Eminem’s music can be called anything but artistic. While he reflects on his more “looney” side that oftens leads to random celebrity bashing, name dropping and most infamously, the homosexual jokes, he has a darker side. Unfortunately, its not Relapse. After a good five years behind the scenes, angry white Detroit rappers have emerged with a vengeance. Not quite like Eminem did with his sophomore effort, although the results were phenomenal. “Relapse” just goes to show that even during the sellout point of their musical career, rappers can still be hardcore. In a cute, non-violent way, of course. Many of the tracks featured are very similar to the over-the-top goofiness and mysoginistic wordplay from “Encore”. Call this a follow-up, if you will, but it doesn’t quite stay in the same field most of the time.
Eminem can be a man of many surprises. One minute you’re listening to him spilling his guts about, well, spilling Kim’s guts, then the next he jumps to a song about a sexually harassing father and son tale. The album is so unbalanced, its very difficult to stay on the same pace. For example, after the hilarious introduction, “3AM” grows into a rolling rage of desperation, madness and unsympathetic chaos. Just when it seemed he’s at the top of his game, two and a half minutes into the track, he name drops Hannah Montana, which I find ridiculous (although I actually like the fact that a celebrity has grown balls to insult an unpromising Disney star). 80% of the album expresses Shady’s desire for crazy, generic radio songs that never hit the mark, or have the same magnetism as “The Marshall Mathers LP”.
“My Mom” continues the utterly repulsive and disturbing trend this now seemingly harmless rapper has set. The chorus is unbearable, the hook is completely absent of substance and the verses are two-toned and uninteresting. If you think that’s bad, wait until you hear “Insane”! Once again, the Ken Kaniff animal magnitude has taken over to be nothing more than a track about man rape and sickening child molestation. I have to admire his flow in the second verse, though, which I find almost flawless. Not to say the entire album is one big jerkoff session. Songs like “Beautiful”, “Underground” and “Same Song & Dance” still keep the serious side of Slim Shady alight, as well as raise the slightest of interest in its subject matters, which thankfully have nothing to do with his wife and/or mother. “We Made You”, in all its craziness, can grow on to be quite an enjoyable track, as well as “Crack A Bottle” and “Déj* vu”, but nonetheless, its still terribly mediocre.
Fans will tremble to get a taste of Eminem’s table scrap, no doubt, but to the unsuspecting public eye he has transformed into nothing more than a disappointment. Hit after hit, the money will still roll in, the ringtones will still sell and the apocalypse will still happen, but that doesn’t make “Relapse” any more impressive or weirder than, say, a hamster on a tricycle juggling Tic Tacs. Now that will be awesome. Right now, you’ll have to settle for this. Shame.
Pro’s
“Beautiful”
“Underground”
Con’s
“We Made You”
“My Mom”
“Insane”
“Bagpipes From Baghdad”
“Must Be The Ganja”
“Crack A Bottle”
“Déj* vu”
Final Rating: 3.0/10 – 1.5/5
