"A Special Joint (Intro)" is a decent and funny way to kick it off. Produced by Redman,  they act silly and smoked out.. "Do you wanna get high man?", Red asks and Meth replies, "Does Pinnochio have wooden balls man?".. of course.. Short and sweet without too much bullsh*t.

"Blackout" is a dope way to start the album off. The Erik Sermon produced beat reminds me of EPMD (how can't it?) and brings a strong energy to the album. They both handle the hook with a verve: "..GET UP, STAND UP, BACK UP, PUSH 'EM -JUMP UP, ACT UP TO MAKE YOU FEEL IT! -Brrrrr...STICK 'EM, HA-HAHA STICK 'EM- Brrrrr...STICK 'EM, HA-HAHA STICK 'EM- Yo' BLACKOUT, SHOOT OUT, SMOKED OUT- MOVE OUT, EVEN KNOCK THE TOOTH OUT, TO MAKE YA'LL FEEL IT!- Brrrrr...STICK 'EM, HA-HAHA STICK 'EM- Brrrrr...STICK 'EM, HA-HAHA STICK 'EM...."  As Red uses his loud and boisterious voice for enegry and laughs, Meth's deep and thick vocal tones compliment Red's and the chemistry begins. It's a dope track!

"Mi Casa" is another Erik Sermon produced track which is also cool. The hook is inspired by Method Man's raps as both of them rip the mic up..: "..You dont got no wins in Mi Casa -And its your stopper meth tical man and  funk docta- you dont got no wins in Mi Casa - Bomb Droppa throw you outch ya mind who shot ya- You dont got no wins in Mi Casa- Hit it Hip Hoppers turn it up a notch make it it hot cha- You dont got no wins in Mi Casa- I'm warnin you partna meth tical man and funk docta.."  Redman kicks the song off with an intense funny energy that is completely unique. He is an excellent emcee and a wild lyricist.. His style is just so out there! "..Whatcu crazy??!!? / Since a buck tooth baby, Doc / Is like straight fuck you pay me like Jay-Z / Lazzy Niggas complain / Doc load up the cartridge and start kickin game like Acclam / Those who you call Doggs rat your name / Those who say they love you attack your change / Thats why i fold down 4 fingers / Say fuck the world and Jimmy da earth without Coat hangers / Rap game n street game dont sleep / Its a cold world betta pack yer own heat / Niggas aint happy to the cash on "E" / Then the hash and the cat and a bag is on me..."  Methodman also does a great job.. They work perfect together.. it's like a dream come true. No one outshines the other.. Though, personally, I like Redman better... they both hold their own... strong.

"Y.O.U." is a cool song  where Method Man has a cool, jumpy flow that kicks the song off. : "..Traces of lipstick on my collar / Baby you got to do some more to get this last dollar / Hotter than lava when you come believe that I'ma follow/ Lady Medana like the drink-machine I like to swallow/ Rockin' that product, honey stay up in the beauty-polla' / Girl it would be my honour, make you my babymomma..." Redman does a good job too. The chorus is okay.. It's not the most creative on the album but it gets you bouncing with energy. They go back and forth: Meth's words are in the []'s and the caps both of them: "...Now who a bitch nigga?! YOU! - [Now who a snitch nigga?!] YOU! - Now who the shit nigga?! YOU! -[Now who the sick nigga?!] YOU! -Now who you with nigga?! YOU!  - [With who you with nigga?!] YOU!- Who rock shit nigga?!YOU!- [Who pop shit nigga?!] YOU! .." There's a sampled voice of a woman that says "Keep Boucning" which was sampled from the very end of "Electric Relaxation" from A Tribe Called Quest on "Midnight Maruaders".

