Nearly 13, 14 years ago, Eminem released his third album - The Marshall Mathers LP. This album solidified his popularity and legacy as a true MC. In 2000, the album blew up the music industry selling 1.76 million in its first week, claiming a Grammy for best Rap Album, and ultimately being recognized as diamond for selling over 10 million copies. The accolades for this album are endless, yet the greatest influence was on the generations of people it affected. As for me I was a mere ten years old, and within all of the controversy surrounding Eminem, my parents could not hide him. He was everywhere - radio, music videos, award shows, amongst other things. As a young child, I listened to these lyrics and found myself enveloped into stories where I began to learn the history of this person - not just a rapper. This was the success of Eminem in this album and his subsequent albums. He brought us into his life and viewpoints - be them disturbing or relatable. This was clear with one of the greatest of his hits "Stan," which detailed a deranged and obsessed fan who took his life because he was ignored by his favorite artist.
Even now when this song comes, the listener is instantly taken to the time that they listened to it for the first time. This relatability was the greatest success of The Marshall Mathers LP and it is his greatest success to his Marshall Mathers LP 2. Eminem has stated that it is not supposed to be a direct sequel to the successor, but the themes and songs are too close to ignore. This makes the album stronger, it makes it stronger because listeners, like me, who connected with Eminem, his lyrics, and songs feel the connection again as we see the transformation of an angry kid from Detroit develop into a middle age rapper, who is fighting with his past amongst other things. All in all, this album may be one of Eminem's greatest successes because of the connections with the past and how he makes the listener realize that Eminem may have been the most wild relatable musician in my generation and future ones to come. As for that her is the tracklist along with some notes about each track:
1. Bad Guy
Right off the bat, Eminem jumps back to the first Marshall Mathers LP and rights a sequel to "Stan." The song details the obsession with the brother of Stan, Matthew Mitchell, who was mentioned in "Stan." The song is absolutely amazing with a story that wraps you in from the first lines and gives us some great lines - for example, when Matthew exclaims ...wait, here comes my favorite lyric: "I'm the bad guy who makes fun of people that die," And hey, here's a sequel to my Mathers LP just to try to get people to buy, How's this for publicity stunt, This should be fun, Last album now cause after this you'll be officially done, Eminem killed by M&M, Matthew Mitchell, Bitch, I even have your initials. After Eminem's death by Matthew, Eminem comes to the forefront and gives us a retrospect on his life where he seems somewhat afraid and aware that his past has affected his current life. One of his best songs in my opinion!
2. Parking Lot (Skit)
One of the usual skits that were famous during Eminem's early albums like Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show.
3. Rhyme or Reason
One of the first songs on the album, where we see a sample from an older song, which became consistent throughout the album. The song sampled in this one is the Zombies "Time of the Season." The track is an awesome display of Eminem's lyrical talent where he mainly focuses on destroying his father. In each verse, the listener has to pay attention to which alter-ego they are listening to. At the beginning of each verse, he answers the question from the sample "What's your name?" with a response of Eminem, Marshall and Shady. Each of these egos brings a different attitude to the song and its a masterful display of lyrics.
4. So Much Better
If you'r initially worried that Eminem has gotten too caught up into retrospect that the usual disrespectful songs are no longer present - have no fear. "So Much Better" is a clear hate song from Eminem about the music and rap industry. As he has done in countless other songs, Eminem has characterized the industry as a woman. So don't be confused that he is discussing his mother, Kim, or Mariah Carey - he is clearly discussing the fact that the music industry is annoying to him, and wishes that he would never have had the fame. For example, when he discusses the rapper's the "woman" has slept with including Lupe and Drizzy. Lupe even got confused about the analogy asking "What did Eminem say about me?" on Twitter. However he means that fame has been f***ing with all of them. Great metaphorical song.
5. Survival
This song instantly reminded me of other Eminem anthems - like "Lose Yourself" and "Til I Collapse." The song was promoted alot for Call of Duty: Ghosts, but that takes nothing away from the song. A great pump up anthem that you are sure to hear at various sporting events in the years to come. The lyrics are great and the video is even better, its attached below
6. Legacy
In this retrospective song, Eminem thinks back on all his successes, drug addictions, and relationships to reflect on what he is and will leave behind. The song discusses everything from his bad days at school to the guidance that he needed in his life because he felt lost. Besides the connection to his career, any listener can connect to the message because of the questioning of their decision and how they will be remembered by family and friends. In the end, Eminem comes to peace with himself stating ...The best part about me is I am not you, I'm me, I'm the Fire Marshall and this is my LEGACY.
7. A**hole Ft Skylar Grey
This song is one of my least favorite on the album, but it still is a decent song. The song is a great collaboration with Skylar Grey, where Eminem works in another connection with The Marshall Mathers LP with the line ...thanks for the support a**hole from "My Name Is." Decent song, but didn't have the emotions and approach that the others did.
8. Berzerk
The first single for the album was released and showed that Eminem was back, yet again. This homage to the Beastie Boys included another classic rock single with "The Stroke." The insults within the lyrics are great, including talking about Khloe Kardashian to Lamar Odom. Make sure to check out the video below.
