Eminem's highly anticipated seventh studio album "Recovery" is what Eminem fans have been waiting for since "Encore". From working with noted producers such as DJ Khali to Just Blaze, a welcome change from the traditional overbearing presence of Dr. Dre that's featured on most of Eminem's past efforts. Eminem also bids adieu to his "Slim Shady" persona, revealing a more serious MC that brings an onslaught of laser sharp lyrics equipped with multi syllable rhyme scheme that would make Big Pun himself press rewind.
Cold wind blows
Eminem sets the tone of the album with an onslaught of aggressive lyrics equipped with a beat by Just Blaze, and a hook of Em doing his version of singing which is a reoccurring theme hook wise with this album. With this track he demands respect warning his fellow MC's that hes back to his old self spitting such lyrics such as
This shit is on, cause you went and pissed me off
Now I'm sitting and pissing on everybody
Give a fuck if it's right or wrong
So buck the buddha, light a bong
But take a look at Mariah the next time I inspire you to write a song.
I swear, you try to diss me, I'll slaughter you
I put that on everything, like everyone does with auto-tune
That last thing you wanna do is have me spit out a rhyme
And say I was writing this and I thought of you so.
This entire song is a perfect way to open up the album, it gets you excited because it shows that hes back to his old self. It gives you what you've been waiting for, a hungry focused Eminem while leaving you wanting more.
2. Talking to myself
Em doesn't hold anything back putting his emotions into his pen being especially forthcoming about how hes feeling musically. Admitting that his last two albums weren't up to par with what he expects out of himself. This caught my ear because he brought it lyrically with Relapse, but if he thinks that this album is the new him going back to his earlier days it makes you anticipate the oncoming tracks even more. This song is the emotionally honest Eminem we've all come to know, and love. Speaking on his insecurities as a person, his former addictions to prescription pills, almost dissing Kanye West and Lil' Wayne out of jealousy, and continuing life after the death of his childhood friend Proof. Overall a great track, with emotionally charged lyrics, and a soulful hook by Kobe.
3. On Fire
One of the most aggressive songs on the album. A blitzkrieg of lyrics and multi's that Em is known for. Em blacks out and spits hard lyrics about everything from murder, to his superiority to most MC's. The song doesn't drag on, it gets its point across fairly quickly- that he is making his triumphant return to his former glory. Equipped with a dope beat by Denaun Porter that lets its presence be felt but doesn't overshadow the lyrics, and allows Em to do what he does best.
4. Wont Back Down.
Production wise this track equipped with hard base, guitar, and drums perfectly orchestrated by DJ Khalil. The hook with Pink fits well with the overall feel of the song. Eminem goes in lyrically while his spitting misogynistic lyrics that we've all grown accustomed to over the years.
5. W.T.P.
Probably the worst song on the whole album. Not only does he sing on the hook but lyrically hes not really talking about anything. While he does have some funny lines such as
"They call me the Stephon Marbury of rap darling cuz as soon as they throw on some some R. Kelly I start ballin'."
Overall I couldn't get into it. It struck me upon first listen as a common filler track. Eminem does have some funny references and manages to get his humorous side across, but it doesn't fit the overall feel and sound of the album.
6. Going Through Changes.
This song is yet another example of Em being real and genuine on record. A perfect Ozzy Osbourne sample, and emotionally honest. Being especially forthcoming about the passing of Proof, making music while addicted to pills, his relationship with his daughter, and being a victim of his own fame. He even acknowledges that while going through his addiction his skills were diminishing and felt as if his own fans were even laughing at him. I enjoyed this song because while most MC's put up a false bravado Em is open about his life putting his heart into the track.
7. Not Afraid
The realest first single by Eminem ever. A far cry from such gimmicky singles like "We made you", and "Just lose it". A powerful hook, and an inspiring bridge. Eminem talks about having enough of wallowing in self pity and deciding to pick himself up to prove to not only the fans that he still has what it takes, but to himself as well.
8. Seduction
Eminem takes a page out of Common's book and personifies hip hop as a woman. He is speaking to an unidentified MC about how he stole his girl from him. Many have speculated that its Jay-Z due to Em mocking Jay's "aww" ad-libs from "D.O.A.". Personifying things and making an entire song out of it doesn't happen enough in rap so it was a nice surprise. Reminded me of Cam'ron's 'D'rugs', overall an extremely clever song where Em shows his wit as well as proclaiming that he is the top MC in the game right now.
9. No Love
I absolutely loved this song, probably my favorite song on the entire album. Not only does Just Blaze flip the "What is love" sample by Haddaway, Wayne doesn't disappoint spitting a solid verse with no shortage of quotable's. Eminem's entire verse is just brutal, he reminds me so much of Big Pun at times. Not because of both of their multi syllable rhyme scheme but whenever they collaborate with noted MC's they raise their own skill level and do what ever they can within their repertoire to embarrass the other artists. Thats exactly what happens, Eminem leaves no doubt in your mind who is the superior MC murdering Wayne for the second time. Wayne's verse had a lot of good lines, but Em's verse is arguably amongst the top 10 best of his career.
