Redman (born Reggie Noble) grew up in Newark, New Jersey in the 1970s and ‘80s. By the time he was in his early 20s Redman was teaming up with artists like Erick Sermon and Keith Murray on various rap singles and mix tapes. He would eventually form Def Squad with Sermon and Murray in the late ‘90s, releasing El Nino in June of 1998. But before that, he released his own debut album, 1992's Whut? Thee Album, which featured extensive help in production and performance efforts from Erick Sermon. The album's three single tracks, "Blow Your Mind," "Time 4 Sun Aksion" and "Tonight's Da Night" all reached the top three on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Accordingly, Whut? skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot in the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums that year.

The 90s were Redman's most prolific period as a solo artist. He released Dare Iz a Darkside (1994), Muddy Waters (1996) and Doc's da Name 2000 (1998) during the last decade. He also collaborated with big name rappers, such as 2Pac, Busta Rhymes, Funkmaster Flex, LL Cool J, Puff Daddy and Boyz II Men during this time. By the turn of the millennium he was making albums with EPMD (as well as associated acts like the Hit Squad and Def Squad), and forging a partnership with former Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man. Redman and Method Man released Blackout! In 1999, and were partners on several other rappers' projects.

In the early 2000s Method Man and Redman began to diversify their careers by branching out into film and television, first with the buddy comedy How High (2001), and later with a FOX television show titled Method and Red, which debuted in June of 2004. For as many successful ventures as Redman been a part of, his fans found out through a 2001 MTV Cribs episode that he still lives in a two bedroom apartment in Staten Island, New York, a testament to how important it is to Redman to keep grounded, keep moving, and keep it real.