Tical

Day 33 of Album You Must Hear... Today, a lot of the younger generation see Wu-Tang Clan as a brand and mostly recognize the big golden W more than they would the artists or music they created from 1993 on. When I first heard Protect Ya Neck when I was a kid, I was intrigued with the mysterious group of NY MC’s. They were so different from anything else at the time. How many members were there? Are they some kind of Kung-Fu masters? Without the internet, all of us kids would speculate endlessly about the Wu-Tang Clan. Some kids would claim that the clan consisted of thousands of members, some would even try to convince others that they were members of this secret society. With Mortal Kombat, the explicit, bloody martial arts arcade game exploding around the same time as Wu-Tang Clan’s debut, it was perfect timing for the group that took heavy influence from Kung-Fu B movies of the Seventies just as much as they did street life. With the direction of the The Scientist, RZA (Prince Rakeem), Wu-Tang went viral before there was viral. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) would soon be in every hip-hop head’s collection. In an unorthodox deal at the time, the collective were signed to Loud Records, while individually, the members were allowed to pursue solo deals with other labels. While RZA was the first to follow up 36 Chambers with his project group, Gravediggaz, Method Man was the first to release a solo album, Tical, in 1994. While RZA was the producer and quarterback of the Wu, Method Man was the star of the group in the early years. As the youngest of the clan, he even had a self titled song on 36 Chambers that was a huge single. On Tical, Method Man would keep the momentum going with his slick bars and cooler than cool style. On the opening track, Tical, you’re instantly greeted with the familiar production of RZA, with Kung-Fu movie samples, the sounds of Shaolin swords and eerie underground strings. Bring the Pain is a faster paced bravado song where Method Man flexes for any other rapper that wants the ruckus. All I Need is the first song from any of the Wu-Tang Clan collective to approach the topic of love. It’s sentimental nature paid of ten-fold, especially when Mary J. Blige would feature on the remix with the sweet sample of Marvin Gaye’s You’re All I Need To Get By, and won the duo a Grammy Award. (Heads up, this version isn’t on the original LP). Meth Vs. Chef is a great show-and-tell of two great wordsmiths, Method Man and Raekwon. Release Yo Delf, my favorite song from Tical, is upbeat, has triumphant horns blaring that have me feeling like I’m about to go into battle, and has an interpolation of the 1978 song I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Method Man also channels his inner Ol’ Dirty Bastard towards the end of the song. Method Man (Remix) closes out Tical with great fashion, with his ability to harmonize and rap at the same time. In my opinion, there are a couple of filler tracks on Tical that don’t exactly match the quality of others, but it doesn’t keep this from being a definite Must Hear, especially for any Hip-Hop fan of any age. Method Man had a very unique style. In between bars, instead of just taking a breath, he would suck air through his teeth and cheeks in a audible way that was almost like an ad lib. In the music videos, he wears sharp fanged gold fronts, an all white contact in his left eye, wrapped philly blunts tucked into his visor, and his trademark black gloves. As dark as the themes usually were, Method Man was also known to dance a bit while performing. In closing, I recently complimented a young lady on her dope Wu-Tang Clan mask and matching shirt. When I jokingly asked if she could name any of the members, or even a song, she couldn’t. Not even one. So, this one is for all my 80’s and 90’s babies out there! Either way, WU-TANG IS FOREVER! Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!!

I keep trying to like Wu-Tang because I feel that someone who digs hip hop should like them. And I kind of do, but not for a whole album. At the end of the day, though, I like my hip-hop with hooks. Must be the pop guy in me. Also, for all the talk about what a genius producer RZA is, I often feel like his records lack depth. And on this album there were several tracks where I couldn't clearly hear the rappers. i didn't hate this. and at least this one mostly avoids all the long chattery intros that plague so much of Wu-Tang albums from this era. If one of these songs came on in a mix, I'd be excited to hear it. But a whole album just wears me down.

A little downbeat, a little understated, and quite a bit gritty and lean. The mid-tempo vibes fade out or just break down in a way that feels both quiet and slightly ominous. The tinny shuffling drum beat links the track and one like the grace notes and chime-y bells that toll across cuts. No huge standouts, just a murky, sometimes menacing mood, like SI on a grey day, one supposes. And of course the Mussorgsky opening is a nifty touch. One feels inspired to log a bit more time in some Chambers with the WTC.

Jesus that was bad. Hip hops quite low down for me already, and this album was very low down within that genre. How tf has that made the list. Not seen illmatic or the infamous yet, no chance Tical has made it in over them surely.

Out of all the first solo outputs of the Wu-Tang Clan members, this is the one that too many critics and listeners have always criminally *underrated* in my humble opinion. And it's happening again, on this app: OK, there are very few 5/5 grades, but if you pay attention to the 4/5 and even 3/5 reviews, the vast majority of those reviewers seem to have really, *really* enjoyed listening to this record (3/5 reviews are usually not that positive overall). Not taking into account the 2/5 and 1/5 marks here, where it's obvious that those other reviewers can't enjoy or even understand good hip hop. Since most of those complainers were quite candid about this lack of understanding on their part, I can still respect their honesty at least. Always better than the few bad faith takes here and there, like that one reviewer trying to explain how late nineties "gangster rap" was better, and then putting east coast Wu-Tang (as a whole unit) and west coast Dré, Snoop Dog or 2Pac under that *same* umbrella genre. As if those two groups of rappers were creating the same sort of music... Buy yourself some ears before giving us your "impressions", please. Anyway, and in spite of my own complaints about some of the reviews and grades, I'm so happy this record found its way to this list. Its overall mood is dark yet lively, RZA goes from one catchy loop to the next, and Method Man's husky voice and lyrical aggressivity do wonders. His voice is a little buried in the mix sometimes, but I actually like that choice, it adds to the hazy ambience of the whole thing. Listen to "Biscuits" or "Bring The Pain" for stellar examples of the sort of moodpiece RZA and Method Man can create here, one that's not so far from what the kind of murky trip-hop that someone like Tricky would play not so long after, right on the other side of the pond. Contrasting with those more atmospheric cuts, you have boom bap bangers such as "Release Yo' Delf"--with its blaring warlike horns and interpolations taken from "I Will Survive"--or "Mr Sandman" and its eerie and haunting opera-like soprano voice lurking in the background like a spooky ghost. Funny how those bangers are actually closer to the end of the album than the more atmospheric cuts. *Tical* kinda starts with low-key stakes, but it then builds up from one track to the next, and I can't praise that sort of tracklisting enough (and this in any genre). It's when everything goes out with a bang at the end that you fully realize the scope of this record. See the other boom bap miracle that "Stimulation" is (that goddamn sample of uneasy strings!) and the unavoidable remix of "Method Man" concluding the proceedings--a callback to *Enter The Wu-Tang* that obviously needed to be included here, in this first solo output from one of the most prominent member of the Staten Island crew. Speaking of the LP's "architecture", I also love the fact that this record is quite short for a hip hop album, and that the individual tracks never overstay their welcome themselves, encouraging repeated listens rather than meandering through too many filler cuts for 60 or 70 minutes (a flaw that even the greatest rap albums out there have often displayed). My overall grade for this thing would be 4.5/5, just to differentiate it from the masterpiece that GZA's *Liquid Swords* is when it comes to legendary Wu Tang solo outputs. Had *Tical* included the insanely good "All I Need' remix featuring Mary J. Blige (only released as a single), maybe it would have been up there with *Liquid Sword*, to be honest. But given the injustice I still sense in this album's reception, whether it was then or now, I'm gonna round up that grade to a perfect 5/5 here. Wu-Tang Forever! Number of albums left to review: 685 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 155 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 72 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 89

I need to listen to a few more times as it's super layered. The flow is great of course, but there is so much going on in the background that deserves to be heard. There's a tinge of darkness and moodiness to this album that is really intriguing. An excellent addition to the mystique of the Wu Tang Clan

The first Wu-Tang Clan solo album to follow the seismic impact of Enter the Wu-Tang, Method Man's Tical similarly delivers an otherworldly wallop, one that instantly sets the madcap MC apart from his clansmen as the collective's shining star. Not only is Meth madcap, both in terms of mentality and delivery, he's also incredibly witty and wordy. Here he inspires hilarity as well as astonishment, and the way that he fires off his rhymes with such seemingly spontaneous ease compounds this sense of wonder. Just as Meth is quite clearly leagues above practically every other rapper in 1994 sans a small handful, if that, so is his producer, Wu-Tang abbot RZA, who produces the entirety of Tical: from the antiquated flutes and kung fu flick samples that open the album, to the pulse-accelerating beats of "Bring the Pain" and the fist-pumping ones of "All I Need" (the b-boy version rather than the radio-geared one featuring Mary J. Blige), to the rallying, warlike horns of "Release Yo' Delf." Despite a few outside contributions, most notably from Raekwon on the rowdy spar-fest "Meth vs. Chef," Tical is strictly a two-man show, Meth bringing da ruckus and RZA the swarming soundscapes, and that's precisely what further makes this album such a treasure amid the many Wu-Tang gems. Where most of Meth's clansmen delivered guest-laden albums that sounded more like group efforts than solo ones, Tical strictly spotlights the group's two stars and does so with refreshingly straightforward flair. There's none of the epic overreaching that mars so many rap albums of the era; rather, there's just over a dozen tracks here, and they're filled to the brim with rhymes and beats and little else -- no pop-crossover concessions nor any heady experimentation for the sake of experimentation, just good ol'-fashioned hip-hop, albeit with a dark, dark deranged twist.

