Eminem’s new album Marshall Matthers LP 2 was released yesterday, and I love it! I definitely am enjoying it more than his previous two albums Relapse and Recovery. I heard the first three singles from the album just last week. (I am a little behind the times.) The first single “Berzerk,” released in August, is a Rick Rubin produced song reminiscent of the Beastie Boys early work. Maybe that is because Rubin also produced Licensed to Ill. In fact, “Berzerk” samples the Beastie Boys’ “The New Style” and “Fight for your Right,” as well as Billy Squire’s “The Stroke.” The second single “Survival” features vocals from Liz Rodrigues of The New Royales. The third single “Rap God” is my favorite because it’s dark, controversial, angry, raw and brutally honest – and I respect brutal honesty more than anything. Eminem is kicking everyone’s ass in this one. “Why be a king when you can be a god?”

Some other of my favorites off the 20-track Marshall Mathers LP 2 are “Wicked Ways,” “Rhyme or Reason,” “Bad Guy,” “Headlights” and “Stronger Than I Was.” “Wicked Ways” features X Ambassadors and closes out the album. It has the same brutal honesty and intensity of “Rap God” talking about Eminem’s way with words and why he is the way he is. “Rhyme or Reason” is a take off The Zombies “Time of the Season” using it both as a backing track and changing the lyrics to the same tune. “There is no ryhme or reason for nothing.” The first track on the album “Bad Guy” is pretty brutal. But the line that stands out to me being a Denver Broncos fan is “And here’s your Broncos hat. You can have that shit back cause they suck.” “Headlights,” featuring Nate Ruess, references my favorite Eminem song “Cleanin Out My Closet” and discusses his regrettable lack of a relationship with his mom. For some reason, the beginning and parts of “Stronger Than I Was” reminds me of NKOTB. I am sure Eminem would not be thrilled with this correlation.

I cannot wait to hear these songs live. Hopefully Eminem will tour soon and make a stop in Maryland. What did you think of Eminem’s performance of “Berzerk” and “Survival” on Saturday Night Live last week?

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