"4 Seasons" (featuring L.L. Cool J and Ja Rule) is the posse cut. There's no chorus which is cool.. It's just straight mic ripping... The only problem is LL Cool J. He should have been left off this joint! Many people think Ja Rule does not fit in with the song but I'd rather hear him than LL. I just can't stand LL Cool J. But the good outweighs the bad on this joint. He's tolerable on this song because Meth and Red rip it up. "..Yo, yo Funk Doc straight lunatic since young / Ate paint chips the rare moon / That pair mics, my maintenance / I battle you and then me and Meth exchange shifts/ For money, to your house arrest anklet / I take it all, if not, here's a thousand /Bricks, be shooting fair ones with bail bonds men / I'm constant, on that paper chase / Blow zip codes from bricks to 8-1-8 / Doc serve to you to liquor in the plate / Battle royal, in the ring smoking like ought to owe ya / Fire thrown to the roof of you apartment /Hit 95 then I hide with the Waltons /Down South, the forty-four feela / I'm a Dolo nigga, you a Polo nigga /I'm an Uptown shopper, you a Soho nigga / Westside highway running, homo nigga..."  Redman steals the show on this song over a funky but typical E Double produced beat.

"Cereal Killer" is the first Rza produced joint on the album. It's a very cool track which uses the same beat as The Coup's "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish" but without the violins. Here, Red and Meth trade verses using metaphors from horror movies. They kick the song off chanting :"..Murda murda murda, kill kill kill.." Ja Rule can learn some lessons from them on the use of that word. Blue Rasberry sings the hook in the background: "..Serial, serial killer... " Her voice is do drowned out that it sounds great and spooky. This is no R&B laced joint! This is straight hip-hop! However, this is not a straight hook.. They do repeat the "murda, murda, murda" a couple of times too so you may consider that a hook as well. Method Man rips the beat up. Since he's on a Rza joint, he feels right at home as he kills the microphone:  "...Slowly I turn, step by step / Through the back window, I crept / Silent as a mouse on the set / While everybody in the house slept / I disconnect the phones and the rest / Find a butcher knife, cut the power lines to the lights / Now a nigga wild for the night / I come like the livin dead, straight from the dirt / Back to avenge his own death on this earth / Ever hear of Jason?  Then you know my work / Down to the basement, the dog get it first / I can't help myself, my thoughts ain't my own / The voices in my head just won't leave me alone / Murda murda murda, kill kill kill / Pissin on the car seats, flattenin the wheels / So there's no escape from the fate that awaits / No one to witness the horror takin place / Yea!  Now I'm on my way up the stairs / To the bedroom of my prey unaware / Heads will be hung from the chimney with care / with hopes that the police soon will be here/ I'm a KILLER!..." This is a dope and original song! It's fun yet spooky and the beat is bouncy yet hardcore.. DOPE!!! Rza's back in action!

"Da Rockwilder" produced by Rockwilder (from Redman's crew) is a short jam tha uses cool sound effects and a west-coast clap beat too. The momentum that this song builds up is dope! There's no chorus but at the end they use the hook from "Hand On The Pump" by Cypress Hill: "..Sawed off shotgun - hand on the pump, sippin on a forty - smokin on a blunt -bust my gun and Red and Meth gettin jumped  -La la la la, la la la laaaaa - yeah c'mon, Red and Meth gettin jumped&nbssp; - La la la la, la la la laaaaaa..." It's short and sweet and very, very dope as well as original.

"Tear It Off" is the first proper single to this album. I must admit that when I first heard it, I was not impressed nor very amped about their album. I wanted songs like "How High" and "All Rite Cha". But the cool ass wrestling video and many listens, I learned to love this song as it grew on me. It's not just a party jump off song but it's very rowdy and energetic. Both Red and Meth flow with a grown ease. Redman kicks the lyrics off with a very funny line: "..Yo, flipmode, toiletbowls explode- When Doc come drop a shitload.."  The Erik Sermon produced beat bounces along as the sampled hook in the background goes: "Tear the roof off the motherf*cker..." and Redman handles the hook: "..Yo, yo tear the roof off - Yo, yo tear the roof off - Back off, don't make me shoot y'all -You don't want to f*ck with us -You don't..." Method Man has some dope funny lines on this jam too. "Now who wanna f*ck with Hot Nick - N*ggas chew gum with they ass and pop shit" You have to admit.. that's funny... This is a classic jam.

"Where We At (Skit)" is produced by Reggie Noble Redman himself. It starts off by a white kid saying that he has white friends, lives in a white neighborhood and bumps this when his white friends leave. The beat comes in and the emcees ask "Where the F*ck are we at??" As Redman yells, "The Brit-a-Bricks, the brit-a-brit-a-bricks!", Method Man yells, "Shaolin!" It's short and sweet, hardcore and reminds the listener where this team is from.

