Still Got It.. Kinda

I had to address it after my various rants.. Relapse.

To sum up my thoughts on: It's aiiight. Em seems to be even crazier sober, but definitely not as consistent as he's been. There are some gems on it, namely "Old Times Sake" with Dre, "Beautiful" and "Hello." But there's too many songs that lack replay value like "We Made You" and "My Mom" and I really can't get passed that accent, I'm sorry.

However, between the Nick Cannon and Mariah reference and insest-filled, drug-coated stories, Em does show signs of his Shady self. I think "Deja Vu" is one of his realest - resembling a 2009 "The Way I Am" - and he's at his most murderous on "Underground."

I surely didn't have high expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised overall.

Thing is, if Em keeps rapping like in this video on Tim Westwood's show, Relapse 2 could be a problem.

Thanks to RR for the "freestyle" video, Enjoy!

Would You Rather Relapse or Blackout?

Today I spotted the official track lists for two upcoming LP's from some of my generation's top-notch MCs.

One, I'm extremely excited for - Method Man & Redman's sophomore collab Blackout 2. But the other, I really think is going to underperform - Eminem's return from irrelevance Relapse.

Follow my logic real quick - multiple tracks have leaked thus far from each album, so it's only right we compare head-to-head them, right? Let's check out the scoreboard:

"Crack A Bottle" vs "Ayo"

Well, "Crack A Bottle" is the catchy-yet-corny lead single that everyone expects Em puts out every album but "Ayo" is a certified banger despite a redundant chorus. It's a close call because it's the first we've heard from each party in a minute, so chalk one up for Em 'cause the song really isn't THAT bad.

"We Made You" vs. "City Lights (ft. UGK)"

This is a lackluster track from Jamal and Silas, but it does have a fire verse from Bun at the end and a thumping beat. Doesn't matter though, 'cause I can't listen to more than 30 seconds of "We Made You" without wishing I didn't have any ear drums. Score one for Red & Meth.

"3 AM" vs. "Mrs. International"

I remember being dumb excited for "3 AM" after Em's first two singles didn't wow me as much as anticipated. Man, was I disappointed. Though his lyrics are ill, he's still doing that ridiculous voice inflection we heard on Encore and the hook is kinda annoying. Meth & Red, however, deliver. A jazzy instrumental lays the groundwork for the duo's laid-back vocals, praising the likes of fine greens and even finer women.

That's another one for Red & Meth, who are crowned victorious.


You get the picture, that's my logic. Not to mention, a new Red & Meth track leaked today called "Dangerous MCs" right as Aftermath announces Eminem's next two singles drop soon - "Old Times Sake" with Dr. Dre on May 5th and "Beautiful" on the 12th.

Both albums drop May 19th, so the internets got about 2 weeks before they pop up. Get ready for a serious showdown.

Thanks to 2DB and OG Hip Hop for the covers + track lists, Enjoy!

PS Check out the CBox --->



Eminem - Relapse

01) Dr. West (Skit) 01:29
02) 3am 05:20
03) My Mom 05:20
04) Insane 03:01
05) Bagpipes From Baghdad 04:43
06) Hello 04:08
07) Tonya (Skit) 00:43
08) Same Song & Dance 04:08
09) We Made You 04:30
10) Medicine Ball 03:57
11) Paul (Skit) 00:19
12) Stay Wide Awake 05:20
13) Old Time’s Sake f. Dr. Dre 04:35
14) Must Be The Ganja 04:03
15) Mr. Mathers 00:42
16) Deja Vu 04:43
17) Beautiful 06:32
18) Crack A Bottle f. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent 04:58
19) Steve Berman (Skit) 01:29
20) Underground/Ken Kaniff 06:19




Method Man & Redman - Blackout 2

01) BO2 (Intro)
02 I’m Dope Nigga
03 A-Yo f. Saukrates
04 Dangerous MCs
05 Errbody Scream f. Keith Murray
06 Hey Zulu
07 City Lights f. UGK
08 Father’s Day
09 Mrs. International (Skit)
10 Mrs. International f. Erick Sermon
11 How Bout Dat f. Ready Roc & Streetlife
12 Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers
13 Lock Down (Skit) f. DJ Kay Slay
14 Four Minutes to Lock Down f. Raekwon & Ghostface
15 Neva Heard Dis B4
16 I Know Sumptin f. Poo Bear
17 A Lil Bit f. Melanie Rutherford

5 Reasons Not To Be Excited for Relapse

I know I'm gonna catch hate for this one, but this is truly how I feel. Just for the record, I've been a huge Eminem fan since I heard "My Name Is" and explored Infinite so don't even think this is an opportunity to bad-mouth an MC that I don't like.

