Encore > Relapse

[Wic Kid]

Stronger Singles

That's where I stopped reading...


lol j/k I did read it all, I respect others opinion and can see where you coming from, but before breaking down my opinion, I would like to ask if you're a hip-hop head hardcore or a casual music listener?

He meant stronger in charts. Encore singles did pretty good on charts, much better than Relapse singles. But We made you is far better song than Just lose it, whether you like it or not. JLI had like 10 rhymes in the entire song, for fucks sake.

[Alaine]

Stronger Singles

That's where I stopped reading...


lol j/k I did read it all, I respect others opinion and can see where you coming from, but before breaking down my opinion, I would like to ask if you're a hip-hop head hardcore or a casual music listener?

He meant stronger in charts. Encore singles did pretty good on charts, much better than Relapse singles. But We made you is far better song than Just lose it, whether you like it or not. JLI had like 10 rhymes in the entire song, for fucks sake.

Singles mean nothing cuz basically we all know most songs on Em's albums are stronger than singles, so that's irrelevant to compare. And even more irrelevant to compare singles base off chart. Crack A Bottle went to #1 and broke record, I guess that's his best song ever

[rudeawakening101]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Just to clear some things, from my point of view...

Alaine -- I consider myself to be the above average hip-hop fan, to be honest.

- Stronger singles...why mention them? Well, singles do mean something -- and singles (last time I checked) are actually a part of the album itself. So, for the thought that singles are irrelevant to the discussion...think about it, they can't be! Singles introduce the music listener to part/aspects of what they can *generally* expect from the album. Comparing LTS to 3 a.m (a good comparison), LTS has the longevity that 3 a.m just doesn't have.

- On the idea that Encore was intended to be a better album...it was! There is no what if's to the question being asked -- if those bonus tracks were intended to be included on Encore (which they WERE -- no speculation on that), it'd make Encore a much better album. There wouldn't be the need for the mindless filler that takes up most of the middle tracks. My argument is, that Relapse was intended to leave off those two hot bonus tracks that it features. Why? It's inexcusable. Hence, this is why (IMO) Encore had the better direction...initially, at least. From there, after it leaked...Em got pissed off and well, things changed.

[AbramIsaac]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Just to clear some things, from my point of view...

Alaine -- I consider myself to be the above average hip-hop fan, to be honest.

- Stronger singles...why mention them? Well, singles do mean something -- and singles (last time I checked) are actually a part of the album itself. So, for the thought that singles are irrelevant to the discussion...think about it, they can't be! Singles introduce the music listener to part/aspects of what they can *generally* expect from the album. Comparing LTS to 3 a.m (a good comparison), LTS has the longevity that 3 a.m just doesn't have.

- On the idea that Encore was intended to be a better album...it was! There is no what if's to the question being asked -- if those bonus tracks were intended to be included on Encore (which they WERE -- no speculation on that), it'd make Encore a much better album. There wouldn't be the need for the mindless filler that takes up most of the middle tracks. My argument is, that Relapse was intended to leave off those two hot bonus tracks that it features. Why? It's inexcusable. Hence, this is why (IMO) Encore had the better direction...initially, at least. From there, after it leaked...Em got pissed off and well, things changed.

I disagree when it comes to your argument about singles. Your initial argument placed too much value on sales, and chart positions. That was a mistake, as I'm sure you realize that sales do not equate to talent.

As far as Relapse's quality goes...I believe that Eminem is at the top of his lyrical game on it. I've never been more impressed with his rhyming capabilities than I was listening to Relapse. Don't get me wrong, the content could be switched up some, but it's more of a concept album. The fact is, he did something totally different with this album, and he did it in a good way.

When you talk about My Darling and Careful What You Wish For...I believe they were left off because you can tell (at least I can) that they were fairly early on in this spurt of writing that he did when making Relapse. The first verse of My Darling is terrible. Now, I do agree that it should've made the album had they taken off the first verse. Careful what you wish for didn't really fit in with the rest of the album though, honestly. Great track, but not fitting for the scheme of the album.

Encore was more of a flow-of-thought album. It just sort of went along in a way that lends to the belief that some of the songs weren't really written with the driving sort of hunger that Relapse and Em's other albums were written with. Relapse is the Re-evolution of Eminem. He goes back to a straight spitting type of style, so that with the next album, his skills are back up to par (in actuality surpassing previous works) as far as rhyming goes, so that more personal expression can come out with the next one.

Relapse is sort of like the SSLP, just without the references to poverty. It's sick, and done in a way that is reminiscent of the Detroit underground. Relapse II could very well be similar to the Marshall Mathers LP, but probably more like The Eminem Show production-wise. If there is an album to follow, I wouldn't be surprised if it was similar to The Eminem show, simply because I believe Eminem has started over, so to speak.

Good post though. While I believe your logic is flawed, you do present it in a way that is well-thought out, and I don't think anyone can claim you're an idiot--even though you said something that seems obviously wrong. The point is, your opinion is valid, because you have analyzed things in an in-depth way. Good post, stick around.

