By Jason Collins
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland transformed COVID entertainment when they started VERZUZ in March 2020. Their battle series is one of the most-watched events of the pandemic, and the latest installment did not disappoint. The Redman vs. Method Man 420 Special VERZUZ had it all. Surprise guest appearances, DJ Scratch throwing out our favorite hits, a Wu-Tang Reunion, a weird call with Russell Simmons, and loads of classic Red and Meth banter. The best part was the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict for the senseless murder of George Floyd. Redman and Method Man paused the jokes to commemorate the moment. Red said, “You get what you put out there. He deserved every f***ing bit of it.”
The duo broke from the VERZUZ tradition of battle to put on a concert. Both put out a disclaimer that they wouldn’t get stuck in the chit-chat. Sure, they spent a little time reminiscing on their epic 30-year friendship, but they blasted through their iconic hits, only skipping a few on the lineup. Red and Meth bounced songs off each other like school kids playing basketball. Redman aptly began the 420 VERZUZ with his epic 1992 hit “How to Roll a Blunt.” Method Man swiftly hit him back with “What the Blood Clot.”
They swept through their other classic hits with unrivaled expertise. The chemistry between these two legends is a constant inspiration. Redman effortlessly performed “Hardcore,” “Can’t-Wait,” and “Tonight’s Da Night.” And Method Man showed off his lyrical prowess in his performances of “Bring the Pain” and his GZA collaboration, “Shadowboxin’.” DJ Scratch begged the Red to perform “one of the greatest chick songs” ever. You guessed it “Soopaman Luva 3”. At one point, Method Man held Red’s cape in the wind helping Red bring his 1992 superhero to life. Sooperman Lover was unleashed on stage given wings by Method Man. The pair also performed some of their collaborative works like “Diz is For My Smokers” and “1212.”
Red and Meth didn’t spend much time sharing anecdotes from their hip-hop journey together, but every now and then they gave us a real gem. Like the time they were on Tupac’s 1996 “Got My Mind Made Up” track. Redman also made jokes about having an Epsom salt bath after the show because he’s 51 now. Despite that, he started the show with a push-up and was all over the stage during his performance. They only had one short intermission. It was a jam-packed battle of a concert. Reginald Noble, aka Redman, and Clifford Smith, aka Method Man, took a few moments to honor the hip-hop legends who are no longer with us. They paid homage to DMX by performing their 1997 song “4, 3, 2, 1”, which saw the duo collaborating with DMX and LL Cool J.
They also paid respect to Black Rob who passed away eight days after DMX. They honored A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg by performing “Nutshell pt. 2.” He passed away in 2016. A music video for the song was released five years after his death and featured an appearance from Busta Rhymes. It wouldn’t be a 4.20 VERZUZ special if Redman and Method Man didn’t take a moment to discuss the National Cannabis Party. They wanted to get the word out there. DJ Kool ramped up the heat when he joined Red and Meth on their hit “Let Me Clear My Throat.”
The night included many surprise guests and announcements. Def Squad’s Keith Murray popped in to lay down his hit “Get Lifted.” A Wu-Tang reunion later ensued when Red and Meth brought Inspectah Deck and RZA onto the stage to perform their iconic “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothin’ to F*** With.” After the performance, RZA and DJ Scratch announced a new album they’ve been working on during lockdown. They are hoping to release it soon. Method Man also made promises about a Blackout! 3. Red and Meth’s 2009 Blackout! 2 was epic, so we can’t wait for the next installment. Redman also teased us with hints about the summer release of “Muddy Waters 2.” “80 Barz” came out on April 15, and the video premiered after the VERZUZ battle. Dupre “DoItAll” Kelly from Lords of the Underground performed “Funky Child.” Kelly also made a big announcement. He’s running to be the councilman for West Ward and is a founder of the nonprofit 211 Community Impact. EPMD swooped in to give a powerful performance of “So Wat Cha Sayin’’ and “Head Banger.” The strangest guest of the night was Russell Simmons. He did a FaceTime call with Red and Meth while lying in bed. Simmons is facing 20 counts of sexual assault and misconduct charges. Fans were perplexed by his appearance. The final song of the night saw producing legend Rockwilder join them on stage to perform “Da Rockwilder” from Blackout!.
There were so many more hits, like Method Man’s performances of his classic collaborations, namely the D’Angelo track “Break Ups 2 Make Ups” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “The What.” He also threw Mary J. Blige’s classic hit “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need to Get By” into the mix. Red did his best Mary J. Blige rendition only adding to the flavor of the performance. The Redman vs. Method Man 420 VERZUZ special was exactly what you’d expect from these two “How High” stars. They revealed the timeless nature of their rhythmic flow and lyrical acrobats. The two didn’t give us a battle, they gave us a show that celebrated hip-hop, justice, marijuana, and collaboration. Redman and Method Man brought a refreshing energy to the stage. You can check out the official 420 Special VERZUZ on Tidal.