Method Man's third solo work, following 1998's uneven
Tical 2000 (and released a month after
Ghostface's
Pretty Toney Album), arrived with many conflicting rumors and circumstances attached to it. On the M2 program Spoke 'n' Heard,
Meth informed journalist/host Touré that
Tical 0 is his best record, and alluded to being boxed in when working with one producer and one sound. Around the same time, the official
Wu-Tang website reported that the MC was not pleased with the version Def Jam opted to put out, due to its scant number of
RZA productions -- one single cut, when an entire record's worth was allegedly put together throughout the past couple years. Whatever the circumstances might be, there's no doubt that
Tical 0 is less penetrating than
Tical 2000, a record that had its ambitions to retain interest during the lulls. This one offers brief bursts of okay-to-decent tracks. The most energizing moments typically come when
Meth's supported by the likes of
Busta Rhymes ("What's Happenin'") and
Ludacris ("Rodeo"), but the productive conveyor belt of guest spots -- which chucks out well over a dozen of them, including
Missy Elliott,
Raekwon,
Kardinal Offishall,
Chinky (not
Chingy), and soon-to-be fellow sitcom star
Redman -- also weighs down the whole process. Likewise, the list of producers comes pretty close to being lengthier than the list of guest MCs; this makes the record seem unfocused and disjointed, not diverse and well-rounded.
Meth seems more clear-headed than ever, possibly a result from his cleaned-up, family-oriented lifestyle. (The lyrical matter, however, does nothing to reflect this change.) His throaty rasp isn't nearly as doped out as it was a decade prior, but his personality remains an attraction. As an MC, he's had nothing to prove for quite some time. Give or take a couple hot tracks, this release is not likely to play a significant role in his legacy. ~ Andy Kellman