SPORTING a mouth full of gold teeth and an arsenal of memorable verses, Method Man is one of the most charismatic figures in rap today. Also known as Meth, Tical, Johnny Blaze, Hott Nikkels, MZA, and Iron Lung, the engaging MC has starred on hit singles and albums as a founding member of the hip-hop supergroup Wu-Tang Clan, solo, with current partner-in-rhyme Redman, and as a guest rapper on countless projects.

Method Man grew up as Clifford Smith, a youth who was shuttled between a delinquent father in Long Island and a mother on Staten Island, New York. In fact, Staten Island