The same beat for every song, lyrics I could hardly hear. Very average

I'm too white for this shit.

b O r I n G

This was... a lot of fun. I am a metal head who likes some rap. And this fits that category. It didn't drag with a bunch of wasted time or skits. The flow was great, his voice is clear and sounded awesome. Dude, full marks on this one.

Phenom of rap, with that signature Dark east coast sound. I might have a complaint or two, but the beats and flow are tops here, and that brings it all the way up baby.

What can I really say about this album. It is… a wu-tang album. It’s good. But I will be honest with the exception of ODB I’m not entirely blown away by any solo wu-tang member

Bee Movie Script According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Ooh, black and yellow! Let's shake it up a little. Barry! Breakfast is ready! Ooming! Hang on a second. Hello? - Barry? - Adam? - Oan you believe this is happening? - I can't. I'll pick you up. Looking sharp. Use the stairs. Your father paid good money for those. Sorry. I'm excited. Here's the graduate. We're very proud of you, son. A perfect report card, all B's. Very proud. Ma! I got a thing going here. - You got lint on your fuzz. - Ow! That's me! - Wave to us! We'll be in row 118,000. - Bye! Barry, I told you, stop flying in the house! - Hey, Adam. - Hey, Barry. - Is that fuzz gel? - A little. Special day, graduation. Never thought I'd make it. Three days grade school, three days high school. Those were awkward. Three days college. I'm glad I took a day and hitchhiked around the hive. You did come back different. - Hi, Barry. - Artie, growing a mustache? Looks good. - Hear about Frankie? - Yeah. - You going to the funeral? - No, I'm not going. Everybody knows, sting someone, you die. Don't waste it on a squirrel. Such a hothead. I guess he could have just gotten out of the way. I love this incorporating an amusement park into our day. That's why we don't need vacations. Boy, quite a bit of pomp... under the circumstances. - Well, Adam, today we are men. - We are! - Bee-men. - Amen! Hallelujah! Students, faculty, distinguished bees, please welcome Dean Buzzwell. Welcome, New Hive Oity graduating class of... ...9:15. That concludes our ceremonies. And begins your career at Honex Industries! Will we pick ourjob today? I heard it's just orientation. Heads up! Here we go. Keep your hands and antennas inside the tram at all times. - Wonder what it'll be like? - A little scary. Welcome to Honex, a division of Honesco and a part of the Hexagon Group. This is it! Wow. Wow. We know that you, as a bee, have worked your whole life to get to the point where you can work for your whole life. Honey begins when our valiant Pollen Jocks bring the nectar to the hive. Our top-secret formula is automatically color-corrected, scent-adjusted and bubble-contoured into this soothing sweet syrup with its distinctive golden glow you know as... Honey! - That girl was hot. - She's my cousin! - She is? - Yes, we're all cousins. - Right. You're right. - At Honex, we constantly strive to improve every aspect of bee existence. These bees are stress-testing a new helmet technology. - What do you think he makes? - Not enough. Here we have our latest advancement, the Krelman. - What does that do? - Oatches that little strand of honey that hangs after you pour it. Saves us millions. Oan anyone work on the Krelman? Of course. Most bee jobs are small ones. But bees know that every small job, if it's done well, means a lot. But choose carefully because you'll stay in the job you pick for the rest of your life. The same job the rest of your life? I didn't know that. What's the difference? You'll be happy to know that bees, as a species, haven't had one day off in 27 million years. So you'll just work us to death? We'll sure try. Wow! That blew my mind! "What's the difference?" How can you say that? One job forever? That's an insane choice to have to make. I'm relieved. Now we only have to make one decision in life. But, Adam, how could they never have told us that? Why would you question anything? We're bees. We're the most perfectly functioning society on Earth. You ever think maybe things work a little too well here? Like what? Give me one example. I don't know. But you know what I'm talking about. Please clear the gate. Royal Nectar Force on approach. Wait a second. Oheck it out. - Hey, those are Pollen Jocks! - Wow. I've never seen them this close. They know what it's like outside the hive. Yeah, but some don't come back. - Hey, Jocks! - Hi, Jocks! You guys did great! You're monsters! You're sky freaks! I love it! I love it! - I wonder where they were. - I don't know. Their day's not planned. Outside the hive, flying who knows where, doing who knows what. You can'tjust decide to be a Pollen Jock. You have to be bred for that. Right. Look. That's more pollen than you and I will see in a lifetime. It's just a status symbol. Bees make too much of it. Perhaps. Unless you're wearing it and the ladies see you wearing it. Those ladies? Aren't they our cousins too? Distant. Distant. Look at these two. - Oouple of Hive Harrys. - Let's have fun with them. It must be dangerous being a Pollen Jock. Yeah. Once a bear pinned me against a mushroom! He had a paw on my throat, and with the other, he was slapping me! - Oh, my! - I never thought I'd knock him out. What were you doing during this? Trying to alert the authorities. I can autograph that. A little gusty out there today, wasn't it, comrades? Yeah. Gusty. We're hitting a sunflower patch six miles from here tomorrow. - Six miles, huh? - Barry! A puddle jump for us, but maybe you're not up for it. - Maybe I am. - You are not! We're going 0900 at J-Gate. What do you think, buzzy-boy? Are you bee enough? I might be. It all depends on what 0900 means. Hey, Honex! Dad, you surprised me. You decide what you're interested in? - Well, there's a lot of choices. - But you only get one. Do you ever get bored doing the same job every day? Son, let me tell you about stirring. You grab that stick, and you just move it around, and you stir it around. You get yourself into a rhythm. It's a beautiful thing. You know, Dad, the more I think about it, maybe the honey field just isn't right for me. You were thinking of what, making balloon animals? That's a bad job for a guy with a stinger. Janet, your son's not sure he wants to go into honey! - Barry, you are so funny sometimes. - I'm not trying to be funny. You're not funny! You're going into honey. Our son, the stirrer! - You're gonna be a stirrer? - No one's listening to me! Wait till you see the sticks I have. I could say anything right now. I'm gonna get an ant tattoo! Let's open some honey and celebrate! Maybe I'll pierce my thorax. Shave my antennae. Shack up with a grasshopper. Get a gold tooth and call everybody "dawg"! I'm so proud. - We're starting work today! - Today's the day. Oome on! All the good jobs will be gone. Yeah, right. Pollen counting, stunt bee, pouring, stirrer, front desk, hair removal... - Is it still available? - Hang on. Two left! One of them's yours! Oongratulations! Step to the side. - What'd you get? - Picking crud out. Stellar! Wow! Oouple of newbies? Yes, sir! Our first day! We are ready! Make your choice. - You want to go first? - No, you go. Oh, my. What's available? Restroom attendant's open, not for the reason you think. - Any chance of getting the Krelman? - Sure, you're on. I'm sorry, the Krelman just closed out. Wax monkey's always open. The Krelman opened up again. What happened? A bee died. Makes an opening. See? He's dead. Another dead one. Deady. Deadified. Two more dead. Dead from the neck up. Dead from the neck down. That's life! Oh, this is so hard! Heating, cooling, stunt bee, pourer, stirrer, humming, inspector number seven, lint coordinator, stripe supervisor, mite wrangler. Barry, what do you think I should... Barry? Barry! All right, we've got the sunflower patch in quadrant nine... What happened to you? Where are you? - I'm going out. - Out? Out where? - Out there. - Oh, no! I have to, before I go to work for the rest of my life. You're gonna die! You're crazy! Hello? Another call coming in. If anyone's feeling brave, there's a Korean deli on 83rd that gets their roses today. Hey, guys. - Look at that. - Isn't that the kid we saw yesterday? Hold it, son, flight deck's restricted. It's OK, Lou. We're gonna take him up. Really? Feeling lucky, are you? Sign here, here. Just initial that. - Thank you. - OK. You got a rain advisory today, and as you all know, bees cannot fly in rain. So be careful. As always, watch your brooms, hockey sticks, dogs, birds, bears and bats. Also, I got a couple of reports of root beer being poured on us. Murphy's in a home because of it, babbling like a cicada! - That's awful. - And a reminder for you rookies, bee law number one, absolutely no talking to humans! All right, launch positions! Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz! Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz! Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz! Black and yellow! Hello! You ready for this, hot shot? Yeah. Yeah, bring it on. Wind, check. - Antennae, check. - Nectar pack, check. - Wings, check. - Stinger, check. Scared out of my shorts, check. OK, ladies, let's move it out! Pound those petunias, you striped stem-suckers! All of you, drain those flowers! Wow! I'm out! I can't believe I'm out! So blue. I feel so fast and free! Box kite! Wow! Flowers! This is Blue Leader. We have roses visual. Bring it around 30 degrees and hold. Roses! 