Very rarely can an artist, or a group of artist, wait an entire decade between releases and still expect a large cult like following. This statement does not apply for the dynamic duo Method Man and Redman. Since their 1999 collaborative effort Blackout the two have embarked on enough movies, TV shows, and well rounded solo projects to keep their fans patiently waiting at the edge of their seats for the follow up effort. Almost ten years to the day the duo is finally here with the well over due Blackout 2. As we can see from early indications things don’t look to be much different.

After a short but satisfying intro on “BO2” Meff and Red get down to straight business on the eagerly Havoc produced “I’m Dope Nigga” where Red proclaims to make his profits from weed and shows. You won’t be able to keep from nodding your head against the wall as the duo go tit for tat on the Pete Rock produced “A-Yo.” The album goes through a little mediocre slump but “Dangerous MCees,” “Errbody Scream,” and “Hey Zulu” still feature a few high points that will satisfy at least somebody. Producer Nasty Kutt does an impeccable job of meshing sounds from New York, New Jersey, and H-Town on the Bun B assisted and Pimp C sampled “City Lights.” The album’s highlight comes when Meff and Red turn in lengthy flows on the Ty Fyffe engineered “Father’s Day.”

The duo prove they’re still pros at doing what they do best with the hazy kush inspired 4/20 anthem “Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers.” Meff makes sure it’s a Wu Tang thang on the Raekwon and Ghostface Killah assisted “Four Minutes To Lockdown” as he lets it be known that RZA is the number one Killa Bee. Erick Sermon shows how clutch he is as he turns in one of the album’s coldest laced beats towards the end of the affair with “Neva Herd Dis B4.” It’s lines like “you can reach me at 1-800 eat a dick” on the closing “A Lil Bit” that keeps Redman a constant in the hip-hop stratosphere.

Method Man and Redman win with Blackout 2 because unlike most aging rappers they don’t attempt to keep up with the times. Instead they opted to ride with what has worked for the both of them for nearly two decades. Fans will be happy to know that the reason(s) they’ve come to love Red and Meff will be the same reasons that they will continue to love them. Hopefully the duo won’t pull a Dr. Dre move and make fans and critics wait another decade for the third installment.

VERDICT – 15 / 20
LYRICS: 3
PRODUCTION: 4
DELIVERY: 4
CONSISTENCY: 4

01. Lights Out Intro
02. Dangerous MCs
03. Big Dogs
04. A Yo f. Saukrates
05. Well All Rite Cha
06. How High
07. City Lights f. UGK
08. Interlude
09. The Rockwilder
10. Tear It Off
11. 4 Minutes to Lock Down f. Raekwon & Ghostface
12. Lights Out Outro

Download Mixtape Here