"It's Like These People Are Steps Now, All They Do is Stare"

In case you (for some strange reason) didn't think @Eminem deserved to win best Hip Hop album at the Grammys this week, give a listen to the track below Fly Away. I say it like that because the track didn't make the cut for his award winning album Recovery. Tell me any other Hip Hop album would have not been better with the addition of a @justblaze produced track like the one below. I'd even argue, it woulda fit perfectly as a single for Eminem because it fits the mold of damn near every single he's put out, with the "rising above life's problems and persevering message" being the driving force of emotion for the track.

Big fan of the slightly auto-tune aided hook that the Megatron Don brought to the track too. The uplifting march of the beat is aligns with the sound Eminem has copyrighted over the years. The sound allows his abrasive, full of energy, emotional delivery to come across as genuine and inspirational. That's why he's one of the best and if you're gonna continue to hate, plain and simply...

"Homie you got it backwards, your dippin your soup inside ya crackers"

As a bonus, check out a few of the pics found over at Nah Right for his new video Space Bound. Making an appearance in the video is the beautiful @sashagrey. Love that track, I always thought it was overlooked, until I saw the rumors about it being a single. Guess it's not as underrated or unappreciated as I thought...

Eminem - Fly Away (prod by Just Blaze)

|Download

“Love is Evol, Spell it Backwards, I’ll Show Ya”

"I’m a space bound rocketship and your hearts the moon

And I’m aiming right at you, right at you

250 thousand miles on a clear night in June

And I’m aiming right at you, right at you, right at you"

I’ll admit on the first few listens of the album, I passed over this track dismissively, opting for the flashier tracks with in your face production. After a few listens, it's ended up being one of my favorite tracks off Recovery. Pretty crazy that after one week it's being projected as selling just under 754k...which is a little less than twice what Drake's Thank Me Later sold. 

It isn’t like Marshall to show us his vulnerable side where he openly speaks about needing and missing someone like he does on Space Bound. Now before you think this is some kumbaya track about him being desperate for someone, hold up, because even at his most vulnerable Eminem still lashes out threateningly, protecting himself from hurt….hurt that has been all too real before for him previously, so much that it’s a build in defense mechanism and all too often the subject matter of his music. Now that he's off the drugs, he’s gotten back on the storytelling track and is back to feeling comfortable being lyrically real, giving us a more honest, wide open and transparent view of how he really feels. It's a non-stop double edged sword and I can only imagine just how classic his music may become if he can conquer that rage. Who knows though maybe that lit fuse inside of him is what makes him tick and relate-able to so many people who internalize the anger hit erupts with on tracks like this. 

Shouts out to Jim Jonsin who subtly samples the acoustics on R.E.M.'s song Drive (below) from their 1992 album Automatic for the People:

Unlike a lot of his sampling, this one sneaks under the radar quite a bit and comes off a little more original, which is different, but cool. In other words you wouldn't listen to this and say, "yep that definitely sounds like something he's produced." Smart move to take somewhat of a backseat to a legend, especially on such an emotionally transparent track like this one.

Despite picking the “lonely road”, Em is able to once again (think Eminem Show) coherently portray both sides of his struggle, the good and the bad, the part of him that craves to be whole again, but threatens with consequences the ones who he chooses to let in. It's been a while since we've heard Em scream heartfelt lyrics like on the bridge below:

“And I would have done anything for you,
To show you how much I adored you,
But it’s over now,
It’s too late to say bye, love,
Just promise me you’ll think of me
everytime you look up in the sky and see a star because
I’m a spacebound rocketship..."

The hook on this track is so far from anything you’d expect from Eminem, which is why I liked this track so much. The schizophrenic roller coaster of emotion draws you in, but it has a soft enough vibe to reel in the chaos, giving way to the acoustic backdrop like a pulsing star in space. No doubt in my mind Recovery is and will continue to be regarded as a classic album, but I'll save the reasoning for the album review.

For now just accept this is one man's opinion why Eminem is back atop the Hip Hop game he left 8 years ago...

Eminem feat - Space Bound (prod by Jim Jonsin)
Links taken down by request, go here to purchase at iTunes store

"So You Can Keep Knockin', But Won't Knock Me Down, No Love Lost, No Love Found..."

Between this track, No Love and Drop the World, Eminem and Lil' Wayne have developed an unmatched chemistry on their collaborations in the last year. I'd even throw their work with Drake and Kanye on Forever into that mix of legendary verses, all in one calendar year.

