I know there's a hip hop section, it's f**king dead. Just thought I'd post here. Forgive me if it annoys someone or several, my apologies.
The funny thing is that this is probably Eminem's biggest risk he's taken in his whole career, naming his album the sequel to probably his greatest album, but I'll be damned if he didn't deliver something pretty good. Sure, the flow on certain songs at times isn't his absolute best, but everything works so well.....most of the time. It's Eminem's funniest album in a long time, and actually has moments that shocked or surprised in a good way. Now, let's go song by song. SPOILERS INCOMING!!!!!!
Em starts off the album with Bad Guy, which at first listen sounds like Em is stalking a woman to kill her, and Sarah Jaffe delivers a great hook, and you can Em intends to take it back to the older Em vibe. But......third verse drops a bomb, FIRST shocking moment, the song is actually a sequel to Ems classic Stan. Executed perfectly, and 2nd part of song delivers some of the fiercest Em rhymes in years. Next is the Parking Lot skit, which is actually a sequel to the skit in Criminal. Long time Em will fans appreciate this (he basically references the Criminal line "this puppies lucky I didn't blast his ass yet"). Next up is Rhyme or Reason, which samples Time of the Season, and you can clearly hear the Rubin influence on this song. It works well, Em delivers a nice twist on his relationship, or lack there of, with his father.
Next up is So Much Better, a classic Shady F**K WOMEN song. Em delivers nice bars over one of the better produced songs, but the oink doink lines at the end and the bridge bring the song down a little. Still dope, especially with the "I'm just playing *****, you know I love you" to end the song (see Kill You and White America at the end of their songs). Next is Survival, which we've all heard. Song is the first weak off the album, could have done without, Em has some nice bars on the 2nd and 3rd verses though. Next is another standout, Legacy. Polina delivers a great hook, and Em delivers some of the better introspective bars on the album. The rain in the background and simplistic beat really let Ems vocals standout. Great song.
Next up is A$$hole. The beat is meh, the hook is pretty weak as far as the album goes, but Em delivers them bars in this one. Several disses thrown in, see ICP and Asher Roth, and also a Aurora theater shooting reference, which definitely took me back to the first MMLP. After that it's the old school Berzerk, which I could take or leave. It serves it's purpose as the funny lead single though, and the beat unmistakably Rick Rubin. Rap God is next, which all have heard. Production is meh with the siren driven beat, but Em delivers some of the fastest and best wordplay on the whole album. Not to mention the 97 words in 15 seconds part at 4:26. Can't believe Em is just now beginning to feel like a Rap God. Next is Brainless, another standout. I can't help but feel like THIS is the beat I wish Em would always go on. Raw hip hop track, one of the better records for the hip hop heads.
Next up is Stronger Than I Was. Will definitely take a few listens to get into it. Think Hailie's Song, but this Em actually thinks he can sing. Not the worst, not the best track. Next up is The Monster, which is hot garbage IMO. Really wish this wouldn't have made the album, I guess Interscope wanted that Love the Way You Lie smash single on here, oh well. Next up is So Far... which samples Joe Walsh.....yes you read that right. Classic Shady humor on this one though, one of the funniest tracks. After is the Kendrick Lamar assisted Love Game, which is NOT what you'd expect. Go in with an open mind, and trust me you'll enjoy. Another Rubin throw back production on this, Kendrick kills the 2nd verse, and just when you think he outshined Em with Ems wea first verse, Em comes and kills the last verse. Great story telling and humor on this song.
Final two go out big. Next up is the most surprising moment of the album IMO......Em actually apologizes to his mother. I never thought Em would go there, but he did. The most emotionally driven song he's done in years, which does say something. Definitely a stand out. The song is perfect lyrically but it's not going for that at all. Fun Singer Nate Reuss works well on this surprisingly. And the final song, Evil Twin, is that classic Slim Shady everyone knows and loves. He has the vicious bars, and the humor. Love the line about walking into court naked with a tie, and the judge telling him he's a ***y mother f**ker, funny stuff.
As far as the bonus cuts, they are dope, as usual with Em bonus tracks. Baby, Groundhog Day 100% should have made the album. Groundhog Day is one for the hip hop heads for sure. Desperation, Beautiful Pain, and Wicked Ways are all solid tracks too.
