How Berzerk Flew Over Heads

[Sam.]

He imitates Snoop on the 2nd Verse, lol.

[Edwin88]

I like what you're tryin too say man, now im even more hyped up for the upcoming album

[classthe_king]

Just because it's wordplay from Em doesn't make it "piss poor". Em's been doing wordplay like this since day fucking one. And regarding the picket fence line: I actually thought the double entendre was clever, and okay at the worst. He's saying that he's making critics go on the fence (unsure) of whether or not to picket (aka protest against him like they did in the 2000 era). And you said it yourself, dude. How the fuck can he take away from the message when there is none? It's a fun song where Em's just going crazy, or rather, berserk.

It's not bad because it's from Eminem…I even admitted that the pried/pride line from Survival was genius. It's bad because it just is. Em's old wordplay was nothing like this, it was much more natural and seemed like it fit in with the verse. His new wordplay always ends up seeming out of place and forced. There's a huge difference between stuff like "Here you want me to tone it down? Suck my fuckin dick, you faggot. You happy now" and his new stuff.

My Name Is was NOT Em mocking the game. It was him mocking celebrities and introducing himself to the world. This is the first time in any lead single that Em has actually blatantly decided to dedicate a verse to mocking other rappers. And no, it shouldn't go over anyone's head because it's BLATANTLY FUCKING OBVIOUS. You have yet to show WHY it was executed horribly. The entire second verse was Em showing exactly what wack rappers do (use corny punchlines to hype up themselves and ability to pick up women)

It wasn't him mocking the rap game, but it was him mocking the game of fame and having to make a catchy first single to make it. He was basically mocking celebrity culture and the game you have to play. And no, it's not blatantly fucking obvious because all he did was do the exact same thing those rappers do. There is literally no argument to be made that he was rapping like that because he was mocking other rappers rather than mimicking them. You could say the same thing for anyone, "Chief Keef isn't bad, he's just mocking all the other ignorant trap rappers!" Eminem's lines were just plain terrible. They weren't funny or creative, which is what differentiates mocking from mimicking, and are on the opposite side of the spectrum from those Prince Ea lines.

It's a homage to the Beastie Boys. The adlibs add a rock-ish vibe to it, and for the first time in a long time, Eminem is doing something NEW. Shut the fuck up with your sonic bullshit. It makes each of the lines sound cool as fuck.

I don't care if it's homage if it sounds terrible and awkward…which it does. And who cares if it's new if it sounds terrible?

The beat stays mostly the same through the entire song. It's his voice that changes, and what's the fucking problem with it? He used to do that shit all the time.

Over the course of the song it sounds the same but in short increments it changes a lot with random sounds being thrown in and the tempo stopping and changing at random points. And that on it's own isn't necessarily a bad thing but it just sounds bad. Same with his voice. He used to do that all the time so that means it's okay now? No, each case is on its own. The way he keeps changing his voice and mixing it together sounds terrible, while it used to sound natural and smooth.

No one ever said Em was a master of grammar. Though (and I'm not sure about this, so correct me if I'm wrong) don't guys tend to label girls a "spit" or a "swallow"? And how is the line out of the place? Works perfectly with the previous Birdman line.

I've never heard guys use swallow as a noun and I even urbandictionaried it and none of the definitions of swallow are as a noun so I'm gonna go with no, no one says that. It doesn't work perfectly at all, that's the point. I'm gonna paraphrase cause I don't feel like looking it up.

"I haven't called anyone baby since Birdman, unless you're a swallow."

It doesn't fit in at all, it's just a random bird reference. Oh I said something about bird man in the last line so I'll mention a word that also is a bird. Other than that there is nothing connecting it or making the line work.

Not the best line, but it's a lead-in to his chorus. But of course, it's Em, and anything out of his mouth that sounds remotely not-perfect these days is automatically the worst shit you've ever heard.

What lol that line was horrendous and I don't hate things just because their Eminem, only because they suck. I can actually look at a song objectively. I even wrote up a good summary of why Survival is average. I didn't think it was bad at all.


On a side note, do you people even know what pessimistic means? If you mean to say I'm the most negative person about Eminem's music? Probably. But pessimistic about Hip-Hop in general? Not even close. I go into everything objectively with an open mind and probably have MUCH broader taste than anyone of you. http://www.last.fm/user/LongKnobRob 541 artists from every style of Hip-Hop.

