Method Man on Why Nelly’s Claims of Being in the Toughest Era of Rap Isn't Wrong 

I agree with Nelly. That was hip-hop at it's peak as far as superstars. Dudes were going diamond, having #1 hits, #1 albums and getting played around the world.

Nelly ain't lying. That era of Hip Hop was heavy!

1995 - 2005 was the hottest 10 years era in hip hop

Method a real one for shouting out Bone Thugs

What Nelly means is during that time (99-08), Every region of the US was hot, fighting for one spot. Prior to the early 2000s, it was east vs west fighting the for the tidal of best rappers, for the most part.

Nelly came out with his own style. You could see the East Coast influence but he had his own swag. He hit the game hard with straight classics. "Hot In Herre" Is a Top 10 banga.

You got to add ja rule to that era also. He was putting big numbers on the board also.

The thing about pre 2000's rap was that it was mainly East and West coast. Then the south exploded, having rappers emerge from Houston, Atlanta, N.Orleans, Memphis, Miami, so the competition really increased during that era. 90's had to deal with lots of shady record label shenanigans and 80's on back really had to struggle just to even get any kind of play. So every era had their battles.

Fun fact.....TPain wrote Low for Nelly but he passed so he gave it to Flo Rida. That's why the chorus says "Apple Bottom Jeans"

The 90s was the most competitive era in Hip Hop. Don’t believe me. Watch. NWA, Dre, Warren G, Ice Cube, Snoop, Pac, Biggie, Nas, Jay. Puff, Mase, Wu/Tang. Bone, Thugs ,Oukast.Kim, Foxxy, Da Brat. The Fugees. Mob Deep, Dogg Pound. Redman, DMX, Eminem. Tribe called quest. KRS one. public Enemy.Busta Rhymes. Big Pun.Missy Elliot. LL,Rakim,DJ Quik. E-40, Too Short, Geto Boys. MC Hammer, And then you got the labels. Deathrow, Cash money. No limit, Rap a lot. The 90s were just a totally different animal

There were so many different sounds at that time, compared to now. Everyone is trying to sound the same to catch a wave!

He aint talking about the toughest era to get on, he's on about so many heavy hitters gunning for that top spot commercial wise

Forgot to mention OutKast, Jeezy, T.I., Gucci, Kanye

Lets not forget about when Nelly and the St. lunatics did the Tip Drill video (uncensored)on BET Uncut 😂😂😂

Never thought i’d hear Method Man mention Rodney O & Joe Cooley. Their song Everlasting Bass was a banger.

90-99 is the toughest era 2pac. Biggie. Jay Z. Nas. DMX. JA Rule. Wu Tang E40 Too Short Scarface Snoop Dr. Dre. Bone Thugs. Tribe Called Quest. NWA. Public Enemy Naughty By Nature. West Side Connection. Big Pun. Mase. Dogg Pound. Redman

Nelly is speaking real facts, hes legend in the game from the mid- 2000s. Im still a fan

Lot of ppl dont know but Nelly hung out in Philly before he blew up. He was running with a Philly group name RAM Squad (Richard Allen Projects). This was like 95/96. I only know this because my cousin knew The Roots road manager and they knew RAM Squad

Definitely the toughest in terms of main stream and commercial success. Hip hop really started to hit it's financial stride during that era

Shout out to Meth for mentioning Rodney O and Joe Cooley. Classic WestCoast shit. Check out "You Don't Wanna Run Up". Takes me back to my childhood. 80s baby!!!!

Meth, That Burgh fitted is CRAZY!

1990-2000 was also a tough decade: Wu, snoop , Big, PAC, Nas, Jay, Bone Thugs etc

He Cleary said to sell records I think he right that time frame had so many super stars I think when it comes to best rappers it was the early to mid 90s

St. Lunatics were an American hip hop group formed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1993. The group consisted of childhood friends Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, and Slo Down. Their first hit, "Gimme What U Got", gained popularity in 1996. In 2000, the group signed with Universal Records. Their debut album, Free City, was released after Nelly's solo breakthrough, achieving Platinum status in the U.S. Members of St. Lunatics pursued solo careers, and Nelly opened a music production school.

Shout out to Meth for say Bone!!!

Zoom by the Commodores is the jam tho 😅

I think it’s true but because of the groundwork set by the ones before. In the 2000s hip hop was so popular more and more people joined, increasing the competition

But Nelly never said that the other era’s wasn’t tough. He just said the 00’s was the toughest and he had a valid point.

Imagine being a new rapper in 99-2000 and your label telling you they maxed the budget on your label mates: Jay-Z, DMX, Luda, Ja- Rule, Method Man and Redman, LL Cool J, Foxy Brown, and Beanie Siegel.. And on top of that, they shelving your album cuz your producer they promised you working on all these other heavy hitters albums…. And that’s just your label! You still got Eminem, Nelly, OutKast, Hot Boys, Dr Dre’s Chronic 2001 album and a slew of other artist on other labels to compete against…. I’d be tight too… 😅

I remember Nellyville dropping right before my birthday in 2002. Hot In Herre was definitely a banger 🔥🔥🔥

Early 90s and mid 90s was the hardest

Nelly sort of had his own lane. He was all over MTV and TRL, which was white boy band and white pop princess dominated. He wasn’t competing with these other rappers. He was basically a pop star rapper.

