Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Method Man

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Method Man made an impact.

Clifford Smith Jr., or Method Man, is a prominent American rapper, record producer, and actor. He gained fame as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and half of the duo Method Man & Redman. His stage name is derived from the 1979 film Method Man. Notably, he won a Grammy Award in 1996 for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" with Mary J. Blige, with whom he later acted in Power Book II: Ghost.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1994: Release of Tical

In 1994, Method Man's solo debut album, Tical, was released and entered the American charts at #4, eventually selling over one million copies.

1995: Appearance in The Show documentary

In 1995, Method Man appeared in the documentary The Show, featuring an argument with U-God and Ghostface Killah.

1995: Featured on AmeriKKKa's Nightmare

In 1995, Method Man was featured on Spice 1's album AmeriKKKa's Nightmare on the track "Hard 2 Kill".

1996: Appearance on All Eyez on Me

In 1996, Method Man appeared on Tupac Shakur's album All Eyez on Me, on the song "Got My Mind Made Up" alongside Redman, Tha Dogg Pound and Inspectah Deck.

1996: Grammy Award Win

In 1996, Method Man won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" featuring Mary J. Blige.

1996: Release of "Hit 'Em High"

In 1996, Method Man, alongside LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, B-Real and Coolio, released a song from the Space Jam Soundtrack called, "Hit 'Em High".

June 3, 1997: Wu-Tang Forever Release

On June 3, 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan released their Grammy-nominated multiplatinum double CD Wu-Tang Forever.

1997: Appearance in 187

In 1997, Method Man appeared in the film 187.

1997: Cameo in Cop Land

In 1997, Method Man made a cameo appearance in the film Cop Land, playing a violent criminal. He also appeared in the TV drama Wonderland as a patient in a mental hospital in 1997.

1997: Success of "Say What You Want"

In 1997, the Scottish rock band Texas found some success with their single "Say What You Want".

1998: Appearance in Belly

In 1998, Method Man appeared in the film Belly.

1998: Role in Belly

In 1998, Method Man's first prominent role came in with the film Belly.

1998: Release of Tical 2000: Judgement Day

In 1998, Method Man's second solo album Tical 2000: Judgement Day, was released.

1998: Collaboration with Texas

In 1998, the band Texas collaborated with Method Man and RZA on a remix of the song "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)".

1999: Feature on Limp Bizkit Song

In 1999, Method Man featured on Limp Bizkit's song "N 2 Gether Now" from their album Significant Other.

November 21, 2000: The W Release

On November 21, 2000, the Wu-Tang Clan released The W, which received critical and commercial success.

2000: Performs Know Your Role

In 2000, Method Man performed Know Your Role which was included on the album titled, WWF Aggression.

2000: Continued success of Tical 2000

In 2000, Tical 2000: Judgement Day sold well and earned Platinum certifications in both the U.S. and Canada.

December 18, 2001: Iron Flag Release

On December 18, 2001, the Wu-Tang Clan released Iron Flag.

2001: Appearance in How High

In 2001, Method Man appeared in the film How High.

2003: Appearance in Alicia Keys' music video

In 2003, Method Man made a guest appearance in Alicia Keys' music video for "If I Ain't Got You," playing her boyfriend. He also appeared in Beanie Sigel's music video "Feel It in the Air" in 2003, where he played an undercover cop.

2004: Appearance in Garden State

In 2004, Method Man appeared in the film Garden State.

2004: Release of Tical 0: The Prequel

In 2004, Method Man released his third solo album Tical 0: The Prequel, which featured the hit party single "What's Happenin'" with Busta Rhymes.

2004: Method & Red sitcom put on hiatus

In 2004, Method Man starred in a Fox sitcom called Method & Red. However, after only a short time on the air, the show was put on hiatus and never returned due to creative differences.

2005: Appearance in Venom

In 2005, Method Man appeared in the film Venom.

2005: Cameo in Venom

In 2005, Method Man had a cameo in the horror movie Venom, where he played a deputy who is killed shortly into the movie.

