I know there are some closet hip-hop fans here on Hubski. Anyone else had a chance to listen to the album yet? I'm still buying it, but I secured a copy today shortly after the leak.
Personally, I think it's awesome. Lots of sampling, some old rock ones. The track So Far samples Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good, which is one of my favorite songs. It's an interesting album, but overall I'm really digging it. It's different, but it's great. Curious what Hubski thinks, or if you haven't heard about the leak yet, well there you go.
Not condoning or endorsing copyright infringement with this post, just curious what peoples thoughts are that may have heard it one way or another.
I say this is definitely a top 3 album for him (w/ MMLP 1 and The Eminem Show). My only real disappointment is that "Survival" was included on the final album (so I adjusted that myself): It's not that I think "Survival" is a bad song (although I don't care for generic Liz Rodriguez hooks) - it just doesn't make any sense conceptually on MMLP2 - it sounds like a Recovery track. As for specific stand out tracks: - Bad Guy - Legacy - Brainless - Headlights But the whole album is great - no bad songs, IMO. I know his singles have gotten mixed reviews but I thought Berzerk, Rap God, and The Monster were all fantastic (especially Rap God - that is already a classic Em track). As for the concept - it was definitely justified in calling it MMLP2. Starting out with the Stan pt.2 track (which was executed perfectly), followed by the skit which is essentially a continuation of the "Criminal" skit from MMLP1. Then throughout he brings out Slim Shady-esque songs and elaborates on a lot of personal stuff that he has never opened up about before (i..e, his childhood and introduction to rap, his dad, etc.). From "Legacy": From "Rhyme or Reason": At the same time he shows his own personal growth and change from MMLP1, specifically regarding his feelings about his mom: From "Headlights": - ...and contextualizing his own development and rise to fame: From "The Monster": Even though he still struggles with what Slim Shady started: From "The Monster": Finally, he does pay homage to MMLP1 quite a bit - but he does it subtly so it isn't overkill. I think his quote from Rolling Stone really does hold up upon my first listens: The only sad thing about this album is that it is most likely his last - actually according to the last verse of Bad Guy it is definitely his last: In terms of where I place this within his albums all-time I'm a little hesitant, but as I said above, definitely top 3. At the moment I'm thinking: 1. The Eminem Show (2002) 2. MMLP1 (2000) 3. MMLP2 (2013) 4. Recovery (2010) 5. Slim Shady LP (1999) 6. Relapse (2009) 7. Infinite (1996) 8. Encore (2004) I know my list is going to be unconventional for most Eminem fans. Most Eminem fans I know but MMLP1 before The Eminem show and Slim Shady LP ahead of Recovery. Either way, he goes out on top. From "Evil Twin":
Try and put up a fight's nonsense, but i think /
What about those rhymes I've been jottin' /
Instead of tryina escape through my comics, why don't I place a little something like Onyx
So yeah dad let's walk /
Let's have us a father and son talk /
But i bet we probably wouldn't get one block without me knocking your block off /
This is all your fault /
Maybe that's why I'm always so bananas
You're kicking me out? It's 15 degrees and it's Christmas Eve /
(little prick just leave) ma, let me grab my fucking coat /
Anything to have each other's goats, why we always at each others throats? /
Especially when dad, he fucked us both, we're in the same fucking boat /
You'd think that it'd make us close (nope) /
Further away that drove us, but together headlights shine.
Once you pulled up in our drive one nights /
As we were leaving to get some hamburgers /
Me, her and Nate, we introduced you, hugged you /
And as you left I had this overwhelming sadness come over me /
As we pulled off to go our separate paths, and /
I saw your headlights as I looked back /
And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my Mom and my Dad.
I wanted the fame, but not the cover of Newsweek /
Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey.
Call me crazy, but I have this vision /
One day that I walk amongst you a regular civilian /
But until then drums get killed
So there's not gonna be, like, continuations of every old song on there or anything like that. To me, it's more about the vibe, and it's more about the nostalgia.
So one last time, I’m back /
Before it fades into black and it’s all over /
Behold the final chapter in the saga /
Trying to recapture that lightning trapped in a bottle /
Twice the magic that started it all /
Tragic portrait of an artist tortured /
Trapped in his own drawings /
Tap into thoughts /
Blacker and darker than anything imaginable /
Here goes a wild stab in the dark /
As we pick up the last Mathers’ last art
Fuck top 5, bitch, I'm top 4 /
And that includes Biggie and Pac, whore /
And I got an evil twin, so who do you think that 3rd and that 4th spot's for?
