Redman

Rapper, DJ, and actor Redman was born Reginald Noble in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 1970. His best known for his frequent work with friend, collaborator, and Wu-Tang Clan member Clifford ‘Method Man’ Smith, Jr. in the duo Method Man and Redman. Reginald Noble began rapping under the name DJ Kut-Killa in his late teens. After being kicked out of school and his home by the time he was 16, he began to make his mark as a DJ and MC in New Jersey and New York. He was discovered and mentored by rapper and producer Erick Sermon from EPMD. Changing his stage name to Redman, he began to work behind the scenes with EPMD, eventually making guest appearances during their live performances. Redman came to prominence in 1990 when he made notable live appearances with EPMD and appeared on their album Business as Usual. Redman released his debut album, Whut? Thee Album, in 1992. The album went to Number 5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart and Number 49 on the Billboard 200, producing the hit singles “Blow Your Mind,” which topped Billboard's Hot Rap Songs Chart, and “Time 4 Sum Aksion,” which went to number 1. He followed that album with Dare Iz a Darkside (1994), which hit number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 13 on the Billboard 200. His next album, Muddy Waters (1996), was also a success, hitting number 1 on the Rap/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 12 on the Billboard 200. In 1998, Redman’s album Doc’s da Name 2000 was another Rap/Hip-Hop Albums chart topper, as was El Niño, and album he recorded with rap collective Def Squad. Collaborating with his longtime friend Method Man, the duo’s debut album Blackout! was Redman’s most successful album yet, hitting number 1 on the Rap/Hip-Hop chart and reaching the Top 40 in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada. Method Man and Redman continued to collaborate on many projects together while also continuing their solo careers. Most significantly, they branched out into acting and appeared in films and TV productions together including the cult classic film How High (2001). They’d belatedly follow up their Blackout! album in 2009 with the sequel, Blackout! 2, which was also a success. Redman’s solo career continued with hit albums including Malpractice (2001), Red Gone Wild: Thee Album (2007), Reggie (2010), Mudface (2015), and Muddy Waters Too (2024). Throughout his career, Redman collaborated with other artists including De La Soul, Christina Aguilera, Dru Hill, Erick Sermon, Busta Rhymes, Kool Moe Dee, and others.