"1,2,1,2" is produced by DJ Scratch and is sort of a remake of A Tribe Called Quest's song called "One Two Sh*t". The beat does sound a little bit like a beat from The Ummah. This is a cool song but sounds somewhat generic. Though it has a cool hip-hop feel.. there's a slight commercial feel to it because of the repetition of the chorus. They go "..One- wa-wa-one, one-two, one-two - One- wa-wa-one, one-two, one-two -Say F*ck me? I'm a say F*ck you! One- wa-wa-one, one-two, one-two.."  It's a cool song but not one of the slamming joints.

"Maaad Crew" has a looping bassline and is produced by Erik Sermon. The song is somewhat on the same level as the previous one. It sounds somewhat generic but their verses are cool and so is their flow. The chorus on the other hand is just alright: "..Wassup my brotha? Aiyyo wassup my brotha? Aiyyo wassup my sis? Aiyyo wassup now sis? I got whacha need - And you got what i need - Got da mad Maaad, Maaad Crew up in da housse..." It's a cool track but it doesn't slap you in the face..

"Run 4 Cover" (featuring Ghostface and Street Life) brings the dopeness back. This is a serious banger! It's original and cool with a dope Rza produced beat.  There's no real chorus but this is repeated around eight times in one part of the song: ".Comin through, comin through duck -Run for cover Comin through, comin through duck -Run for cover .." Every emcee rips the mic on this joint. This posse cut blows away the previous "4 Seasons" Redman rips it up on this joint : "...When it comes to the darts, I throw em / Flamethrower, blow your section-eight home to your payphone up / Grass smoker, in the cut for the lawnmower / I water, I ride the wale that ate Jonah /Over, your faced wit the black cape over / You woke up four gorillas wit a makeover /Packin a punch, asthma pump takeover / My crew boards, and the whole plane lays over / (YO YO!) You can't talk wit the tape over / Pass the pussy, get out, date's over / Back to your gray Nova that's way slower / Redline to five on the highway shoulder / Enemies say "Doc the one to play closer" / This baboon loose off the chain choker / Hardcore, ?jacore? I hate poker /But y'all spread when my bullet's daytona..." Ghostface does a cool job too but his delivery is so raw and somewhat offbeat. It adds to the raw Wu feeling and the hip-hop atmosphere. This is a dope jam!

"The ?" is produced by Reggie Redman Noble himself. It's a slow bounced out funked out beat. Red kicks the verse off and then Meth follows. Missy Elliot's voice is in the background going "Hey!".. You can hardly notice her. The hook is cool because they slice up other songs. It starts out with Jay-Z's "Can I Get A..." where Ja Rule says, "It ain't even a question..." and Method Man carries the hook: "This side n*ggaz too hardcore. That side n*ggaz too hardcore. In the middle, n*ggaz too hardcore.." and then a sample from the Beastie Boys says: "So what cha, what cha, what cha want?! What cha want?!"  It's a cool song. It's a  full, hip-hop hardcore jam that Reggie produced with a sharp ear.

"Dat's Dat Sh*t" (featuring Mally G aka Jamal and Young Z from Outsidaz) is a dope, smoked out hardcore funk hip-hop jam. The use of Jamal and Young Z from the Outsidaz just shows the underground (underdog) aspect of the project. This is a dope hardcore track. Young Z's voice is so funny sounding. Even though Jamal's verse in nothing special, it adds an underground element. Methodman, Redman and Young Z handle the hook (Young Z is in parenthesis): "..Yo get ya up and get ya high, ha! - Get ya stoned and get ya  wide-     Dat's dat sh*t (like or not, n*ggas sleepin wit the fifth) -    Dat's dat sh*t (like or not, b*tches fightin over d*ck)- Aiyyo we get ya up and get ya high (yeah) - Get ya stoned and get ya wide -     Dat's dat sh*t (like or not, n*ggas sleepin wit the fifth) -   Dat's dat sh*t (like or not, b*tches fightin over d*ck)..." Methodman yells "Dat dat's sh*t" and Reggie handles the other part. It's a rowdy, naughty, somewhat childesh but fun hardcore hip-hop joint!

