redman

A few hundred years ago, or maybe more, before Italians schooled the rest of the civilized world on how to paint pretty boys and sculpt muscular women—aka those post-Middle Ages days without YouTube and Spotify—there was this skinny, bald dude. He spent his time glued to MTV and other music channels on cable TV, mouth wide open, hunting for what he loved most: those elusive, greasy-as-hell beats from the American streets.

I don’t know if recording music videos off TV is something normal people do, but back then, I couldn’t care less. All I needed was my Sanyo VHS recorder, a stack of TDK tapes, and my parents’ TV. Those were the glory days of the internet—without YouTube—but with MTV actually about music (Yo! MTV Raps!). No dating shows with same-sex couples, just raw beats and vibes. In this part of Europe where I had the luck to grow up, you could also tune into German channels like Viva and Viva 2. I bet most young folks today can’t even imagine a world without instant access to whatever they want. If you wanted to watch your favorite music video back then, you had to own it. And one of the best ways to do that? Record it straight off the TV onto a VHS tape—or later, burn it onto CDs and DVDs.

I had a few tapes like that. And I had my favorite music videos, the ones I’d replay over and over. From "California Love" and "Gangsta’s Paradise" to "All I Need" and "Nas Is Like." But there was one clip that hit different (still does, to be honest). It had me grinning from ear to ear, my eyes practically popping out of their sockets as I stared at the screen of my parents’ Panasonic TV, shipped in from Germany. The gravity of it was unreal. I could watch it on repeat back then, and even now, almost 30 years later, it still gets me hyped. I’m talking about a certain raunchy, wild dude from Brick City. Yep, I’m talking about "I’ll Be Dat!" by Uncle Reggie himself.

Now, we could argue all day about which Redman album from the '90s is the GOAT. Hardcore fans of the rawer sound will probably ride for his debut, Whut? Thee Album with the insane "Tonight’s da Night." A lot of folks might lean toward Dare Iz a Darkside or Muddy Waters. Tough call. Honestly. I think I’m in that second camp too. Dare Iz a Darkside holds a special place for me. Damn, it’s hard to pick one. I’d take anything from Dare Iz a Darkside to Malpractice without hesitation. But today’s post is about Doc’s da Name 2000—mainly because of the nostalgia tied to that epic video for "I’ll Be Dat!" And honestly? Doc’s da Name 2000—no matter where it ranks in my personal lineup—is a damn good album!

I’m the type of guy who feels just as at home listening to rap about street life straight out of The Wire as I do vibing to bars about a tuna sandwich. Both can hit just right if served up with enough flavor to make you ask for seconds. It just needs to make sense, have that flow, and ride a dope beat. Redman? Yeah, he might act like a clown sometimes, but in his case, we’re talking straight-up gorilla energy. I could easily imagine making a playlist out of just his skits—and they’d still slap. Even after nearly 30 years, they never get old—just ask my poor girlfriend, the long-suffering victim of my rap obsession.

Now, I’m not saying "I’ll Bee Dat!" is the best track on the album. There’s plenty of other dope joints on there. But hands down, it’s the one Redman track I’ve played the most over the last two decades. Like I said, I’ve got a stupid amount of nostalgia tied to it. Everything about it just clicked. Fire rhymes ("My middle name must be Fuck You…"), fire beat from Rockwilder sampling Beenie Man, and that fire video directed by Director X. The second that beat drops and Reggie spits the opening line, I’m already grinning like an idiot. And when he’s roasting the trash music library in the "borrowed" car? Man, I’m gone—completely tuned out of the real world. Oh, and that scene with the girl on the bike? Straight-up “best of the best!”

Equally juicy is "Da Goodness" with the legendary Busta Rhymes. Sweet Jesus, the way they both go off on Redman’s beat! Two madmen on a crazy beat. It’s a shame Busta got left out of the music video, which I’m not really feeling—didn’t age well. Of course, I know it’s 1998 and the budget was probably smaller than Half-Life (I think?), but the concept for the video was weak. I also had a blast with "Jersey Yo!" just as much as with "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" by Ice Cube. Same with the rest: "I Don’t Kare," "Boodah Break," "Keep on '99," "Da Da DaHHH," "D.O.G.S.," and "Brick City Mashin'!" These beats are so good, I might just pray to the flying spaghetti god for more cash for Erick Sermon from EPMD. The chemistry between him and Redman is so next level—even Walter White would be impressed. My head’s spinning so much, I’m about to get strapped into a neck brace. And let’s not forget "Soopaman Lova IV"—I’m wrapping up this praise fest before I puke a rainbow. “Soopaman! Roll up a L for me!”

Doc’s da Name 2000 is one of those timeless albums. Whether it’s the best in Redman’s catalog or not, it still brings me the same joy as it did in 1998—maybe even more—considering the years of experience and hip-hop knowledge I’ve gained over three decades of being a loyal fan. I’ve been listening to this music for about ¾ of its existence, and Redman’s been a big part of that time I’ve invested, and a huge part of my heart. It’s a shame he never made it to the top of the sales charts. In my opinion, one platinum for Doc’s da Name 2000 and his whole career is just way too little. I’m filing a one-man protest! This dude is still a blast to listen to today—even his freestyles on YouTube. He’s dropped a ton of fire music, solo, with Method Man, and as part of Def Squad, and he’ll definitely be back on this blog. There’s so much to choose from!