The Rundown: Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
A track-by-track review of the Detroit MC's eighth album.
1 / 21
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - Eminem is "Right back up in ya wit Dr. Dre," but this time he's also enlisted the help of legendary bearded producer Rick Rubin; and he may be clean and sober now, but the angry blonde is as raunchy and raucous as ever as he continues to drop murderous bars and rock various tempos. Though he displays more versatility in his features, teaming up with artists like Jamie N Commons, Sia and fun's Nate Ruess, the deadly combination of lyricism, humor and introspection is at its finest on his eighth studio album.(Photo: Interscope)
2 / 21
"Bad Guy" - If you thought Eminem is not every bit as maniacal as he was on the first MMLP, you find out real quick just how wrong you are. The Detroit MC jumps into it with the quasi spoken word "Bad Guy." As the introductory song for the album, Em lets the track build then turns up for the second half.(Photo: WENN.com)
3 / 21
"Rhyme or Reason" - Eminem offers a new take on the Zombies' classic hit "Time of the Season," bringing that classic Marshall rap, "I'm the epitome and the prime example of what happens when a rhyme falls into the wrong hands and / You get up and start dancin,' even if it is Charles Manson."(Photo: Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images)
4 / 21
"So Much Better" - Nothing suits Eminem better and brings back the pleasant memories of the past than that classic Dr. Dre sound. Heavy keys and subtle snare.(Photo: Brian Prahl / Splash News)
Photo By Photo: Brian Prahl / Splash News
5 / 21
"Survival" - Eminem brings out the guitars for this stadium rock hit. "Wait is up, hands up like it's 12 noon, nah, homie, hold them b*****s straighter up wave 'em 'til you dislocate a rotator cuff / Came up rough, came to ruffle feathers? / Nah, egos, I ain't deflate enough / Last chance to make this whole stadium erupt."(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 21
"Legacy" Featuring Polina - Nothing more than piano and snare start out this visceral account of Eminem's journey through adolescence and how it came to define him as an artist.(Photo: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)
Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic/ Jason Merritt/FilmMagic
7 / 21
"Groundhog Day" - Eerie strings back this throwback track as Eminem's emotional crescendo builds from an even keel delivery to his maniacal yell. (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)
8 / 21
"A**hole" Featuring Skylar Grey - Em rides the beat to perfection, speeding up his flow and switching up his cadence to match the thundering drums and synth. "Everybody knows, so don't pretend to be nice / There's no place you can hide, you are just an a**hole, everyone knows, everyone knows," Skylar Grey sings.(Photos from left: Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images, Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)
9 / 21
"Berzerk" - Def Jam co-founder and producer Rick Rubin takes Eminem back to the '80s with this skillfully basic guitar riff and drum pattern. For his part Em keeps the intensity up rhyming, "We're gonna rock this house until we knock it down / So turn the volume loud." It's Em's standard single combining humor with his uncanny lyricism and wordplay. (Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic)
Photo By C Flanigan/FilmMagic
10 / 21
"Rap God" - Eminem sends a warning shot to anyone that thinks he's fallen off with this lyrical act of terror. "Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact / How could I not blow, all I do is drop F-bombs, feel my wrath of attack / Rappers are having a rough time period, here's a maxi pad / It's actually disastrously bad for the wack," he raps. (Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson /Landov)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 21
"Brainless" - Live drums and an upbeat piano melody make the track move as Eminem recounts more painful childhood memories rapping, "If you had a brain you'd be dangerous / I guess it pays to be brainless / Mama I'ma grow to be famous / And be a pain in the anus," raps Shady.(Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images)
12 / 21
"Stronger Than I Was" - For fans looking for straight up lyricism this is not the song. Eminem gets his Billy Joel on, singing over the precision drums and slow piano. "A beautiful face is all you have / 'Cause inside you're ugly and mad / But you're all that I love, you can't leave / Please stay here with me, baby, hold me please," he sings. Em gets back to rapping towards the end of the song.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images
13 / 21
"Monster" Featuring Rihanna - Eminem teams up once again with the Bad Gal Rihanna for one of the album's dark yet pop friendlier tracks about embracing your inner craziness. (Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images
14 / 21
"So Far" - Eminem starts out by mocking some '90s alt rock before the classic rock guitars lay the backdrop for him to big up the city that he hails from and spit his usual outrageous rhymes, which include insisting that he and race car driver Danica Patrick are a perfect match. ("You're a vacuum, I'm a dirt bag.") (Photo: REUTERS /JUMANA EL HELOUEH /LANDOV)
15 / 21
"Love Games" Featuring Kendrick Lamar - The dream team Eminem and K. Dot trade shots about the funny and not so funny quirks of ex-girls and "next girls." The beat is a departure from the typical production styles of both men, using a more '80s rock influence.(Photos from left: Lester Cohen/WireImage, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
ADVERTISEMENT