A very very good album overall. Only a few missteps on the whole thing IMO. Something that can really be appreciated is that no Eminem album EVER.......EVER sounds the same. And moments like So Far..., Love Game, Rhyme or Reason can really only be a testament to his ability to make different sounds and songs. That can't be said about the two other relevant and current greats like Jay and Nas. They wouldn't touch something like So Far... or Love Game, because they couldn't make that work. It's refreshing to see Eminem and Kendrick didn't make the record the world expected them too, they made something truly original in hip hop. Something else he captured that the first MMLP did was the shocking moments. On MMLP, it was Stan, Kim, and many many other shocking moments. But he does capture that surprise and shock when you turn on Bad Guy and Headlights as well.
Now is this album a classic.....No. I don't think it is or ever will be, but does it add something to Ems legacy??? Yes, without question. It's hands down his best album since Eminem Show, and though I like Relapse and Recovery, and I like Encore too despite some of the horrendous stuff there it still had its moments. Em really captured that raw feeling of MMLP on here. It doesn't sound like a carbon copy or even a repeat, it sounds like something built upon that feeling and the emotion of the first. This is Eminem's Stillmatic. Something that isn't a classic, but it doesn't have to be. It's a worthy follow up to the original, and builds upon it's legacy. Even though it's not as good as MMLP/TES/SSLP, I don't expect anything to ever match those. Those albums will always have a special place, but if this is the Eminem we're getting in 2013, than I'm happy as f**k about that.
Bad Guy: 9.5/10
Rhyme or Reason: 8/10
So Much Better: 8/10
Survival: 5/10
Legacy: 10/10
A$$hole: 7/10
Berzerk: 5.5/10
Rap God: 8.5/10
Brainless: 10/10
Stronger Than I Was: 7/10
So Far...: 8.5/10
Love Game: 8/10
Headlights: 10/10
Evil Twin: 9.5/10
Baby: 9/10
Desperation: 8/10
Groundhog Day: 9.5/10
Beautiful Pain: 8/10
Wicked Ways: 7.5/10
Album score: 8/10 Very good album
The funny thing is that this is probably Eminem's biggest risk he's taken in his whole career, naming his album the sequel to probably his greatest album, but I'll be damned if he didn't deliver something pretty good. Sure, the flow on certain songs at times isn't his absolute best, but everything works so well.....most of the time. It's Eminem's funniest album in a long time, and actually has moments that shocked or surprised in a good way. Now, let's go song by song. SPOILERS INCOMING!!!!!!
Em starts off the album with Bad Guy, which at first listen sounds like Em is stalking a woman to kill her, and Sarah Jaffe delivers a great hook, and you can Em intends to take it back to the older Em vibe. But......third verse drops a bomb, FIRST shocking moment, the song is actually a sequel to Ems classic Stan. Executed perfectly, and 2nd part of song delivers some of the fiercest Em rhymes in years. Next is the Parking Lot skit, which is actually a sequel to the skit in Criminal. Long time Em will fans appreciate this (he basically references the Criminal line "this puppies lucky I didn't blast his ass yet"). Next up is Rhyme or Reason, which samples Time of the Season, and you can clearly hear the Rubin influence on this song. It works well, Em delivers a nice twist on his relationship, or lack there of, with his father.
Next up is So Much Better, a classic Shady F**K WOMEN song. Em delivers nice bars over one of the better produced songs, but the oink doink lines at the end and the bridge bring the song down a little. Still dope, especially with the "I'm just playing *****, you know I love you" to end the song (see Kill You and White America at the end of their songs). Next is Survival, which we've all heard. Song is the first weak off the album, could have done without, Em has some nice bars on the 2nd and 3rd verses though. Next is another standout, Legacy. Polina delivers a great hook, and Em delivers some of the better introspective bars on the album. The rain in the background and simplistic beat really let Ems vocals standout. Great song.