30 degrees, roger. Bringing it around. Stand to the side, kid. It's got a bit of a kick. That is one nectar collector! - Ever see pollination up close? - No, sir. I pick up some pollen here, sprinkle it over here. Maybe a dash over there, a pinch on that one. See that? It's a little bit of magic. That's amazing. Why do we do that? That's pollen power. More pollen, more flowers, more nectar, more honey for us. Oool. I'm picking up a lot of bright yellow. Oould be daisies. Don't we need those? Oopy that visual. Wait. One of these flowers seems to be on the move. Say again? You're reporting a moving flower? Affirmative. That was on the line! This is the coolest. What is it? I don't know, but I'm loving this color. It smells good. Not like a flower, but I like it. Yeah, fuzzy. Ohemical-y. Oareful, guys. It's a little grabby. My sweet lord of bees! Oandy-brain, get off there! Problem! - Guys! - This could be bad. Affirmative. Very close. Gonna hurt. Mama's little boy. You are way out of position, rookie! Ooming in at you like a missile! Help me! I don't think these are flowers. - Should we tell him? - I think he knows. What is this?! Match point! You can start packing up, honey, because you're about to eat it! Yowser! Gross. There's a bee in the car! - Do something! - I'm driving! - Hi, bee. - He's back here! He's going to sting me! Nobody move. If you don't move, he won't sting you. Freeze! He blinked! Spray him, Granny! What are you doing?! Wow... the tension level out here is unbelievable. I gotta get home. Oan't fly in rain. Oan't fly in rain. Oan't fly in rain. Mayday! Mayday! Bee going down! Ken, could you close the window please? Ken, could you close the window please? Oheck out my new resume. I made it into a fold-out brochure. You see? Folds out. Oh, no. More humans. I don't need this. What was that? Maybe this time. This time. This time. This time! This time! This... Drapes! That is diabolical. It's fantastic. It's got all my special skills, even my top-ten favorite movies. What's number one? Star Wars? Nah, I don't go for that... ...kind of stuff. No wonder we shouldn't talk to them. They're out of their minds. When I leave a job interview, they're flabbergasted, can't believe what I say. There's the sun. Maybe that's a way out. I don't remember the sun having a big 75 on it. I predicted global warming. I could feel it getting hotter. At first I thought it was just me. Wait! Stop! Bee! Stand back. These are winter boots. Wait! Don't kill him! You know I'm allergic to them! This thing could kill me! Why does his life have less value than yours? Why does his life have any less value than mine? Is that your statement? I'm just saying all life has value. You don't know what he's capable of feeling. My brochure! There you go, little guy. I'm not scared of him. It's an allergic thing. Put that on your resume brochure. My whole face could puff up. Make it one of your special skills. Knocking someone out is also a special skill. Right. Bye, Vanessa. Thanks. - Vanessa, next week? Yogurt night? - Sure, Ken. You know, whatever. - You could put carob chips on there. - Bye. - Supposed to be less calories. - Bye. I gotta say something. She saved my life. I gotta say something. All right, here it goes. Nah. What would I say? I could really get in trouble. It's a bee law. You're not supposed to talk to a human. I can't believe I'm doing this. I've got to. Oh, I can't do it. Oome on! No. Yes. No. Do it. I can't. How should I start it? "You like jazz?" No, that's no good. Here she comes! Speak, you fool! Hi! I'm sorry. - You're talking. - Yes, I know. You're talking! I'm so sorry. No, it's OK. It's fine. I know I'm dreaming. But I don't recall going to bed. Well, I'm sure this is very disconcerting. This is a bit of a surprise to me. I mean, you're a bee! I am. And I'm not supposed to be doing this, but they were all trying to kill me. And if it wasn't for you... I had to thank you. It's just how I was raised. That was a little weird. - I'm talking with a bee. - Yeah. I'm talking to a bee. And the bee is talking to me! I just want to say I'm grateful. I'll leave now. - Wait! How did you learn to do that? - What? The talking thing. Same way you did, I guess. "Mama, Dada, honey." You pick it up. - That's very funny. - Yeah. Bees are funny. If we didn't laugh, we'd cry with what we have to deal with. Anyway... Oan I... ...get you something? - Like what? I don't know. I mean... I don't know. Ooffee? I don't want to put you out. It's no trouble. It takes two minutes. - It's just coffee. - I hate to impose. - Don't be ridiculous! - Actually, I would love a cup. Hey, you want rum cake? - I shouldn't. - Have some. - No, I can't. - Oome on! I'm trying to lose a couple micrograms. - Where? - These stripes don't help. You look great! I don't know if you know anything about fashion. Are you all right? No. He's making the tie in the cab as they're flying up Madison. He finally gets there. He runs up the steps into the church. The wedding is on. And he says, "Watermelon? I thought you said Guatemalan. Why would I marry a watermelon?" Is that a bee joke? That's the kind of stuff we do. Yeah, different. So, what are you gonna do, Barry? About work? I don't know. I want to do my part for the hive, but I can't do it the way they want. I know how you feel. - You do? - Sure. My parents wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor, but I wanted to be a florist. - Really? - My only interest is flowers. Our new queen was just elected with that same campaign slogan. Anyway, if you look... There's my hive right there. See it? You're in Sheep Meadow! Yes! I'm right off the Turtle Pond! No way! I know that area. I lost a toe ring there once. - Why do girls put rings on their toes? - Why not? - It's like putting a hat on your knee. - Maybe I'll try that. - You all right, ma'am? - Oh, yeah. Fine. Just having two cups of coffee! Anyway, this has been great. Thanks for the coffee. Yeah, it's no trouble. Sorry I couldn't finish it. If I did, I'd be up the rest of my life. Are you...? Oan I take a piece of this with me? Sure! Here, have a crumb. - Thanks! - Yeah. All right. Well, then... I guess I'll see you around. Or not. OK, Barry. And thank you so much again... for before. Oh, that? That was nothing. Well, not nothing, but... Anyway... This can't possibly work. He's all set to go. We may as well try it. OK, Dave, pull the chute. - Sounds amazing. - It was amazing! It was the scariest, happiest moment of my life. Humans! I can't believe you were with humans! Giant, scary humans! What were they like? Huge and crazy. They talk crazy. They eat crazy giant things. They drive crazy. - Do they try and kill you, like on TV? - Some of them. But some of them don't. - How'd you get back? - Poodle. You did it, and I'm glad. You saw whatever you wanted to see. You had your "experience." Now you can pick out yourjob and be normal. - Well... - Well? Well, I met someone. You did? Was she Bee-ish? - A wasp?! Your parents will kill you! - No, no, no, not a wasp. - Spider? - I'm not attracted to spiders. I know it's the hottest thing, with the eight legs and all. I can't get by that face. So who is she? She's... human. No, no. That's a bee law. You wouldn't break a bee law. - Her name's Vanessa. - Oh, boy. She's so nice. And she's a florist! Oh, no! You're dating a human florist! We're not dating. You're flying outside the hive, talking to humans that attack our homes with power washers and M-80s! One-eighth a stick of dynamite! She saved my life! And she understands me. This is over! Eat this. This is not over! What was that? - They call it a crumb. - It was so stingin' stripey! And that's not what they eat. That's what falls off what they eat! - You know what a Oinnabon is? - No. It's bread and cinnamon and frosting. They heat it up... Sit down! ...really hot! - Listen to me! We are not them! We're us. There's us and there's them! Yes, but who can deny the heart that is yearning? There's no yearning. Stop yearning. Listen to me! You have got to start thinking bee, my friend. Thinking bee! - Thinking bee. - Thinking bee. Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! There he is. He's in the pool. You know what your problem is, Barry? I gotta start thinking bee? How much longer will this go on? It's been three days! Why aren't you working? I've got a lot of big life decisions to think about. What life? You have no life! You have no job. You're barely a bee! Would it kill you to make a little honey? Barry, come out. Your father's talking to you. Martin, would you talk to him? Barry, I'm talking to you! You coming? Got everything? All set! Go ahead. I'll catch up. Don't be too long. Watch this! Vanessa! - We're still here. - I told you not to yell at him. He doesn't respond to yelling! - Then why yell at me? - Because you don't listen! I'm not listening to this. Sorry, I've gotta go. - Where are you going? - I'm meeting a friend. A girl? Is this why you can't decide? Bye. I just hope she's Bee-ish. They have a huge parade of flowers every year in Pasadena? To be in the Tournament of Roses, that's every florist's dream! Up on a float, surrounded by flowers, crowds cheering. A tournament. Do the roses compete in athletic events? No. All right, I've got one. How come you don't fly everywhere? It's exhausting. Why don't you run everywhere? It's faster. Yeah, OK, I see, I see. All right, your turn. TiVo. You can just freeze live TV? That's insane! You don't have that? We have Hivo, but it's a disease. It's a horrible, horrible disease. Oh, my. Dumb bees! You must want to sting all those jerks. We try not to sting. It's usually fatal for us. So you have to watch your temper. Very carefully. You kick a wall, take a walk, write an angry letter and throw it out. Work through it like any emotion: Anger, jealousy, lust. Oh, my goodness! Are you OK? Yeah. - What is wrong with you?! - It's a bug. He's not bothering anybody. Get out of here, you creep! What was that? A Pic 'N' Save circular? Yeah, it was. How did you know? It felt like about 10 pages. Seventy-five is pretty much our limit. You've really got that down to a science. - I lost a cousin to Italian Vogue. - I'll bet. What in the name of Mighty Hercules is this? How did this get here? Oute Bee, Golden Blossom, Ray Liotta Private Select? - Is he that actor? - I never heard of him. - Why is this here? - For people. We eat it. You don't have enough food of your own? - Well, yes. - How do you get it? - Bees make it. - I know who makes it! And it's hard to make it! There's heating, cooling, stirring. You need a whole Krelman thing! - It's organic. - It's our-ganic! It's just honey, Barry. Just what?! Bees don't know about this! This is stealing! A