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Redman is one of the most underrated rappers from the East Coast. From teaming up with Method Man from Wu-Tang to appearing in dozens of films and TV shows, Redman has established himself as an entertainment icon who has left his mark on pop culture.
My favorite Reman solo project has to be his debut Whut? The Album. But I’m also a big fan of his collaborations with Method Man, including Blackout and the How High Soundtrack. Here’s a look at the life and career of Redman.
Redman Quick Facts
| Full Name | Reginald Noble |
| Birth Date | April 17th, 1970 |
| Birth Place | Newark, New Jersey |
| Nick Name | Doc, Reggie, Funk Doctor Spot |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Siblings | Rosalyn Noble |
| Children | 3-5 |
| Partner / Spouse | Unknown |
| Most Successful Songs / Albums | Whut? The Album |
| Earnings | $1 million |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Social Media | TW: @therealredman IG: @redmangilla |
| Awards | 2 Grammy nominations |
| Last Updated | 11/10/2022 |
Redman Birthplace
Redman was born in Newark, New Jersey, on April 17th, 1970. He grew up in a rough area he’d often refer to as Da Bricks.
Redman Parents
Redman is the son of Darlene and Eddie Noble. Eddie served in the marines in Vietnam. In an interview with Vibe, Darlene described her son as “always an individual, very different, with a very vivid imagination.” She worked at city hall helping underserved populations find work and retired after 40 years.
Redman Early Life
Redman grew up in a rough part of Newark and witnessed a lot growing up. His brother and many friends he hung out with were heavily involved in the streets and ended up doing 10+ years in prison. But his love for music helped him avoid a similar fate. He started DJing at 12 years old but switched to rapping at 16.
He did sell drugs when he was young but used the funds to invest in his music career. At one point, his mother discovered his activities, so she kicked him out of the house. Having no other option, Redman devoted himself to music. He started freestyling over instrumental tracks at house parties and New York and New Jersey and started to build a local buzz.
One night he went to a local club to hear MC Lyte and ended up running into the group EPMD who had filled in as her replacement after she had to cancel. EPMD was one of the main groups that inspired Redman to rap, so he started a conversation. Erick Sermon convinced him to spit a freestyle and was immediately impressed.
They even brought him up on stage and introduced him as their new artist. Not long after, Eric Sermon took Redman under his wing and invited him to move into his apartment in Long Island to work on music.
Redman Professional Career
Redman made his official rap debut in 1990 on EPMD’s album Business As Usual. He was featured on two tracks, Hardcore and Brothers on My Jock.
Whu? The Album
He released his debut album Whu? The Album in 1992 to critical acclaim. The project was entirely produced by Redman and Erick Sermon, with contributions from Pete Rock. Whu? The Album received universal praise for blending funk and reggae with hip-hop. Redman had an immediate charisma and confidence on the mike that set him apart from many other rappers of the era. It was also a commercial success and peaked at number 49 on Billboard.
Whu? The Album is my favorite Redman project. It has a unique sound that blended East Coast hip hop with other genres like horrorcore, dub, reggae, funk, and soul. Redman’s lyrics are humorous and hard-hitting, and his district personality makes the record different from anything else in rap.
Dare Iz a Darkside
He returned a few years later with his second album, Dare iz a Darkside in 1994. The project did well commercially and peaked at number 13 on Billboard. However, many fans and critics felt the project did not live up to the quality of his debut. Redman has since stated that he recorded the album during one of the darkest periods of his life when he was a heavy drug user. As a result, in recent years, he hasn’t performed any songs from the album because he doesn’t want to be reminded of that time.
The project was almost entirely produced by Redman himself, with some help from Erick Sermon. However, critics noticed that it was devoid of the typical EPMD sound.
Although personally, I enjoy a few records from Dare Iz a Darkside, it’s definitely a weaker album than his debut and doesn’t have as much replay value.
Muddy Waters
But he made a comeback in 1996 with his third album Muddy Waters. The project debuted at number 12 on Billboard and was certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies. Redman considers it his more classic project and has contemplated the idea of releasing a sequel.
Muddy Waters is a classic Redman album in my opinion. His bars are witty, and his flows are smooth. The production also improved over his previous album and featured more heavy bass and hard-hitting boom-bap drums. While not quite as genre-bending as his debut, it’s still a solid album with plenty of enjoyable moments.
Around that time, Redman also began making more industry connections and built friendships with Method Man and 2pac. Method Man appeared on the track Do What Ya Feel by Muddy Waters, and both artists were featured on the track Got My Mind Made Up on 2Pac’s classic album All Eyez on Me.
El Nino & Blackout!
In 1999, Red Man contributed to the album El Nino as part of the group Def Squad, an EPMD offshoot that consisted of Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray. The same year, Redman dropped his fourth studio album, Doc’s Da Name, which debuted at number 11 on Billboard and was well-received by fans and critics.
By that point, Method Man and Redman had formed a close partnership and decided to collaborate on a full project. They dropped the album Blackout! in 1999 to universal acclaim. The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 254,000 copies the first week.
BlackOut! is a classic and one of my favorite projects from both Redman and Method Man. The two rappers have undeniable chemistry and seem to push each other to greater heights. The production is also incredible, with contributions from Eric Sermon, RZA, and DJ Scratch. BlackOut is a landmark album in the 90’s East Coast hip hop and one of the best collaborative albums of the decade.
