Redman

Newark, New Jersey’s Reggie Noble is better known as Redman, a rapper, producer and DJ who got his big break working with EPMD. Funk Doctor Spock has gone on to produce his own classic albums and star in television shows and movies.

In the November 14, 1992 issue of Billboard magazine, Redman explained how he got his name:

A snowball hit me on the cheek when I was 11 […] My face got real red. And everybody started calling me Redman.

Redman made his first appearances on wax in 1990 with the songs “Brothers On My Jock” and “Hardcore” from EPMD’s 1990 album Business As Usual. He also provided a show-stealing verse on their 1992 track “Head Banger” a few months before releasing his critically acclaimed debut album, Whut? Thee Album, with the assistance of Erick Sermon. His next three albums—Dare Iz a Darkside (1994), Muddy Waters (1996), and Doc’s da Name 2000—also received praise from critics and fans. In 1998, he connected with his Def Squad associates Erick Sermon and Keith Murray to release the album El Niño.

In 1995, Redman began his working relationship with his partner-in-rhyme Method Man with their collaboration “How High” from The Show soundtrack. They went on to release two albums as a duo (Blackout! in 1999 and Blackout! 2 in 2009) as well as star in the film How High in 2001 and the short-lived FOX sitcom Method & Red in 2004.

Redman also made multiple appearances in the NBA 2K and Def Jam fighting video games, as well as Seed of Chucky, Chappelle’s Show, Scary Movie 3, and a memorable showing on MTV Cribs.