9. Rap God
Recently in the rap industry, an allure has emerged to impress people with fast lyrics that are nearly uncomprehendable to the listener, and here is Eminem's effort. The result - he blows everyone out of the water. His "fast" verse is full with great lyrics if you can hear them, and to prove that he actually did it, he performed the verse at the MTV EMA's. Below is the live performance and don't forget to pick your jaw off the ground after watching it.
10. Brainless
This dark beat is reminiscent of Relapse where the beat is haunting and Shady just destroys it with a bunch of great analogies that you find yourself singing with the hook. One of my favorite analogies is ...i'm about the clean the house, yo, I'm Lysol, now I'm just household. This lyric shows that amongst his gruesome and eccentric lyrics, Eminem is still finding his way into households, just like mine when my parents were resistant to him.
11. Stronger Than I Was
This song shows something completely different that anything we have really seen from Eminem - a song influenced heavily upon singing. In this slow, emotional track, Eminem makes sure the listener can ascertain who is singing the song - is he singing it about Kim, or is Kim singing it about Eminem? In the end, I believe that Eminem took this approach to show that neither Kim or Eminem is at fault for what happened to them - they both negatively affected the relationship. This varies from the track "Kim" from the Marshall Mathers LP, where Eminem killed Kim. In my opinion serves as a mediation in the difficult relationship that listeners and fans have seen develop throughout the years.
12. The Monster Ft Rihanna
In my opinion, this song summarizes how Eminem has felt throughout his career. The amazing hook sang by Rihanna states I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed, get along with the voices inside of my head, you're trying to save me, stop holdin' your breath, and you think I'm crazy, yeah you think I'm crazy. Throughout his career Eminem has fought various monsters in his life - his father, his mother, his drug addiction, being a father, etc. The voices he has gotten along with are all of his alter egos and how they have helped him become famous. Finally, he realizes that is who he is and doesn't want people to save him and he knows that people think he is crazy, but in typical Eminem fashion.....he doesn't give a s***
13. So Far...
This song is homage to the classic comical Eminem who made tracks like "My Name Is" and "The Real Slim Shady." This track contains another feature of Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good," and I think that Eminem believes this. Although he has had a tough life, in this moment Eminem is taking a step back and realizing that he is in a great position like meeting "celebrities" and not having to struggle like he did in the "trailer" in 8 mile. This song is one of my favorites on the album and find myself singing in instantly, and loving the short sample of the "The Real Slim Shady" beat.
14. Love Game Ft Kendrick Lamar
After referencing Kendrick in the lead single, "Berzerk," we see the lone feature from another rapper. The song is a great display of two of the greatest story tale rappers right now. In retrospect, I think that Kendrick and Eminem are very similar with using their various alter egos to tell stories and having a connection with stories that bring the listeners and fans closer to them. All in all, the song is a great one besides the atypical beat and details how both of these men love women, but hate the game since they can't leave because they don't want to end up alone.
15. Headlights Ft Nate Reuss
Besides "Bad Guy," this is my favorite track on the album. The reasons are clear - it brings one of the most popular themes of Eminem's songs to rest; his mom. This song is a clear retrospect on how he has treated his mother in songs like "Cleaning Out My Closet" where he states "it will no longer play at his shows." Furthermore, Eminem realizes the struggles and sacrifices that his mother had deal with to support him as a child. The song is very much emotional, and the use of Nate Reuss on the hook is a beautiful addition because you can feel the pain and emotion in his voice. A beautifully emotionally driven song from Eminem.
16. Evil Twin
The last track on the normal edition of the album ends strongly with "Evil Twin." At the beginning, Eminem states that it seems the lines are becoming blurred and that is what the listener fights throughout the song - who is rapping, Eminem or Shady? In this fight between Eminem and his most prominent alter ego, the listener finds a struggle that has been present in nearly every Eminem album. In this song, Eminem stops making excuses for his lyrics and accepts responsibility - but it is important that he does not apologize. Eminem subtly brings back to life Eminem, who died in "Bad Guy," and Shady, who died in the "Parking Lot" skit, to tell other rappers who copy him, Kanye, Lil Wayne, amongst others that he will come after them with all his efforts. Great song full of subtle things, and you find more and more each time you listen.
Final Verdict: The entire album had my attention from beginning to end, unlike other recently released albums - like Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail. Amongst all of these songs, there are clear connections with The Marshall Mathers LP which attempts to incite memories from both the listeners and Eminem. He accomplishes this with ease and great success. From track to track, I could see a clear change in Eminem from the first installment, just as their has been changes in my life since that album. The connections between the two albums and the connection between Eminem and his fans makes this one of his greatest albums to date. I even put it into the leagues with the first Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show. In the end, I give the album an A+ Grade, and hope that the efforts on this album will add another Grammy to his already extensive accolades and awards. Below I have attached a download link for the deluxe edition, which included around 4-5 additional tracks, which for the sake of space I did not review! Download the album, and go back in your memories from his legendary third album!!
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