"Checka" is a remake of "Mic Checka" by Das Efx. In my opinion, this version takes a big wet dump on the original (and usually the original is better, y'know?) The Gov-Matic beat is dope. It's like the original but adds a thicker funked out flavor to it. Gov-Matic is from Newark and does a good job of producing this remake. The chorus is mainly done by Redman while Method Man just adds some flavor in the background: "..Microphone-check, mirco-microphone checka! -Microphone-check, mirco-microphone checka!- Microphone-check, mirco-microphone checka! -Fuck with me and Meth and we break ya f*ckin' neck-a..." Method Man just yells "Rememba this!" in the background after each line. Redman does a cool wild verse that pays homage to Das Efx: "..Bricki-di-roaw! / Steppin' out the crowd throwin' bolo's / Flicki-di-flame, owh! when chrome .44's / Loadin' it up, packin' it back, ready to splash for real / Spit flows out the gail, God tried to bail / It's hectic, 45-6 gimme ya grips / That's more dollars in them tongues in them go-go chicks / Bitch I'm drunk, pumpin' slugs out of canon / Shot ya after-party down with Meth and Red in / Check it, Bricks and Shaolin, NO JOKE! / And when I hit the pussy call me Daddy Long Strope / Or Ana, I'm hittin' pigeons out in Atlanta / Banana--Split, HOT TWO..SPIT! OOH SHIT! / Spickin' ya rippin' ya four or ya funds / I wet ya like a 141 watergunz /Cocky like Rocky, got ya scared to death! /So hold on ya bitches, cuz here come RED-METH!.."  Methodman does a dope verse too with a cool flow that also payts tribute to those cats who are straight from the sewer: "..Okay the 'hey hey' baby, me and Doc about to blow / My Saturday night's so special and they pointin' at yo nose / Aiyyo, save the speculations and the rumours / Comin' sooner then you think I knock a phat bitch outta blumors /Givin' tumors, hardcore, givin' it to 'em raw /Landshark, Southpaw, so kids say I jap-a-jaw.." It's weird that Das Efx are still around. Their last album came out about two years ago, maybe less. They do not have the same inpact as they did around 92... Still, this is a dope song.

"Fire Ina Hole" is a decent song produced by Mathmatics from the Wu camp. It's cool but nothing amazing. The beat is dope and the sound effects of bombs going off are cool. I must admit that it's funky.  The chorus is just Red and Meth saying, "Fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole!" in a steady but not yelling flow. Redman has his usual weird and funny lines like: ".A plucked out eyebrow gal / Naw dawg, a broad got to be a huzzy / A hoodrat that ride like the 'Bride of Chucky'..." Still, it's a decent song but could be considered filler.

"Well All Rite Cha" is the first of 3 bonus tracks that are all produced by Erik Sermon which end the album. This song, taken from Redman's "Doc's Da Name 2000" is very dope. The beats knocks its way through and Red and Meth make a classic jam. Check the link to the album for the lyrics.

"Big Dogs" is another classic but with a weaker chorus. The beat is dope though and very smooth. This song is off of Method Man's "Tical 2000: Judgement Day" Check out the link for the album for the lyrics..

"How High (Remix)" is a dope song but it's NOT the original!!! This pissed me off! The original is a classic track that is NOT on any of the albums!!! So. they give us the same versions of 2 songs that we probably already have but a weaker remix of a dope classic jam that most Red/Meth fans do NOT have!!! There are more lyrics on this jam by Redman but the beat sucks compared to the original and there's no slice of the sample going "Up, Up to the sky!" Still, it's a good track but it suffers in comparison to the original. The hook is the same as the one they use in the Live version on "Def Jam's Survival Of The Illest Live from 125 NYC" Method Man and Redman handle the hook: "...Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane -   It's the funk doctor spock smokin buddha on a train - HOW HIGH? So high that I can kiss the sky- HOW SICK? So sick that you can suck my d*ck -Look up in the sky it's a bird it's a plane -   Recognize, Johnny Blaze, ain't a damn thing changed - HOW HIGH? So High that I can kiss the sky -HOW SICK? So Sick that you can suck my d*ck..." The beat is slower and more jazzy. It's just not as thick and not as tight. Still, it's a good song though it may make for a dissapointing ending.

