After the large-scale success of 2010’s “Recovery,” acclaimed rapper Eminem has returned to his roots with the Nov. 5 release of “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” a followup to his massively successful second studio album “Name Here,” which has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and was named the 7th best album of the 2000s by Rolling Stone magazine. Slim Shady is back to his old self,with his hair blonde again and with lyrical vengeance in his new album.
The album kicks off with “Bad Guy,” a song about Mathers’ problems and negative reputation. Like much of his new material, it contains immaculate wordplay and thoughtful lyrics. It’s a sequel to the smash-hit single “Stan” from the “Marshall Mathers LP.” This time, Stan’s tortured brother Matthew blames Eminem for his brother’s death and threatens revenge. This is easily one of the best songs off the album.
The fourth song on the album, “So Much Better” is the most reminiscent of Eminem’s older material, with a hate-fueled message that throws insults at his ex-wife, Kim, as well as women in general. Eminem has never been shy about expressing his emotions, and this track is no exception.
“Legacy,” the album’s sixth song, is a more emotional song that speaks to how Mathers was bullied as a child, but overcame the abuse and achieved success in rap. The song makes it clear that this is an album that Eminem made for himself and no one else, saying “The best part about me is I am not you I’m me/I’m the fire Marshall and this is my legacy.” It’s one of the best songs of the album.
“Berzerk,” released as the album’s first single Aug. 27, is a return to old school hip hop which samples two Beastie Boys songs. Its witty lyrics and infectious rhythm make this a solid addition to the album.
The 9th song on the album and its third single, “Rap God,” is a Busta Rhymes-esque barrage of words that hits listeners at rapid speed. This is six minutes of high-octane rap in which Em proclaims himself a god of rap, and backs it up with his fiery lyrics. However, it’s not the best song off the album,
Marshall is pushing himself to his limit so it’s worth a listen.
The next song, “Brainless,” is about how Eminem’s lack of education but inherent intelligence led to his success. Again, he touches on the theme of bullying and how it drove him to be better. Overall,
“Brainless” is a clever throwback to classic Eminem.
“Headlights,” the second slow song on the album, features Nate Reuss, the lead singer of “fun” and is an apology from Mathers to his mother, Debbie, for disrespecting her so much on his previous albums. After hearing the abuse Eminem dishes towards his mother in his previous music, this is a very touching and heartfelt song.
“Evil Twin,” the last song on the regular version of the album, goes back to the Eminem/Slim Shady dynamic with Em calling on his alter ego in certain parts of the song. It has a wicked beat and catchy hook and it’s easily my favorite song on the album.
Overall, “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” is a great new album, going back to old-school rap and early Eminem. It may not be an album for everyday listeners, but longtime Eminem fans will enjoy the new music, where Eminem reaches his peak in terms of wordplay and lyricism. It is a great album that’s well worth the wait—9/10.
