Clifford Smith's career trajectory suggests incipient underachievement. The first member of the Wu-Tang Clan to go solo, Method Man was a stylish trailblazer, his warm, smoky voice as adept at singing hooks as at rapping elegantly constructed, humour-laced verses. He became a ubiquitous guest on records by everyone from Run DMC and Notorious BIG to Limp Bizkit, Roni Size and Texas. But Smith has become increasingly marginalised.
On his third solo LP, 2004's Tical 0: The Prequel, he seemed to be simply going through the motions. But 4:21 shows him exhibiting more vigour and imagination. While he seems to have reached the end of one or two stylistic roads (Dirty Mef, a duet with his late bandmate, Ol' Dirty Bastard, makes his rhythmic delivery seem predictable), the record's relaxed and often pointed reflections have a subtly rejuvenating effect.