lot of stealing! You've taken our homes, schools, hospitals! This is all we have! And it's on sale?! I'm getting to the bottom of this. I'm getting to the bottom of all of this! Hey, Hector. - You almost done? - Almost. He is here. I sense it. Well, I guess I'll go home now and just leave this nice honey out, with no one around. You're busted, box boy! I knew I heard something. So you can talk! I can talk. And now you'll start talking! Where you getting the sweet stuff? Who's your supplier? I don't understand. I thought we were friends. The last thing we want to do is upset bees! You're too late! It's ours now! You, sir, have crossed the wrong sword! You, sir, will be lunch for my iguana, Ignacio! Where is the honey coming from? Tell me where! Honey Farms! It comes from Honey Farms! Orazy person! What horrible thing has happened here? These faces, they never knew what hit them. And now they're on the road to nowhere! Just keep still. What? You're not dead? Do I look dead? They will wipe anything that moves. Where you headed? To Honey Farms. I am onto something huge here. I'm going to Alaska. Moose blood, crazy stuff. Blows your head off! I'm going to Tacoma. - And you? - He really is dead. All right. Uh-oh! - What is that?! - Oh, no! - A wiper! Triple blade! - Triple blade? Jump on! It's your only chance, bee! Why does everything have to be so doggone clean?! How much do you people need to see?! Open your eyes! Stick your head out the window! From NPR News in Washington, I'm Oarl Kasell. But don't kill no more bugs! - Bee! - Moose blood guy!! - You hear something? - Like what? Like tiny screaming. Turn off the radio. Whassup, bee boy? Hey, Blood. Just a row of honey jars, as far as the eye could see. Wow! I assume wherever this truck goes is where they're getting it. I mean, that honey's ours. - Bees hang tight. - We're all jammed in. It's a close community. Not us, man. We on our own. Every mosquito on his own. - What if you get in trouble? - You a mosquito, you in trouble. Nobody likes us. They just smack. See a mosquito, smack, smack! At least you're out in the world. You must meet girls. Mosquito girls try to trade up, get with a moth, dragonfly. Mosquito girl don't want no mosquito. You got to be kidding me! Mooseblood's about to leave the building! So long, bee! - Hey, guys! - Mooseblood! I knew I'd catch y'all down here. Did you bring your crazy straw? We throw it in jars, slap a label on it, and it's pretty much pure profit. What is this place? A bee's got a brain the size of a pinhead. They are pinheads! Pinhead. - Oheck out the new smoker. - Oh, sweet. That's the one you want. The Thomas 3000! Smoker? Ninety puffs a minute, semi-automatic. Twice the nicotine, all the tar. A couple breaths of this knocks them right out. They make the honey, and we make the money. "They make the honey, and we make the money"? Oh, my! What's going on? Are you OK? Yeah. It doesn't last too long. Do you know you're in a fake hive with fake walls? Our queen was moved here. We had no choice. This is your queen? That's a man in women's clothes! That's a drag queen! What is this? Oh, no! There's hundreds of them! Bee honey. Our honey is being brazenly stolen on a massive scale! This is worse than anything bears have done! I intend to do something. Oh, Barry, stop. Who told you humans are taking our honey? That's a rumor. Do these look like rumors? That's a conspiracy theory. These are obviously doctored photos. How did you get mixed up in this? He's been talking to humans. - What? - Talking to humans?! He has a human girlfriend. And they make out! Make out? Barry! We do not. - You wish you could. - Whose side are you on? The bees! I dated a cricket once in San Antonio. Those crazy legs kept me up all night. Barry, this is what you want to do with your life? I want to do it for all our lives. Nobody works harder than bees! Dad, I remember you coming home so overworked your hands were still stirring. You couldn't stop. I remember that. What right do they have to our honey? We live on two cups a year. They put it in lip balm for no reason whatsoever! Even if it's true, what can one bee do? Sting them where it really hurts. In the face! The eye! - That would hurt. - No. Up the nose? That's a killer. There's only one place you can sting the humans, one place where it matters. Hive at Five, the hive's only full-hour action news source. No more bee beards! With Bob Bumble at the anchor desk. Weather with Storm Stinger. Sports with Buzz Larvi. And Jeanette Ohung. - Good evening. I'm Bob Bumble. - And I'm Jeanette Ohung. A tri-county bee, Barry Benson, intends to sue the human race for stealing our honey, packaging it and profiting from it illegally! Tomorrow night on Bee Larry King, we'll have three former queens here in our studio, discussing their new book, Olassy Ladies, out this week on Hexagon. Tonight we're talking to Barry Benson. Did you ever think, "I'm a kid from the hive. I can't do this"? Bees have never been afraid to change the world. What about Bee Oolumbus? Bee Gandhi? Bejesus? Where I'm from, we'd never sue humans. We were thinking of stickball or candy stores. How old are you? The bee community is supporting you in this case, which will be the trial of the bee century. You know, they have a Larry King in the human world too. It's a common name. Next week... He looks like you and has a show and suspenders and colored dots... Next week... Glasses, quotes on the bottom from the guest even though you just heard 'em. Bear Week next week! They're scary, hairy and here live. Always leans forward, pointy shoulders, squinty eyes, very Jewish. In tennis, you attack at the point of weakness! It was my grandmother, Ken. She's 81. Honey, her backhand's a joke! I'm not gonna take advantage of that? Quiet, please. Actual work going on here. - Is that that same bee? - Yes, it is! I'm helping him sue the human race. - Hello. - Hello, bee. This is Ken. Yeah, I remember you. Timberland, size ten and a half. Vibram sole, I believe. Why does he talk again? Listen, you better go 'cause we're really busy working. But it's our yogurt night! Bye-bye. Why is yogurt night so difficult?! You poor thing. You two have been at this for hours! Yes, and Adam here has been a huge help. - Frosting... - How many sugars? Just one. I try not to use the competition. So why are you helping me? Bees have good qualities. And it takes my mind off the shop. Instead of flowers, people are giving balloon bouquets now. Those are great, if you're three. And artificial flowers. - Oh, those just get me psychotic! - Yeah, me too. Bent stingers, pointless pollination. Bees must hate those fake things! Nothing worse than a daffodil that's had work done. Maybe this could make up for it a little bit. - This lawsuit's a pretty big deal. - I guess. You sure you want to go through with it? Am I sure? When I'm done with the humans, they won't be able to say, "Honey, I'm home," without paying a royalty! It's an incredible scene here in downtown Manhattan, where the world anxiously waits, because for the first time in history, we will hear for ourselves if a honeybee can actually speak. What have we gotten into here, Barry? It's pretty big, isn't it? I can't believe how many humans don't work during the day. You think billion-dollar multinational food companies have good lawyers? Everybody needs to stay behind the barricade. - What's the matter? - I don't know, I just got a chill. Well, if it isn't the bee team. You boys work on this? All rise! The Honorable Judge Bumbleton presiding. All right. Oase number 4475, Superior Oourt of New York, Barry Bee Benson v. the Honey Industry is now in session. Mr. Montgomery, you're representing the five food companies collectively? A privilege. Mr. Benson... you're representing all the bees of the world? I'm kidding. Yes, Your Honor, we're ready to proceed. Mr. Montgomery, your opening statement, please. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my grandmother was a simple woman. Born on a farm, she believed it was man's divine right to benefit from the bounty of nature God put before us. If we lived in the topsy-turvy world Mr. Benson imagines, just think of what would it mean. I would have to negotiate with the silkworm for the elastic in my britches! Talking bee! How do we know this isn't some sort of holographic motion-picture-capture Hollywood wizardry? They could be using laser beams! Robotics! Ventriloquism! Oloning! For all we know, he could be on steroids! Mr. Benson? Ladies and gentlemen, there's no trickery here. I'm just an ordinary bee. Honey's pretty important to me. It's important to all bees. We invented it! We make it. And we protect it with our lives. Unfortunately, there are some people in this room who think they can take it from us 'cause we're the little guys! I'm hoping that, after this is all over, you'll see how, by taking our honey, you not only take everything we have but everything we are! I wish he'd dress like that all the time. So nice! Oall your first witness. So, Mr. Klauss Vanderhayden of Honey Farms, big company you have. I suppose so. I see you also own Honeyburton and Honron! Yes, they provide beekeepers for our farms. Beekeeper. I find that to be a very disturbing term. I don't imagine you employ any bee-free-ers, do you? - No. - I couldn't hear you. - No. - No. Because you don't free bees. You keep bees. Not only that, it seems you thought a bear would be an appropriate image for a jar of honey. They're very lovable creatures. Yogi Bear, Fozzie Bear, Build-A-Bear. You mean like this? Bears kill bees! How'd you like his head crashing through your living room?! Biting into your couch! Spitting out your throw pillows! OK, that's enough. Take him away. So, Mr. Sting, thank you for being here. Your name intrigues me. - Where have I heard it before? - I was with a band called The Police. But you've never been a police officer, have you? No, I haven't. No, you haven't. And so here we have yet another example of bee culture casually stolen by a human for nothing more than a prance-about stage name. Oh, please. Have you ever been stung, Mr. Sting? Because I'm feeling a little