Method Man talks “Chozen” role, and why people sometimes call him Cliff Smith

In his latest project, Method Man is playing a familiar role, that of a rapper. And he’s happy to be doing it, making an appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour this week to promote (and sometimes defend) FX’s controversial animated series Chozen — airing at 10:30pm Mondays — though he’s not a regular cast member. He gives voice to Phantasm, the duplicitous MC who framed the lead character for multiple criminal violations that sent Chozen (Bobby Moynihan) to prison for 10 years.

But the former Wu-Tang Clan member, who has nabbed roles in projects as varied as The Wire and How High, has plans to show he can do more as an actor. Part of getting him there, besides hard work, is a change in perception. If people don’t think Method Man can play a role, maybe they think Cliff Smith can.

Method Man Channel Guide Magazine: What do you think of the way Chozen portrays of the rap world?

Method Man: I recognize it as being satirical. Nobody got mad when they had the little rap battle on Scary Movie. That was basically making fun of the music. You’ve got guys that … The biggest thing about it is when, dare I say, white executives get in a room and want to discuss something that has to do with black culture, it’s always comedy or anything that in our eyes bigs it up in a way. You’ve got to take the bad with the good, and I hate this part of it, but if anything it opens doors. The same way people don’t agree with Tyler Perry movies, Tyler Perry is showing Hollywood that there is an audience for movies with a majority black cast in it that can make money. The more beef that I get over this show [Chozen], the more I want to do it. People are telling me I can’t do that. Who are you to tell me what’s good for hip hop and what’s not good for hip hop, and you may be right. But I’m so bullheaded it’ll make me want to do it more if not to prove you wrong than just to get on your f@#$in’ nerves, you know what I mean?

CGM: You haven’t done a lot of voice work over the years, so how do you find doing the work on Chozen?

MM: It’s just me in there, and I prefer it that way. I get the jokes, I know exactly where they’re going with it. It’s about timing, and they’re always on the phone with you if you don’t get it, or it’s not the way they saw it they’ll chime in and let you know. Breaking it down for you so you can get the right tone. I find myself defending this show — not even defending the show, defending myself really — at the end of the day, for a show that [I’m not a regular on]. That’s how passionate people are about this music. Well, I say, “Goddammit, if you’re that passionate about it, then a lot of this shit you’re playing on the radio shouldn’t even be getting airtime. For real. You want to pick on somebody, pick on those motherf@#$ers, I’m getting crumbs over here.” Real talk.

CGM: Why have you started using Cliff Smith in your credits?

MM: When I walk into an audition, I don’t want Method Man on the paper, because there’s a preconceived notion as soon as I walk into the room, “OK, we’ve got a rapper coming in. Method Man? What’s that about?” Cliff Smith is my name. That’s my actual name, and if I had to sign up on a job application, I’m not going to put Method Man. When I do my taxes, I don’t put Method Man, I put Clifford Smith. It’s not me trying to be taken as a serious actor or anything like that. No, it’s me trying to shed the layers of Method Man before I walk into the room and do this audition so they just see the actor, not the rapper.

CGM: How’s it working so far?

MM: Some people you just can’t get it out of their heads, and I’m happy with that, too, because that means I did my job well enough that people know me for something I did. But then you have some people who will give you that shot. … The music business takes away from any type of acting you’re trying to do anyway. I’m not separating myself from the music, but in a sense, I’m building another house over here. Another foundation over here.

CGM: Are there certain roles that you want that people won’t give to “Method Man”?

MM: I don’t know. I guess when it comes, I won’t even know it when it comes. When people see it, they’ll see it and be like, “Oh, this guy’s f@#$in’ good.” But I’m open to a lot of things. Even the movies I watch, it’s a different scale from here to here to here. There’s the big-budget stuff and then there’s the indies that no one gets to see but they’re great. I take this very seriously. I don’t want to just jump in, I’ve been doing it for a while. That has been on-the-job training. And I’m still learning, I’m still training. I don’t think you ever stop growing and learning when you act, because each movie I do, some of these actors I’m around I take bits and pieces of what I’ve learned with me onto the next job, or audition or read, whatever I’m on.

CGM: Have you taken acting classes?

MM: Yeah, I did that before this movie I just did called The Cobbler, only because I was nervous about not the character I initially play, but who my character turns into later on. The lead character changes into my character, he has my body, he looks like me, but it’s not me. Basically, someone in my body who’s still themselves. So I couldn’t play myself as myself, I had to play myself as this character.* I was nervous about that, so I did take a few classes. … When I did go on set and it was time for me to do that thing I was talking about, I was still nervous, but I was prepared for anything the director threw at me. And the director, Tom McCarthy, I wish he could direct everything I do because he’s so hands on. I’ll never sweat another audition again.

* In The Cobbler, Adam Sandler plays a New York City shoe cobbler who one day finds he can walk in the shoes of some of his clients, one of whom is played by Cliff “Method Man” Smith

Method Man
Method Man gives voice to Phantasm (right) on FX’s animated comedy “Chozen”

Photos: (Method Man) © 2013 FX Networks Credit: Greg Endries; (Chozen) © 2013 FX Networks

1 Comment

  1. Very interesting getting to know how he feels about changing his persona. Always on point and insightful.

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