Artist/Album Review: Eminem – Relapse

Eminem – Relapse

Name: Eminem (more info)
Album: Relapse (more info)
Style: Hip Hop

After being gone for like 5 years and not releasing much but a song here and there or a mixtape, everyone wondered where Eminem has been. Well he came back with a new album that describes the full reason why he has been gone! He has been addicted to lord knows what (arent we all) and had to take time away because of these issues. He even talks about loosing his faith in creating music and inspiration leaving him. But finally after a long wait, here comes the new album.

I want to start by saying that I truley love Eminem and his talent. He put out so many great songs with so many great stories behind them. He has also created alot of good music that is just funny and entertaining all around. I wont say that this album isn’t but I have to say that its a huge let down after being so long since the last album release. He does alot of talking about his prior drug addictions and issues he has had in the past that caused him to be gone for a while. There are a few songs that I would listen to over and over but after hearing this album none stop for a week, I am almost ready to put another one in or honestly go back to listening to Asher Roth. Dont get me wrong, he has alot of clever things to say but its just not the same vibe 100%. Plus I sware his look shows that yes he sure did have a drug problem or just decided to get plastic surgery. Im not gonna call that but I will say though I give it so little stars, its only because its long term value isn’t there. The album keeps me singing alot of the hooks and makes me want to memorize alot of his verses but I can already tell im not gonna spend that much more time with it so it just didn’t make it up there. I almost gave it 3 stars, dont hate me please!

Stars: 2/5

3 AM Music Video:

We Made You Music Video:

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( out of 5 stars )

1. Dr. West  (skit)

This is the obvious beginning of what is to come in the album. Eminem finally sees the doctor that lets him out of the hospital to only have a huge twist at the end, though he is now clean from the years facing his previous addictions which is talked about on the album, he just gets closer to the darkside! Excellent acting and quality in this skit!

2. 3am

The skit proceeds directly into a song that at first, I hated. I really dont like the arabian styled delivery that he has been using lately to bring his words together but after listening to this track a few more times I started to enjoy it more. The song is all about addiction taking over you at all times and late at night struggling to figure out yourself.

3. My Mom

This is a basic song on you are who you parents are. Now there are tons of cases where people overcome and become totally different from the guardians that raised them. But overall you find yourself becoming just the same type of person. And Eminem is no except, in this song he realizes the way he is, is because he is just like his mom and the way he was raised. Now in no way can I say I know this for a fact. A song is a song and not always about yourself or even about anything. Eminem does seem to throw alot of that into his music but something about this songs emotion makes me feel that he realizes that he has at one point, became just like his mother.

4. Insane

This song scares me a bit and talks alot about being raped by your father as a child and the mother accepting it. As the title says, anyone that has had a totally screwed up childhood might relate to this song but me, not exactly. Alot of images in my head now that I want out! Moving on…

5. Bagpipes from Baghdad

The beat of this song just gotta put you on your feet. This is probably my favorite beat on the album. And the song is just pretty much yapping your mouth like a bagpipe. Talking about Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon alot in the song. The chorus has a great little effect that he uses on his voice to really bring alot to the song. But if your someone that Eminem isn’t feeling right now, your liable to be talked about on this song. He really seems to be vulgar again. I kinda like it! Keep it up Em.

6. Hello

The intro to who you are is on everyones first album. But its been so long that Eminem had to do it again. But he sure doesn’t hide anything telling about his addiction and how it effects him. The scene feels like he is roaming to find his high and continue to party from location to location and just letting you know, this is how my life has been since you last seen me.

7. Tonya  (skit)

You cant have an Eminem album with an abduction. This skit is the start of the next song letting you know, that seeing Eminem, is the last thing your going to do tonight!

