a movie star (How High), a Right Guard pitchman and a famed member of the Wu-Tang Clan. But all Method Man really wants to do is finish his long-delayed third solo album, which is currently "seventy percent done." The tentatively-titled "Tical 0: The Prequel" is currently slated for a March release.

Meth's much-anticipated "prequel" to 1998's Tical 2000: Judgement Day includes guest shots from Ludacris, Redman, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and RZA, who also produces a few tracks. The rapper hasn't been completely idle since his last Tical release: In 1999 he issued Blackout! a collaboration with Redman, and the Wu-Tang Clan have released a pair of albums (2000's The W and 2001's Iron Flag) in that span.

Forget the dark themes of Meth's last record -- "Tical" is all about fun. "The majority of our audience can't afford Versace and all the name brands and these big expensive cars," he says. "A lot of them just like to party, that's the common denominator among every class. We all just like to party so that's what the album is based on."

Watch for that party vibe on one particular track, which sounds like this year's first big hip-hop singalong. "There's one joint everyone wants to call 'Uh-huh,'" he says. "But damn, there's more words than just 'uh-huh.'"

Also on the docket for Method Man is a part in an upcoming episode of The Twilight Zone and he's signed on to star in The Other Side of Simple, a feature film to begin shooting later this year.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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