Anyone who knows me, knows I live for R&B, and my favorite rappers, Joyner Lucas and Eminem. When he released this album with no publicity or warning, we all dove in with no preconceived notions regarding what controversy he would stir up next.
I have always admired his lyrical genius, possession of innumerable rhyming combinations, fondness for horrorcore, and defiant nature. This new album perfectly embodies all his gifts, with a dash of humility and added rawness in the mix. I love how everything he puts out into the world captures us in some form or another, either challenging authoritarian figures, social norms, creating commanding ideas, and arrests us in spitfire vortexes.
Opening with “Premonition,” Eminem calls out the many criticisms he has faced, along with how the public expect him to follow rappers and the new styles that have existed for 1/16 of his career. Besides that, he includes younger talent to complement some of the hard-hitting lead tracks, with Young M.A. on the catchy duet that is “Unaccommodating,” and the late Juice WRLD on fiery track, “Godzilla.” On each respective track, Eminem slays his verses, with the younger rappers taking a chiller but equally effective approach. The rap god broke the world record for fastest rap verse (his third time) on “Godzilla,” spitting bars at 10.65 syllables/second. Other than making genre history, he challenges human capacity, compacting 224 words in the quick timespan of a mere 31 seconds. 7.23 words per second…is he real?
Aside from the immense controversy surrounding “Unaccommodating,” due to the inclusion of a line regarding the infamous bombing at Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert, the track makes a big impact regardless. Eminem is known for making his opinions clear, and has no care what implications may follow. Known for his immensely difficult passages and technique, rappers with a fraction of his talent could only dream of attempting them successfully.
“Kill You” implements frazzled, wild beats and rhythms, his incredible technique vivid with each diss and schizophrenic verses. One of my favorites, “Stepdad,” entails a fantasy of one killing their abusive stepdad, clearly encompassing Eminem’s childhood grief and rough parental past. “Little Engine” is one of those tracks that stick with you, with the “Now, little engine, go” unwillingly escaping my lips throughout the day.
Eminem has shaped the genre into what it is today, leaving footsteps and traces for the stumbling imposters to follow. Widely known for both the drama and talent he exudes, as long as Eminem’s around, much will ensue.