Redman

views updated May 17 2018

Redman

Rap musician

For the Record

Selected discography

Sources

Redman made his name by blending reggae and funk with choppy lyrics, offbeat rhymes, and silly ghetto-comedy skits. According to critic Chris Ryan in the Village Voice, hip-hops class clown is a throwback to the days of rap when being a Microphone Fiend was importanta refreshing change from the ghetto-fabulous, style-conscious rappers of the 1990s. His first performances, cameos on songs by popular hip-hop group EPMD, fueled him to release his debut, Whut? Thee Album, in 1992 to critical success. The pro-marijuana rapper then earned platinum status for record sales of Muddy Waters, released in 1996, and Docs Da Name 2000, released in 1998. His songs Tonights da Night and Da Goodness became nightclub anthems. The hip-hop magazine the Source called Redman one of raps most consistent MCs and named Redman Live Performer of the Year in 2000.

Born Reggie Noble on April 17, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, Redman grew up in a rough neighborhood, a place he affectionately calls Da Bricks and honors often in his songs. He played drums in church as a kid and credits a college creative-writing teacher for encouraging him to write in his own style. He was always an individual, very different, with a very vivid imagination, Darlene Noble, Redmans mother, said of her son in Vibe. Redman got his start in 1991 as a protege of the legendaryand now-defuncthip-hop group EPMD and with the groups offshoot, Def Squad. Redman met EPMDs Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith in a local New Jersey nightclub while deejaying for a group called One, Two Plus Three. He then wrote and performed rhymes on the classic EPMD track Hardcore. Redman also lived with Sermon for two years after each of his parents kicked him out of their respective homes for alleged involvement with drugs. Redman later performed with Def Squad on El Niño and Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis.

On his debut, Whut? Thee Album, produced by EPMDs Sermon, Redman displayed a unique unpredictability and supreme funk sensibility, according to Rolling Stone critic S. H. Fernando Jr. Redman clearly stated his position on marijuana on the pro-cannabis song How to Roll a Blunt and boasted of his lady-killing skills on Day of Sooperman Lover and Im a Bad. Despite comment from critics who saw Whut? as a too-similar extension of EPMD, the release broke into the top 50 on the Billboard album chart and earned gold status for record sales. Redman got a bit darker and harder on his follow-up album, 1994s Dare Iz a Darkside. The record was considered a sophomore slump that masked the artists potential.

While the trend in hip-hop was toward artists known for hype and flash, Redman built his notoriety around a lack of them, according to Vibe. He is private and keeps a low profile. Im a simple man with very simple tastes and low standards, Redman told the Source. I dont need a lot and I dont expect a lot. He hasnt

For the Record

Born Reggie Noble on April 17, 1970, in Newark, NJ.

Began contributing to EPMD albums, 1991; released solo debut, Whut? Thee Album, 1992; earned platinum status for Muddy Waters, 1996, and Docs Da Name 2000, 1998; performed with Def Squad, 1998-2000; released Malpractice, 2001.

Awards: Rap Artist of the Year, the Source magazine, 1993; Live Performer of the Year Award (with Method Man), the Source, 2000.

Addresses: Record company Def Jam, 825 8th Ave., New York, NY 10019, website: http://www.defjam.com.

made news for run-ins with the law or spats with other rappers. While filming his screen debut alongside fellow rapper Method Man in the comedy How High, Redman was the consummate professional. He refrained from smoking his beloved marijuana, according to Vibe, often worked ten-hour days, was on-set promptly for 8 a.m. call times, and memorized his lines thoroughly. The film was released in late 2001.

Although his record sales have increased with each release, Redman has sold fewer records for the Def Jam label than labelmates Jay-Z and DMX, who have been with the label for less time. Maybe the level of people you attract is what you supposed to attract, Redman said in an interview with Vibe. Maybe the few people I attract are the ones who know what the real is. Theres that connection. Thats what I put into my music. Its like a feeling. Maybe the other 60 billion people that dont have my album dont know. And the rapper doesnt judge his worth by his heavy rotation on MTV or his commercial success. I never looked out for MTV, Redman said to Vibe. I just looked for the approval of the streets. The streets will always let you know.