8. Same Song & Dance

The song starts with him eyeing women and trying to find the person that will lose their life tonight. It reminds me so much of the TV Series Dexter. It would be perfect to use this song if there was ever a movie or just an episode. BUT I WANT A DEXTER MOVIE! Ok back to the song, he has a great melodic chorus for this one telling the woman to do her thing for him before her death. Eminem is back for sure and ready to torcher anyone that he feels needs it!

9. We Made You

Each album so far had a single that Eminem used to make fun of everything that has been famous lately. He has a great female chorus describing the whole thing. Noones a star cause they are talented, unlesss they are Eminem. Well not fully true but there are so many reality stars that do nothing and this song throws it at all of them. Very catchy but like the rest of the album, it honestly took a few plays till I finally enjoy it. In the end, thats not a good thing!

10. Medicine Ball

Almost silence, im lost.. was this a song.. Maybe its a second to breath, onto the skit!

11. Paul (Skit)

Yeah again Paul telling Eminem that he is sick of his sick side and done with it, now on to the horror….

12. Stay Wide Awake

This is your warning that Eminem is a monster and you  might not make it out of a situation with him. He is understanding the empty & crazy lifestyle that life can really be and its really not safe out there. Be sure to watch your back, there are no heros to save you.

13. Old Time’s Sake (feat Dr Dre)

Favorite song of the whole album by far. Can I start with that? Dr Dre starts this song with such a great vibed delivery that makes you move no if your getting an MRI. Its a perfect combination of the two that brings you back to the roots of Eminems first and second album as well as Da Chronic 2001. They start moving on in the song about the drugs that keep them going (or so they say). Dr Dre’s second verse along with Eminem jumping back and forth really make this song a hit for sure.

14. Must Be the Ganja

Alot of artists say they couldn’t make the great music they create without having their buzz. Most of them choose Marijuana or Alcohol. Though I dont want to hear a drunk rapper, do you? But get them stoned and they always seem to flow. So with that being sad, can I create a pun by saying it must be the ganja. The chorus yet again as a few other songs really make you want to sing along to it. They really speak on how making music isn’t the same without the buzz man.

15. Mr. Mathers (Skit)

Eminem has made it this far in the album but then… He Relapses. See how he plays this. This is where the genious comes from with this whole album. Its a small skit where they find Eminem out cold and possibly overdosed on a substance.

16. Deja Vu

This is the ultimate song about the addiction and how hard it can be to remove it from your life. You stop, you start, you stop and then you feel the Deja Vu because your back addicted. Everyone has an addiction so this can fit to anyone. The chorus has some great singing about how alone it can feel trying to make it in life with all the addictions surrounding you. He tells you all the reasons he feels that he needs his drugs in this song and gets really personal about his addictions.

17. Beautiful

Song starts like something totally off the wall from an Eminem album  but feels really emotional with a singer starting it. Then Marshall brings his life into the picture by telling you why is music has been slacking lately, its the motivation, the inspiration, the way you get treated by people. And he wants you to know that no matter what the media says about you, you can still be a great person if you believe and try to do what it is that you feel is needed. He stresses alot about how it feels living his life in the public and wanting others to see it.

18. Crack a Bottle (featuring Dr. Dre, 50 Cent)

Here is a collaboration that doesn’t work that great with 50 Cent. The chorus of the song does really make me want to like it more but its truly just a song about partying and doing what you want and how cool you are. The beat of this song really isn’t anything that amazes me either yet I think I will ride with the windows down listening to this one atleast 1 more time!

19. Steve Berman (skit)

As usual, Eminem goes to see Steve Berman and gets hell from him for being gone for so long from the music industry. Nothing Special here, just an argument!

20. Underground/Ken Kaniff

This song has a very powerful orcestrated feel from the beginning with opera styled lyrics. He does, as usual, have alot of angry to release in this song and talks about alot of bad things that happen in peoples lives. Overall a bit disappointed.
PS: After this song there is a small skit where Eminem plays Ken Kaniff acting gay and singing his  We Made You at one of those 12 step programs. Not very funny.

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