In reference to the title, most people probably would not. So many people have complained about the direction Nasir has gone in these recent years that many just wish he went back to his Illmatic days. Many people were saying the same thing about Marshall. When Encore rolled around and even parts of The Eminem Show, many hip hop lovers were wondering when Eminem was going to be the real Slim Shady again. Enter Relapse… isn’t that what the F*ck he’s doing? Isn’t this the original Slim Shady, the one we all know and love for his grotesque, absurd, vivid storytelling about incest, rape, murder, and sex? The one with all the skill, the most satisfying and most deadly mechanics that an emcee could have? I mean, if this isn’t Eminem in his purest form, then I don’t know what is. But then why…why all the complaining and negative feedback on this album?
I didn’t review the album, but you guys will hear my further thoughts on it soon enough. With that said, I found it surreal how people could dislike this album and still manage to like the SSLP and MMLP as much as they do. Not only is this Eminem’s best produced album with the most consistent and best sounding beats, it probably encompasses just about every project he’s done to date and folded it in a neat little package known as Relapse.
What’s really confusing is the negative feedback on it because, apparently, it’s the same old Eminem. No shit. Is it? Really? Is the title Relapse not a hint into what might be expected from the album and Slim himself? Besides all of this, Slim acknowledges that it’s more or less back to square one, hence “Same Song and Dance,” or even his note on “My Mom.” He’s well aware of what he’s doing. Does this make it right or wrong? Probably not, but it goes to show that it just didn’t fall into his lap. In fact, this album has great structure right from the Dominic West intro to the Infinite-esque “Underground.” Wouldn’t it only make sense to end with a song that is most like Eminem in his earliest rapping stages? And really… is the voice THAT bad? On “3.AM” doesn’t it serve a purpose of increasing the psycho of this character who finds killing so comedic? Isn’t he just getting over a serious drug addiction only to relapse into his other addiction (like the main man Fred mentioned in our review)? Doesn’t the voice only contribute to the crazy that Slim possibly has recruited to? Even so, if the voice really is that nagging for someone to listen to, then let’s pretend we’ve never heard of Big L because obviously his voice wasn’t exactly the most attractive, or how about M.O.P, I mean… how good could someone be if they are just “yelling” all over the tracks? Sarcasm, what a great tool.
Frankly, I think the album is great on all accounts. Even songs like “Crack a Bottle” and “We Made You,” songs that didn’t sound great on their own, sound great in the backdrop of the Relapse formation. And even if people hate on this album for being too much like MMLP or any of his others, isn’t it fair to say that this album could stand alone by itself? Wouldn’t you give this album to anyone who hasn’t listened to Eminem before so that they could accurately gauge him? When listening to Relapse, perhaps take one listen where you forget anything else Eminem has any other product out. It could bring the whole LP into a different light.
For the unforgiving, perhaps Relapse 2 will give a better frame of a “different” Eminem, and hopefully that DJ Premier track that I’ve pretty much been praying for will show up on it. Still, if Relapse 2 proves to not do the job for all the Post-Eminem Show Slim Shady critics, what would you ideally like him to do? Make an album full of “Sing for the Moment” and “Déjà vu”? Eh, and I thought I was a hard critic. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who enjoys this album.
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Dope shit…. nice to have you back on your Steez, Deez.
I’d like to hear what people have to say on this. If I remember right in the new music poll earlier this week, Relapse was number one with 50% of the votes (not sure what it is now). But yeah, I hear a lot of flack.
I’ll admit, I’m one that thinks the “voice” is a little too much in a few tracks, but I’ve come to accept it. I think this is a solid comeback album.
i completely agree, i havent been able to listen to this album as many times as I want to but so far I am really feeling it. I wont go into too much detail but “Underground” was one of the craziest things I have heard, the way he switches rhyme schemes mid verse was way over my head the first time I heard it. But it gets better with each listen, no doubt.