Awesome and thorough analysis. I agree with you, this album is definitely in my top 3. I can't really rank his albums, but TES, MMLP, and Encore were my top 3, not sure where I would put this one in yet. I'm not really good with ordering stuff, but can say they are all my favs. Also I can't believe you put Encore last! That's one of my favorite Em albums. The production quality is like none other. Like you said, I don't really hear any weak tracks on this album, sure some I like more than others, but definitely no filler tracks. Love how the singles he released weren't the strongest on the album, not by a long shot. Really set all the haters up to eat some crow when all these surprising and amazing tracks show up on the actual album. Intentional? Wouldn't surprise me. He set a lot of people up for disappointment and then shut everyone up. My favorite tracks off of MMLP2 so far though are... So Far: Love the Joe Walsh Sample, that track is easily my favorite right now. The lyrics remind me of "The Way That I Am", only spit in an entirely different way over a much more "up" beat, but the same sentiment is expressed on this track. Never thought I'd hear Em rapping over a former Eagle's members classic rock track, turned out so well. Bad Guy: Awesome track for all the reasons you stated. I love how he does the whole Stan thing again, except from Stan's little brothers point of view. I thought that was sick. Also, a great pick as the opening track, really sets the mood and lets you know he's back right up front. One of my favorite lines on the album "Here's a sequel to My Mathers LP just to try and get people to buy". He's self aware, and knows exactly what people think about him and takes it to heart, and throws it right back. Love it. Love Game: Awesome track, Kendrick kills it, Em kills it, and it's very Slim Shady esque type song. It's funny, its just a lot of clowning and fun. Rhyme or Reason: Another unorthodox sample that he simply just destroys over. Headlights: Great track, great feeling, lot of heart in that song. Simply awesome song. And yeah, I love Berzerk and Rap God, but we've heard those before today so not gonna go into details, but man that speed rapping and the beat change on Rap God... simply awesome. Shady's back, tell a friend.
I would rank Encore ahead of... maybe Relapse, if this was the tracklist: 1. Curtains Up 2. Evil Deeds 3. Never Enough f/ 50 Cent & Nate Dogg 4. Yellow Brick Road 5. Like Toy Soldiers 6. Mosh 7. Rain Man 8. Just Lose It 9. Ass Like That 10. Spend Some Time f/ Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo 11. Mockingbird 12. One Shot 2 Shot f/ D12 13. Encore I can't stand "Puke", "My 1st Single", "Big Weenie", "Crazy In Love" and to be honest, the verses on "Evil Deeds" "Rain Man", and "Ass Like That" are really lazy and embarrassing compared to his work on every other album. I think he would agree with me. From "Talkin 2 Myself": -- Well, I don't know. I mean "Berzerk" is your typical Eminem lead single, "Rap God" is a classic, and "The Monster" is pretty dope as well (I don't care who says its "too pop" - Em already addressed people who say that on "Rap God"): So, IMO, there are no weak songs (except "Survival" doesn't belong) and ... I guess I'm not crazy about "Asshole" (but that's because I don't like Skylar Grey or Alex da Kid). I agree with your analysis of "So Far", "Bad Guy", "Love Game", "Rhyme or Reason", and "Headlights". Shady is definitely back. He didn't disappoint me - and I hold him to a high standard.Also I can't believe you put Encore last!
It's different, them last two albums didn't count /
"Encore" I was on drugs, "Relapse" I was flushing 'em out
Love how the singles he released weren't the strongest on the album, not by a long shot. Really set all the haters up to eat some crow when all these surprising and amazing tracks show up on the actual album. Intentional? Wouldn't surprise me.
Oh, he's too mainstream /
Well, that's what they do when they get jealous, they confuse it /
It's not hip hop, it's pop, cause I found a hella way to fuse it /
With rock, shock rap with Doc /
Throw on Lose Yourself and make 'em lose it.
Oh yeah, it definitely dropped. /r/hiphopheads pretty much shit the bed when it leaked this morning. Little more poppy then some people want, but it still sounds great. I'm curious to see what you think of it because you seem to have some pretty good taste in the genre. Let me know!