Wu-Tang (Deadlifts) Forever.
An artist in the music industry doesn’t need to be strong and fit, per se. They’ve got their talents as writers, they’ve got the golden pipes as rhymers and singers, and everything else is superfluous. With that said, there are exceptions. For example, there’s famous rapper Clifford Smith Jr., or “Method Man.” Such a commitment to health, even with an all-time career as a recording artist, doesn’t appear to be lost on him.
On Nov. 2, 2022, Smith Jr. shared an Instagram video of himself capturing a 227.3-kilogram (500-pound) deadlift from a conventional stance during a training session. Based on previous social media posts, the milestone is a personal record (PR). The man known for his rapping, songwriting, and recent acting roles accomplished the feat in his socks while wearing a lifting belt and utilizing lifting straps.
Lifting massive amounts of weight — or staying dedicated to strength training generally — doesn’t appear to be a new development for Smith Jr. Even a quick glance at the rapper’s Instagram will indicate he makes it a point to spend quality time in the gym when he can.
For example, just two weeks prior to Smith Jr. notching his staggering 500-pound PR, he deadlifted 224.5 kilograms (495 pounds) with relative ease for his previous PR. (Note: He had the same equipment on.) Before that, roughly three months ago, in August 2022, Smith Jr. crushed a 142.8-kilogram (315-pound) bench press for five reps while wearing wrist and elbow wraps.
In fact, aside from general promotional items for his music career, a solid portion of Smith Jr.’s recent Instagram features clips of himself pushing his fitness. It looks like even one of the more famous musical artists of the modern era wants to stay in tip-top shape.
It would be hard to miss Smith Jr.’s impact on the industry as a close follower of contemporary music.
The 51-year-old first ascended to stardom in the early 1990s as one of the original and more visible members of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The group is often considered one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time, as they helped popularize a specific East Coast brand of the genre. According to The Latch, the group has sold roughly 40 million albums worldwide as of September 2021.
Away from the group, Smith Jr. might be one of the more successful individual members, as he can claim six albums that were, at one time, in the top 10 on Billboard’s music charts. One of the more notable would be his original solo debut in 1994’s “Tical.”
In addition, Smith Jr. claimed a Grammy for a duo performance for his work with Mary J. Blige in 1995’s “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By.” He has also amassed nearly 130 acting credits in film and television beginning in the late-1990s and continuing to present day.
Smith Jr. could be considered one of the most influential and successful figures in hip-hop history. He also might be one of the strongest at the same time.
Featured image: @methodmanofficial on Instagram
