"Every album he [Method Man] comes out with, I'll be the first one to get it," Ballard said.

A few Harvard students were among the predominantly teenage crowd.

Katie M. Heikkinen '02 said she had not knownthat Method Man was coming to the Garage, butrushed to Newbury Comics after hearing he wasthere.

"I was so excited I ran through Annenbergyelling `Method Man is here," she said.

The singers left Newbury Comics at about 7:30p.m. As he stepped into the tour bus, Method Manwaved to the throng behind a police line onDunster Street, then threw his jacket into theirmidst.

The mob then followed the bus, which had apolice escort, as it left Cambridge down Mt.Auburn Street.

Tina Williamson, 17, waited in line for threehours. After receiving an autograph--and ahug--from Method Man, she could barely containherself.

"Since seventh grade, I've been in love withhim," said Williamson, who turns 18 next month."This is the best birthday present ever."

--Joshua H. Simon contributed to thereporting of this story.