One of the wittiest, most relatable rappers to pick up a mic, Redman established himself as an elite MC decades ago, with the arrival of his 1992 debut, Whut? Thee Album. Over the years, his penchant for spinning comical tales amplified by superior wordplay hasn't waned.

From his classic albums Dare Iz a Darkeside and Muddy Waters, to the album that earned him more mainstream listeners, Doc's Da Name, to his collaborative efforts with Method Man on the Blackout series, Reggie Noble has left an indelible mark on the rap game. Eminem as long hailed him as an influential favorite, and his impact can been heard in artists like Ludacris, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar, who've all praised Redman's lyrical prowess and flow as an influence.

With Redman set to perform at the 2023 Rock The Bells Festival alongside Method Man, we've highlighted 10 of his essential songs.

"Whateva Man," Muddy Waters

Featuring groovy, mid-tempo production from Erick Sermon, "Whateva Man," from Red's third album, Muddy Waters, is still one of his most popular songs, highlighting his wit, easy flow, and humor.

"Da Rockwilder," Blackout!

A perfect showcase of their chemistry, Red and Meth's high-energy collab, produced by Rockwilder, didn't need a chorus to be a forever classic. Funnily, Method Man told The Wrap in a 2020 interview that Red didn't even like the track at first, which is why the song is so short. “It was so short because Red didn’t like the track,” Method Man said. “Him and Erick Sermon came up with Rockwilder, and they’re very hard on him when it comes to beats. He didn’t like the track. I loved it, I embraced it, I jumped on it. Red didn’t even have a verse on it for like a week and a half."

"I'll Bee Dat," Doc's The Name

Redman's humor has always been one of the best aspects of his music, and this track features some of his most amusing bars.

"Tonight's The Night," Whut? Thee Album

Featuring a prominent sample of "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, Erick Sermon and Redman's laidback beat for "Tonight's The Night" served to highlight his lyrical skill early in his career.

"Da Goodness," Doc's Da Name

Another standout from Doc's Da Name and produced by Red himself, Busta Rhymes throws an assist on the energetic track.

"Time 4 Sum Aksion," Whut? Thee Album

Built around B-Real's vocals from Cypress HIll's "How I Could Just Kill a Man," Redman and Erick Sermon created the perfect music bed for Red's hard-hitting bars.

"When I was making the beat, I had that [Cypress Hill] record near," Erick Sermon told Complex about the making of the beat. "That record was so dope. And the reason why I was able to use that, “Time 4 Sum Aksion,” is because the vocals were by themselves. And B-Real’s voice is so ill. It cuts. The beat was made, and you always want to have a hip-hop vocal sample. That’s my formula. Find a dope sample to go on the beat, if you can.

"How High," The Show

"How High" isn't just a quintessential Red and Meth collab, it's also their first. A strong contender for one of the best collaborations in Hip-Hop history, Red's last verse is notably one of his dopest entries in his long catalog. Produced by Erick Sermon, the remixed version was used for the video.

"How to Roll a Blunt," Whut? Thee Album

Another classic ode to cannabis, Redman's instructional song remains a standout.

"Can't Wait," Dare Iz A Darkside

A gem from Dare Iz A Darkeside, "Can't Wait" was released as the album's second single. Built around a sample from Hip-Hop's beloved pianist, Bob James, the track is one of Erick Sermon's best, and Redman is top form lyrically.

"Mike City, who’s a famous producer for Brandy and Sunshine Anderson, said that record is how he started producing. He said it gave him the formula to do Carl Thomas' single “I Wish,” because of the one-two of it," Erick said in an interview. "Mike City did “Full Moon” for Brandy, and again, those are songs that [were influenced by the production on “Can’t Wait”]."

"Soopaman Luva," Muddy Waters

Featured on Muddy Waters, and part of his signature series, this installment is a standout.