Not since the Wu-Tang era has Method Man really lived up to his Wu-Tang spit-fire capabilities. But he’s getting there. With Jay-Z’s network preferring to support the likes of Beyoncé and Rick Ross, ‘4:21’ is released with pretty much zero promotion. This lack of support might hit Mr. Mef’s pockets, but reputation-wise, he’s bringing the heat. With Ghostface already setting the standard for the post-Wu records this year, it was up to Meth to firmly stick two fingers up at his critics.

Lauryn Hill clocks in with a sample for the biggest song on the CD, the soulful ‘Say’. Possibly summer 2006’s most underrated track, Meth drops it like it’s hot, rapping, “If I didn’t have my deal and didn’t have this mass appeal/ Then I’m back up in that trap swingin’ crack, it’s real.” The blend of Method Man’s signature smoky voice and Hill’s sultry vocals ticks all the right boxes and it’s only a wonder how President S. Carter passed on a video for this joint.

Yet, when it comes to collaborations, it’s the simple mention of the posthumous ODB guest appearance on ‘Dirty Mef’ that incites the most excitement. The two, often regarded as Staten Island’s finest back in the day, lay it down and despite being one of the shortest songs at just 2.59 minutes, it works out quite nicely to be one of the most effective.

While fellow Wu-mates RZA and Erick Sermon work the boards on a large selection of the tracks, production awards have to go to Kwame for the hot beat on ‘Fall Out’. Meth doesn’t fail to deliver either, hitting it hard with some slick rhymes and a mesmerising hook.

There’s several other big hits on the album, from the very first Scott Storch-produced ‘Is it Me’ to ‘Problem’ and ‘Got To Have It’. Even the intro is clever, with protest chants of ‘Make marijuana legal’ being shouted out, and Meth ending with the simple words, “How could you ever say that I'm washed up/ When I'm the dirtiest thing in sight.”

The title ‘4:21… The Day After’ signals Johnny Blaze’s clear intentions for the future – for the legal beings amongst us, 4/20, or April 20, is the underground-celebrated Stoner’s New Year. ‘The day after’ linked to the apparent ‘clarity’ you get after a high.

It’s just a shame that ‘The Ticallion Stallion’s vision hazes ever so slightly. Despite seeming to have gone back to the basics and working that Wu-style magic, Meth could have left out a couple of fillers. The lifeless ‘Let’s Ride’ with Ginuwine, for example, is a far cry from either vintage Meth or classic Ginuwine, and the Iron Lung leaves those of us hoping for a ‘Blackout!’ backtrack disappointed with the Redman collaboration ‘Walk On’.

Still, two or three tracks aside, ‘4:21’ marks the official return of the M.E.T.H.O.D. Mannnn!