Method Man Calls Atlanta "The New New York," Discusses Wu-Tang's $2 Million Album Fiasco In New Interview

Method Man recently spoke with the Daily Beast about why he believes Atlanta is the new New York, the ongoing legal battle with Wu-Tang Clan's $2 million album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, and the lack of respect the current generation of rappers have for the rappers that came before them.

READ: The Department Of Justice Doesn't Have Wu-Tang Clan's $2 Million Album After All

When asked about the current state of hip-hop in New York, the Tical rapper says that he thinks New York lost its hip-hop identity while adding that "Atlanta is the new New York."

"Down South is way bigger than just New York, and we were basing everything off just New York," Method Man added. "I remember Andre 3000 at the Source Awards, they got booed and he said, 'All I know is that the South got something to say.' I think that was like a calling to all artists down South to say, 'You know what? We don't need those muthaf**kas up there. They're arrogant as fuck, and there's more of us down here.'"

Further on in the interview, the rapper speaks on Martin Shkreli and Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album that may potentially end up in the hands of the Department of Justice. Method Man reveals that he thought they were giving the music away and that it'd only be available to listen to in a museum, but then it ended up with Shkreli.

"... some people were tryin' to buy it from him, but he was asking for too much," Method Man continued. "...I haven't heard anything on the album—only the songs I did, and I didn't hear anybody else on 'em because they only sent me instrumentals. But honestly, just give the s**t away free."

Below are other notable quotes from the interview. The chat in its entirety can be read here.

On the new generation of rappers disrespecting older rappers

"That's my biggest issue with the newer cats: you don't even gotta pay homage to me, but don't shit on somebody's legacy—especially if you're uninformed of the role they played in the business. There's a reason why we hold Tupac in high regard: Pac spoke in a way that a lot of us couldn't speak...there's nothin' you can take away from that man—or Biggie."

On working with 2Pac and Biggie at the height of the two's rap rivalry

"Biggie approached me after the New Music Seminar. Pac, on the other hand, came home from jail and it's just like in the movie: he was goin' from room-to-room jumpin' on joints, and some of the tracks were already done with people rhymin' on 'em. And Daz [Dillinger] was like, yo, I got the joint with Method Man and Redman. Next thing you know, Pac was spittin' on it and I was like oh s**t."

"My biggest thing was, Big was my friend and I hadn’t even met Pac yet for my record, and they were playing that shit on New York radio...I remember the first time I ran into Big after that, I was like, 'Yo, you know that Pac song, son actually came home from jail, that was a Dogg Pound record,' and he said, 'Nah, I ain't trippin' off that s**t.'"

Source: Daily Beast