Editing Method Man (section)

===2001–2004: ''The W'', ''Iron Flag'', and ''Tical 0: The Prequel''===
The Wu-Tang Clan released ''[[The W]]'' on November 21, 2000, and [[Iron Flag]] on December 18, 2001. ''The W'' received both critical and commercial success for the group,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Metacritic |title=The "W" by Wu-Tang Clan Reviews and Tracks |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-w/wu-tang-clan |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> while ''Iron Flag'' did receive some but not to the same extent as its predecessor. The efforts earned two more platinum plaques for the Wu-Tang Clan.<ref>{{cite news |title=The W by WU-TANG CLAN sales and awards |url=https://bestsellingalbums.org/album/55908 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=Best Selling Albums |publisher=Best Selling Albums}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IRON FLAG by WU-TANG CLAN sales and awards |url=https://bestsellingalbums.org/album/55905 |website=Best Selling Albums |access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref>

In 2003, Method Man criticized [[Oliver "Power" Grant|Oli "Power" Grant]] and Mitchell "Divine" Diggs, the managers of the Wu-Tang Clan business.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/4938 |title=Method Man Talks Beef With Wu & ODB |last=Amrstrong |first=Jego R. |date=August 13, 2003 |website=SOHH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616111154/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/4938 |archive-date=June 16, 2008}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2015}} "Number 1 on my shit list right now is Divine from Wu-Tang management.  He took something major from me that he had no intention of giving back."<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |last=Weiner |first=Jonah |date=November 2003 |title=Dear Superstar: Method Man |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=512 |website=Blender |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224023412/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=512 |archive-date=February 24, 2009}}</ref>

Aside from the financial issues, Method Man was unhappy with the decision to bring Wu-Tang into the fashion world for a brief period of time with Wu-Wear, despite the brand being a major money-maker for the group. "When Wu-Wear started making shoes and sneakers and pants, it was shoddy material. I never rocked that shit."<ref name="autogenerated2" />

In 2004, Method Man released his third solo album ''[[Tical 0: The Prequel]]'', which featured the hit party single "[[Tical 0: The Prequel|What's Happenin']]" with [[Busta Rhymes]] and included guest appearances of pop-rap stars like [[Missy Elliott]] and [[Sean Combs|P. Diddy]]. The album sold well and was certified [[Music recording certification|gold record]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] but did not see the platinum success of his previous solo releases.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

P. Diddy was one of the executive producers for the album, although Meth later voiced his displeasure with the final product. "On the third LP, it was suggested (by Def Jam) to bring in Harve Pierre and P. Diddy. Who am I to argue? Puff knows how to sell some records. But that wasn't the direction to go in, and I know that."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1533408/20060601/puff_daddy.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716081933/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1533408/20060601/puff_daddy.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2006 |title=Method Man Drops Diddy, Seeks Clarity On New LP, 4:21 ... The Day After – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |website=MTV.com |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>