[Whitefox]

Yes, you have much broader taste than anyone of us. Someone give him a sweet.

[classthe_king]

Well when it directly contradicts everything you're trying to say…..

[Relevancy]

I listened to the song again and for me its the most out of place song he has ever made, considering the title of the album I think nobody expected a song to sound like that, I just pray to god this is the worst song in the album

[kkaniff]

Jesus fuck, Relevancy, what on earth?

[Whitemare05]

Not bashing the song, but if you need to do research and break it down that much to make it "good" then that's an issue.

Just like it for what it is, a catchy radio single designed to catch your ear. It isn't deep or creative lyrically at all. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw it together near the end just to have a radio song.

[Relevancy]

Jesus fuck, Relevancy, what on earth?

What?

[Minimii]

Well when it directly contradicts everything you're trying to say…..

u so scrub berzerk 2nd verse was better than your favourite rappers best album combined stupidhead

Not bashing the song, but if you need to do research and break it down that much to make it "good" then that's an issue.

Just what ive been saying about kendick lamor that he sucks because of this + even when you spend a day in rapgenius trying to figure out what the fuck he's trying to say even then it sucks so yeah.
Berzerk is like 4/10 when the real ss was like 5,5/10 but theyre just 1st singles to attract more money.

[Snakebeast]

It's not bad because it's from Eminem…I even admitted that the pried/pride line from Survival was genius. It's bad because it just is. Em's old wordplay was nothing like this, it was much more natural and seemed like it fit in with the verse. His new wordplay always ends up seeming out of place and forced. There's a huge difference between stuff like "Here you want me to tone it down? Suck my fuckin dick, you faggot. You happy now" and his new stuff.

Oh, I won't deny that Em was far better with wordplay before. I'm just saying that this kind of wordplay is nowhere near as random as corny like it was on Recovery, and it actually fits together. Em is also a lot more subtle with it ie. the HAM/PIGment lines.

It wasn't him mocking the rap game, but it was him mocking the game of fame and having to make a catchy first single to make it. He was basically mocking celebrity culture and the game you have to play. And no, it's not blatantly fucking obvious because all he did was do the exact same thing those rappers do. There is literally no argument to be made that he was rapping like that because he was mocking other rappers rather than mimicking them. You could say the same thing for anyone, "Chief Keef isn't bad, he's just mocking all the other ignorant trap rappers!" Eminem's lines were just plain terrible. They weren't funny or creative, which is what differentiates mocking from mimicking, and are on the opposite side of the spectrum from those Prince Ea lines.

Yep, he was mocking celebrity culture. Thing is though, Chief Keef ALWAYS raps like that and not only that, but Em states RIGHT AFTER the mimicking part that he was, in fact, imitating shit rappers. Creative? Probably not. Funny? I found it hilarious to hear Mr. Serious Growly Man yell BOW CHICKA WOW WOW!!

I don't care if it's homage if it sounds terrible and awkward…which it does. And who cares if it's new if it sounds terrible?

How does it sound terrible?

Over the course of the song it sounds the same but in short increments it changes a lot with random sounds being thrown in and the tempo stopping and changing at random points. And that on it's own isn't necessarily a bad thing but it just sounds bad. Same with his voice. He used to do that all the time so that means it's okay now? No, each case is on its own. The way he keeps changing his voice and mixing it together sounds terrible, while it used to sound natural and smooth.

I like the voice changes, especially the layering in some places and the way he switched up the flow. A good change from the bland and monotone yelling on Recovery ie. 25 to Life.

I've never heard guys use swallow as a noun and I even urbandictionaried it and none of the definitions of swallow are as a noun so I'm gonna go with no, no one says that. It doesn't work perfectly at all, that's the point. I'm gonna paraphrase cause I don't feel like looking it up.

Alright, sure, Em fucked up the grammar.

"I haven't called anyone baby since Birdman, unless you're a swallow."

It doesn't fit in at all, it's just a random bird reference. Oh I said something about bird man in the last line so I'll mention a word that also is a bird. Other than that there is nothing connecting it or making the line work.

