This Unreleased ’95 Red & Meth Freestyle Shows How High They Truly Fly (Audio)

In the summer of 1995, Def Jam Records dropped The Show soundtrack. The Top 5 charting work featuring music by Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., and A Tribe Called Quest introduced a duo that was still years away from fully forming. On the song “How High,” Def Squad’s Redman and Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man spit bars while splitting open wrappers. That song would sustain their careers in the highest, through film, two heralded albums, and decades of touring. For a decade-old label, Reggie Noble and Clifford Smith were upholding the tenants of Def Jam’s hardcore, in-your-face reputation.

That same year, Staten Island, New York and Newark, New Jersey MCs would travel to London, England. Kicking it with Tim Westwood, the lyricists would unload rhymes for more than 10 minutes, tackling beats such as The Honeydrippers’ “Impeach The President” (3:40) and Red’s own (then) three year-old “Tonight’s Da Night” (6:30).

This 25-Minute Redman & Method Man 1999 Freestyle Shows How High They Fly (Audio)

After a prolonged first verse (where Redman also big ups his turntable skills), Meth’ enters. Iron Lung shouts out Cappadonna as “The O.G. on the block” a year before Ironman would jump-start his rhyme career. The two red-eyed microphone masters are at the top of their game (and appear very much off the top), as Redman closes off with a special shout-out to the staff at Pathmark grocery stores.

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