In the last year or so Relapse has gained a lot of fans and respect. I think the same can be expected for Recovery, but even more so since Recovery is a better album.
Relapse is aging like wine, but why? Isn't it still the same album that got tons of hate in 09? It's the same album, but its not by the same artist. When Eminem came back everyone was anxious for a return to the golden era of the early 2000's. We wanted the most illest, most drugged up, Detroit made rapper to ever grab a mic, back. Instead, we got tracks with funny voices and BS content that sounded way too much like the horrible moments of Encore we tried so hard to forget. The performances weren't quite legendary, and the interviews were awkward at best. We didn't hate the music, we hated the fact that our rap hero was gone and unable to re create the kind of music we all fell in love with.
Then Em started appearing more confident. A Westwood freestyle and BET cypher generated some positive buzz, and the performances starting getting better. His interviews got more chill, and out of nowhere his feature on Drake's Forever came out. Forever had the best flow, lyrics and attitude we had seen in years. It made you say "damn.." for the first time in years. You heard it at your college parties. You heard it on the radio. Even Lebron was bumping that shit. Eminem had been back, but Em had just returned. That was followed up by two bomb ass verses with lil Wayne and B.O.B then suddenly everyone was hyped again. Not because he dropped three good verses, but because we could see Em was capable of making classic material and being the greatest again.
Then Not Afraid dropped. No accents, real content, sick style and overall great song. Thats when Relapse starting gaining appreciation cause we got the joke. It stopped being looked at like the best he could do, and started being looked at like the lyrical experiment it was.
Recovery has its flaws but it's without a doubt a great album. If you disagree I think you should go back and listen to it again. It's full of classic moments, and intense storytelling of someone going through drug withdraw, and gaining back control of their life. In the end I think its going to be listed as a classic for what it is. A necessary step in his life and rap recovery "no pun intended".
IMO Throw it Up is a joke verse and a metaphor for him "killing" off that style of yelling and bad punch lines no one liked. Fresh buzz off an ill BET cypher and upcoming features with real rappers has me more pumped for new material than ever. We're about to be hit with the best Em since 2003. I honestly believe that. Soon, the "Eminem is done" thoughts will disappear, and the GOAT legacy will continue. Recovery will find its way back into our playlists and the appreciation will start.
With its bad punchlines and all Recovery will stop being looked at as the best Em could do, and start being seen for what it is. The story of an artist recapturing his spot at the top while battling through personal struggles. Struggle doesn't come without some bad, and neither does Recovery, but it also makes one stronger and can lead to greatness. Recovery did and soon everyone's going to agree.