Does Eminem's new style/flow require more talent?

[Fetou]

I don't claim to be an expert at analyzing rap music and likely don't use the proper terminology, but I've just been wondering about this since listening to Recovery so many times.

Eminem seems proud of his new flow and having his "punch lines a little more compact". He rhymes about a thousand times a second now, while still retaining his clever wordplay. I imagine it is more difficult to pull off then a lot of his classic material.

At the same time, does anyone else hope he doesn't make it exclusive if this is the case? Sometimes what takes the most talent isn't what sounds the best. I like the new album and appreciate this new flow, but it is a bit fatiguing after a while. The lyrics are not nearly as clear and personal to me as some of the classic material.

Before people get their nuts all wrapped around each other and drive me off a bridge, I'm not implying Eminem should just remain static and just emulate MMLP and TES, I'm just saying I wish he would diversify his next album a bit more. This one just seems to easy to classify as that Eminem album with the fast flow and oversampling.

EDIT: Like you can classify relapse as the serial killer/accent album. Go ahead and just TRY to classify the MMLP... that album where he proved everyone else can fight for second place?

[SliK]

I agree to an extent, but there are slower songs and verses, like Spacebound for example. I hate how choppy he can sometimes be, and I don't like when he speeds up to fit all the words into a bar. But that's only a tiny critisism of an otherwise amazing album.

[Emadyville]

So you're asking if his new flow is something that harder? or if no other rapper has done flows like he has on this album?

[Tash8]

his flow is REAL choppy on some songs...and it's kinda weird cause he never used to have that issue.

The good thing is his delivery and lyrical abilities have helped mask his rocky flow.

[Fetou]

I agree to an extent, but there are slower songs and verses, like Spacebound for example. I hate how choppy he can sometimes be, and I don't like when he speeds up to fit all the words into a bar. But that's only a tiny critisism of an otherwise amazing album.

Yeah but I feel as if when he slows down, it isn't one of those bumping songs anymore. I have no problem with Space Bound by any means, but I want a song that is pure angry fire that doesn't need to flow so quickly... think Cleanin Out My Closet ad Soldier.

EDIT: I am legitimately asking if it is more difficult/requires more talent. I honestly don't know.

[Emadyville]

his flow is REAL choppy on some songs...and it's kinda weird cause he never used to have that issue.

The good thing is his delivery and lyrical abilities have helped mask his rocky flow.

i still dont think its on that many songs, this whole choppy flow thing, tho i understand that the songs i notice it on it is sometimes annoying, tho i like all those songs, catch 22 i guess being a stan and all haha

[Tash8]

I think it's cause em used to have of a constant flow, but lately he's been constantly switching up flows within songs rather than whole albums.

[Tash8]

his flow is REAL choppy on some songs...and it's kinda weird cause he never used to have that issue.

The good thing is his delivery and lyrical abilities have helped mask his rocky flow.

i still dont think its on that many songs, this whole choppy flow thing, tho i understand that the songs i notice it on it is sometimes annoying, tho i like all those songs, catch 22 i guess being a stan and all haha

oh of course man. It's not like the accent were it's on most tracks, it's like on two or three. But EMINEM never had choppy flow, not even on Encore. So what happened? I think he just changed his style.

[Shit Can Happen]

I think it does require more talent which is probably the point. It seems to be Em's mission in life these days to make people go "OH SHIT" when they hear him rap. He's hell-bent on making sure everyone knows that he has more ability than every other MC who's currently popular.

It takes several listens to get everything he's saying but I don't mind . Although it's harder to understand than his old music, I really do appreciate how he changes things up on pretty much every album.

[Fetou]

Going through Changes is one of the best songs on the album in my opinion. He changes things up in the middle of verses, but it's way more smooth and still comprehensible.

I want him to harness the anger and make a non-emotional song with that kind of flow.

[shadyboymez]

The rapping is probably not anymore difficult for him than anything else was. The writing part might be a bit more challenging though.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying too. I definitely don't place Recovery any higher than MMLP, SSLP or TES ... better than Encore and Relapse.

[Drucifer]

Its alot harder to rap faster, try to rap "My Name Is" out loud, and when your done, Try and spit the "Despicable" freestyle.........Takes alot more breathe control and better timing

[Just Silver]

I think it requires more patience not necessarily talent

But hardcore talent is definitely needed imagine Kanye trying this style wouldnt work would it

[Hadez]

i think it's about equal.

look at Relapse and you see crazy creative rhymes EVERWHERE, more story driven, and less punchlines
look at Recovery and you see clever punchlines and wordplay, MUCH simpler rhyming.

he took away one thing to get what that one thing was lacking so i say it's not necessarily more "talent" required.

[gladimnotsoluble]

While I love Recovery and it certainly is the album of the year for me at the moment (we'll see when The Roots come out), I understand what you are saying with his flow getting tiring.

I think part of the magic of Em was his ability to tell a story or to speak his mind and the words just happened to rhyme. Sing For The Moment is a classic example of this. Now his flow seems awfully choppy as many of mentioned.

But really, I think the biggest issue I have is his insistence on yelling. His vocal volume is what can get really tiring after a while. Songs such as "Soldier" are so angry, his words are dripping in venom, yet at the same time it isn't necessary for him to yell the words. Songs like "Love You More" characterize his anger, along with his chorus that is actually sung instead of the constant layering of his voice that reminds me of hip hops' autotune persistence.

Don't get me wrong, this album is GREAT, and the yelling at times works REALLY well. His layering in Drop the World was one of the coolest things I've ever heard. However it seems to be that his new style gets a little tiring.