Overall, BLACKOUT is a dope album. Many people think that both are not as hardcore as they use to be. Well, both emcees have grown and matured in the past couple of years. And it's true that Redman's songs are no where near as wild as the days of "Whut! The Album", his personality is still entertaining. Methodman shares the same thrown. His days of "Tical" contrast "Tical 2000" but many can still dig his flow and style. They have both been somewhat successful and they maintained (for the mostpart) their origin. They are hardcore emcees. Though they may not be underground anymore, they still are hardcore. There is a difference. There is also a difference in the times.. Where many were scared to even walk near the Redman in "Whut? The Album", some may think of hanging out with the Redman from "Doc's Da Name".  They may not be as hardcore as Mobb Deep but they maintain their hardcore image in their lifestyle. The production of the album is dope. If you like EPMD and Erik Sermon's beat, you can't go wrong with this joint. He produced most of the songs. Rza's songs are dope too. It's cool that both Staten Island and Newark underdogs are represented with  Mathmatics from S.I. and Gov-Matic from The Bricks. There's even other songs sliced up and placed into songs for the hip-hop feel. This is evident in tracks like "The ?". There's not one wack beat on the album. Of course, some sound much doper than the others but. They are all decent enough so that at first listen, filler is not aknowledged. The lyrics of both emcees are dope along with their flow. They have mellowed out since their early days. If this album was made three years ago, it would have been blazing hot but probably not as tight. The tracks are very tight with only tiny skits hidden in the tracks. I like Redman better as an emcee but Method Man holds his ground. They do not steal the show from each other. Where Erik Sermon may steal the show from Parrish Smith, this is not the case with Red and Meth. They compliment each other perfectly. Both are strong lyricists who are both out there and smoked the hell out, reaching a mental plane higher than Chong. As smoked out as they are, they still can make some slamming ass songs with some wild and clever lyrics. L.L. Cool J and Ja Rule bring the lyricism level down a bit on "4 Seasons". Though the song is decent and the beat is slammin, L.L. Cool J is just a horrible rapper in my opinion. Ja Rule is tolerable. Guest shots that shine are Ghostface and Street Life. It would have been dope if Keith Murray was on a cut instead of Lil Jamal aka Mally G. Free Keith Murray! It was also great of Young Z to stop by. Though both emcees are creative and original in style, delivery and flow, their change and maturity which mellowed them out a bit lowers the creativity rating. They are original.. No one can touch their style but filler songs like "Fire In The Hole" and the choice of LL Cool J lowers it a tad. See, the new songs are dope but there's no song that can blow away the original "How High".. Though most of us knew that already, I think many of us were hoping for it. The album flows great.  There are no long, boring useless skits, the songs are placed in a good order and they are also a perfect length. Where "Tical 2000" and "Doc's Da Name" had tons of skits, this album is basically slamming tracks. It's true that Red and Meth have mellowed out and are not as hardcore as they use to be but they will still probably kick your ass. They knocked out the teeth of some wrestler's mother in the video of "Tear It Off". Songs like "Run 4 Cover", "Blackout", "Da Rockwilder", and "Dat's Dat Sh*t" show that they are true to their hardcore roots. There are no sugar coated radio-friendly tracks and thank God, there's no cheesy R&B hooks!  They possess some slight commercial feel but for the most part, they are hardcore. As an avid hardcore hip-hop fan, it's nice to know that you can depend on emcees like Redman and Method Man for hardcore jams. They bring just that. After the smoke clears and the lights go on after the blackout, you have to admit that Meth and Red made an album filled with tight hardcore tracks. They truly are America's Most Blunted! Prepare for the blackout, because it's dope.
Beats: 9.5/10
Production: 9/10
Lyrics: 9/10
Originality/Creativity: 9/10
Album Flow: 10/10
Hardcore Rating: 10/10
[ Overall Rating: 9.42 / 10. ]