[Emadyville]

Damn great points as well ^

[Cube23]

Neither were that good but here is how I see it.

The good songs on Relapse and Encore (bonus songs included)

Relapse:

3am
Stay Wide Awake
Must Be The Ganja
Deja Vu
Beautiful
Underground
Careful What You Wish For
My Darling

Encore:

Evil Deeds
Mosh
Mockingbird
Encore
Yellow Brick Road
We As Americans
Love You More
Ricky Ticky Toc

Both have about the same amount of good songs in my opinion. And for those who are saying singles are a huge deal.. Eh, not really. Jose Lose It got higher on the billboard in the U.S. than any SSLP song. In fact, the two top singles on Encore (Just Lose It and Mockingbird) topped The MMLP's two top singles (Real Slim Shady and The Way I Am) on the U.S. charts. Is Encore better than The SSLP and The MMLP?

[Evan C.]

Which fans? Not me. While I don't like 3 AM, the amount of skill it takes to write a song like that is greater than the non-existent rhyming of Toy Soldiers. Plus, Eminem rapping about the stupid beefs with Benzino and Ja Rule and basically calling uncle was embarrassing. Serial Killer nonsense > That
Are you serious, you want to listen to him mumble on about killing and slashing none existant people rather than a true song like LTS? I think you need to start listening to Insane Clown Posse (I really like them) the cutting slashing ryhming is their sort of scene, not Ems.

A true song? Blah...a "true song" that was written by a drug-addict Eminem when he didn't even sound like himself anymore. 3 A.M., while wack content-wise, is LOADED with multies. Like Toy Soldiers is devoid of multies for the most part.

I'll take Eminem spitting sick rhymes (what makes him him...always has) over Eminem rapping "Woah is meee...I can't take this beef with Ja Rule and Benzino anymore, wahhh".

b]Here you're DEAD WRONG. There's a lot of non-sense rapping on both albums, but for most of Encore Eminem LITERALLY doesn't even make sense. Are you kidding me? Sure, Eminem isn't really rapping "about" anything on much of Relapse...but he IS making sense, and he's rhyming his ass off while doing it. That can't be said about Encore's[/b] trash.

I don't think he's wrong at all, Crazy In Love, Yellow Brick Road, Mokingbird, LTS, Puke (SO UNDERATED considering what hes rapping about) ALL mean something and below you try to dismiss the meaning of these songs describing them as "corny or scatterbrained", you want scatterbrained!?!? listen to Must be the ghanja, 3AM or Stay Wide Awake (NOW I USE POWA TOOLS HOW BOUT NOW WHILE U IN THA SHOWA)

I'm talking about the technical side of the songs....You need to learn something about rap.

During the Encore period, Eminem struggled to line up syllables in his bars and his delivery was wack. I mean, for pete's sake, he basically SINGS Crazy in Love, parts of Yellow Brick Road, and Puke...and he does this in an annoying shot voice with piss poor rhyming.

I think you need to go back and listen to those songs if you're going to diss Stay Wide Awake for "powah tools".

Youre always full of surprises
Always pullin devices
Out your purse little vibrators and dildos
You fuck yourself so much
You barely feel those anymore

I hope you get to hell and Satan sticks a needle in your eye
I hate your fucking guts you fucking slut I hope you die (diiiiiie)


WTF????

Yes, those Encore songs you listed "say something" However they convey the message in ways that weren't well thought out...scatterbrained...corny...annoying.

Deja Vu alone is more meaningful than everything on Encore combined.

It's a very good song, it's not more meaningful than a whole album about a hard time in his life though.

A whole album? There are only a few "serious" songs on encore, the rest is scatterbrained babbling like "fuck a chicken, lick a chicken, suck a chicken".

Deja Vu is one THE BEST songs he's ever made...in chronicles his addiction in a way that conveys to the listener exactly what it was like for him. He does so in a tasteful and understated, yet powerful way through advanced rhyme schemes.

The serious parts of Encore only rehash older content he'd already covered in a far more skilled way (Mockingbird rehashes Halie's Song for example).

Well I don't really like the bonus tracks much for either album, so...

One of the most meaningful songs he's made is Careful What You Wish For, doesn't make it good I know, but I Love You More, My Darling are a million times better than Rain Man, Must Be The Ghanja or 1st Single.

The fact that you lump in Must Be The Ganja (a song that actually contains some sick parts lyrically) with those two tracks displays your lack understanding of rap music.



How many people you know can name every serial killer who ever existed in a row,
Put em in chronological order beginning with Jack the Ripper,
Name the time and place from the body the bag the zipper,
Location of the woods where the body was dragged and then dumped,
The trunk that they were stuffed in, the model the make the plate
And which motel which lake they found her in,
And how they attacked the victim,
Say which murder weapon was used to do what and which one,
Which knife and which gun, what kid what wife and which nun,
Don't stop, I like this, it's fun, the fucking nights just begun

Yeah, that's just like:

Hickory Dickory Dirk Diggler
Look at me work wizardry with these words
Am I a jerk or just jerk chicken
Or Chicka chicka chicka chicka jer jer jerkin the chain
22 jerks and a jerk circle
Or is it a circle jerk or wait a minute
What am I saying, allow me to run it back and rewind it
rrrbb lemme ask you again
Am I just jerkin the chain
Am I bizerk or insane
Or am I just one of them damn amateurs
Working the damn camera filming one of them
Paris Hilton home made pornos
Who keeps tilting the lens at an angle
Chicka Chicka

[Relapse.LP]

To hell with what single charts better.

