The Meth Lab
by Method Man
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. Consequence
    Aug 20, 2015
    75
    Across the album’s 19 tracks, Meth’s nuanced rapping, the cohesive production, and the guest rappers’ willingness to be team players cohere into an affirmation for Meth’s fans.
  2. AllMusic
    Aug 21, 2015
    70
    Consider this a Meth-led posse LP aimed at returning fans, and a very good one at that.
  3. Exclaim
    Sep 2, 2015
    60
    Too often, the album is weighed down by pedantic, average beats and too many run of the mill guest verses, indicating Meth's generosity is a bit of a weakness. Ultimately, it dilutes The Meth Lab's potency.
  5. HipHopDX
    Aug 31, 2015
    60
    The Meth Lab may be Method Man’s return to solo work, but without a true connection between the tracks the album feels more like a mixtape than an album, a string of songs that range from uninspiring to a reminder that Method Man was once one of Hip Hop’s elite.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Aug 21, 2015
    60
    His first album since 2006 is a proudly nostalgic testament to the Shaolin way, full of vintage, gritty New York beats, cameos from pals like Redman (plus Wu brothers Inspectah Deck and Raekwon), and a chill, shooting-the-shit vibe.
  7. Mojo
    Aug 20, 2015
    60
    While other Clansmen excel are building intricate metaphors and vivid storytelling, Method Man is all about swaggering confidence and masterflow flows. [Sep 2015, p.93]
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  8. The Independent (UK)
    Aug 20, 2015
    60
    It’s amusing to hear Method Man claiming “Wu-Tang is for the children, go get your child support on” in “Two Minutes Of Your Time”.... It’s an ironic counterbalance to the sinister lope and slow-rolling menace of the typically inventive drug and gun metaphors of tracks like “50 Shots”, “Bang Zoom” and “The Meth Lab” itself.
  9. Drowned In Sound
    Sep 16, 2015
    50
    For all Method’s moments of individual brilliance--“Rappers don’t really ride they piggy back/I’ll trade them all to have 2Pac and Biggy back”--clarity is lost in the sheer number of guest appearances.
  10. Boston Globe
    Aug 20, 2015
    50
    Method Man is mostly in a lower gear (“Water”), only rising up to inspired heights intermittently. Augmented by a serviceably brittle production, the numerous MCs offer more energy than consistency, making it difficult for the 19 tracks to sustain momentum.
  11. Pitchfork
    Sep 3, 2015
    40
    The Meth Lab is a posse record in practice, very much in the lineage of Theodore Unit's 718, Polluted Water, or the ultimate in Wu-Tang marginalia, Ugodz-illa Presents the Hillside Scramblers.
  12. RapReviews.com
    Sep 1, 2015
    40
    As a mixtape, it works, but is nothing more than generic New York street rap set to some largely forgettable instrumentals.

User Reviews

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User Score
4.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. geedup
    Aug 23, 2015
    4
    The sounds sound as if Meth is still in the late 90's-sounds old quite frankly. Some of his references are straight from back then too-wasThe sounds sound as if Meth is still in the late 90's-sounds old quite frankly. Some of his references are straight from back then too-was expecting Joe Clair or Big Tiga from BET to make shout outs on here.. Now, I do like the gritty sounds Meth is grinding with, and he didn't fall into the trap of the latest "trap musik" sh*t. I can respect that. Good to hear some of the WU come on this thing and his road dog Redman. But, this Meth ain't the best Meth we have heard.… Full Review »
  2. BIGMAN22
    Feb 25, 2016
    2
    the album sounds pretty poor compared to his early works. seems after his albums 4.21 the day after and tical the prequel, Method man hadthe album sounds pretty poor compared to his early works. seems after his albums 4.21 the day after and tical the prequel, Method man had trouble releasing more work due to label issues. the production on here doesn't sound raw and gritty and and the album is over packed with too many guests. i respect that meth wants others to shine, but on here he sounds like hes done with music and has ran out of ideas on what to rap about. guess from being in movies and out of the music scene for 9 years is taking its toll on method man. he will always be one of my fav rappers but this album is far from a classic like his past works,… Full Review »
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