Method Man’s acting career trajectory was altered in 2001. Prior to that, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper – who appears in Trainwreck, which is due in theaters Friday (July 17) – had a cameo portraying himself in the 1996 movie The Great White Hype and a series of small roles in such acclaimed films as Cop Land with Sylvester Stallone and Belly with DMX, as well as the revered HBO series Oz, which focused on life in prison.
But it was How High, the Staten Island, New York rapper’s 2001 collaboration with Redman, that showcased his range as an actor.
“For me, the comedy shit didn’t really start until I hooked up with Redman,” Method Man says during an exclusive interview with HipHopDX. “Even with the music because [Redman and I had] a bit more fun with it than I did with Wu-Tang. My preference personally is serious when it comes to music. But I’ve always had a joking side. Being in a group like Wu-Tang we needed that jokester every now and then because some of them dudes a little bit too uptight and they need a laugh sometimes. Some of them need a hug.”
In Trainwreck, a comedy written by and starring Amy Schumer, Method Man portrays Temembe, an orderly who had been a doctor in his native land and who cares for the father of Schumer’s character.
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Method Man says that laughter is necessary, which is one of the reasons he enjoys portraying comedic roles.
“My day ain’t complete unless I laugh,” he says. “I like to have fun. I don’t treat everything like an emo kid. You know, like, ‘Everything sucks?’ ‘Everything is funny.’ Fuck that. Let’s have that attitude. I would love to do more drama, but I think people tend to book me for more comedy because my track record shows that I can do comedy.”
In the exclusive clip below, which is premiering on HipHopDX, Schumer raps for Method Man.
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For additional Method Man coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
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