Eminem – Relapse (5-19-2009)

Posted on May 21 in Reviewsby adminPrint

Though it’s been a clean five years since his last release, Encore, Eminem has seemingly shaken the entire hip-hop world up with the news of his latest effort Relapse. After the curtain closed on Encore many thought that they’d never see or hear Eminem perform ever again in their lives. After some drug and rap withdrawal issues the industry seems more than happy to welcome the bleach headed shit talking maniac back into our lives. Slim Shady has never been one to fall on def ears and early indications are showing that this time around won’t be any different.

Em’s vocal delivery and a lackluster backdrop from the Doctor add up to a not so amusing, and or entertaining ride on the opening “3 a.m.” Things get a little more interesting when Em goes on yet another rant against his mother as he vividly explains the root of his pill poppin problems on “My Mom.” He even takes time to take a stab at utilizing the very popular auto-tune accessory on the tale end of the aforementioned track. As surprising as it may seem Eminem actually reaches an even higher level of fucked-upness on “Insane” where he makes a scary ass visualization of getting fucked in the ass by his stepfather.

Slim Shady rears his ugly face as he takes some harsh shots at Nick Cannon only after he talks about fuckin the shit out of his new wife Mariah Carey on the well-orchestrated “Bagpipes From Baghdad.” Em’s idea of a dance/club song doesn’t quite fit what’s hot right now as he proceeds to take a few shots at Lindsey Lohan on the comically murder filled “Same Song & Dance.” On “Medicine Ball” Eminem proves that no one is above his outrageous rants as he takes shots at Christopher Reeves who by the way is deceased. Em sounds like his classic self as he speaks of sticking an umbrella inside a girl and opening it while its still inside her on the deranged “Stay Wide Awake.”

It takes an appearance from Dr. Dre to bring the album’s subject matter back to something normal like smoking weed on the protocol Aftermath product “Old Time’s Sake.” On the classically Dr. Dre laced “Déjà vu” Em seems to be painting a picture of his real pill problems as opposed to the fictitious ones. On the self produced “Beautiful” Em offers critics, listeners, haters, and fans a chance to walk a few miles in his shoes in order for them to understand why he acts the way he does. On the closing “Underground” Em goes for broke as he spits some of the album’s most fucked up bars over a barbaric beat from the good doctor.

For those sane people in the world Relapse will definitely be a little too much to stomach. On the other hand for those of us who get off to some fucked up shit Relapse is the diamond in the rough that we’ve all been missing. If you ever thought that you’ve heard it all from Eminem before then you’re destined to be more than stunned by the time you reach track number five on Relapse. The real irony here is that beneath all the outlandish lyrics lies the E Hollywood True Story of what Marshall Mathers has been paining through since we last heard from him!

VERDICT – 14 / 20
LYRICS: 4
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 4