I also think the voice is a bit too much and Deez you brought up a great point about if you had never heard Eminem before you wouldn’t be so critical of the album. I myself have been hard on the album due to it’s Eminem (yeah I admit it) but the only reason I am is because he was voted the best rapper on the planet and Dr. Dre is one of the greatest producers of all time. So I just think they could come up with something 10x better than Relapse. The potential these 2 men have together is incredible and I just wish the album was more like the last song “underground”. That’s just me tho, if you pretend it’s not Eminem it’s a fantastic album but I’m sure you could say the same thing about Kingdom Come or the BP2, shit happens …either way its good to have Eminem back and the critics will be re reviewing this one… including myself. Great post!
ayo fuck what you heard, dre’s production on this project mixed with em’s lyricism & rhyme scheme is on a leval to the point that he proves that he is still the most talented & gifted mc to touch the mic…& with dre adapting to em’s style for this it opend up a whole new lane for em to write some of his most personal & controversal material…espically once i heard Stay Wide Awake listen to the way he flows on that beat….INCREDIBLE…Unforgetable
4.5 out of 5
Man, Im sick of all the negative drama going on with this album…..the dude gave evreybody what they want…..yet…all these people do is complain?? And the voice? MAn……At least hes doing him….hes always used these voices…Even back in the underground days when he was back with soul and them fellas……Eminem and the D rock this shit……..I mean, im sure this comment will raise some comments…..but Tupac…..Alot of his flow was lifted from Rakim…..as far as hennesy and shit……and in evrey pac song after Me against the world. you knew you were going to here “WWWEEESSSTTTTTSIIIDDDDEEEE”. Im from the D and i still loved hearing Pac yell that shit. Em’s Ma Nigga and always Will be……TRUE HEADS KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS!
THE D IS IN THE MOTHER FUCKIN HOUSE.
For me I think its em singing those hooks all over the album… the voice is what makes him unique, and the subject matter is what keeps him staying real, he has the balls to go sing and write about shit that nobody else would dream of talking about on a record… I wasn’t blown away by this unfortunately, its growing on me the more I listen to it, but those hooks he sings do kill certain tracks for me…
the most overrated rapper brings out another crappy album. probably has child support to pay
I thoroughly enjoyed the album. Production was solid. I think this is always going to happen with these highly-anticipated albums. Whenever Detox drops, it’ll be the same scenario:
1- This sounds just like the old Dre. All these years and Dre is still on the same shit??
2- This isn’t Dre. This ain’t old Dre. What is this shit??
I think a lot of fans don’t want artists to grow, but at the same time expect change. That allows for a very small window of options that an artist has.
Great write up, this had to be said.
well Dezyy, one could make the argument that Dre was hardly a PRODUCER in the last few years. For once, I believed every single one of these beats was his. Joints like “Medicine Ball” and “My Mom” have that thump to them that a lot of recent Dre produced joints didn’t have.
I mean, Eminem is almost 40 now, he could rap about other things, but would that make people happy? probably not
L1A….really?
Here’s what I think: the album’s certainly not any worse than what he’s done before and even if you’re not an Em fan, you have to admit that the guy’s mad talented. On the whole I was also pleasantly surprised by the album, although I think it starts out brilliantly but then kind of slopes down towards the end due to the odd filler here and there.
The only real criticism I have to make is that although he’s done what he was supposed to, namely being that old Em his fans love, he could have made some effort to come with something new. (It seemed to me that when making fun of people or celebrities, he picked the same old targets over and over again. Why even mention Christopher Reeves – who cares? If you look at his video, it verifies this point – why all the Elvis mockery? It’s kinda like he lost some of his bite cos he could easily have found a whole new range of people to take the piss at, like Rihanna and Chris Brown, for example, or some corny rappers that’s out there now. In general I feel like he’s always taken it out on people that’s “weaker” in the sense that he knew they would never try to get back at him, or does anyone imagine someone like Britney or Moby “musically getting back” at anyone? I’m 30 years old, but the guilty kid in me was looking forward to hear about some people being taken apart, but I was disappointed.
