New York, NY (Top40 Charts) This year marks the 20th anniversary of
Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man's Tical album, which was originally released on Def Jam Records on November 15, 1994, marking his debut as a solo artist. A special two-CD
Deluxe Edition will be released on Def Jam/Universal
Music Enterprises,
September 2, 2014, including the newly remastered album and a second disc of 13 bonus tracks, featuring remixes by RZA, Chemical Brothers,
Puff Daddy and The Prodigy, with several mixes of the smash "I'll Be There for You/ You're All I Need to Get By" (with Mary J. Blige). The release is another part of Def Jam Recordings' year-long, ongoing 30th anniversary celebration.
Tical was the first Wu-Tang solo album released after the group's debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and was largely produced by RZA (with the exception of "Sub Crazy," produced by 4th Disciple, and the self-produced "P.L.O. Style"). The album features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members including
Raekwon and Inspectah Deck.
Tical reached #4 on the Billboard 200, and topped the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, certifying platinum on July 13, 1995, thanks to its two hit singles, "Bring the Pain" and "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By," the latter an extended version of the album's "All I Need." "Bring the Pain" went to No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, while "I'll Be There for You"/ You're All I Need to Get By," reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, Hot Rap Singles and Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles charts. Even John Legend, during his recent Hollywood Bowl tribute to Marvin Gaye, told the crowd that when his generation thinks of "All I Need to Get By," it's the 1995 Method Man/Mary J. Blige version that comes to mind first.
Tical has since been hailed as a hip-hop classic and one of the major factors in hip-hop's East Coast rap revival. Entertainment Weekly called
Method Man "one of rap's most formidable players… His gripping rhymes creep out of the darkness and take listeners hostage."
Method Man performed on eight of the 12 tracks on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and even had his own song, "Method Man," which stoked interest in his own solo endeavors. RZA's style on Tical was described as "gritty, dark and murky," which complemented Method's hard-core hip-hop lyricism. Rolling Stone proclaimed, "It's with its heaviest numbers that Tical delivers the primo goods," while Vibe called the album, "Incredible… The production wizardry and vocal complexity build with each listen." Select magazine ranked it No. 28 on their 100 Best Albums of the '90s list, while Ego Trip placed it No. 12 on their rundown of Hip-Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year, 1980-'98.
DISC 1
Tical
Biscuits
Bring the Pain
All I Need
What the Blood Clot
Meth vs. Chef (featuring Raekwon)
Sub Crazy
Release Yo' Delf (featuring Blue Raspberry)
P.L.O.
Style (featuring Carlton Fisk)
I Get My Thang in Action
Mr. Sandman (with RZA, Inspectah Deck, Streetlife, Carton Fish, Blue Raspberry)
Stimulation
Method Man (remix)
DISC 2 (Bonus Tracks)
Release Yo' Delf (Prodigy Remix)
Release Yo' Delf (New Blood Mix)
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Razor Sharp Mix)*
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Razor Sharp Instrumental)
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Puff Daddy Mix)*
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Puff Daddy Instrumental)
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Soul Inside Edit)*
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Keep It Tight Mix)*
Bring the Pain (Chemical Brothers Remix)
Bring the Pain (Remix)
Bring the Pain (Instrumental)
The Riddler
Wings of the Morning (Dynamik Duo Mix) (Capleton featuring Method Man)
*featuring Mary J. Blige
