The Rundown: Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2

A track-by-track review of the Detroit MC's eighth album.

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - Though the Marshall Mathers LP 2 wasn't as memorable as the original, Eminem still showed that he can rap circles around most MCs with relative ease. It's a solid enough body of work, worthy of its Album of the Year nomination.(Photo: Interscope)

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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)

"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)

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"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)

"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)

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"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)

"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)

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"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

Eminem (Won) - Released in 2002, Eminem’s film 8 Mile was generally well received by critics and grossed almost $250 million at the box office. The soundtrack’s lead single, “Lose Yourself,” became an inescapable hit, hitting No. 1 on charts in 24 countries; today, it’s still arguably Em’s biggest hit. It was fitting, then, that it took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song at that year’s ceremony. Mr. Mathers was not on hand to accept the honor, which was the first in history for a rap song. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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"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)

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"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)

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"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

Eminem - Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is one of the most celebrated underdog-turned-hero anthems to hit airwaves. He and it were featured in the comeback commercial of the year in 2011, when an extended spot for the Chrysler 200 debuted during the Super Bowl.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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"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)

"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)

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"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)

"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)

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"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

"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)

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"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)

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"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)

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"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)

"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)

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"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

"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)

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"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

"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)

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"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)

"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)

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"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)

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"Headlights" Featuring Nate Ruess - In one of MMLP2's biggest headlines, Eminem offers an apology and a truce to his mother on this unorthodox ballad of sorts that has a surprisingly feel good vibe. Slim even admits, "I know it's not your fault and I ain't making jokes," and recalls his brother Nate being taken away by the state when he was only 8 years old.  (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Clear Channel, Skip Bolen/WireImage)

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"Headlights" Featuring Nate Ruess - In one of MMLP2's biggest headlines, Eminem offers an apology and a truce to his mother on this unorthodox ballad of sorts that has a surprisingly feel good vibe. Slim even admits, "I know it's not your fault and I ain't making jokes," and recalls his brother Nate being taken away by the state when he was only 8 years old.  (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Clear Channel, Skip Bolen/WireImage)

"Evil Twin" - He's a little older and theoretically more mature, but Eminem can still make that good old-fashioned riot music for his core fans. "I'm all outta whack / I'm all outta Backstreet Boys to call out and attack / I'm goin' all out in this rap s*** and whatever the fall out is, I'm strapped," he raps over the pounding bass and aggressive keys. And that was just the beginning.(Photo: Brian Prahl / Splash News)

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"Evil Twin" - He's a little older and theoretically more mature, but Eminem can still make that good old-fashioned riot music for his core fans. "I'm all outta whack / I'm all outta Backstreet Boys to call out and attack / I'm goin' all out in this rap s*** and whatever the fall out is, I'm strapped," he raps over the pounding bass and aggressive keys. And that was just the beginning.(Photo: Brian Prahl / Splash News)

"Desperation" Featuring Jamie N Commons - Rising star Jamie N Commons lends his raspy yet powerful singing voice to help Eminem create the perfect fusion of Blues and hip hop. Echoing blues guitar, sporadic strings and Shady's fierce rhymes fuel this unlikely collabo. "You pretend to be as mentally and physically addicted to me, as Wiz Khalifa is to reefer," he spits.(Photos from Left to Right: Christopher Polk/Getty Images, Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

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"Desperation" Featuring Jamie N Commons - Rising star Jamie N Commons lends his raspy yet powerful singing voice to help Eminem create the perfect fusion of Blues and hip hop. Echoing blues guitar, sporadic strings and Shady's fierce rhymes fuel this unlikely collabo. "You pretend to be as mentally and physically addicted to me, as Wiz Khalifa is to reefer," he spits.(Photos from Left to Right: Christopher Polk/Getty Images, Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

"Baby" - Eminem is just showing off at this point, sounding more like Twista with his rapid-fire delivery to match his quick wit. For the beat, Dr. Dre laced the track as only he can do with singing strings and pounding bass. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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"Baby" - Eminem is just showing off at this point, sounding more like Twista with his rapid-fire delivery to match his quick wit. For the beat, Dr. Dre laced the track as only he can do with singing strings and pounding bass. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

"Beautiful Pain" Featuring Sia - The track starts out with drums similar to those in Outkast's "So Fresh and So Clean." Eminem belts out a few notes himself before Australian singer Sia takes over. Marshall gets extra personal with lyrics like, "So familiarized with having to swallow this pill / It's like, it happens all the time, they take your heart and steal your life / And it's as though you feel you've died / 'Cause you've been killed inside, but yet you're still alive / Which means you will survive."(Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Josephine Santos/PacificCoastNews.com)

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"Beautiful Pain" Featuring Sia - The track starts out with drums similar to those in Outkast's "So Fresh and So Clean." Eminem belts out a few notes himself before Australian singer Sia takes over. Marshall gets extra personal with lyrics like, "So familiarized with having to swallow this pill / It's like, it happens all the time, they take your heart and steal your life / And it's as though you feel you've died / 'Cause you've been killed inside, but yet you're still alive / Which means you will survive."(Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Josephine Santos/PacificCoastNews.com)

"Wicked Ways" Featuring X Ambassadors - In conclusion, he may have money and fame, but Eminem wants you to know he's still Shady. "I still get in fights with the same broad at the Wal-Mart / Arguing over the same cart, in the middle of the aisle / Wildin', I don't give a f***, I don't play / B**** you think you saw this basket first? Yah a** backwards, like muthaf****n' Bob and Silent Jay," raps Em over the unusually snare heavy, synth-laced track. (Photos from left: PacificCoastNews.com, KIDinaKORNER Records)

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"Wicked Ways" Featuring X Ambassadors - In conclusion, he may have money and fame, but Eminem wants you to know he's still Shady. "I still get in fights with the same broad at the Wal-Mart / Arguing over the same cart, in the middle of the aisle / Wildin', I don't give a f***, I don't play / B**** you think you saw this basket first? Yah a** backwards, like muthaf****n' Bob and Silent Jay," raps Em over the unusually snare heavy, synth-laced track. (Photos from left: PacificCoastNews.com, KIDinaKORNER Records)