Despite Wu-tang Clan’s explosive show at Dubai’s Sole DXB festival in 2019, fans knew there was something missing.
While the hip-hop crew were mostly on point with a trademark raucous set, the performance lacked some of the verbal flair and precision only absent member Method Man could deliver.
The reason he wasn't on the plane, he reveals to The National, was his starring role in the gritty television crime series Power Book II: Ghost, a spin-off the hit crime drama Ghost.
“I had to be on set so I couldn’t make it,” he says. "I was ecstatic to be part of this amazing cast and show. Everybody on set stepped up and did their thing."
With the series finally completing its weekly streaming run on Starzplay, viewers can now binge watch the entire 10 episodes.
Not only do the new episodes, which centre on the family of nightclub owner James "Ghost" St Patrick, kick off directly after the cliffhanger of the 2019 season finale of Ghost, but come with fresh characters as we follow Ghost's son, Tariq (played by Michael Rainey Jr), as he enters the murky family business.
A killer instinct
One of those new faces is Method Man, 49, who plays hot-shot lawyer Davis McLean. Smooth, suited up and with a killer instinct in the courtroom, the rapper – real name Clifford Smith Jr – is a revelation in a rightfully acclaimed performance.
It may look like a completely different world, but Method Man explains McLean wasn’t too far away from his tough street-music persona.
“He is slick but very astute. You can tell he has some of that street element in him and that being in a professional setting comes natural to him,” he says. “The character’s sole objective is to win. This is why he wears the fine suits, the shoes and the watches.”
More than the chance to extend his acting range, which includes well-received roles in dramas CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The Wire, Method Man was drawn to the aspirational quality of Power Book II: Ghost.
On script, it may read like a standard crime drama with morally conflicted characters, but he puts the success of the whole Ghost franchise (which has other shows in the works) down to actors from American minority backgrounds playing confident roles.
It may be entertainment, he states, but it’s nonetheless powerful.
“There are kids that grew up watching hood movies and all they ever saw were gangsters being ruthless and having no kind of moral compass or code,” he says.
“By seeing this show, they may think that there is something after this and that they can use their mind and run an actual business.”
Looking beyond colour
That ambitious message is not only pointed at the younger generation, he says, but to casting agents and screenwriters who continue to offer actors of colour limited options.
As an actor for more than two decades, Method Man recalls plenty of script offers and auditions beginning on the wrong note.
"I would get character descriptions that would normally begin 'black male, forties', and I felt that if they could just describe the character without putting a colour on it, that would open up a whole different thing and everybody can read for that part," he says.
"There shouldn't be an assumption that if you are casting a doctor it has to be a white male.”
First class all the way
Certain assumptions, however, remain alluring.
And that’s Method Man’s view of Dubai’s world-famous nightlife and club scene.
Excited by glitzy anecdotes of fellow artists and celebrities who have visited the emirate, he says he can’t wait to perform in Dubai as part of a formidable hip-hop duo with revered rapper Red Man.
There is a caveat, however.
Interested parties need to lay down the lavish Dubai hospitality Method Man has so often heard about.
"I want to come to Dubai the same way all the rest of the stars do," he says.
"I am talking about the private jet, the gold car picking me up right there from the jet and taking me to my spot. That's the Dubai I want to see because I seen it happen with these other stars that put in only half the work I put in. So yeah, Dubai, I am ready."
You can watch all episodes of Power Book II: Ghost on StarzPlay. For more information visit arabia.starzplay.com
The%20specs
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KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
SPEC%20SHEET
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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
Cricket World Cup League Two
Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Teaching in coronavirus times
Results
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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HAJJAN
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ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE
First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%C2%A0profile
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The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5