Method Man has come to a realization – not every hip-hop crowd vibes with his music. After performing at Hot 97 Summer Jam, he’s decided it’s not the scene for him anymore.
On June 2, Method Man and Redman took the stage at the Hot 97 Summer Jam held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Despite the presence of hip-hop veterans like Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, and Jadakiss, the event was predominantly featuring younger artists such as Doja Cat, Sexyy Red, and Gunna. This mix is a significant reason why Method Man doesn’t see himself returning to the annual concert.
“Not our crowd at all,” Method Man commented on an Instagram post about his performance. “Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event) plus Peter Rosenberg and Ebro Darden. I got love for you guys, but never again… at this point, the generation gap is just too wide for me… #nevercomingback.”
Just a day before the event in New York, Method Man and Redman joined forces with Black Thought, Common, and Freeway for an all-star remix of “4,3,2,1” at J.Period’s Live Mixtape set during the Roots Picnic. The Roots MC, Black Thought, delivered new verses over iconic beats like Wu-Tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck,” Method Man’s “Bring the Pain,” and Redman’s “Tonight’s Da Night.”
The collaboration reached a high point when the five rappers performed a fresh rendition of “4,3,2,1,” originally from LL Cool J’s 1997 album Phenomenon. Following this, Black Thought continued with freestyles over legendary tracks such as Raekwon’s “Ice Cream” and GZA’s “Shadowboxin’.”
Questlove, the organizer of the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, shared his excitement on Instagram about the collective performance. He also took the opportunity to reminisce about the festival’s origins. “30 Years Ago Today with 6 one-way tickets in hand, we took a risk and left our beloved City Of Philadelphia for the shaky shores of Londontown — specifically Camden — the East Village Of London,” Questlove wrote. “2 weeks into our stay we did our first festival (a last min side stage add on to [Glastonbury]) and we promised hook or crook we would bring a festival to our city.”
Questlove added, “In 2008 that dream came true when the first @rootspicnic came to fruition […] This moment was epic: @methodmanofficial @redmangilla @phillyfreeway @common @jperiodbk @stroelliot & their fearless leader @blackthought making it look so easy. Thank You Philadelphia.”
Method Man’s decision not to return to Hot 97 Summer Jam underscores the generational shifts within hip-hop. While he remains a respected figure in the community, he recognizes that not every venue aligns with his style and audience.