[Relapse.LP]

the encore supporters in this thread are holding up a turd & turning it over in their hands, trying to look @ it from a different angle so that it doesn't look like a turd, holding it up to the light so that it looks like a different color to brown.

Lmao.

[Daveyboy]

Ciaran Lindley you have some FIT mates..

[Ice_Scarred]

I said it before and i'll say it again....Relapse is in another league lyrically (Slim spazzed out Multi's like a freaking machine!) but the replay factor on Encore to me is so much higher. I think I may be biased because it is the first Em album I bought on my own and I was young and everyone was getting all orgasmic over it at the time but....I love Encore. I'll admit to liking Encore more than Relapse....Rain Man is my shit (I know its horrible but I love it...).

My favorite Encore tracks:

-Rainman
-Mosh
-Puke
-Evil Deeds
-Yellow Brick Road
-My First Single
-Never Enough
-Crazy in Love
-Like Toy Soldiers
-We As Americans
-Love You More
-Ricky Ticky Toc
---------------------------------

My favorite Relapse tracks:
-3am
-Hello
-My Mom
-Medicine Ball
-Beautiful
-Deja Vu
-Underground

Encore just had a vibe to me that was appealing. I really believe its because of my excitement as a kid over it, but Encore is an album I can listen to a hell of a lot while Relapse is a dark album I HAVE to be in a certain mood to listen to. At the end of the day, Encore was a huge letdown compared to his previous 3 albums. Relapse was Em's return to lyrical glory.

Its all a matter of preference I guess.

Encore>Relapse

[Alaine]

Alaine -- I consider myself to be the above average hip-hop fan, to be honest.

- Stronger singles...why mention them? Well, singles do mean something -- and singles (last time I checked) are actually a part of the album itself. So, for the thought that singles are irrelevant to the discussion...think about it, they can't be! Singles introduce the music listener to part/aspects of what they can *generally* expect from the album. Comparing LTS to 3 a.m (a good comparison), LTS has the longevity that 3 a.m just doesn't have.

- I asked that because you seem to put content above everything in a song, which is unusual if you're a hip-hop hardcore fan. Of course subject matter is a part of the song but you can't just ignore flow, delivery, rhyming like that.

- Singles are irrelevant. They're just some selected songs from album, which could be good selections or bad selections. If you're gonna compare, then why not compare song to song in each album?

- Relapse & Encore are 2 different vibe, they just came from a same artist. Encore was built in TES way, that's why it has the same subject like in TES but way less quality because all the songs were poorly executed. While Relapse is more like SSLP where he rap about the most ridiculous things with crazy rhyming. If you look at Relapse as a concept album, it's actually pretty on point.

I have to say I don't even love Relapse but when it comes to Encore, I feel the nerve to defend Relapse, seriously, Encore contains some of the worst music he ever made. And since you mentioned LTS, that song is downright boring to me Yes it has a subject but the way he expressed it... so poor, I feel like hearing him talking over the drum beat through the entire song.

[EminemIVLife]

^I agree with u about Encore. But singles are very important tbh and music videos that go with them. Jay Z nailed that aspect with his singles and video imo which is keeping his head above water otherwise he wouldnt have gone so huge. Look at his consistency in sales; his video is staying being played and he ended up "superficially" looking good to the MTV audience maybe? wtf y am i talking about jay z?

[Alaine]

^I agree with u about Encore. But singles are very important tbh and music videos that go with them. Jay Z nailed that aspect with his singles and video imo which is keeping his head above water otherwise he wouldnt have gone so huge. Look at his consistency in sales; his video is staying being played and he ended up "superficially" looking good to the MTV audience maybe? wtf y am i talking about jay z?

Singles are only important to label in commercial wise obviously, but we're arguing about quality wise here right?

[Alaine]

^I agree with u about Encore. But singles are very important tbh and music videos that go with them. Jay Z nailed that aspect with his singles and video imo which is keeping his head above water otherwise he wouldnt have gone so huge. Look at his consistency in sales; his video is staying being played and he ended up "superficially" looking good to the MTV audience maybe? wtf y am i talking about jay z?

Singles are only important to label in commercial wise obviously, but we're arguing about quality wise here right?

And Jay-Z is definitely a good example about how to select good singles, all his singles from DOA to Run this tow, Empire State of mind are all hightlights of the album, RTT & ESOF are all top hits too, and Em's singles are Crack A Bottle & We Made You (lol) Think about it I bet most (if not all) ppl bought Relapse are stans, cuz I can't imagine hearing those singles and want to buy the album