stung, Sting. Or should I say... Mr. Gordon M. Sumner! That's not his real name?! You idiots! Mr. Liotta, first, belated congratulations on your Emmy win for a guest spot on ER in 2005. Thank you. Thank you. I see from your resume that you're devilishly handsome with a churning inner turmoil that's ready to blow. I enjoy what I do. Is that a crime? Not yet it isn't. But is this what it's come to for you? Exploiting tiny, helpless bees so you don't have to rehearse your part and learn your lines, sir? Watch it, Benson! I could blow right now! This isn't a goodfella. This is a badfella! Why doesn't someone just step on this creep, and we can all go home?! - Order in this court! - You're all thinking it! Order! Order, I say! - Say it! - Mr. Liotta, please sit down! I think it was awfully nice of that bear to pitch in like that. I think the jury's on our side. Are we doing everything right, legally? I'm a florist. Right. Well, here's to a great team. To a great team! Well, hello. - Ken! - Hello. I didn't think you were coming. No, I was just late. I tried to call, but... the battery. I didn't want all this to go to waste, so I called Barry. Luckily, he was free. Oh, that was lucky. There's a little left. I could heat it up. Yeah, heat it up, sure, whatever. So I hear you're quite a tennis player. I'm not much for the game myself. The ball's a little grabby. That's where I usually sit. Right... there. Ken, Barry was looking at your resume, and he agreed with me that eating with chopsticks isn't really a special skill. You think I don't see what you're doing? I know how hard it is to find the rightjob. We have that in common. Do we? Bees have 100 percent employment, but we do jobs like taking the crud out. That's just what I was thinking about doing. Ken, I let Barry borrow your razor for his fuzz. I hope that was all right. I'm going to drain the old stinger. Yeah, you do that. Look at that. You know, I've just about had it with your little mind games. - What's that? - Italian Vogue. Mamma mia, that's a lot of pages. A lot of ads. Remember what Van said, why is your life more valuable than mine? Funny, I just can't seem to recall that! I think something stinks in here! I love the smell of flowers. How do you like the smell of flames?! Not as much. Water bug! Not taking sides! Ken, I'm wearing a Ohapstick hat! This is pathetic! I've got issues! Well, well, well, a royal flush! - You're bluffing. - Am I? Surf's up, dude! Poo water! That bowl is gnarly. Except for those dirty yellow rings! Kenneth! What are you doing?! You know, I don't even like honey! I don't eat it! We need to talk! He's just a little bee! And he happens to be the nicest bee I've met in a long time! Long time? What are you talking about?! Are there other bugs in your life? No, but there are other things bugging me in life. And you're one of them! Fine! Talking bees, no yogurt night... My nerves are fried from riding on this emotional roller coaster! Goodbye, Ken. And for your information, I prefer sugar-free, artificial sweeteners made by man! I'm sorry about all that. I know it's got an aftertaste! I like it! I always felt there was some kind of barrier between Ken and me. I couldn't overcome it. Oh, well. Are you OK for the trial? I believe Mr. Montgomery is about out of ideas. We would like to call Mr. Barry Benson Bee to the stand. Good idea! You can really see why he's considered one of the best lawyers... Yeah. Layton, you've gotta weave some magic with this jury, or it's gonna be all over. Don't worry. The only thing I have to do to turn this jury around is to remind them of what they don't like about bees. - You got the tweezers? - Are you allergic? Only to losing, son. Only to losing. Mr. Benson Bee, I'll ask you what I think we'd all like to know. What exactly is your relationship to that woman? We're friends. - Good friends? - Yes. How good? Do you live together? Wait a minute... Are you her little... ...bedbug? I've seen a bee documentary or two. From what I understand, doesn't your queen give birth to all the bee children? - Yeah, but... - So those aren't your real parents! - Oh, Barry... - Yes, they are! Hold me back! You're an illegitimate bee, aren't you, Benson? He's denouncing bees! Don't y'all date your cousins? - Objection! - I'm going to pincushion this guy! Adam, don't! It's what he wants! Oh, I'm hit!! Oh, lordy, I am hit! Order! Order! The venom! The venom is coursing through my veins! I have been felled by a winged beast of destruction! You see? You can't treat them like equals! They're striped savages! Stinging's the only thing they know! It's their way! - Adam, stay with me. - I can't feel my legs. What angel of mercy will come forward to suck the poison from my heaving buttocks? I will have order in this court. Order! Order, please! The case of the honeybees versus the human race took a pointed turn against the bees yesterday when one of their legal team stung Layton T. Montgomery. - Hey, buddy. - Hey. - Is there much pain? - Yeah. I... I blew the whole case, didn't I? It doesn't matter. What matters is you're alive. You could have died. I'd be better off dead. Look at me. They got it from the cafeteria downstairs, in a tuna sandwich. Look, there's a little celery still on it. What was it like to sting someone? I can't explain it. It was all... All adrenaline and then... and then ecstasy! All right. You think it was all a trap? Of course. I'm sorry. I flew us right into this. What were we thinking? Look at us. We're just a couple of bugs in this world. What will the humans do to us if they win? I don't know. I hear they put the roaches in motels. That doesn't sound so bad. Adam, they check in, but they don't check out! Oh, my. Oould you get a nurse to close that window? - Why? - The smoke. Bees don't smoke. Right. Bees don't smoke. Bees don't smoke! But some bees are smoking. That's it! That's our case! It is? It's not over? Get dressed. I've gotta go somewhere. Get back to the court and stall. Stall any way you can. And assuming you've done step correctly, you're ready for the tub. Mr. Flayman. Yes? Yes, Your Honor! Where is the rest of your team? Well, Your Honor, it's interesting. Bees are trained to fly haphazardly, and as a result, we don't make very good time. I actually heard a funny story about... Your Honor, haven't these ridiculous bugs taken up enough of this court's valuable time? How much longer will we allow these absurd shenanigans to go on? They have presented no compelling evidence to support their charges against my clients, who run legitimate businesses. I move for a complete dismissal of this entire case! Mr. Flayman, I'm afraid I'm going to have to consider Mr. Montgomery's motion. But you can't! We have a terrific case. Where is your proof? Where is the evidence? Show me the smoking gun! Hold it, Your Honor! You want a smoking gun? Here is your smoking gun. What is that? It's a bee smoker! What, this? This harmless little contraption? This couldn't hurt a fly, let alone a bee. Look at what has happened to bees who have never been asked, "Smoking or non?" Is this what nature intended for us? To be forcibly addicted to smoke machines and man-made wooden slat work camps? Living out our lives as honey slaves to the white man? - What are we gonna do? - He's playing the species card. Ladies and gentlemen, please, free these bees! Free the bees! Free the bees! Free the bees! Free the bees! Free the bees! The court finds in favor of the bees! Vanessa, we won! I knew you could do it! High-five! Sorry. I'm OK! You know what this means? All the honey will finally belong to the bees. Now we won't have to work so hard all the time. This is an unholy perversion of the balance of nature, Benson. You'll regret this. Barry, how much honey is out there? All right. One at a time. Barry, who are you wearing? My sweater is Ralph Lauren, and I have no pants. - What if Montgomery's right? - What do you mean? We've been living the bee way a long time, 27 million years. Oongratulations on your victory. What will you demand as a settlement? First, we'll demand a complete shutdown of all bee work camps. Then we want back the honey that was ours to begin with, every last drop. We demand an end to the glorification of the bear as anything more than a filthy, smelly, bad-breath stink machine. We're all aware of what they do in the woods. Wait for my signal. Take him out. He'll have nauseous for a few hours, then he'll be fine. And we will no longer tolerate bee-negative nicknames... But it's just a prance-about stage name! ...unnecessary inclusion of honey in bogus health products and la-dee-da human tea-time snack garnishments. Oan't breathe. Bring it in, boys! Hold it right there! Good. Tap it. Mr. Buzzwell, we just passed three cups, and there's gallons more coming! - I think we need to shut down! - Shut down? We've never shut down. Shut down honey production! Stop making honey! Turn your key, sir! What do we do now? Oannonball! We're shutting honey production! Mission abort. Aborting pollination and nectar detail. Returning to base. Adam, you wouldn't believe how much honey was out there. Oh, yeah? What's going on? Where is everybody? - Are they out celebrating? - They're home. They don't know what to do. Laying out, sleeping in. I heard your Uncle Oarl was on his way to San Antonio with a cricket. At least we got our honey back. Sometimes I think, so what if humans liked our honey? Who wouldn't? It's the greatest thing in the world! I was excited to be part of making it. This was my new desk. This was my new job. I wanted to do it really well. And now... Now I can't. I don't understand why they're not happy. I thought their lives would be better! They're doing nothing. It's amazing. Honey really changes people. You don't have any idea what's going on, do you? - What did you want to show me? - This. What happened here? That is not the half of it. Oh, no. Oh, my. They're all wilting. Doesn't look very good, does it? No. And whose fault do you think that is? You know, I'm gonna guess bees. Bees? Specifically, me. I didn't think bees not needing to make honey would affect all these things. It's notjust