What it boild down to is this: people would love somebody like Nas to channel Illmatic, but you wouldn’t want him to spit the same ideas as on Illmatic, it wouldn’t be possible anyway. I think “Relapse” is solid, if only for the lyrical wizardry of the man, but could have had even more impact if the guy had fired at other targets. Oh yeah – I was wondering about that bizarre British kind of accent he puts on too – I’m wondering if it’s not meant to be in reference to the main character in “Clockwork Orange”..
quit complaining…this exactly what everyone wanted
- sick lyrics
- minimal features
- theres basically only 1 producer just like the good ol days
- it stands out from all the stuff that’s out right now
muthfuckas just complain for the fuck of it…or maybe they just want to see em fail
i bought it….and i’m a happy customer
Best album this year. Without question.
I think the album is good. I think he has captured the “essences” of those first two LP’s and updated the formula. Nothing wrong with that. I wasn’t really blown away by Dre’s production (to scream these are his best tracks ever), but the tracks have that good Dre feel (with tons of layers to them) and fit perfect with what Em is trying to get across in his lyrics.
This is gonna be an album that people either like or don’t like. I’ve seen many reviews on the net and they are mixed. There isn’t a consensus on this album. Lots of people love, love the accent, love the beats, love that he took it back to his early days, etc. The people who hate it don’t want to hear about his mother anymore, messing with pop stars is old, and say there isn’t any growth. I think its a choice….not everyone is gonna get it. Not gonna be album to push this album or any album for that matter onto to people.
I think time will tell if this is up to par with SSLP or even MMLP. Those are the only ones I really know….I kinda skimmed through the releases after those.
Album of the year…..eh……Jay hasn’t dropped yet!
As far as growth…I would like an artist to show some growth in their music….but as long as the formula they’ve used is updated and it sounds fresh…I’m ok with that.
I do not want Nas to recreate Illmatic….can’t recreate something that took a whole lifetime to make.
he actually hardly talks about his mom, even the song “my mom” isn’t exactly about his mom, but more so of how he became so fucked up in the first place.
“My Mom” isn’t about his mother giving him drugs and f’ing his life up? I must be missing something!?
I really need to proof my comments!
Aside from the fact that his mom GAVE him all that stuff, the song is more or less about his response and reaction to it. Its more about how he got addicted to drugs, his mom just so happens to be there.. Might as well be his friend, or his sister or whatever. She’s not the center of attention here like other songs
To ME its about his mother….his sister, girlfriend didn’t give him the drugs. Debbie is the center of attention…who else gave him the drugs?
but is the song about his mother or about his coming to a drug addiction?
Everything revolves around his mother giving him the drugs…thus the addiction. The addiction wouldn’t be present if it wasn’t for the common denominator……
Good article I am not a huge Eminem fan but his talent is undeniable.This is what I call the C anibus argument.His first LP everyone thought he was gonna drop an album of battle raps and flex rhymes and when he didnt everyone complained and trashed the album.Then he comes out again and drops an album of battle raps and flex rhymes and people complained about that.People can never be satisfied it is just human nature
Good review, I share your opinion on some things, but not in others. I do not need an album packed full of Eminem sex, violence and their typical jokes but a good album with songs in all respects. This is one of the worst records, not necessarily bad but better than Encore. His voice seems to be the whore of an Indian who tries to sound funny. So you can not take seriously any of their songs. Only in Underground and some other song is concentrated enough to show it is serious. And say that the production is the best of his career. Are you blind? Dr. Dre is still fresh but it is too repetitive. Always use these violins, the piano. You’ve heard Bagpipes From Baghdad? is an authentic production of shit that makes Eminem look like even more of a fucking Indian. From the first moment that i heard We Made You (chorus disastrous) knew that something was wrong. I hope when you get something Relapse 2. I am a big fan of Eminem and as I said I do not need to Em from their first two albums, but the work of 5 years was noticed. And if you want good production, listening to ‘Fishscale’ by Ghostface Killah
Deez you always half to defend yourself, why do you still write these pieces i feel bad for you dawg lol I agree with you on this one tho.