Next up is A$$hole. The beat is meh, the hook is pretty weak as far as the album goes, but Em delivers them bars in this one. Several disses thrown in, see ICP and Asher Roth, and also a Aurora theater shooting reference, which definitely took me back to the first MMLP. After that it's the old school Berzerk, which I could take or leave. It serves it's purpose as the funny lead single though, and the beat unmistakably Rick Rubin. Rap God is next, which all have heard. Production is meh with the siren driven beat, but Em delivers some of the fastest and best wordplay on the whole album. Not to mention the 97 words in 15 seconds part at 4:26. Can't believe Em is just now beginning to feel like a Rap God. Next is Brainless, another standout. I can't help but feel like THIS is the beat I wish Em would always go on. Raw hip hop track, one of the better records for the hip hop heads.
Next up is Stronger Than I Was. Will definitely take a few listens to get into it. Think Hailie's Song, but this Em actually thinks he can sing. Not the worst, not the best track. Next up is The Monster, which is hot garbage IMO. Really wish this wouldn't have made the album, I guess Interscope wanted that Love the Way You Lie smash single on here, oh well. Next up is So Far... which samples Joe Walsh.....yes you read that right. Classic Shady humor on this one though, one of the funniest tracks. After is the Kendrick Lamar assisted Love Game, which is NOT what you'd expect. Go in with an open mind, and trust me you'll enjoy. Another Rubin throw back production on this, Kendrick kills the 2nd verse, and just when you think he outshined Em with Ems wea first verse, Em comes and kills the last verse. Great story telling and humor on this song.
Final two go out big. Next up is the most surprising moment of the album IMO......Em actually apologizes to his mother. I never thought Em would go there, but he did. The most emotionally driven song he's done in years, which does say something. Definitely a stand out. The song is perfect lyrically but it's not going for that at all. Fun Singer Nate Reuss works well on this surprisingly. And the final song, Evil Twin, is that classic Slim Shady everyone knows and loves. He has the vicious bars, and the humor. Love the line about walking into court naked with a tie, and the judge telling him he's a ***y mother f**ker, funny stuff.
As far as the bonus cuts, they are dope, as usual with Em bonus tracks. Baby, Groundhog Day 100% should have made the album. Groundhog Day is one for the hip hop heads for sure. Desperation, Beautiful Pain, and Wicked Ways are all solid tracks too.
A very very good album overall. Only a few missteps on the whole thing IMO. Something that can really be appreciated is that no Eminem album EVER.......EVER sounds the same. And moments like So Far..., Love Game, Rhyme or Reason can really only be a testament to his ability to make different sounds and songs. That can't be said about the two other relevant and current greats like Jay and Nas. They wouldn't touch something like So Far... or Love Game, because they couldn't make that work. It's refreshing to see Eminem and Kendrick didn't make the record the world expected them too, they made something truly original in hip hop. Something else he captured that the first MMLP did was the shocking moments. On MMLP, it was Stan, Kim, and many many other shocking moments. But he does capture that surprise and shock when you turn on Bad Guy and Headlights as well.
Now is this album a classic.....No. I don't think it is or ever will be, but does it add something to Ems legacy??? Yes, without question. It's hands down his best album since Eminem Show, and though I like Relapse and Recovery, and I like Encore too despite some of the horrendous stuff there it still had its moments. Em really captured that raw feeling of MMLP on here. It doesn't sound like a carbon copy or even a repeat, it sounds like something built upon that feeling and the emotion of the first. This is Eminem's Stillmatic. Something that isn't a classic, but it doesn't have to be. It's a worthy follow up to the original, and builds upon it's legacy. Even though it's not as good as MMLP/TES/SSLP, I don't expect anything to ever match those. Those albums will always have a special place, but if this is the Eminem we're getting in 2013, than I'm happy as f**k about that.
Bad Guy: 9.5/10
Rhyme or Reason: 8/10
So Much Better: 8/10
Survival: 5/10
Legacy: 10/10
A$$hole: 7/10
Berzerk: 5.5/10
Rap God: 8.5/10
Brainless: 10/10
Stronger Than I Was: 7/10
So Far...: 8.5/10
Love Game: 8/10
Headlights: 10/10
Evil Twin: 9.5/10
Baby: 9/10
Desperation: 8/10
Groundhog Day: 9.5/10
Beautiful Pain: 8/10
Wicked Ways: 7.5/10
Album score: 8/10 Very good album
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