In 1999, the music world was a chaotic, beautiful mess. You had boy bands on one side and the rising tide of nu-metal on the other. But something strange happened on the Significant Other album. Limp Bizkit, a band often maligned for their frat-boy energy, linked up with Method Man from the Wu-Tang Clan. The result was N 2 Gether Now, a track that basically defied the logic of the era. It wasn't just a gimmick. It was a legit hip-hop record produced by DJ Premier—the architect of the gritty New York sound.
Most people expected a wall of distorted guitars. Instead, they got a minimalist, boom-pap beat and a back-and-forth flow that actually worked.
Why N 2 Gether Now Was an Absolute Cultural Pivot
Limp Bizkit was the biggest thing on the planet back then. Fred Durst was everywhere. But the rap-rock trend was starting to feel a bit stale, mostly because everyone was just screaming over power chords. When N 2 Gether Now dropped, it caught everyone off guard. It wasn't "Faith" or "Nookie." It was a stripped-back, lyric-focused flex.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about now.
You had Method Man at the height of his powers. He’d just come off Tical 2000: Judgement Day and the Blackout! project with Redman. Why would he jump on a track with the Red Cap King? The answer lies in the respect for the craft. Meth has always been a student of the game, and Durst, for all the flak he takes, actually grew up as a breakdancer and a hip-hop head in Jacksonville.
The track was a statement. It told the industry that these two worlds weren't just neighbors; they were living in the same house.
The DJ Premier Factor
You cannot talk about this song without mentioning Christopher Martin, better known as DJ Premier. He’s the guy behind Gang Starr, Nas’s "N.Y. State of Mind," and Biggie’s "Ten Crack Commandments." He doesn’t just work with anybody.
Premier’s involvement gave the song instant street cred. He provided a signature beat: a haunting piano loop, sharp scratches, and a drum pattern that hit like a heavyweight. There’s a story that Premier initially didn't want to do it. He was a purist. But after hearing the vision, he realized he could make a "real" rap record for a rock audience. That’s the magic of N 2 Gether Now. It didn’t compromise. It didn't add a "rock" chorus to make it more digestible. It stayed raw.
Breaking Down the Lyricism
The song opens with Method Man setting the tone. His flow is liquid. He’s effortlessly sliding through bars about "the M-E-T-H-O-D Man" while Fred Durst tries to keep pace.
And you know what?
Durst actually holds his own. He doesn't try to out-rap Meth—nobody does that. Instead, he plays the perfect foil. His voice is higher, more urgent, contrasting with Method Man's gravelly, laid-back delivery. The "shut the f*** up" ad-libs and the playful banter at the end of the track make it feel like a genuine studio session rather than a file-sharing collaboration, which was becoming common even in the late 90s.
- The chemistry was real.
- The video featured a hilariously awkward fight scene in an office.
- Pauly Shore made a cameo.
It was peak 1999 energy, but the music itself has aged surprisingly well because it isn't weighed down by the "heavy" production tropes of the time.
The Music Video and the "Office" Vibe
If you haven't seen the video lately, go back and watch it. It’s directed by Fred Durst himself. It’s a parody of old kung-fu movies and office culture. It’s weird. It’s funny. It shows a side of Method Man that we eventually saw more of in How High. It also helped propel the single to huge heights. It reached number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is impressive for a track that was essentially a hardcore hip-hop song on a rock record.
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The "shut the f*** up" refrain became a stadium anthem. When Limp Bizkit played this live at Woodstock '99 or on their headlining tours, the crowd didn't mosh in the traditional sense. They bounced. It changed the physical language of their shows.
The Critics and the Backlash
Not everyone was a fan. Purists on both sides were annoyed. Rock fans wanted more riffs. Hip-hop heads thought Method Man was "selling out" by working with a band that wore oversized JNCO jeans and backwards hats.
But looking back, those critics missed the point. N 2 Gether Now was one of the first times a rock band didn't just "feature" a rapper for a 16-bar verse in the bridge. They made a rap song together. There’s a big difference. It paved the way for projects like Linkin Park’s Collision Course with Jay-Z years later.
Influence on the Genre
Without this collaboration, would we have the current landscape where genre lines are almost non-existent? Probably, but it would have taken longer. This song proved that a rock frontman could enter a hip-hop space and not look entirely ridiculous if they respected the production and the guest artist.
It also solidified the Wu-Tang Clan’s reach. By 1999, the Wu was a brand, a clothing line, and a global phenomenon. Method Man’s appearance on a multi-platinum rock album introduced the "Wu-Tang" style to a whole generation of suburban kids who might have never stepped foot into a record store’s hip-hop section.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
People think it was a cynical marketing move by Interscope. Sure, the label loved the sales, but if you listen to the stems of the track, you hear the work. You hear the scratches. You hear the timing.
- It wasn't a "rock" song.
- It wasn't a "pop" song.
- It was a DJ Premier production through and through.
Basically, if you took Fred Durst off the track and replaced him with Redman, it would be considered a classic East Coast underground record. The fact that Durst is on it is what makes it a fascinating artifact of a specific moment in time.
The Legacy of the Collaboration
Even today, in 2026, the song pops up in DJ sets and nostalgia playlists. It’s got a timelessness that Limp Bizkit’s other hits like "Rollin'" might lack. "Rollin'" is tied to a specific era of wrestling and car culture. N 2 Gether Now is just a great beat with great verses.
It reminds us of a time when MTV actually played videos and when a collaboration could actually shock the system. It wasn't just a "drop" on a Friday at midnight; it was an event.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era or understand the technical side of why this track works, here is how you should approach it.
Analyze the Production
Listen to the instrumental version of the track. Pay attention to how DJ Premier uses the "silence" between the beats. It’s a masterclass in minimalism. You don't need fifty tracks of audio to make a hit. Sometimes a piano and a drum machine are enough.
Compare the Flows
Listen to Method Man's verse and then listen to his work on Wu-Tang Forever. Notice how he adapts his cadence to fit the slightly faster tempo of the Premier beat. Then, look at Fred Durst's timing. He’s hitting the "snare" with his syllables, which is a classic hip-hop technique he clearly studied.
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Explore the "Aggressive" Hip-Hop Sub-genre
If you like this, you should check out the Loud Rocks compilation album. It features similar cross-genre experiments that actually hit the mark, like the Wu-Tang and System of a Down collaboration.
Watch the "Family Values" Tour Clips
To see this song in its natural habitat, find footage of the 1999 Family Values tour. The energy when Meth comes out on stage during Limp Bizkit’s set is undeniable. It shows that despite the internet's tendency to silo music into categories, the fans just wanted something that moved them.
The impact of N 2 Gether Now isn't just about the charts. It's about the fact that for four minutes and thirteen seconds, the wall between the mosh pit and the cipher completely disappeared.
To fully appreciate the track, listen to it back-to-back with Gang Starr’s Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr. You’ll hear the DNA of DJ Premier’s production style and realize how Limp Bizkit managed to snag a piece of hip-hop royalty for their biggest album. It wasn't luck; it was a well-executed bridge between two of the most powerful movements in 90s music.