I feel like method man and Nelly aren’t talking about the same things.

1990 to 2000 was the greatest 10 yrs era in HipHop period

Nelly came in with something different even though he wasn't as good as the other rappers he brought something new. Now everyone is actually alike I don't know what's going on

method man my favorite rapper of all time!!! 💯 great interview

Nelly right that decade 99-2009 toughest era of rap

I think that the 80's was the hardest ever because rap really didn't get much radio play

Nelly had to create a wave to compete. Big reason rap is mainstream now

I remember being at Summer Jam ‘03 in NJ/NY and Nelly got booed out the building. He was considered pop. He had a different audience in most cases. He was not competing with a DMX or a Nas, or a Jay-Z.

Da 90's was Hands Down!!! Then, the Early 00's. NBA the 90's then the Early 00's. With MJ in the 90's to Kobe in the Early 00's. Nelly an Underrated Legend had Hits for Days Put Some Respect on his Name. P.S. it's 20 Years Since his Album "Sweat/Suit" Btw 😅

Nelly was my favorite rapper. Country Grammer, Nellyville, and Sweatsuit are straight work. And that 98 to 2010 era was tough. But idk the 90’s was crazy

I feel it was harder in the early to mid 90’s bc you didn’t have the exposure as later yrs, I mean I get what he’s saying about the competition but they had that in the 90’s too except you couldn’t go on the internet as a no name and have millions of ppl become aware of you and your talents

If Nelly would’ve dropped an album during the Biggie, Pac, Snoop, Dre, Cube era he would’ve been only Gold.

He's right and this is true for that generation for any other industry. Bob Jones said it's the generation of the best genes. Look at Britney and anyone else who is talented in that age group. Tons of competition. Look at the kids now and it's almost like broadcasting dead air for most but not all.

Method a real one for shouting out Rodney- O and Joe Cooley...

90s was hardly a picnic. Ice Cube, Snoop, Scarface,, Biggie, Pac, Hammer, Nas, THE DOC, groups as well Outkast, Bon thugs N Harmony, Wu tang clan, DO Or Die, TWista, E 40, LL COOL J was still happening in the 90's,

I need that Pittsburgh hat ? Where did he get it from?

I agree with everything.. back then was hard to come up. Where it was CDs store and stuff.. now everything is now rebooting sampling music 🙄

Has the table always been made of crates lol this the 4th episode I watched. 😂

He said "hit record" referring to the height of hiphop hit record renaissance...before then, the groundwork was being laid. He's referencing the era when hiphop was hitting on an cylinders breaking through on another level and how many types people it took to do it.

Its was a tough era for a different reason. I get the competitive nature to be the top guy, but the 80s and early 90s were fighting to give rap notoriety. Politicians trying to censor and ban NWA, having to create their own lanes in media (TV, magazines, radio, etc...). Those eras put in the groundwork so rapper can excel in the 200s moving forward.

I aint heard Rodney-O & Joe Cooley name in Forever. First Album i got from them was Fuck New York 1993. Damn so long ago

If he wants to look at it like that or he should be grateful that he came into an era where Hip hop was overtaking other genres and selling more units... So his era was the peak of selling records...and hes the beneficiary of that

Meth must be smokin meth if he thinks people on the West Coast weren’t listening to Kane 😂😂😂

I still remember them nelly videos

Man i wish he would've never stopped "Vokal" Their clothes were nice.

Meth said Portrait! I ain’t heard mention of them in years! Here We Go and Honey Dip was my joint!

Meth with the Portrait shout-out.

Coincidentally i started listening to rap from 1999 till 2008, exactly the era Nelly is talking about. And i am from South Africa.

Nelly, DMX, EM, Jay Z, Outkast, Luda, Ja Rule, Missy, Dipset and Cam, 50 and G unit, 36 Mafia, Dupri-Bow Wow-Da Rat, Romeo and Master P, Weezy-Cash Money-Young Money, Gucci, Jeezy, Tip and Rick Ross

He ain't lying!!! I remember so many artists were poppin' and really breaking thru the industry. Lil Wayne was on every song/remix, DMX dropped 2 albums in one year, Ross came up, Jeezy was on fire, Snoop & E-40 had the West Coast, it was just so much competition then!!!

He didn’t wanna hate 😂

So we gone sit here and act like it didn’t take a minute for people to warm up to a country sounding rapper from St. Louis, huh?