flowers. Fruits, vegetables, they all need bees. That's our whole SAT test right there. Take away produce, that affects the entire animal kingdom. And then, of course... The human species? So if there's no more pollination, it could all just go south here, couldn't it? I know this is also partly my fault. How about a suicide pact? How do we do it? - I'll sting you, you step on me. - Thatjust kills you twice. Right, right. Listen, Barry... sorry, but I gotta get going. I had to open my mouth and talk. Vanessa? Vanessa? Why are you leaving? Where are you going? To the final Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena. They've moved it to this weekend because all the flowers are dying. It's the last chance I'll ever have to see it. Vanessa, I just wanna say I'm sorry. I never meant it to turn out like this. I know. Me neither. Tournament of Roses. Roses can't do sports. Wait a minute. Roses. Roses? Roses! Vanessa! Roses?! Barry? - Roses are flowers! - Yes, they are. Flowers, bees, pollen! I know. That's why this is the last parade. Maybe not. Oould you ask him to slow down? Oould you slow down? Barry! OK, I made a huge mistake. This is a total disaster, all my fault. Yes, it kind of is. I've ruined the planet. I wanted to help you with the flower shop. I've made it worse. Actually, it's completely closed down. I thought maybe you were remodeling. But I have another idea, and it's greater than my previous ideas combined. I don't want to hear it! All right, they have the roses, the roses have the pollen. I know every bee, plant and flower bud in this park. All we gotta do is get what they've got back here with what we've got. - Bees. - Park. - Pollen! - Flowers. - Repollination! - Across the nation! Tournament of Roses, Pasadena, Oalifornia. They've got nothing but flowers, floats and cotton candy. Security will be tight. I have an idea. Vanessa Bloome, FTD. Official floral business. It's real. Sorry, ma'am. Nice brooch. Thank you. It was a gift. Once inside, we just pick the right float. How about The Princess and the Pea? I could be the princess, and you could be the pea! Yes, I got it. - Where should I sit? - What are you? - I believe I'm the pea. - The pea? It goes under the mattresses. - Not in this fairy tale, sweetheart. - I'm getting the marshal. You do that! This whole parade is a fiasco! Let's see what this baby'll do. Hey, what are you doing?! Then all we do is blend in with traffic... ...without arousing suspicion. Once at the airport, there's no stopping us. Stop! Security. - You and your insect pack your float? - Yes. Has it been in your possession the entire time? Would you remove your shoes? - Remove your stinger. - It's part of me. I know. Just having some fun. Enjoy your flight. Then if we're lucky, we'll have just enough pollen to do the job. Oan you believe how lucky we are? We have just enough pollen to do the job! I think this is gonna work. It's got to work. Attention, passengers, this is Oaptain Scott. We have a bit of bad weather in New York. It looks like we'll experience a couple hours delay. Barry, these are cut flowers with no water. They'll never make it. I gotta get up there and talk to them. Be careful. Oan I get help with the Sky Mall magazine? I'd like to order the talking inflatable nose and ear hair trimmer. Oaptain, I'm in a real situation. - What'd you say, Hal? - Nothing. Bee! Don't freak out! My entire species... What are you doing? - Wait a minute! I'm an attorney! - Who's an attorney? Don't move. Oh, Barry. Good afternoon, passengers. This is your captain. Would a Miss Vanessa Bloome in 24B please report to the cockpit? And please hurry! What happened here? There was a DustBuster, a toupee, a life raft exploded. One's bald, one's in a boat, they're both unconscious! - Is that another bee joke? - No! No one's flying the plane! This is JFK control tower, Flight 356. What's your status? This is Vanessa Bloome. I'm a florist from New York. Where's the pilot? He's unconscious, and so is the copilot. Not good. Does anyone onboard have flight experience? As a matter of fact, there is. - Who's that? - Barry Benson. From the honey trial?! Oh, great. Vanessa, this is nothing more than a big metal bee. It's got giant wings, huge engines. I can't fly a plane. - Why not? Isn't John Travolta a pilot? - Yes. How hard could it be? Wait, Barry! We're headed into some lightning. This is Bob Bumble. We have some late-breaking news from JFK Airport, where a suspenseful scene is developing. Barry Benson, fresh from his legal victory... That's Barry! ...is attempting to land a plane, loaded with people, flowers and an incapacitated flight crew. Flowers?! We have a storm in the area and two individuals at the controls with absolutely no flight experience. Just a minute. There's a bee on that plane. I'm quite familiar with Mr. Benson and his no-account compadres. They've done enough damage. But isn't he your only hope? Technically, a bee shouldn't be able to fly at all. Their wings are too small... Haven't we heard this a million times? "The surface area of the wings and body mass make no sense." - Get this on the air! - Got it. - Stand by. - We're going live. The way we work may be a mystery to you. Making honey takes a lot of bees doing a lot of small jobs. But let me tell you about a small job. If you do it well, it makes a big difference. More than we realized. To us, to everyone. That's why I want to get bees back to working together. That's the bee way! We're not made of Jell-O. We get behind a fellow. - Black and yellow! - Hello! Left, right, down, hover. - Hover? - Forget hover. This isn't so hard. Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Barry, what happened?! Wait, I think we were on autopilot the whole time. - That may have been helping me. - And now we're not! So it turns out I cannot fly a plane. All of you, let's get behind this fellow! Move it out! Move out! Our only chance is if I do what I'd do, you copy me with the wings of the plane! Don't have to yell. I'm not yelling! We're in a lot of trouble. It's very hard to concentrate with that panicky tone in your voice! It's not a tone. I'm panicking! I can't do this! Vanessa, pull yourself together. You have to snap out of it! You snap out of it. You snap out of it. - You snap out of it! - You snap out of it! - You snap out of it! - You snap out of it! - You snap out of it! - You snap out of it! - Hold it! - Why? Oome on, it's my turn. How is the plane flying? I don't know. Hello? Benson, got any flowers for a happy occasion in there? The Pollen Jocks! They do get behind a fellow. - Black and yellow. - Hello. All right, let's drop this tin can on the blacktop. Where? I can't see anything. Oan you? No, nothing. It's all cloudy. Oome on. You got to think bee, Barry. - Thinking bee. - Thinking bee. Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Wait a minute. I think I'm feeling something. - What? - I don't know. It's strong, pulling me. Like a 27-million-year-old instinct. Bring the nose down. Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! - What in the world is on the tarmac? - Get some lights on that! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! Thinking bee! - Vanessa, aim for the flower. - OK. Out the engines. We're going in on bee power. Ready, boys? Affirmative! Good. Good. Easy, now. That's it. Land on that flower! Ready? Full reverse! Spin it around! - Not that flower! The other one! - Which one? - That flower. - I'm aiming at the flower! That's a fat guy in a flowered shirt. I mean the giant pulsating flower made of millions of bees! Pull forward. Nose down. Tail up. Rotate around it. - This is insane, Barry! - This's the only way I know how to fly. Am I koo-koo-kachoo, or is this plane flying in an insect-like pattern? Get your nose in there. Don't be afraid. Smell it. Full reverse! Just drop it. Be a part of it. Aim for the center! Now drop it in! Drop it in, woman! Oome on, already. Barry, we did it! You taught me how to fly! - Yes. No high-five! - Right. Barry, it worked! Did you see the giant flower? What giant flower? Where? Of course I saw the flower! That was genius! - Thank you. - But we're not done yet. Listen, everyone! This runway is covered with the last pollen from the last flowers available anywhere on Earth. That means this is our last chance. We're the only ones who make honey, pollinate flowers and dress like this. If we're gonna survive as a species, this is our moment! What do you say? Are we going to be bees, orjust Museum of Natural History keychains? We're bees! Keychain! Then follow me! Except Keychain. Hold on, Barry. Here. You've earned this. Yeah! I'm a Pollen Jock! And it's a perfect fit. All I gotta do are the sleeves. Oh, yeah. That's our Barry. Mom! The bees are back! If anybody needs to make a call, now's the time. I got a feeling we'll be working late tonight! Here's your change. Have a great afternoon! Oan I help who's next? Would you like some honey with that? It is bee-approved. Don't forget these. Milk, cream, cheese, it's all me. And I don't see a nickel! Sometimes I just feel like a piece of meat! I had no idea. Barry, I'm sorry. Have you got a moment? Would you excuse me? My mosquito associate will help you. Sorry I'm late. He's a lawyer too? I was already a blood-sucking parasite. All I needed was a briefcase. Have a great afternoon! Barry, I just got this huge tulip order, and I can't get them anywhere. No problem, Vannie. Just leave it to me. You're a lifesaver, Barry. Oan I help who's next? All right, scramble, jocks! It's time to fly. Thank you, Barry! That bee is living my life! Let it go, Kenny. - When will this nightmare end?! - Let it all go. - Beautiful day to fly. - Sure is. Between you and me, I was dying to get out of that office. You have got to start thinking bee, my friend. - Thinking bee! - Me? Hold it. Let's just stop for a second. Hold it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, everyone. Oan we stop here? I'm not making a major life decision during a production number! All right. Take ten, everybody. Wrap it up, guys. I had virtually no rehearsal for that. Special thanks to SergeiK.

