Em needs to step his punchline game up

[MikeNUFC]

As much as I enjoyed, and still do enjoy, Relapse, I still belive the one thing that was missing was some class punchlines. Back in 2000ish Em was the punchline king. Witty, subtle and usually funny they were probably one of the main reason I got into Em but at the moment that seems to be the one thing he's lacking.

Of course when he's doing songs like DTW and Forever it's hard to get in a witty punchline becuase of the nature of the song but I'd still like to see R2 or any new music he releases have some this witty humour that makes Em one of the best.

[EminemBase]

Yeah good punchlines have been missing for some time from him. That's the one 'spark' I've been waiting for him to re-unite.

Post MMLP he became more serious and often gauged humour from irony or just through emotion. Then from Encore he just started getting silly through boredom.

And on Relapse he just relied on trying to push the bar in graphic violence and / or empty gross-out humour.

Kon Artis said he got that 'classic' Em back though when he produced with him because it was like back in the Infinite days with them playing the 1-2 punch. He said one of the tracks is like back in The Hip-Hop Shop days. I can't wait.

[slimsoxshady]

Alchemist said punchlines are back...but he also said Evil Deeds was amazing before Encore came out so idk if we share the same opinion lol

[dR3]

Damn, we really need that new material.

[shadyisland]

I agree, he seemed to abandon alot of his punchline driven material for more narrative forms of songs. Which, when he was in a clear mindstate, was still high quality. Relapse didnt exactly lend itself to alot of punchlines, it was more painting a picture of graphic violence for the most part. R2 should have atleast a few songs with some good quotables, if not the whole album.

[Banks]

Damn, we really need that new material.

[embm]

tru tat

[EminemBase]

Alchemist said punchlines are back...but he also said Evil Deeds was amazing before Encore came out so idk if we share the same opinion lol

Well I wouldn't say "Evil Deeds" is amazing but I definitely consider it a great track and one of the best on Encore. Some great lyricism and a really nice racey tone to it.

But yeah, I'm not sure on how reliable Alc is. Although he obviously knows hip-hop... A lot of people, rappers included, often just use phrases like 'punchline' loosely and vaguely and he could just be referring to more of Em's gross-out or... Descriptive killing lines.

I hope the REAL punchline game in him is back.

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

I didn't know punchlines were a game.

[Jay-19]

Fuck punchlines!

You don't need that if the track is hot as it is.
Sure, I enjoy myself a sweet p-line from time to time, but if there's no p-line in the track and it's good, fuck that shit then.

[X'ed Up]

Fuck punchlines!

You don't need that if the track is hot as it is.
Sure, I enjoy myself a sweet p-line from time to time, but if there's no p-line in the track and it's good, fuck that shit then.

same here brotha

punchlines are overrated IMO

[Jay-19]

^ I mean, don't get me wrong, I love punchlines, but it's not necessary to make a track sweet.

[EminemBase]

^ Not really, punchlines are one of the truest displays of a rapper's personality.

Sense of humour is one of the most varying degrees amongst people and Em's punchlines shined his personality through roof-tops.

Also, yes they're usually overrated in general but when Em actually used to bother with them they were incedible, they add alot to his work when he does them right.

An ironic punchline with a metaphor is so much more than just a flat, emotive, 'say what you mean' line. So much more opportunity for poetry, humour and wit. It's a better display of skill than almost anything other than actual writing technique.

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

^ Not really, punchlines are one of the truest displays of a rapper's personality.

Sense of humour is one of the most varying degrees amongst people and Em's punchlines shined his personality through roof-tops.

Also, yes they're usually overrated in general but when Em actually used to bother with them they were incedible, they add alot to his work when he does them right.

An ironic punchline with a metaphor is so much more than just a flat, emotive, 'say what you mean' line. So much more opportunity for poetry, humour and wit. It's a better display of skill than almost anything other than actual writing technique.

You do realize that your preference of sardonicism laced ironic wit over literal, straightforward semantics is just that: A preference.
In fact, as a writer myself, I find it more impressive to effectively employ literal writing techniques than ironic or figurative ones.

[EminemBase]

You do realize that your preference of sardonicism laced ironic wit over literal, straightforward semantics is just that: A preference.
In fact, as a writer myself, I find it more impressive to effectively employ literal writing techniques than ironic or figurative ones.

You do realize that your assumption I prefer irony over literal writing as whole is just that: an assumption.

I waxed ecstatic about irony and punchlines in that last post but I can go on just as much about every other form of skillful literacy.

But since this is a post about Em getting back into punchlines and I was arguing the point FOR having them, of course I'm going to flatter the use of them. I do love irony but just ONE of anything in writing is not good. I love many different writing techniques and styles.

But it certainly adds to it. The more the better. That's why no punchlines at all is worse than some punchlines. It's an addition in skill, a new card at the table.