PROVIDENCE –– Method Man and Redman, two of the most prolific artists from the Wu-Tang Clan hip-hop collective, came to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel Friday night on the heels of last spring’s “Blackout! 2,” the sequel to their first duo collaboration, “Blackout!,” from 1999. And if 10 years was a long time to wait, they made it seem like the time flew by in their set opening for Snoop Doog (who was in fine form early in his set when I had to leave).

Starting with three songs from the new disc –– “Errbody Scream,” “City Lights” and “A-Yo” –– the Meth-&-Red chemistry was intact, with Method Man providing a gruff bark of a voice, Redman a more nasal staccato, various producers a lean-and-mean sound with sinister organ and sinuous beats, and a very pot-friendly ethos.

After that, the duo turned to their back catalog, both with Wu-Tang and as partners, as well as their solo records –– reaching back to 1992 for “Time 4 Sum Aksion” and 1994 for “4:20.” The new and old material worked together side-by-side, although –– I can’t believe I’m saying this –– it could have been louder in the crowded club.

It was fairly straightforward, although the off-kilter beat of “Da Goodness” was a nice change of pace. And of course they paid tribute to their late Wu-mate Ol’ Dirty Bastard, getting the crowd going on the hook of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.”

Before launching into “Part II,” the two rappers mentioned the other sequel on everyone’s mind, claiming to be working on the movie “How High 2.” (Later, Redman explained that he didn’t understand why Universal was “sitting on this,” saying that the original film had come in under budget and claiming it brought in $25 million and adding that they might make their own movie if it comes to that.) They got the crowd into a chant of “Blackout 2” and “How High 2” before finishing up with “Da Rockwilder,” from the original “Blackout” disc.

After the set, Redman also recounted his experiences in Providence, one of the first towns he played frequently as a solo artist, and said that the 10-year wait for “Blackout! 2” was because he and Method Man “don’t need to drop an album; we live on the road,” adding that record sales don’t matter much in the Internet age anyway: “The game is going through changes.”

Still, he says he enjoys working with Method Man enough that “Blackout! 3” is already in the works, and that after finishing the sequel (!) to his “Muddy Waters” disc, he doesn’t plan on recording solo again: “We’ll be Cheech and Chongin’ it,” he said of himself and his partner.

“We got a job to do; we gotta hold the balance” between underground hip-hop and commercial fluff, he said. “It’s a big responsibility.”

rmassimo@projo.com