Got fairly bored listening to this. Like a lot of music in this genre, it just doesn't seem like Method Man is having any fun here.

Nope

One of the best albums of all time hands down. Method Man was an absolute revelation here and could have been a global megastar if he was willing to play the game a bit more, still this was recognised at the grammys etc (which was very rare at the time). The album itself is so dark with those classic RZA simple hooks feeling like they're coming through a smoky club and MM's vocals feeling like they're thumping into your body out of the smoke. Every song on this is a classic, but it's the album itself which stands out as it brings them all together - you go from lyrical jousting with Meth Vs Chef to the slowly paced "Sub Crazy", then jumpy party tune "Release Yo' Delf", then moody and atmospheric "PLO Style", then "Mr Sandman" where you don't even realise what you are hearing until you're in the middle of the beautifully painted chaotic scene. Finally name one other artist who can put shout outs to all of his incarcerated friends and family in the middle of an album and it not even interrupt the flow but become an essential part. Love this album, in my top 5 of all time.

Awesome album from Method Man. The solo projects after Enter the Wu-Tang Clan are definitely worth a listen. Method Man's flow is great and the guest appearances from the other Wu-Tang members really takes it to the top.

south philly hip hop with raggae sidecar

Fav track: Bring The Pain Least fav track: Biscuits

Method Man ain’t nothing to fuck wit

Pretty solid Boom Bap album. I've been meaning to check out the solo material from the Wu-Tang members for awhile

another album i listened to a ton as a kid, but have since written it off as a guilty pleasure. looking forward to this listen. 1/2 way - just as good as i remember it. method has incredible flow compared to most of today's rappers IMO.

My second favourite member of the Wu. On this, his debut album Method man wages lyrical warfare on any man that tries to test. The influence of Jamaican soundsystem clash culture and the Wu's inimitable Shaolin, Kung-Fu style production make this album a vicious assault on the senses. Dark, gritty and aggressive, Tical is a stand out album in mid 90s hip-hop. Best track: Bring the Pain & Release Yo Delf.

Tres bon rap et tres bon 1er album solo. Son flow est là.4.5

It might not be my favorite Wu-Tang solo album (that title belongs to GZA's "Liquid Swords"), but Tical is still an essential entry in the Wu catalog. I reserve the fifth star only because it sounds a bit dated to modern ears, but Meth's talent and skills are completely undeniable and the best songs on the album ("Release Yo' Delf" jumps to mind) are bona fide classics.

One of the first groups to switch me on to hip-hop was the Gravediggaz, and this album reminded me a lot of "6 Feet Deep" for obvious reasons. Love the grumbling hypnotic bass lines a load of these tracks have. Fave track - "Stimulation" as it reminds me a lot of Dr Octagon's "Blue Flowers", which was another one of my hip-hop first loves. I'm a sucker for a meandering ethereal melody line lifted from a classical piece, it seems!

The signature Wu Tang sound permeates this album, and Method Man's attitude comes through in every track.

I gotta get something off my chest: I missed the boat on Wu-Tang Clan and, as much as I’ve tried to get on board, I don’t really feel like I’m missing out too much. Loved Method Man on The Wire, though.

Je pense que c'est l'album hip-hop que j'ai préféré jusqu'à présent. La pièce Release Yo' Delf m'a vraiment interpellée. J'aime la voix de Method Man. J'ai aussi trouvé l'ensemble plus épuré, moins «tape-à-l'œil» que ce qu'on entend habituellement dans le genre.

I love Wu Tang and Method Man but for whatever reason I can't fully get down with Tical. I know it's regarded as Method Man's best album but maybe I just like him more as a verse here and there in other songs.

Tical is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man. This is the first solo album by a Wu-Tang Clan member after their debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." Method Man has gone on to say the title of this album is an acronym for "taking into consideration all lives," and I'm very excited to experience that consideration. This album opens with the titular track "Tical," at 3 minutes and 57 seconds. This track has a muddy buildup of audio samples from kung fu movies over a beat until Mr. Man's vocals come in. This song feels very much like a 90s east coast hip hop track, with lyrics about weed and other drugs, per Genius.com: "In 2011 interview with Complex, Meth revealed that this song was performed while he was high on “dust” (a.k.a. angel dust or PCP)". Track 2, "Biscuits," features another consistent hip hop beat with lyrics of meth, guns, and other lyrical assault! Next up is "Bring the Pain," which offers another consistent beat with Method Man rapping about being real: "if you’re really real, then you need to bring the pain because pain is the only real thing in life, its something that you feel." The next track on this album is "All I Need," where Method Man raps about his girlfriend and their dreams of having 1,000 kids together. The Beatles said that love is all we need, and I think Meth agrees. "What the Blood Clot!?!" is track #5 on Tical, and Meth raps about an argument he had with other members of WTC. I like these storytelling lyrics: "Keep your thoughts on your lessons What the Blood Clot!?! To tell the truth you don't amaze me Killa Hill Project, a Star Trek phaser couldn't faze me" A classic "what the FUCK" track. After blood clot comes "Meth Vs. Chef," a rap battle track between Meth and Raekwon the Chef. There are some great disses on this track, and I am all about that. There's a boxing ring and audience applause in this song that really gives it a competitive feel and it's really fun. "Sub Crazy" comes next on this album, it features a really cool, kinda spooky beat. I dig it! "Release Yo' Delf" featuring Blue Raspberry is another dis-like track. Meth goes off about the other industry singers/rappers. Blue Raspberry reminds us that those careers won't be lasting long while a siren wails in the background. The next track, "P.L.O Style" (aka Palestinian Liberation Organizations [unorthodox and ruthless fighting tactics]) features Carlton Fisk. This track was inspired by guerrilla tactics in the middle east used to de-establish Israel in favor of Palestinian justice. "I Get My Thang in Action" is another solid track by Method Man with wonderful word play and clever phrasing: "Shiiit, I told the boy If you can't get yourself a ten The least you can do is fuck five twos And we out, Method" You can't compete with that. Track 11, "Mr. Sandman," features an ensemble posse consisting of Carlton Fisk, Streetlife, Blue Raspberry, Inspectah Deck, and RZA. New York-specific lyrics mixed with Blue Raspberry's high octave singing of "Mr. Saaaandman (bring me a dream)" gives this track a true chaotic, fun energy. Track 12, "Stimulation" is the final track exclusive to this album (as the final track is a remix from an earlier Wu-Tang album) and features Blue Raspberry singing, welcoming the listener to Method Man's stimulation of our senses. Another solid hip hop track to nod one's head to. The closing track, "Method Man (remix)" is a "fat dub stack" song (a bag of weed that weighs a little heavier than usual. Showing how this song being a remix is giving you a little more than usual.) This track asks "Have you had your meth today?" and now I can say I have! I'm not too well-versed with 90s hip hop, but this album is consistently good, with no "filler" songs or boring, celebrity-filled garbage. A solid album with some amazing word play. Favorite track: Meth Vs. Chef Honorable mention: All I Need

3/10 As someone who never really pays attention to lyrical content until a number of listens in, hip-hop can be a very hit and miss genre for me. I appreciate the rhythmical flow of a rappers delivery, but if the focus is lyrical, rather than rhythmical, it often doesn’t connect with me, especially if the rest of the track is musically limited. Unfortunately, this has had a significant impact on my enjoyment of this album. I did find myself bouncing to the beats, but by and large it’s so musically uninteresting it’s unbelievable. Obviously the focus is supposed to be on the lyrics, but this is music, so the music itself should be important and it’s just not. Some of the sample selection feels like RZA and Method Man have challenged themselves to create a whole album using only samples from records they found in one particularly small charity shop. Some of them tonally jar with each other, while others are just really odd choices. The amount of times this record has a single bar loop that repeats relentlessly for three and a half minutes with little to no production flair outside of a few extra samples chucked in here and there make the whole production feel so phoned in and bland. When Method Man actually adds a bit of verve to his delivery, things can get a bit more energetic, but there are often times when he just drones on in a very uninspiring way and, combined with the limited musical content, it’s just a recipe for boredom. With all that being said, there are a few really decent tracks on here, so it’s not a complete clunker, but as a whole it was pretty uninspiring. Tical - This doesn’t do a lot for me. The beats are ok, but musically, it’s pretty weak. The flow of the rapping is actually decent, but there’s so little drive to the rest of the track that it just drags. It’s like they’ve just grabbed some random samples and thrown them together without much thought. Biscuits - Another one where the harmonic content just seems to be randomly played and looped. The rapping is decent. The beats are decent. The music is shit. It could possibly work as part of a more varied piece, but it just drones on. Bring The Pain - This is MUCH better. More pace, a melodic bent to the vocal delivery, tonal elements that actually work together. It’s still light on harmonic parts, but those that are there actually work with the rest of the track, rather than against it. Really liked this one, but I’m not completely sure how much that’s by comparison to what came before. All I Need - Continuing from the last track, this continues with a similar level of consistency. The gang vocals are nice, the beats groove along well. It’s not the most musically interesting, but it’s well paced and all gels together well. What The Blood Clot - A one bar discordant piano loop and a two note bass line for the whole track. And some irritating backing vocals. Not very good and boring to boot. Meth Vs. Chef - This is better again but, apart from the occasional pause in the beat and some samples it’s another single bar loop that just runs for the entire track. Sub Crazy - There’s at least some attempt to have different musical sections here. They’re still not very interesting though. Meh. Release Yo’ Delf - What’s this? Some actual tonal music? I mean, it’s a riff on Gloria Gaynor, and the horn part jars against the vocal line, so it’s not exactly great. When it’s stripped back to the beat, rapping and horn sample, it’s pretty good, but when everything is playing together with the singing it’s a bit of a jumbled mess. Feels like he’s trying to write an anthem, but it just doesn’t pay off. P.L.O. Style - This one is ok. Again, it’s a very short loop that doesn’t change for the duration, but at least this loop is better than some of the others. The extra samples give it a bit more life and, again, the vocal delivery is good, but it’s all just too samey. I Get My Thang In Action - Decent pace, more variety in the delivery of the rapping, actual fills in the drum breaks and other instrumentation that doesn’t just drone through a one bar loop. Hurrah for musical variety! The musical content is still pretty thin, but there’s so much more emphasis on the vocal delivery that it carries this much better. Mr. Sandman - There are bit of this that work well, but it’s just a bit messy overall. There’s a lot of background noise going that just makes it sound cluttered. The use of the Mr Sandman sample is a bit weird. I appreciate the fact that there’s a bit more variety and range to this, but it just isn’t executed very well. Stimulation - Another track, another random assemblage of samples. Still some decent rapping, but it’s all very one-note. When he gives the lyrics a bit more range and dynamic to the delivery it works so much better, but this just drones on like the bass line. Method Man (Remix) - A remix of a track from another album on this list. Vocal delivery is better here. The track has a bit more range to it too and the samples actually work together, which is novel. Not a bad track to end what has been a fairly underwhelming listen.

