Blackout! 2

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I had obligations. Doc had obligations. There were things going on with the label. Staff changes. That's what happened.

Giving his take on the delay, Redman stated:

We was out venturing, starting other careers," Red said. "We can't just depend on this rap game. We did a movie, TV show  — venturing out. Now we back. We ain't left. We're coming at the right time.

[5]

Music

Recording and production

The album features production from Pete Rock and Erick Sermon, [6] as Method Man and Redman promise to satisfy patient fans. The track "A Yo" that was leaked in March is included on the album. Also the track "City Lights" featuring Bun B leaked over the internet on March 24, 2009. Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah appear on the album, as well as Def Squad members Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray.

Redman stated about the album's production process to MTV:

We're more advanced now than the first one, Red added. We went in, had fun. I have my own studio now, so it's more relaxed. I engineer now. It ain't no rush for time, paying the studio and engineer. It's fun. We treated [the album] like a mixtape, really. If we really got in there and sat, it'll be a beast. But it's a beast now, and we treated it like a mixtape. [5]

Release and promotion

Blackout! 2 was released 10 years after the Blackout! album, which was placed at the top of a lot of 1999's best album lists.

Entertainment Weekly explained how the two lyricists work so well together:

When Hip Hop's most playfully creative rhyme stylers throw down like two superballs in a rubber room, they're unstoppable, and make rap's most joyous ride.

Method Man and Redman have shot music videos for their singles "A Yo" and "Mrs. International". They also shot a video for the song "How Bout Dat" featuring Ready Roc and Streetlife as a video only single and was released online on September 20, 2009. There was also a fan made video for the song "Dis Is 4 All My Smokers" and was released on May 13, 2009. The song City Lights featuring Bun B was released as an only radio single. At Best Buy, both Blackout! and Blackout! 2 are sold together in a boxed set celebrating the 10th anniversary of Blackout.

Lights Out (Blackout 10 Year Reunion) Mixtape

As promotion for the new album, Method Man & Redman put a "Ten Year Reunion" mixtape. Featuring several, well-known older songs from the original Blackout! album, it also includes new songs like "Four Minutes to Lock Down" with Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, "Dangerous Mcees," etc. It also featured new singles like "City Lights" with Bun B and "A Yo" with Saukrates. The mixtape was hosted by DJ Green Lantern.

Reception

Commercial performance

Blackout! 2 was released on May 19, 2009. It debuted at number #7 on the Billboard 200, at number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, at number 2 on the Top Rap Albums and digital in charted number 7 on the Digital Albums charts selling 63,000 copies its first week. [7] The album also charted number 10 on Canadian Albums.

The album fell 11 spots to number 18 on the billboard chart in its second week with sales of 20,000 copies. [8] In its third week the album fell 12 spots landing on number 30 selling 14,000 that week. [9] On its fourth week the album fell 18 spots landing on number 48 with sales of 10,000 copies. [10] The album fell 32 spots it had landed on number 70 selling 7,700 copies in its fifth week. [11]

The album has sold 178,608 copies in the United States by December 12, 2010, according to SoundScan.

Critical response

Blackout! 2
Meth Red Blackout! 2.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 19, 2009
Recorded2008–2009 at Redman's house
Genre Hip hop
Length57:48
Label Def Jam Recordings
Producer
Method Man & Redman chronology
Blackout!
(1999)
Blackout! 2
(2009)
Method Man chronology
4:21... The Day After
(2006)
Blackout! 2
(2009)
Wu-Massacre
(2010)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [12]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The A.V. Club B+ [14]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [15]
IGN (8.0/10) [16]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [17]
New York Times (favorable) [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Vibe (favorable) [20]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]
XXL Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [22]

Reviews of the album were generally positive. It has a score of 79 out of an overall score of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [12]

Allmusic.com gave it a four out of five stars stating that:

With each having individual obligations all over the place, it took ten years for Method Man and Redman to record a follow-up to 1999's beloved Blackout!, but one listen and you'd think it had only been ten days. Interplay during the intro proves that none of the chemistry is lost." and "The original deserves the top spot, but think of this as The Godfather Part II of reckless boom-bap rap and you've got an idea of how well this Blackout!

