Hip Hop Celebrates: Redman

“It’s the funkadelic funk for chumps who don’t be knowin my name I’ll tear the frame out ya punks.

I’ll make you slide, make you skip, make you wanna backflip. I gets biz wit tha skit, I DJ like Quik

The top notch up the block so I carry a Glock. Holy hot rocks I’m hot so give up the props.

My style is hummin comin at ya. Duck or get backed up dispatcher. Red get freaky to the rapture.”- Redman (Blow Your Mind)

These are lyrics of the New Jersey born over the top crazy emcee known as Redman. Born Reggie Noble on April 17, 1970, Redman was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey nicknamed Brick City. While growing up in the backdrop of the tough Brick City environment Reggie was part of a crew of drug dealers who sold cocaine as a teenager. When his mother discovered he was in possession of cocaine she kicked him out the family home. Though Reggie was a tough kid, a near death experience in which his older brother saved him while running the streets inspired Reggie to seek a different path in life. It was in Hip Hop that Reggie would find his footing.

By the age of 18 Reggie started DJ-ing and rapping under the name DJ Kut Killa. He recorded his raps over funk-style beats and started performing at parks and parties in both New York and and New Jersey to get his name out to the Hip Hop community. This would eventually lead to him being discovered by Erick Sermon, one half of the Hip Hop super duo known as EPMD. Sermon was impressed with Noble’s skills and later introduced him to the other half of EPMD, Parrish Smith. After seeing his talent and believing in his potential they moved him into Sermon’s apartment and decided to take him on tour with them and it was here that he adopted the stage name Redman.

It would be after the success of EPMD’s third album, Business as Usual that the duo decided to induct Redman into an ensemble of upcoming artist that EPMD was putting together called The Hit Squad, which consisted of rappers K-Solo, Das Efx and Redman. After joining the Hit Squad the work on Redman’s first solo album titled Whut began.

Released in 1992 Redman’s solo debut album Whut was heavily filled with funk sampled beats and a witty play of words in lyricism that is Redman’s Brick City flow. With East Coast oriented lyrics Redman was heavily inspired by the West Coast Hip Hop funk sound of artist like Ice Cube and NWA. With his debut album Redman displayed himself in the same vein as Hip Hop pioneers like LL-Cool J, just pure Hip Hop spirit. The album was a big success and made Redman the third act of The Hit Squad to have a hit record.

During the release of EPMD’s fourth album, Business Never Personal controversy struck. Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith of EPMD parted ways due to a business fued. Not only was EPMD broken up, but The Hit Squad was broken up as well with everyone opting to align themselves with which ever member of EPMD brought them into the fold. Rappers K-Solo and Das Efx stayed with Parrish Smith as The Hit Squad. Redman stayed with Erick Sermon and the two later brought Long Island rapper Keith Murray into the picture and became The Def Squad.

While still under the guidance of Erick Sermon and signed to Def Jam Records, Redman would later release his second and third albums Dare Iz a Darkside (1994) and Muddy Waters (1996). Like his first effort both of these albums were critical and commercial hits making Redman one of Hip Hop’s biggest superstars.

After the release of Redman’s third album there would be reconciliation between the members of EPMD and Redman would make a featured appearance on the EPMD comeback album Back In Business. It was also at this time that the best was yet to come for Redman. His fourth album Docs Da Name 2000 (1998) was released to platinum success thanks to the album’s hit single “Ill Bee Dat”, The Def Squad’s group album El Niño was a hit for the group and Redman’s collaborative album Blackout (1999) with rapper and close friend, Method Man of the Wu Tang Clan was another platinum hit.

By the year 2000 Redman dropped his fifth solo album Malpractice (2000) which spawned one of the most memorable Hip Hop party songs of the early 2000’s “Let’s Get Dirty”.

Since the turn of the millennium Redman has become household name not only in Hip Hop but even in the world of film with hits like the stoner comedy How High (2001) with partner in crime Method Man and co starring in Seed Of Chucky (2004) the fifth entry of the Child’s Play slasher film series. Redman also made headlines for his memorable episode of MTV’s Cribs series in which he showed the world how even a successful artist like himself was living in what many saw as just a basic condominium. What he showed the world was that being a superstar was not all fancy and glamour like Hollywood would have many to believe. Many people such as myself saw this episode as the greatest and most important episode in the series’s history.

Redman will forever be remembered as one of Hip Hop’s greatest and most unsung heavyweights. He has inspired so many greats that have come after him including Ludacris and Eminem and he never bragged on it even though these artist have always shown him love.

“ I got a list, here's the order of my list that it's in. It goes: Reggie (Redman), Jay-Z, 2Pac and Biggie, André from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas, and then me.” - Eminem (Till I Collapse).

He has also inspired me with his sharp lyricism and funny personality and he’s been one of my top five favorites of Hip Hop dead or alive since the first time I ever heard him as a small boy because he reminded me so much of myself. It has always been safe to say that Redman represents talent as well as the comedy relief of Hip Hop’s spirit. Hip Hop’s 50th birthday celebrates: Reggie Noble aka Funk Doctor Spoc aka Redman.

“Word to Dan, tan, pillow and cool be

Switchin' speeds like Bruce Lee ridin' a Fuji in a movie

I drop on the one, f—k the two three

Funky like a box of Coochies on looseleaf” - Redman (Can’t Wait).