Eminem, Relapse Review

Overall Rating

-Em's most exaggerated and outrageous album to date.
-Dr. Dre produces the majority of the Album.

-The whole "Drug theme" is milked dry.

Eminem - Relapse Review (Aftermath, 2009)
Ladies and Gentlemen, can Eminem get your attention please? He's back. After a five year hiatus, the self-proclaimed Slim Shady has returned to capture your brain with new insane lyrical content and an obvious obsession with drugs. I'm warning all Parents right now to seriously be concerned about this album. I don't think Eminem's issues are appropriate for most children or even teens, but hey its the year 2009 and from what his past albums have shown he's here to get people talking again, whether good or bad.

The first thing that stands out right away about Relapse is the overwhelming presence of Dr. Dre who produces 95% of the album. I'm personally not one to get tired of the great D.R.E. His beats are banging once again, sounding familiar to past Dr. Dre Productions ("My Mom", "Old Times Sake") and some sounding very fresh ("Insane", "Must Be The Ganja"), but either way, what do you expect? Music producers always have their own distinctive sound, and that's why Dre excels, his sound is just one you always wanna bob your head to.

On the lyrical side of things; Eminem is rapping about what's happened to him since we last saw him in Encore. Honestly, I hadn't seen a photo of Eminem for about two years. The album is called "Relapse" for a reason. In 2008 sources revealed information to TMZ about Eminem weighing over 200 lbs. If you like any of those four things then you'll love this album. Then again most Rap albums of the current generation are filled with the same basic content. The difference with Eminem is that he has made two classic albums (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP) which makes Eminem's story and rap stand out from many other Mainstream Rappers, and you can't deny he always seems to be smarter and wittier. Relapse undeniably ups the ante in every aspect of what makes Eminem Slim Shady. In the song "Insane" Em reveals he was raped by his step-dad, and in "Same Song & Dance" he talks about popping pills alongside fellow Hollywood drug-addicts Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. Relapse is definitely Em's most exaggerated and outrageous album to date, which ultimately makes it the most entertaining.

That's what makes Relapse special, the content reminds the listener of Em's dark past, which is much more interesting then the everyday club track. The fact is that Mr. Mathers' present situation could be just as dark as his past. This album milks the whole "Drug Theme" dry. If your a current or past drug user, Relapse will definitely be your theme song. If you don't do drugs than maybe you won't dig it as much. "Relapse 2" was also confirmed during a press release by Em's label on March 5, 2009. If it can match the craziness of "Relapse 1" then 2009 should be one insane year for Shady/Aftermath.
4.5 out of 5*

Best Tracks:

"3am"
"My Mom"
"Insane"
"We Made You"
"Stay Wide Awake"
"Old Times Sake (Ft. Dr. Dre)"
"Deja Vu"
Bonus Video:
"3 am"