August 2006: Release of 4:21: The Day After

In August 2006, Method Man's fourth album, entitled 4:21: The Day After was released. The album failed to do well commercially due to lack of promotion from his label.

2006: Appearance on Yo Momma

In 2006, Method Man appeared on the MTV reality game show Yo Momma in the pilot episode.

2006: Appearance on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

In 2006, Method Man portrayed Drops on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the episode "Poppin' Tags".

March 27, 2007: How High Sequel Confirmed

On March 27, 2007, Redman confirmed that a sequel to How High was then being written.

April 10, 2007: Hints of Second Collaborative Album

In an April 10, 2007 interview, Redman hinted that there would be a second collaborative album with Method Man, with work beginning in midsummer or early September.

December 4, 2007: Law & Order SVU Episode

On December 4, 2007, Method Man starred in the Law & Order SVU episode "Snitch" as the main antagonist.

2007: Continued Role on CSI

In 2007, Method Man continued to portray Drops on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the episode "Big Shots".

2008: Appearances in Movies

In 2008 Method Man appeared in The Wackness and Meet the Spartans.

2008: Appearance in The Wackness

In 2008, Method Man appeared in the film The Wackness.

2008: Continued Role on CSI

In 2008, Method Man continued to portray Drops on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the episode "Drops Out".

2011: Small role in The Sitter

In 2011, Method Man had a small role in the film The Sitter, starring Jonah Hill.

2011: Lead role in The Mortician

In 2011, Method Man played the lead role in the film The Mortician.

2012: Appearance in Red Tails

In 2012, Method Man appeared in the film Red Tails.

2012: Role in Red Tails

In 2012, Method Man played crewman "Sticks" in the George Lucas movie Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen.

2013: Work on Crystal Meth

Throughout 2013, Method Man worked on material for Crystal Meth and on the Wu-Tang Clan's sixth studio album, A Better Tomorrow. He also toured with Redman throughout the year.

2014: Appearance in The Cobbler

In 2014, Method Man appeared in the film The Cobbler.

2014: Voice role in Chozen

In 2014, Method Man voiced Phantasm, the primary antagonist on the FX animated comedy Chozen.

2015: Lead role in #Lucky Number

In 2015, Method Man played the lead role in the film #Lucky Number.

2016: Appearance in Keanu

In 2016, Method Man appeared in the film Keanu.

2016: Appearances in film and television

In 2016, Method Man played himself in Difficult People, Luke Cage, and Paterson. Also that year, he portrayed "Cheddar" in the film Keanu.

2017: Co-host of Drop the Mic

In 2017, Method Man became the co-host (with Hailey Baldwin) of a celebrity battle rap show Drop the Mic.

2017: Host of Drop the Mic

In 2017, Method Man became the host of the TBS series Drop the Mic, based on a segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden.

2019: Features on record

In 2019 Method Man featured on the record 'Winnebago' with South London rapper Blue Meth.

2019: Voice role in Marvels podcast and appearance in Shaft

In 2019, Method Man voiced Ben Urich in the scripted podcast Marvels. He also appeared in Shaft as Freddie P, an acquaintance of John Shaft.

2020: Starred in Vampires vs. the Bronx

In 2020, Method Man also starred as Father Jackson in Netflix film Vampires vs. the Bronx.

2020: Recurring role in Teenage Bounty Hunters

In 2020, Method Man appeared as a recurring character in the Netflix original series Teenage Bounty Hunters as Terrance Coin, Bowser's rival bounty hunter.

2020: Starred in Concrete Cowboy

In 2020, Method Man starred in the film Concrete Cowboy, an adaptation of the book Ghetto Cowboy.

February 2021: Host of Marvel/Method podcast

In February 2021, Method Man began hosting Marvel/Method, a podcast series for Marvel Entertainment and Sirius XM, featuring interviews about Marvel comics, music, and culture.

2021: Appearance in Godfather of Harlem

In 2021, Method Man made appearances as Samuel Christian in Season 2 of the MGM+ series, Godfather of Harlem.

2022: Host of "The Wire At 20" podcast

In 2022, Method Man produced and hosted "The Wire At 20" 20th anniversary podcast for HBO.