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Tune in for the latest installment in the ongoing "Son of the Wu" saga, Tical 0: The Prequel, in which Method Man finds himself in a particularly awkward position. One gets the sense that it was a battle between Mista Mef and Def Jam for the soul of this album and that the label won. Meth's third solo outing radiates a blatantly commercial vibe that risks alienating die-hard Wu-Tang Clan fans, yet it contains just enough hot selections to grab the less judgmental listener's interest. And the hot selections are really what we're here for, right? Surprisingly, the album's many guest appearances provide the most excitement. A newly Def Jam-affiliated Puff Daddy produces and comperes the Missy-accented "Say What," Raekwon injects some old-school Wu flavor into "The Turn," and Busta Rhymes straight kills it with a full-throttle assault on "What's Happenin'." Even longtime Wu-Tang sidekick, Streetlife, adds some nice touches to tracks like "The Prequel." At least Meth's kept his friends close during this transitional period. --Rebecca Levine