“And if you want good production, listening to ‘Fishscale’ by Ghostface Killah”
Quoted for truth. That album was murder front to back.
I have listened to a majority of Relapse, and I enjoy what I have heard so far. I think the voice is part of his “insane” character he introduces in “3am” and carries throughout the album. I think there is a balance between bringing what fans want and stretching boundaries to be original, and I think Em does a good job with both. As stated earlier, everybody can’t be pleased. No matter what Em came out with, someone would find reason to complain about it. If it was too SS, no growth. If it was too out there, no pure Em.
I think it’s one of those albums where the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. I think it will become a cult classic over time, but only time will tell.
-Young K
Don’t get it twisted….Deez is my fam…got love [II] for him. He doesn’t have to defend himself again me or anyone else. However, I have my OWN opinions, thoughts, and feelings about music. Specifically, if I feel a certain way about something regardless if you fam or not my mind isn’t changing. I don’t have to agree with what someone says wholeheartedly.
I think you (or anyone else) need to go back to my comment at #13 and read what I wrote in response to the article. Nothing bashing the article at all. Comments #15, #17, and #19 are just sidebar.
Name me one other hip-hop artist that can cover this much ground on one album with the lyrical furor Em does it with. Hands down album of the year.
@ thomas
my mom wasnt specifically about his mom, it was about the idea of her. He did a track by track breakdown on shade 45 (the interview was posted over at 2dbz), he says it himself, he was always mad at her for how she was, but recently with all of his drug use and blacking out in front of his daughter, he realized that hes become his mom, thus the hook.
so it’s not her fuckin him up, its him becoming her.
AD,
Firstly, lol at me being BLIND when in your reference you should be asking if I’m deaf. I got the point though.
Which Em album would be the best production he’s received Considering that this is the first one Dre has fully taken control of over the Bass Brothers, I think it’s safe to say this one is in the best production hand any Slim album has been in
Hilarious. Where was all this Eminem love on my review’s comments? That post houses the haters apparently
Job well done once again Deezill.
lol.
Fred, the love is pretty crazy here, considering that it was no where to be found in areas I’ve talked about the album
I feel ya sean deez! I like this album, hence it’s in my last.fm top already. First time I heard 3 a.m. was seein the video. I didn’t like it that time, but it’s now actaully my favorite track. It had to grow on me a little biit. But indeed, from start to finish, a great structure!!!
Relapse is Wack. It’s like one long drawn out song. Again, what happened to the Hip Hop in Eminem? whats this horro-core rap?
deez is right again. i aired similar views over at mu place a few days ago. I personally cannot understand the negativity toards it. i’m still holding the belief that whenever Em is involved, people just want to rag on him. there is something about him they just don’t like. I really do hope that it is not the fact that many folks of my origin (black) just can’t get past the fact that a white boy can spit like this. the album is superb (bar 2 or 3 beats). come on now people get past it.
hahaha trapperjohn is funny…..oh….wait …you’re serious….aaaahh well
I honestly and openly appreciate the work you put into speaking upon this album. I have not heard it yet but willbe getting it within a few moments. I am a Eminem fan but im also a Hip Hop fan first. I would much rather listen to something new from marshall then for him to put out something that’s predictable. I believe he only put this album out to throw people off and then drop anolther album that’ll make people think twice about the first Relapse. Even if he doesn’t, and even if you don’t/didn’t like this album (which I have NOT heard yet), you gotta RESPECT that man/artist for his work. (PERIOD).
I said you blind because you do not see the reality, is an expression. I definitely do not like and i will not like the album, is nothing but superstition so, I can not find the essence of Em if I find that in your other disk. It is as if the new Mos Def album, promises to be great, that although the 3 songs we have all heard of his style are different, is the essence of Mos Def and his last album was in 2004 (I believe it is right True Magic was not as a disk).