Meth said he listens to JODECI and New Edition! Ain't no shame in his game! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

It's like Big and Pac died and there was this fight for who would reign supreme. The 90s was tough, but everyone had their own lane. 99-2010? SHEESH!!! Every region was popping and the competition was off the chain. Who would have the #1 single, album, and there was no social media so music videos were like full-on movies. As far as competition, I get where Nelly is coming from. Things weren't as "buddy-buddy" as there are now, BEEF DVDs and World-Star were popping and it was just a slug fest.

Shout out to Meth for shouting out Portrait!!! Jodeci without a doubt were the epitome as male RnB groups but there were many others like Portrait, Silk, Shai, Lo Key , UNV, H Town, Jagged Edge, Mint Condition, Troop, NE, Blackstreet, Boys II Men, 112, Dru Hill, Next, and the list is just as long with female groups! I'm a true Hip Hop head going back to 83 seriously.... but when it was time to get with a lady, club, dance, vibe, chill, get intimate or nice long drive... damn that Hip Hop.. I wanted my RnB!!

Every era of rap was like a battle rap scene up until 2010 imo

96 to 06 is the toughest era

at 1:24 I thought Beyoncè was POP?

Melo's jacket is nice as hell

Being from New york is the toughest Era ever ever. So many great artist from New York that always found ways to diferent themselves from each other.

Lit ep

Only dudes movin units Em Pimp Juice and Us… bro that shh was so hard and was true af

That era was tough. But guys from old school was still in the game too.

"why do you have a headband on Billy?" 💀😂😂😂

“them sh*ts” so New York 😂😂😂

Feels like he's right too because Red and Meth was big then, the whole blackout/up in smoke, rocafella tour, cash money thing it all felt like a golden age of music where as earlier felt like bronze and silver. that was my youth, Texas with lil flip and mike jones, then we had b2k and those groups.

the Def Jam building had it the toughest

METH ROCKIN OUR PITTSBURGH CAP HEAVY 💪🏽 SALUTE TO SAM SNEED #C.R.E.A.M.

As time goes on hip hop became more globalized which makes its more accessible and more lanes for opportunity . So i would say the 90s is alot more harder than the early 2000s

Meth is such a good conversationalist.

Can't believe he didn't mention Nas tho

86 - 98 was a great ride in Hip Hop.

Am I Tripping or is that the same chain HOV was wearing for the Magna Carta album?

For Meth to mention Rodney O & Joe Cooley and that Kendrick "dis" track was from Metro Boomin's track that SAMPLED Rodney O & Joe Cooley's Everlasting Bass....must be applauded. I had their album (actually cassette) back when I was in high school. Respect!

Meth is so strategic with his responses these days. After, mentioning R&B, he gave Beyonce the Queen of R&B. Then he safely articulated his favorites as the groups. He dared not suggest a singular R&B artist because he knows like mostly anyone else that one would be hard pressed to name any other King of R&B than RKelly. So, he glossed over that segment of his response. It also appears that he doesn't believe Nelly was in the toughest era of HipHop. But, yet again he responded diplomatically. I do understand that he is a man now, and has greatly matured, and must consider the backlash that his opinions can cause. However, truth is always preferred. And those who stand on it will mostly be celebrated, and rarely, if ever, hated, no matter how unpopular the opinion. Meth is more politician than wordsmith revolutionary these days...

You can’t tell a man who’s been through everything that you’ve had it as rough as he has.

Another point is that it was also that era when illegal downloading music was a huge problem which also really affected record sales for those artist, so i can understand Nellys opinion

Yo i was born in 76 and the 90's was the toughest era Realrap

We say we’re from Miami not Florida and I have to agree with Nelly he had to go against some tough talent don’t forget how Ja Rule, T.I , Jeezy, T-pain and the list go on 99-2009

I say I from The Bronx

Salute to Meth for recognizing Rodney O & Joe Cooley

I think what Nelly meant by the toughest era, was in regards to the amount of superstars there were in Hip Hop at that time. If that is what he meant, I agree with him 100%.

Jermaine Dupri and so so def do showcases in Atlanta

You see how the rappers majority say X first in a particular time.

@1:28 Meth shouldn't suggest that r&b is a wrap, give it to Beyonce bc all the females who came up in the same era and more, were basically blackballed from the industry by design so that we couldn't continue to expand our culture. It's not favorable to just have Beyonce the main voice we hear in r& b music. We had endless supply and choice b4 the 1st decade of the 2000s and b4 she went solo.

I can't remember the era I think between 1994/2000 was 🔥....Listening to DJ mix tapes...DJ Ron G,Kidd Capri,DJ Juice and more...

Dont forget guys like ja rule busta fat joe ti jeezy kanye wayne. I think what theyre missing hes talking that no1 spot not region, but amongst the artists mention all had top 10 hits. Nowadays or even back to the 90s you had 3-4 artists that you just know going no 1 every time or gon make the world stop drake j cole kendrick..hm travis

i think now is the toughest era... millions of rappers1000 who are good hard to stick out of rappers world wide and big shoes to fill