On his 1996 release, Muddy Waters his favorite release so far, according to the Source Redman demonstrated that versatility was his strong suit. Again produced by EPMDs Sermon, the album was anchored by Redmans offbeat verses and naughty language and also featured the rappers crooning, R&B style on Da Bump. Some of hip-hops best artists made appearances on the release, including rap veteran K-Solo on Its Like That, a remake of the Just Ice/Mantronix classic Cold Gettin Dumb. Method Man, member of the hip-hop supergroup Wu-Tang Clan, made a lyrical cameo on Do What Ya Feel, and Keith Murray lent a hand on Da III Out. With Muddy Waters, Rolling Stone critic Fernando wondered if Redman hadnt introduced a new era of East Coast funk.

In her review of Docs Da Name 2000, released in late 1998, Rolling Stone critic Kathryn Farr declared Hip-hops archduke of excess is as exuberant and likable as ever. The albums first single, Ill Bee Dat! found significant airplay, considering the chorus features two four-letter words. Both Docs Da Name 2000 and Muddy Waters earned platinum status for record sales.

The reviews of Redmans 2001 release, Malpractice, were decidedly mixed. The album starts off like a masterpiece, wrote critic Chris Ryan in the Village Voice. But despite its strong beginnings, Ryan continued, he found Redmans performance on the album diluted. According to critic Dimitri Ehrlich in Interview, the rapper once again proved he was fast, furious, funny, and rhythmically right on point. An Entertainment Weekly critic pointed out that with so many guestssuch as DJ Kool on the single Lets Get Dirty, Missy Elliott on Dat Bi***, Busta Rhymes on Da Goodness, and funk legend George Clinton on J.U.M.P.there was little room on Malpractice for the rapper himself.

Ryan also noted in Village Voice that Malpractice, which clocks in at 78 minutes with 23 tracks, peaks at track four. The rest, he continued, is a lot like watching the camel cross the desert horizon in Lawrence of Arabia, if that were the whole movie. Interviews Ehrlich found the comedy skits maddeningly stupid but still suggested that the record may be one of the best rap releases of the century. Neil Drumming of Rolling Stone had no affection for Malpractice, calling it sophomoric, crude, unfunny, and unforgivable.

Selected discography

Solo

Whut? Thee Album, Def Jam, 1992.

Dare Iz a Darkside, Def Jam, 1994.

Muddy Waters, Def Jam, 1996.

Docs Da Name 2000, Def Jam, 1998.

Malpractice, Def Jam, 2001.

Appears on

(With Def Squad) El Niño, Def Jam, 1998.

(With Def Squad) Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis, Dream-works, 2000.

(With Missy Misdemeanor Elliott) Miss E So Addictive, Gold Mind/Elektra, 2001.

Sources

Books

Larkin, Colin, Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Muze UK Ltd., 1998.

Periodicals

Billboard, May 12, 2001.

Entertainment Weekly, November 6, 1992, p. 67; June 15, 2001, p. 90.

Interview, July 2001, p. 36.

Rolling Stone, February 6, 1997, p. 49; February 4, 1999, p. 63; June 21, 2001.

Source, March 1999, p. 210; May 2001, p. 148; July 2001.

Time Out New York, May 31-June 7, 2001.

USA Today, May 22, 2001, p. 6D.

Vibe, June 2001, p. 102.

Village Voice, August 8, 2001.

Online

Redman, All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bbr5ibka96akq (December 9, 2001).

Additional information was provided by Def Jam publicity materials, 2001.

Brenna Sanchez

Redman

views updated May 23 2018

Redman or Redmayne, Henry (fl. 1495–d.1528). Leading English master-mason. A son of Thomas Redman (fl. 1490–d. 1516), he worked at Westminster Abbey from 1495 to 1497. With William Vertue he was consulted about King's College Chapel, Cambridge, visiting the building in 1509, and succeeded his father as Master-Mason at Westminster Abbey in 1515/16, working on the nave. He rebuilt the chancel of St Margaret's Church, Westminster (1516–23), where he also designed the tower and porch (1516–22). From 1516 he worked with Vertue on the designs for the new work at Eton College, Bucks., including the west side of the court and Lupton's Tower (1516–20). He became architect to Cardinal Wolsey (c.1475–1530), with power of supervision over His Eminence's enormous range of building-projects, including Hampton Court Palace, and by 1525 was at work with John Lebons at Cardinal (now Christ Church) College, Oxford, where they laid out the plan and built the south range and most of the east and west ranges. Among his last works were the cloister and cloister-chapel of St Stephen's College, Westminster Palace, begun c.1526. He was a pioneer in the use of brick in late-Gothic architecture of the Tudor period, and his works had a lasting influence.

Bibliography

J. Harvey (1987)

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