Record Rack

* * 1/2

METHOD MAN & REDMAN

“Blackout!”

Island Def Jam

After teaming up for the hit single “How High” in 1995 and then appearing together on choice cuts from their respective solo albums, these two hip-hop stalwarts finally have released their collaborative collection. Maybe it’s the fault of the long wait and the high anticipation, but “Blackout!” sounds lackluster in comparison.

Both artists rely on inflection and flawless delivery, but their normally high-octane presentations seem somewhat stalled and flat here. Neither rapper says much of value, but in the past their subject-matter shortcomings have been masked by their lively use of pop culture references and their vocal charisma. That’s not so here.

Similarly, the usually reliable production from Erick Sermon, RZA and others feels too spare and simple for rappers of this caliber. The dark soundscapes are too often bland and fail to make a lasting impression, as if the producers assumed the two could overcome average beats.

Disappointments notwithstanding, Method Man and Redman still hold promise as a duo. But what is satisfactory from others is a disappointment from them.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.