“why all the negative feedback…”
Because the shit isn’t good. People have moved on. It was cool to say “Hey I want the “old” Slim Shady back” But then when you get the “old”Shady you realize that your only getting an impersonator. He’s not slim shady anymore! He’s a rich old white man who wears doo-rags and sweat pants. Yes he can spit. But there’s so much more to making a great album.Your influences, the timing ,and times. I think maybe this is a better CD in a different era (past or present whose to say?). But, it might get better with time. Illmatic wasn’t a celebrated album when it was released. It took years for it to reach platinum status and more importantly “classic” status. Let’s just wait and see if anybody even cares about Relapse 5 years from now…fuck that…1 year from now! I doubt it but hey…you never know.
Now maybe “stans” will stop putting this guy on the “lyrical plataeu” like they do. If he wasn’t white nobody would put this guy in their top 10 emcees list…REAL TALK!!!
im hardly a “Stan” and Eminem, is an emcee I feel is rarely.. rarely.. outdone.
there are going to be exceptions so i guess i feel you on that one deez
but i forgot to mention the beats…ZZZZzzzZZZzzZZ
man, when is Dre going to get a new drum pattern “Boom, Kak, Boom, Kak, Boom, Kak”
and a different synth sound.
Best Dre beats my ass! Lazy Dre beats is more like it!
OBSERVER, I agree, beats very so so from the likes of Dre. Listen To Blaq Poet and Premier and you see how a producer produces. Honestly, it’s very dissapointing. His voice, the tracks, not impressive
Insane is too much. has eminem become Necro! maybe they should get together and do an album.
While overall, I am LOVING the album, I do feel it was held down by a handful of songs that lacked any real direction/purpose: a couple of these are “Bagpipes From Baghdad” and “Underground.”
Don’t get me wrong, I still bump the shit out those tracks, but just wish he actually was writing with a purpose, which is what made Em the best rapper back in the MMLP/Eminem Show era. I understand that he’s bringing Slim Shady back, but even the SSLP still had direction/purpose to the songs rather than just rhyming for the sake of rhyming. (”Hand Hannibal Lecter a nectarine sat him in the fruit and vegetable section and gave him a lecture” — what exactly is the point of 3/4 of the lines in “Underground” other than forced shock value and aimless rhyming?)
The 2 bonus tracks “My Darling” and “Be Careful What You Wish For” coulda replaced 2 weaker cuts on the album and made this thing damned near classic. I just hope Relapse 2 isn’t just a continuation of this album, but rather a PROGRESSION where we see better songwriting from Em. That, coupled with his unparalleled rhyming mechanics, is what made him the best rapper alive earlier this decade!
This album is dope. Those that have a problem with the voice seem to forget how many other artists rap in different accents with impunity (Busta Rhymes, Jay-z, Andre 3000, etc.) I think a lot of people are like that Blogger Girl from SNL Weekend Update “Bitch Pleeeze” (google it). People unhappy with their lives just hating on shit with wreckless abandon to make themselves feel better.
I’ll admit I hated “Crack a Bottle” and “We Made You”, but Sean is right…in the context of the album as a whole these songs actually end up coming around. Thanks for this commentary…its a valid point.
its not that he’s bad on the album it just feels outdated, lyrically and production wise. this isn’t 2001 anymore.
we get it. you hate your mom and christopher reeves, get over it marshall. has nothing changed in his life since 01? its pretty sad if its been 8 years and he’s still talking shit about mariah what not.
the thing about nas is that lyrically he hasn’t gotten worse, its just his beat selections and songs that he picks for albums have gotten worse. at least nas has moved on from illmatic. we wanted a dope eminem, not an eminem who’s stuck in the past.
Dude I really like this album and I understand where the critics and Sean Deez are coming from. Em’s skills remain the same. His flow is great and his technique has gotten better. The song subjects aren’t that great but it is entertaining. Of course it does feel like Eminem is stuck in the past just a bit but songs like Deja Vu and Beautiful are great and hey it still is a great sounding album.