How High & Dirrty
In 2001, Redman dropped his fifth album Malpractice, which featured the hit single Let’s Gt Dirty (I Can’t Get in da Club). He also starred alongside Method Man in the stoner film How High, which is regarded as a cult classic. The duo also released a film soundtrack featuring appearances from a long list of collaborators, including Mary J. Blige, DMX, Ludacris, and Limp Bizkit.
In 2002, Redman had the biggest single of his career with Christina Aguilera on the track Dirrty. The song was an interpretation of Redman’s hit Let’s Get Dirty, which was shown to Christina by producer Rockwilder. The track was an instant hit and peaked at number 48 on Billboard.
Later Career
Over the next few years, Redman released a series of mixtapes called Ill At Will featuring artists on his record label. He also fell back from rapping and worked more on production for himself and other artists.
He released his 6th studio album Red Gone Wild: Thee Album in 2007 on his own label Gilla Recordings and Def Jam. He also began teasing BlackOut 2 with Method Man, which was eventually released in 2009. While not quite as impactful as the original, Blackout 2 is still a solid album that proved RedMan and Method Man could continue to deliver heat after nearly 20 years in the game.
Throughout the 2010s, Redman continued to drop albums, including Reggie in 2010 and Mudface in 2015. He’s also branched out into other media types and has frequently appeared in movies, TV, and video games.
Redman is a talented lyricist and pop culture icon who has had a long and fruitful career. Although he didn’t always get the shine that his talent deserves, he’s still recognized as one of the greatest rappers of the 1990s.
Redman Video
Redman Family
Redman has mostly kept his private life out of the media. He has a sister Roslyn Noble, who is also a rapper and goes by the name Roz. He’s also mentioned having a brother and a cousin named Rahem Brown, aka Tame One, who is also a rapper.
According to some sources, he’s been married twice and has five children, two with his first wife and three with his second, although this is unconfirmed.
Redman Dating History
Redman has been linked to many high-profile women, including Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole, and Karrine Steffans. According to rumors, he’s been married multiple times, but the identity of his wives is unknown.
Redman Net Worth and Career Earnings
Redman has an estimated net worth of $10 million. He’s released eight studio albums and three collaborative mixtapes with Method Man. He’s had multiple gold and platinum albums and several singles that charted in the top 10. Plus, he’s also an accomplished producer and record label executive. He’s produced many of his own records and made beats for artists on his label, Gilla House.
Outside of music, Redman has also appeared in more than 30 movies, including How High, Scary Movie 3, Seed of Chucky, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. He and Redman even had their own show on Fox called Method & Red, which ran from 2003-2004. He’s been a voice actor for several video games, including Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight for New York, and Dej Jam Icon. He and Method Man also provided vocals for Nickelodeon’s Fairly OddParents movie – Schools Out – The Musical.
In 2015, Redman collaborated with streetwear brand Mighty Healthy and released a collection of T-shirts, hats, and other cannabis-themed products. He also hosted the first season of VH1’s Scared Famous, which debuted in October 2017. So, Redman has had his hand in many different endeavors.
Redman Real Estate & Residence History
In 2001, Redman starred in an episode of MTV Crips that they filmed at his home in Staten Island. Unlike many of the lavish mansions they usually showed off in the series, Redman had a surprisingly modest two-bedroom home. During the filming, the crew had to pinch two wires together to get his attention because the home didn’t have a doorbell. He showed off his adult film and video game collection, along with his home studio.
The episode also featured a cameo from his cousin, who was passed out on the floor under a comforter. The VP of programming at MTV said that Redman’s episode of Cribs was the most cited and recognized in the show’s history. As of 2017, Redman claims he still lives in that same house.
Redman Famous Quotes
“It’s a cold world, better pack your own heat.” – Redman
“Don’t be somebody you’re not; don’t do things that’s not you.” – Redman
“I don’t want to help brand someone else and not have equity or ownership in that company.” – Redman
Redman Discography
Solo Albums
- 1992 – Whut? Thee Album
- 1994 – Dare iz a Darkside
- 1996 – Muddy Waters
- 1998 – Doc’s da Name 2000
- 2001 – Malpractice
- 2007 – Red Gone Wild: Thee Album
- 2010 – Reggie
- 2015 – Mudface
Collaborative Albums
- 1998 – El Nino (with Def Squad)
- 1999 – Blackout! (with Method Man)
- 2001 – How High (with Method Man)
- 2009 – Blackout! 2 (with Method Man)
FAQ
Answer: Redman and Method Man were both signed to Def Jam Records in the ’90s. They met at a Kris Kross listening party and immediately hit it off. After that, Def Jam decided to put a tour together for both artists since they had a similar audience. They formed a close relationship on tour and began collaborating not long after.
Answer: While not an official member of the Wu-Tang Clan, he is considered a close affiliate. Redman has even claimed to be the 11th member of Wu-Tang, and while he has a close relationship with Method Man and other members, he isn’t from New York and wasn’t involved in the group’s most classic records.
Answer: Redman is not officially retired; however, he has taken a step back from releasing projects in recent years. His last official album was Mudface in 2015.