10. Space Bound
A rap rock song about love where Em speaks on his trials and tribulations about romance. Continuing his streak of being extremely emotional on his tracks. This entire song is summed up in the beginning of the track
Ima show you what it’s like to hurt
Cuz I been treated like dirt before ya
And love is evil, spell it backwards I’ll show ya (EVOL)
An ok song, you'll obviously be able to relate to it more if you yourself has gone through some kind of heartbreak in your own personal life. Its not for every one, some fans won't be able to get into it but he doesn't slack lyrically on here.
11. Cinderella Man
I really didn't like this song at all, it was a let down to learn that Just Blaze produced this because I automatically assumed that all his songs would be amazing. Em doesn't half step lyrically, but the overall feel of the song I couldn't get into. I don't like the hook, but I feel like this is the kind of song that I didnt particularly love at first listen but would love to hear live in a stadium.
12. 25 to life
Probably the best hook on the entire album. Another song personifying hip hop,but from a different point of view. Em speaks on his life long struggle to break into the rap game, and all hes sacrificed to get where he is today. This song is even better than 'Seduction', Em really talks to hip hop like its an actual person with no shortage of lyrical ability and passion.
13. So bad
Painfully obvious that this is the only Dr. Dre beat. If you're familiar with his production style you don't even need to look at the production credits to identify it. Not crazy about the hook, but the lyrics speaking to a woman are crass with Em's style of humor that fits well on the track.
14. Almost famous
Em talks about his rise to fame, meeting Dr. Dre his rise to being a rap icon. One of the high points of the album lyrically with bars like
You call me the champ; call me the space shuttle destroyer
I just blew up the challenger, matter fact I need a lawyer
I displaced my clause with enough plaster
To make a cast beat his ass naked and peed in his corner like Verne Troyer
You're the Eminem backwards, you're mini-me
See he's in a whole nother weight class
He smokes your BB's you beat back bullets
You're full of it; you were just in his CD's
Left at Infinite, now he's back like someone pissed in his wheaties
No peace treaties, he's turned into a beast
His new Slim Shady EP's got the attention of the mighty D. R. EHonestly when the track list leaked, this was one of the songs that caught my eye- and it wasn't a let down in any way shape or form. Rihanna shines when singing hooks for rappers (I.E. 'live your life', and 'run this town') and she brings it on this hook. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the album like 'W.T.P' but I can definitely see this being a huge radio hit despite it being too 'real' by radio standards today.
16. You're never over.
A lot of people were really saying they didn't like the hook, but the verses are so real that it overshadows the hook. Hearing this immediately reminded me of 'Life Changes' off 8 diagrams, the tribute song to ODB. The entire song is a beautiful ode to Proof, speaking on life after his tragic and sudden death.
17. Bonus
I didn't like the beat too much that Havoc did but Em finishes strong lyrically. Ending the album strong with a lyrical exclamation point.
This is an album that eminem stans never wanted, but what everyone else been asking for eminem for years now. It's quite clear that eminem wasn't comfortable in portraying the "slim shady" role anymore. He's in his late 30's now and all the immaturity type songs are long played out. 'em been wanting to go a different direction for the longest, but i suppose Jimmy Iovine been directing him on that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The problem with relapse is that it was INDEED broken, in spite of the dr. dre beats and quality lyricism. the slim shady character needed to die, and the only people that were campaigning for it to continue were his stan-base.
Eminem was pigeon-holed in a cage and he wanted to branch out and do music outside the aftermath camp. he seen how being pigeon-holed did to 50 cent to the point he's practically blackballed to work with anyone else in the industry (like he really cares), and eminem also witness how the mass appeal and success of blueprint 3 was. he wanted that same success and musical challenges that jay had from that album. you can hate onjay-z's blueprint 3 album all you like, but you cannot deny commercially HUGE that album was.
Would you call this selling out? i honestly don't know. it's quite clear that "relaspe" was a disappointment to some (not me) and "recovery" is definitely more targeted for mainstream appeal, however, this was something Eminem WANTED to do for a while. Ee wanted to work with other producers, he wanted to dead the slim shady persona, he wanted to do songs that were honest and personal, and he wanted to prove that he's one of the best to ever did it lyrically.
This album is a great album, but it's something that different for the average slim shady fan to get use to and even accept. and it's even more disgruntling when Eminem HIMSELF outspokenly admits how bad the previous two albums were when his own stan-base been defending them (and some still are) over those albums.
i give this album an B+ maybe an A- depending on how much replay value the album has .Only time will tell. The only gripe i have is some of the singing choruses were weak and redundant. Other than that, this is an impressive display of emceeing, arguably one of the best displays of lyricism since god knows when.