Oh, that line definitely makes sense. http://rapgenius.com/Eminem-berzerk-lyrics

What lol that line was horrendous and I don't hate things just because their Eminem, only because they suck. I can actually look at a song objectively. I even wrote up a good summary of why Survival is average. I didn't think it was bad at all.

What the shit? You actually didn't think Survival was terrible? Great for you. Still, you have to look at this from a different perspective. This is a lead single. Compare it to other Em lead singles. It's DEFINITELY better than the last three.

[classthe_king]

Oh, I won't deny that Em was far better with wordplay before. I'm just saying that this kind of wordplay is nowhere near as random as corny like it was on Recovery, and it actually fits together. Em is also a lot more subtle with it ie. the HAM/PIGment lines.

Oh no, it's definitely not as terrible as on Recovery (that toe jam line tho) but that doesn't mean that it's good. For me, wordplay is really a hit or miss, it either adds to the verse or it takes away. There isn't really much middle ground and I feel like most of Eminem stuff still leads towards the former. Although I don't think that Ham/Pig line was bad at all because it was so subtle that it doesn't take away from the verse and when you realize it you just get that oh well that's kind of cool feeling. I still wouldn't praise it or call it great tho. It's definitely not jaw dropping.

Yep, he was mocking celebrity culture. Thing is though, Chief Keef ALWAYS raps like that and not only that, but Em states RIGHT AFTER the mimicking part that he was, in fact, imitating shit rappers. Creative? Probably not. Funny? I found it hilarious to hear Mr. Serious Growly Man yell BOW CHICKA WOW WOW!!

The difference between My Name Is and this is that in My Name Is it was clear that he was mocking celebrity culture and that it was genuinely funny and creative. You can put on your stan glasses and say that you find a 40 year old guy yelling bow chick wow wow for half a verse funny but really it's just embarrassing. Nothing about it is funny or creative, it's just really stupid.

How does it sound terrible?

I'm not going to listen to the song again and tell you exactly how it was terrible but c'mon. The song was a complete clusterfuck. Way too many sounds and changes in his voice and tempo with no real purpose. It was a mess. It really, really hurt to listen to. If he would have just wrapped the whole thing the same way he did the first couple of lines it could have actually been decent because that wasn't bad.

I like the voice changes, especially the layering in some places and the way he switched up the flow. A good change from the bland and monotone yelling on Recovery ie. 25 to Life.

We're going to get nowhere with this but although the monotone yelling on Recovery was awful this was much worse and not a positive change.

Alright, sure, Em fucked up the grammar.

Well when you're trying to pull off wordplay that kind of matters because it prevents it from being a double entendre and makes it look like you're just forcing it.

Oh, that line definitely makes sense. http://rapgenius.com/Eminem-berzerk-lyrics

Did you just link me to that as if it was going to tell me something I didn't already know? It doesn't work both ways.

What the shit? You actually didn't think Survival was terrible? Great for you. Still, you have to look at this from a different perspective. This is a lead single. Compare it to other Em lead singles. It's DEFINITELY better than the last three.

While the last three were terrible they were at least listenable…which this definitely isn't. Sorry.

[Monster]

Great thread

[Snakebeast]

Oh no, it's definitely not as terrible as on Recovery (that toe jam line tho) but that doesn't mean that it's good. For me, wordplay is really a hit or miss, it either adds to the verse or it takes away. There isn't really much middle ground and I feel like most of Eminem stuff still leads towards the former. Although I don't think that Ham/Pig line was bad at all because it was so subtle that it doesn't take away from the verse and when you realize it you just get that oh well that's kind of cool feeling. I still wouldn't praise it or call it great tho. It's definitely not jaw dropping.

Jaw-dropping? Awe-inspiring? Berzerk is not. But considering the fact that it's a lead single, I'd say it's pretty damn good.

The difference between My Name Is and this is that in My Name Is it was clear that he was mocking celebrity culture and that it was genuinely funny and creative. You can put on your stan glasses and say that you find a 40 year old guy yelling bow chick wow wow for half a verse funny but really it's just embarrassing. Nothing about it is funny or creative, it's just really stupid.

