As far as this album goes, Em really had a lot to prove when people didn't get that "Eminem feeling" with Relapse. This of course doesn't apply to everyone. Some people absolutely love Relapse for what it is, myself included. But Em really needed to prove that he still is the absolute best. In my opinion, whether he himself thinks he's the greatest or not is something else but I think it would make him very upset if all these years he was known as the best and then all of a sudden not to be anymore. But in my opinion it is inevitable that he will go down as the greatest of all time.
My hype levels for this album back in early 2010 was unreal. I can remember it, I'm sure all of you were the same. Plus when guys like, Just Blaze, Havoc etc were confirmed for production I was hyped as fuck. But enough jibber jabber, here's my review.
Cold Wind Blows - Loved this song as soon as I started listening to the album. A lot of mixed feeling about this song from things I've read. But I love the song. Beat is great and a lot of funny and humorous lines. Hook for me is pretty catIchy. I thought it was a great opener to the album.
Talkin' 2 Myself - This track stood out for me a lot, hook was great delivered by Kobe and Em was very opening in his verses admitting that he wanted to diss Kanye and Jay-Z when they were dominating. Goes back to what I said about Em being the best then suddenly not being the best anymore. Eminem delivers a great bridge also which he always does. Great track.
On Fire - Great beat by Mr. Porter. Love this song for the lyricism and just straight up rapping in this song, has some great lines in there. Hook is alright in which he then mentions in the 2nd verse "I just put a bullshit hook in between 2 long ass verses" Maybe this was laziness writing the hook or maybe it was meant to be a humorous thing I don't know. But I like the track.
Won't Back Down - Didn't really know what to think of this track when it first leaked. P!nk delivers a great pump up hook. This is clearly a song filled with metaphors and wordplay but it grew on me in time. When I saw Em live this was the intro song and I can honestly say when you see him perform this live, you appreciate it a lot more. It gets you in the mood and pumps you up. Can definitely see why he decided to put it as the intro to his shows. But regarding the album, it's definitely not one of the best on there. But it does grow on some people.
W.T.P. - This also not one of the best tracks on the album but it is good for some reasons. I really like the hook. I find the hook very catchy. His voice is also a good point to it after hearing him screaming on Won't Back Down but I wouldn't put this as one of the best on the album.
Going Through Changes - As we all know Em doesn't shy away from basically telling us his life story. This is basically the Deja Vu of Recovery. For some people, it is the best on the album. Em delivers 4 great memorable verses opening up about his daughters, Proof's death, his drug problem and even a reference to Kim stating he'll always love her and it's a shame they couldn't get through everything they did in the past. But overall this a great track and really stands out on the album.
Not Afraid - This track for me got me so hyped for the album. Listened to the premiere on Shade 45 the day it came out and loved it instantly. The song does have a few unnecessary lines like the "fuck you for christmas" line. But it is a great song. Em has always delivered a great hook and another bridge on the album. The second verse sums up how he was feeling when writing the song about letting fans down and the dislike of Relapse.
Seduction - One of my personal favourites off the album. Very well written track with great verses and a great hook. I also love the beat by Boi1da. The way Em changes up flows in this song is great and really amazing to listen to. Love this track.
No Love - Only going to review Em in this, Lil Wayne doesn't really deserve a review here. I absolutely love Em's verse on this. Completely kills it. Rhymes are crazy and the flows he spits on this are ridiculous. He clearly shows on this song that he is the best, even though it's only Wayne on the song, I guess he is showing just how easily he can kill anybody on a song. And we all know Em can. Great verse.
Space Bound - Another stand out track from the album. And arguably the best song off the album. Amazing story telling by Eminem in this track. Great hook whoever it is, great beat by Jim Jonsin and another great bridge by Eminem.The bridge of this song really stands out on the song for me. That bridge is so amazing and I could listen to it all day.
Cinderella Man - Til I Collapse part 2 is what this song can be described as. The beat is very similar and the hook does remind you of Nate Dogg. Hook is a bit long in my opinion though but Em does come in and kill it with his verse. A few weird wordplays about vegtables flying by they all made sense and worked and in the end provided a bit of humour for me.
25 To Life - The first time I was listening to this song I like everybody else thought he was talking about a girl but the at the end switched it around and it was actually about Hip-Hop, which made me go back and listen and thought that the concept was very well played out and the verses were so intact and worked so well the make the point he was trying to make. Absolutely brilliant song.
So Bad - Wasn't really into this song at first but in time it actually grew on me. Surprisingly the only beat on this song apart from the bonus song Ridaz that was produced by Dre. Song grew on me eventually with the catchy hook that Em delivered and the bridge. Great verses performed and some great rhymes so then I wasn't really into it but now I love the song although I wouldn't say it's one of the best.
Almost Famous - My personal favourtite track off the album. The screaming works well on this song and Em performs 3 great verses. The "antidisestablishmentarinism" link is crazy. I flipped when I heard him spit that. An absolute highlight for me on the album and a stand out track for most people.
Love The Way You Lie - Mixed feelings about this track at first but for what it is and what the song represents it is a great song. Em's emotion showed in each of his verse is top notch and is so on time with the beat. The song however was overplayed but I guess Rihanna helped him by gaining him many new fans which in some ways is a good thing so the song is good for what it is but for me personally doesn't have much replay value.
You're Never Over - The Proof tribute Em wanted to deliver. First verse doesn't really apply to Proof much but Eminem really shows his emotion on the second verse. Second verse is amazing and Em really shows his sadness of Proof's death and that he really did love him for what Proof was and for everything he did for Em.
Untitled - A great surprise when finishing the album. The very end of the song where Em talks reminded me so much of the intro and outro of Business. Good verses and some funny lines and wordplay. Nice track to finish the album on.
Ridaz - At first I didn't really feel this song but in time as I listened more and more I loved it. Great beat by Dre and Em's flow, voice and rhyming his great. His voice on this song reminded me so much of TES voice and it was nice to get a little glimpse of that.
Session One - Pure lyrical track with and Slaughterhouse minus Joe Budden. Everybody kills it in their own way as they usually do. Crooked stood out the most for me in this song as he always delivers. Not a stand out track and doesn't have much replay value for me personally but a great track for just straight up lyrical bars.
Hope you liked my review of the near 3 year old album but I was bored haha. In my opinion this was a great album and Em proved he could still hang at the top of the game and no matter what people think of his recent collabs I think his next album will be better than Recovery.
Peace