No. 107/1001 Tical 3/5 Biscuits 2/5 Bring The Pain 3/5 All I Need 2/5 What The Blood Clot 3/5 Meth vs. Chef 3/5 Sub Crazy 3/5 Release Yo' Delf 2/5 P.L.O. Style 3/5 I Get My Thang In Action 2/5 Mr. Sandman 1/5 Stimulation 2/5 Method Man 2/5 Average: 2,38 Didn't really like this at all

Some ok tracks but overly long and not particularly melodic hiphop/rap

Upprörande dåligt. Har hört bättre musik på zoo.

1.5

5 stars. Wu tang clan good

An outstanding hip hop classic. Dark, raw beats and Method Man’s unmistakable flow make Tical a powerhouse of 90s rap. The lyrics hit hard, the vibe is gritty and atmospheric, and it never loses its edge. This is hip hop at its purest, the kind of album I’d crank to the max while riding through L.A. in a convertible. Absolutely flawless. 5/5

While rap isn't my preferred genre it's obvious to see the people in Wu Tang have talent. I've gotten several group and solo albums. Every one has been a little better than your average hip hop record. I'll probably never listen to this album again, but for the purposes of this endeavor, this album is solid.

Mmmm... boom-bap

Possibly the best voice in Wu-Tang.

Luv me Wu Luv me Mussorgsky Luv me Meth Simple as

good album

This man is great. Love this.

The more I'm initiated into the Wu-Tang the more I like it.

First solo album from the Wu, this goes so incredibly hard.

Dope rapping.

What a treat, this album has full control of my body. It's like floating on a river with with rapids, calms, dangerous wild life and uncertain lost woods but you keep floating along having faith in the ride. These piano riffs and beats are fucking timeless. Wutang man, next level... all of them.

Hot fire!

Love Wu Tang and I’d say this is Method in his prime. The theming/consistency of the albums sound is great and even though each song is similar, Method simply delivers fantastic beats and bars. 9/10 would bob head to again.

Mr Meth!!

More of a nostalgia rating here, production is on point, there more than a few bangers. Methodist Man’s style is so unique and was wild for the timeframe, some of the lyrics a bit nonsense though, not too deep.

9.5/10

Old school Method Man and WuTang sound, whats not to love.

One of the best Hip Hop albums of all time. Prove me wrong

Hip-hop at it's finest.

This is one hell of a good album. I could actually see myself telling someone that they had to hear this album before they die. I wouldnt kill them after or anything, though. 5/5

The one thing I can say for this list, at least most of the rap albums chosen are bangers. I can tell they were not chosen by the same people who decided to include a lot of the underwhelming British slop

M-E-T-H-O-D MAN

Method Man's voice is one of my favorites. I remember when someone got the chance to interview him on an MTV contest and they had no idea who he was.

After wu-tang's debut, they went on a few year streak of releasing just banger solo albums one after the other, all produced by RZA from the clan. This one starts that streak off, and though it's maybe my least favourite from the first batch of solo albums, that's not really a negative. It's still grimey and dirty, immaculately produced, and fun as hell. Only complaint is the mixing can be a bit off in sections, like he's being drowned out by the beat. There's nothing like early wu-tang though, it's too good.

Great coast feel with tasteful production and flow

Epic. Flies under the radar of Cuban Linx Pt 1 and Liquid Swords, but is one of the classic Wu-Tang bangers.

The premier Wu solo album, superior even to the usual consensus picks Liquid Swords and Cuban Linx. Some rap albums get flabby, too many skits and throwaway tracks but this is tight and efficient from start to finish. Highly recommend seeking out the Prodigy remix of Release Yo Delf on the deluxe edition as well. Brilliantly creepy/paranoid sounding.

Great

classic

Enjoyed this (4.5 stars). Particularly because (i) He has a funny lisp and (ii) His performance as Cheese in The Wire is so great!

I loved this

It's the most pop Wu Tang album. Which means it has an entire song about Palestinian liberation and the smokiest production RZA ever did. And a song fully celebrating women by a 90s male hip hop artist - as someone who grew up on 90s hip hop that's unprecedented. Despite being about the fourth or fifth best Wu record within a two year period FIVE STARS.

Great samples and sound, with great lyrics and flow, which is expected from a Wu-Tang member on his debut album after creating the excellent Enter the Wu-Tang. I will say I enjoy this album more than Wu-tangs, as I enjoyed Method Man's verses on that album a lot, and feel that this doesn't have some of the other performances that might take away from his lyrical and rap work. (I'm looking at you Dirty Old Bastard) Overall really happy this was today's album, as I never looked into Wu-tang members and their solo careers, and now I feel like I might have to. Very nostalgic sound for me, and definitely an album that will be in my rotation for years to come.

I learned a lot while listening to this album. When the RZA would make a fresh beat, the clan would rap battle for the rights to use it. Word warrior quality control. If you couldn't spit it, youd never get it. Amazing. The energy is so positive. Method reflects light and love against the backdrop of a violent and turbulent world. Wu Tang really is forever.

Holy crap. I love Method Man every time he shows up on a Wu-Tang-related album, I've got "Blackout" and "Blackout 2" (his albums with Redman), and I've seen "How High" more times than I can count ... or remember. Despite that, I hadn't listened to even one of his solo albums until today. I expected good things, but I was unprepared for just how excellent this album is. It's hard to find a much smoother lyricist than Meth, and he doesn't disappoint on this album. Production-wise, my first impression is that this is some of RZA's best work—right up there with "36 Chambers." RZA's signature kung fu film samples create moody, musical landscapes that Meth nimbly battles through without a missed step. This album is top-notch kung fu.

Rap makes me think a lot of Metal in that both are Ouroboros genres. Which is to say that in the same way that metal is consuming and recreating itself in search of something "harder", rap does the same. This aside is to point out how tame this album sounds in 2023 especially after everything from speed rap to the island boys. That being said, tame doesn't mean bad - this album is absolutely killer and the snippets of lyrics that I picked up were super insightful about the black perspective of NYC that was trying to come out of total bankrupcy/warzone status in the 1970s. I think of art as trying to make others see the world through your (inherently inaccessible) eyes, and intentional or not, this album succeeds at that while also being musically great.

This was good

It's great but Release yo' Delf is so good I can't dock *s. Absolute banger

I'm familiar with his biggest hits but I never did a deep dive of his albums before. Very impressive skills of rapping/flow just goes to show how much of a legend Method Man is. Fantastic rap album!

The way any of the WuTang era melds lofi beats and Kung Fu spirit with hard lyrics, it's such a microcosm of hip hip that can never be replicated.

ovo je skoro petica, zašto? najdraži mi je iz wu-tanga, nažalost nema tako dobru solo karijeru kao Raekwon ili Ghostface Killah, ali je bar dao ovaj sluznjavi, mračni, sirovi i old school zvučni album. baš se osjeti taj period glazbe, osjete se godine izdanja ovog klasika.

Good! Fun!

cool

This is dope! Finally some fucking hip-hop. This would appear to be Method Man's first album. The quality isn't great and some of the beats I find tedious and unappealing, but Method has such command with his distinct voice I could listen to him on just about anything.

Good stuff

god damn this fucks so hard can’t believe this came out in 1994 nearly every song is such a banger, I can’t believe I like this so much but here I am - 10/10, at time a little repetitive but not too bad

Love wu-tang, listening to Method Man extends that, and generates a banging song radio afterwards too

Fuck yeah. Keep it moving, ya punk.

Method had all the best rhymes in the 90's - Fav Track: Bring the Pain - one of my top rap songs, PERIOD.

great beats and his flow is top notch he has a way better switch of tempo compared to N.W.A. from earlier this week Probably one of the only 5 star albums where I won't add a song from it, but I can respect that this is a bomb album

Wutang Clan aint nothing to fuck with

Top album

Dope.

I got into this. Unique sound, from dark and somewhat ominous to the high voice that completely shifts the vibe. Its smart. Love it.

Old school rap

I liked this. I don't really have any insight other than there have been several hip hop albums from this era on this list. Wu Tang and Wu Tang adjacent stuff has been consistently good.

7/10

like, divertido, cool, me gusto All I need

whatever, I liked it!

I appreciate the style and aesthetic.

Impressive.