You're telling me that a 40 year old saying bow chicka wow wow is embarassing? How about a 26 year old man yelling about his go-go-gadget dick? Quit taking it so seriously. It's a fun party song. Now, if Em does this kind of shit on a serious song, then I'd say you have a point (a la Cinderella Man)

I'm not going to listen to the song again and tell you exactly how it was terrible but c'mon. The song was a complete clusterfuck. Way too many sounds and changes in his voice and tempo with no real purpose. It was a mess. It really, really hurt to listen to. If he would have just wrapped the whole thing the same way he did the first couple of lines it could have actually been decent because that wasn't bad.

I thought the way the beat changed was fantastic, and the fact that Em was changing up his flow and delivery was fresh and great. Especially when he began paying homage to his older shit ie. BIIIIIITCH and the way he began rapped in "Marshall Mathers".

Well when you're trying to pull off wordplay that kind of matters because it prevents it from being a double entendre and makes it look like you're just forcing it.

How does it prevent it from being a double entendre? It's a joke that Em made using wordplay, and I found it funny. Sure, the grammar isn't great, but Em isn't Kendrick.

Did you just link me to that as if it was going to tell me something I didn't already know? It doesn't work both ways.

No, I'm talking about how the Birdman line leads into the swallow line.

While the last three were terrible they were at least listenable…which this definitely isn't. Sorry.

You know, what, I don't blame you. It's certainly different, and it's not for everyone. All I'm asking is that you listen to it a couple more times. It grows on you. It did on me, as well as shitloads of people on this forum.

[classthe_king]

Jaw-dropping? Awe-inspiring? Berzerk is not. But considering the fact that it's a lead single, I'd say it's pretty damn good.

That's bullshit tho. You shouldn't hold a song to lower standards just because it's a single. My Name Is, TRSS and Without Me are all great songs. Swimming Pools was Kendrick's lead single and that's an amazing song, with a message, great lyricism and it's catchy and sounds great. Saying oh it's a lead single so it being terrible is acceptable is not the right attitude.

You're telling me that a 40 year old saying bow chicka wow wow is embarassing? How about a 26 year old man yelling about his go-go-gadget dick? Quit taking it so seriously. It's a fun party song. Now, if Em does this kind of shit on a serious song, then I'd say you have a point (a la Cinderella Man)

The point I'm making is that him yelling bow chicka wow wow for half a verse isn't fun. It sounds stupid, and it frankly is stupid. Whatever he was trying to do he failed at and that's why it's embarrassing. It's not a direct oh he's old so he can't say shit like this anymore thing because Danny Brown is like 36 but he's great. The difference is in the execution and Eminem's execution is really, really bad.

I thought the way the beat changed was fantastic, and the fact that Em was changing up his flow and delivery was fresh and great. Especially when he began paying homage to his older shit ie. BIIIIIITCH and the way he began rapped in "Marshall Mathers".

I mean how it sounds is really really hard to argue because of how subjective it is but I'll just say that I haven't met someone in real life who could tolerate the song and the general consensus from everyone I've talked to is that they hated it. I feel like normal people are more objective about something than trshady members

How does it prevent it from being a double entendre? It's a joke that Em made using wordplay, and I found it funny. Sure, the grammar isn't great, but Em isn't Kendrick.

Because it doesn't both ways.

No, I'm talking about how the Birdman line leads into the swallow line.

Do you really not understand what I'm saying? If it doesn't work both ways it fails. "Stuck in heat like a cactus" Not a great example but it works both ways. Kendrick is stuck in heat in the sense, "When an animal "goes into heat" they are at their most sexually active and reproductive time of the year, this would usually occur during the "mating season" of the particular animal." So he can't stop going after that pussy. A cactus is literally stuck in heat because it lives in the desert. It works both ways that you look at it. With Eminem's line it has the surface meaning but then it gets fucked up when he says unless you're a swallow because that just is wrong and doesn't make sense. That aside though, there's still no other meaning it's just words that are all loosely connected because they have something to do with birds. There's no second meaning to it, which is why it isn't a double entendre.

You know, what, I don't blame you. It's certainly different, and it's not for everyone. All I'm asking is that you listen to it a couple more times. It grows on you. It did on me, as well as shitloads of people on this forum.

I listened to it about 3 times the night it got released and then two times the next day and I honestly hated it and couldn't listen to it anymore. And this forum isn't a good gage on the quality of an Eminem song. Even Eminembase is seeing the flaws in it and making the same observations I am, and when that happens you know something is wrong.