So yesterday, Aftermath etc put out the official press release recently that Em's next LP Relapse is scheduled for May 19th. Excited? I'm definitely not the least bit.


Here's why:

1. Em hasn't made a good quality, all-around album in almost a decade.

I still can't believe that it's been nine years since Marshall Mathers dropped. You remember that one, right? Sold over 1.75 mil its first week. "Real Slim Shady" ripped up the charts, "The Way I Am" spoke on the overwhelming pressure of pleasing industry execs, and "Stan" told the story of a crazed fan. Not to mention, it was packed with hidden gems like "Who Knew" and D-12 collab "Under The Influence."

Let's recall what happened after that. He put out Eminem Show in '02, and although it sold well, how many of y'all REALLY liked it on-the-whole? Sure, I appreciated Em's introspection on "Cleanin Out My Closet" and his amped-up demeanor on "Til I Collapse," but the majority of the album is cold garbage. "Without Me" was the corniest of all of his corny singles, "Drips" is a boring filler track, and the production throughout is just lackluster to say the least.

(Edit: Upon revisiting Eminem Show), it's not as bad as I remembered, I was a lil' harsh. I just like his first two better.)

And don't even get me started on 2004's piss-poor Encore. Even the tracks that I semi-liked ("Rain Man" and "Encore" with Dre and 50) were subpar compared what fans came to expect from the volatile MC. You know you've gone soft when a tribute song to your daughter "Mockingbird" is the best song on the album.


2. Eminem is no longer Slim Shady. And therefore, he's lost his shock value.

I know you're thinking "but they're one and the same, right"? Wrong. Slim Shady emerged early in Em's career as the deranged psychopath persona while Eminem/Marshall Mathers was the level-headed compliment.

We no longer hear purely murderous verses like on Infinite and songs like "Just Don't Give A Fuck," hilarious sexual references like on "As The World Turns," and all the other lunatic shit that made mothers across America protest his wild antics. We no longer get to hear about his struggles with Kim, infatuation with drugs, nothing. All we get now his Em trying to be funny. And that's not what made the rap game fall in love with him so many years ago.


3. "Crack A Bottle" is not that good. Period.

Sure, it's catchy. And Dre laced the beat. And 50's verse is decent. But honestly, the real reason people like this record is because we haven't heard a true single from Em in years. "Crack A Bottle" is soft, generic, and fully representative of the ignorance permeating hip-hop. Plus, Em's sing-song lyrics just make my ears bleed. It's like he lost his pinpoint flow recording 8 Mile soundtrack and just figures people will like whatever he puts out just because it's him. Maybe you, but not I.


4. He's already working on another Relapse album to be released later this year.

The fuck is this about? He's had 5+ years to put together a new album, and when he finally does, he's got to overshadow it by announcing a follow-up LP ALREADY? Am I the only one that thinks this indicates he's going to use the first Relapse as a teaser for what's to come on the second version?

I think the labels made a mistake by announcing this so early. It's almost like a premature excuse as to why Relapse is going to suck more than Karrine Steffans.


5. It's 2009. Eminem does not have the same effect on people nowadays, plain and simple.

Sure, true hip-hoppers will listen because Em began as a crazy talented whiteboy MC who came from nothing. And let's face it, he could spit with the best of 'em.

But, think about the real reason why Em became popular in the first place. It's because of his insane lyrical content, mainly the crazy topics he talked about. He used to piss so many people off when he slayed pop stars, shit all over public figures and urged the youth to rebel. Think about "Guilty Conscience," "Marshall Mathers," "Brain Damage," "97 Bonnie And Clyde" and "Bitch Please Part II."

Think about the singles that actually caused people to organize protests against him. Protesting against a rapper? You won't see that today because Em does not, and will not, have the same effect on people. He's lost his allure, for good.


..Now, I really REALLY hope that Em proves me wrong with Relapse. I hope he comes out and reaks havoc on the industry, shitting on anyone that gets in his way. But he won't. I've been disappointed too many times over the past couple of years to think any different.

I can feel it now, here comes the hate from the Eminem Stan-boys and girls... Bring it. I welcome it. But don't take this ish too seriously, you'll probably just be eating your words come May.