Something I Noticed

[EminemBase]

Just listening to godly Em freestyle verses from the late 90s... what I noticed is this...

Then: he put every effort in to making every single line a knockout punch. It was ALL about the lines, all about the wit, all about what he was saying, line for line. He also put his all in to delivery, but his flow and delivery were secondary, it was about the lines.

Now: it's the reverse. Whilst he absolutely still does come out with badass lines, in recent times (and whilst I love flow and delivery experimentation / hope he continues), he's completely focused on dazzling with his flow and delivery, and the lines become secondary. If you think even of the "My Life" verse, it was more about those crafted bursts of flow and delivery he was focused on, and in doing that he cares a little less about the content, it becomes broader and he rattles off more simple rhymes "he's bugging / thugging" etc. where as back then, you didn't get any filler lines to accommodate flow. Every line was too precious. Every word even.

He still cares about lyrics, and definitely rhyming, but it's like he allows himself to get away with more, generic rambling to accommodate the nature of the flow and to try and dazzle in that department, it's more about how he's sounding than what he's saying. I'm definitely a flow/delivery guy though, but I hope for his next album he really focuses line for line.

I don't think it's that Em doesn't have the wit now, as I see many flashes of it and also many amazing moments of unique phrasing, but I think he's been SO focused on trying to innovate with his voice and styles that, that's why he may seem a little more surface with substance.

[SajN]

substance.

EminemBase =





It seems like it's more about flow and just packing lots of rhymes in one verse now for Eminem.

[EminemBase]

^ Nope, because I meant substance in its truest sense; Aftermathercunts always means 'introspection'. A song can be about pretty much anything and have substance. I just meant, his ideas. He does still have substance though, but it's more for showcasing.

I just listened to "My Life" verse again though, pretty fucking addictive, *listens x50 more times*.

[SoldierShady]

Yeah. Although I've enjoyed a handful of Eminem's material recently, it has started to get a tad repetitive sonically. I hope what Royce said about the new album tracks is true.

[One Mic]

Em's Westwood freestyles are better than a lot of his old freestyles imo, even if they're done in a different way.

The recent Westwood freestyles are over rated IMO, except for the one on the 'Microphone' beat - that is incredible. Prefer the older ones, like this

[EminemBase]

Em's Westwood freestyles are better than a lot of his old freestyles imo, even if they're done in a different way.

The recent Westwood freestyles are over rated IMO, except for the one on the 'Microphone' beat - that is incredible. Prefer the older ones, like this

I love his 2010 Westwood freestyle.

"Newsflash: I'm still trash" is such a funny opening line to me. That's vintage.

[Elision]

oh my jesus ahahahahahaha

[CrashBand]

I agree with OP.

He's taken a big backwards step towards the direction of Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

[Elision]

He's taken a big backwards step towards the direction of Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

It's all preference. I prefer Tech N9ne's flows over any other artist at the moment

edit: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/i ... these-days

[CrashBand]

He's taken a big backwards step towards the direction of Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

It's all preference. I prefer Tech N9ne's flows over any other artist at the moment

I think that's a pretty valid statement.

But I think the OP perfectly sums up the flaws with Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

[Slim Fiasco]

I agree, and what's funny is that I think that his flow from those days was the best he ever had (or any other rapper for that matter). I guess it's something that goes hand in hand and I love the concept of less is more and quality over quantity, so I really admire the approach of making each line count. It makes the whole verse "stronger", more important, and more cohesive; all of which leads to a more clear flow.

[Elision]

He's taken a big backwards step towards the direction of Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

It's all preference. I prefer Tech N9ne's flows over any other artist at the moment

I think that's a pretty valid statement.

But I think the OP perfectly sums up the flaws with Tech N9ne and Crooked I.

I wouldn't call them flaws, it's just reasons why you don't prefer it. young money rappers have flaws but these are top tier artists we're talking about. they're deciding to sound the way that they do

[CrashBand]

I wouldn't call them flaws, it's just reasons why you don't prefer it. young money rappers have flaws but these are top tier artists we're talking about. they're deciding to sound the way that they do

I think sacrificing what you are saying for flow and rhyme is at least a small 'flaw'.

But yeah, we don't have to get into it.

[Elision]

I think sacrificing what you are saying for flow and rhyme is at least a small 'flaw'.

I think

I

It's all preference.

[CrashBand]

I think sacrificing what you are saying for flow and rhyme is at least a small 'flaw'.

I think

I

It's all preference.

It is a flaw, lol.

I'd argue that it is objectively worse than not sacrificing what you are saying.

But you can still prefer stuff that is worse