HiphopDX.com gave the album a 3.5 stars out of 5, stating that:

Still, Red and Meth clearly made this album for the fans, and the fans should be more or less sated. They may not be as ferocious as they once were, but very few ever have been. So with that in mind, Blackout! 2 is definitely worth a spin – and not just for nostalgia’s sake.

Vibe gave a favorable review, stating that:

The middle-aged MCs have forged an album that reflects their belief that skills will always trump bells and whistles. Don’t mistake it for complacency--blame it on consistency. BO2 passes the smell test.

Billboard also gave it a favorable review which stated:

This dynamic duo comes off as vital as it has in a decade on the highly anticipated sequel to the pair's 1999 collaborative debut, "Blackout!

IGN.com gave the album an 8/10 stated that:

For the most part, Blackout! 2 is a decent rap experience, with strong beats and music, masterful emcee braggadocio and funky flow, and a playful pothead sense of humor. Nothing amazes or stands out as awful; but Meth & Red fans should be satisfied.

XXL gave the album a mixed review, giving the album a grade of L out of XXL, stating that:

For the majority of Blackout! 2, Meth and Red touch upon the strongest staples of their past work (“Four Minutes to Lock Down,” with Raekwon and Ghostface, is this album’s always reliable Wu-Tang cipher). The uninspired filler that litters this reunion’s latter portion, though, spoils the overall taste. Those with a hardcore case of the munchies for vintage Meth and Red goodness should feel satisfied. Just expect to be reminded more of past, stronger highs, rather than any lasting, in-the-moment buzz.

Track listing

Blackout! 2 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."BO2 (Intro)" Mathematics 2:34
2."I'm Dope Nigga"
Havoc 4:11
3."A-Yo" (featuring Saukrates)
Pete Rock 3:44
4."Dangerous MCees"
Erick Sermon 2:34
5."Errbody Scream" (featuring Keith Murray)
Swiff D4:27
6."Hey Zulu" Rockwilder 3:12
7."City Lights" (featuring Bun B) Nasty Kutt 5:03
8."Father's Day"
Ty Fyffe 2:57
9."Mrs. International (Skit)"
  • Smith, Jr.
  • Noble
Reggie Noble 0:57
10."Mrs. International" (featuring Erick Sermon)
Buckwild 3:39
11."How Bout Dat" (featuring Ready Roc and Streetlife)
Vinny Idol3:59
12."Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers" DJ Scratch 4:17
13."Lock Down (Skit)"
  • Smith, Jr.
  • Noble
Reggie Noble1:15
14."Four Minutes to Lock Down" (featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah) Bink! 3:22
15."Neva Herd Dis B 4"
  • Smith, Jr.
  • Noble
  • Sermon
Erick Sermon4:03
16."I Know Sumptn" (featuring Poo Bear)
  • Smith, Jr.
  • Noble
  • Boyd
  • David Manzoor
King David3:32
17."A Lil Bit" (featuring Melanie Rutherford)
  • Smith, Jr.
  • Noble
  • Melanie Rutherford
  • Stinson
  • Chris Grayson
  • Khateeb Muhammad
  • Rockwilder
  • Chris N Teeb
4:11
Total length:57:48

Samples

BO2 (Intro)

A-Yo

City Lights

Fathers Day

Mrs. International

Dis is 4 All My Smokers

Four Minutes to Lock Down

Charts history

Album chart positions

YearAlbumChart positions
Billboard 200Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
2009Blackout 272

Singles chart positions

YearSongChart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot Rap Singles
2009"A-Yo"-113-
"City Lights"---
"Mrs. International"---

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