This time the dynamic duo adds a third revered element to the collaboration with @justblaze aka The Megatron Don on the production credits. He takes a page out of the 1993 dance track What Is Love by Haddaway. If you're drawing a blank listen below..

Haddaway - What Is Love?


I thought about flipping this into one of my Did They Do the Sample Justice? pieces, but #lesbihonest, nobody even remembers who Haddaway was, so it would be unfair to compare somewhat of a one hit wonder to a colossal collaboration like this one. Sure the sample will give it an element of familiarity that combined with the namepower of both Lil Wayne and Eminem will result in a can't-miss platinum single. It goes beyond that though because this Recovery album is a final sign that Eminem has finally gotten off the drugs and is back to being a *deserving* platinum artist that will sit in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame someday.

I'm not going to spoil my album review, but it's really hard to hold back my giddiness at how well put together and classic Recovery is going to be. Just look, the production credits for his album were released this week...

Eminem Recovery Tracklist

1. Cold Wind Blows (Produced by Just Blaze)
2. Talkin’ 2 Myself Feat. Kobe (Produced by DJ Khalil)
3. On Fire (Produced by Mr. Porter)
4. Won’t Back Down Feat. P!nk (Produced by DJ Khalil)
5. W.T.P. (Produced by Supa Dups)
6. Going Through Changes (Produced by Emile Haynie)
7. Not Afraid (Produced by Boi-1da)
8. Seduction (Produced by Boi-1da)
9. No Love Feat. Lil Wayne (Produced by Just Blaze)
10. Space Bound (Produced by Jim Jonsin)
11. Cinderella Man (Produced by Script Shepherd)
12. 25 To Life (Produced by DJ Khalil)
13. So Bad (Produced by Dr. Dre & Nick Brongers)
14. Almost Famous (Produced by DJ Khalil)
15. Love the Way You Lie Feat Rihanna (Produced by Alex Da Kid)
16. You’re Never Over (Produced by Just Blaze)
Bonus track: Untitled (Produced by Havoc)

Add that up 3 DJ Khalil tracks, 3 Just Blaze tracks, 2 Boi-1da tracks, and might as well throw in a track from Jim Jonsin, Dr Dre and rising producer superstar Emile. Like a hungry Usain Bolt, on there is absolutely no half steppin' on this album for Eminem, he got the best producers and was very motivated to do well, which is a deadly combination for any artist.

Not to discount this standout track from Recovery, but I'd still give a slight edge to Drop the World over No Love because the verses are a cut above from both Weezy & Em, plus the beat is more unique by Chase N Cash. The quoteables on this are endless though..

Lil Wayne"Been to hell and back, I can show you vouchers
I’m rolling Sweets, I’m smoking sour
Married to the game but she broke her vows
That’s why my bars are full of broken bottles
And my night stands are full of open Bibles
I think about more than I forget
But I don’t go around fire expecting not to sweat"

"So you can keep knocking but won’t knock me down
No love lost, no love found"

Eminem"When I rip this stage and tear it in half tonight
It’s an adrenaline rush to feel the bass thump
In the place all the way to the parking lot, fellow
Set fire to the mic and ignite the crowd
You can see the sparks from hot metal"

*my favorite*"When I’m not even in my harshest
You can still get roasted because Marsh is not mellow"

Indulge folks, doesn't get much more high quality in Hip Hop than this masterpiece....

Eminem feat Lil Wayne - No Love (prod by Just Blaze)
| Download

"Gotta Shake That Ass Like a Donkey With Parkinsons..."

In short, this one had me at hello all Jerry Maguire style. Other than being his second single off Recovery, the track features one of my favorite producers (pictured above in the banner far top right corner) DJ Khalil. In case you're not up in his works of art, give Slaughterhouse - The One, Fabolous - Imma Do It, Clipse - Kinda Like a Big Deal, Jim Jones - Love Me No More. Side Bar: That Imma Do It beat is probably my favorite out of the bunch, but that may also be due to the fact that Fab pulls a lyrical jack move all over the beat.

This beat most closely resembles Slaughterhouse's The One and Clipse's Kinda Like a Big Deal with the rock/guitar sample over the upbeat Khalil percussion-fest, providing the perfect canvas for Em's schizophrenia. This track spotlights the night and day creativity difference between his new material off Recovery compare to whatever the hell that was on Relapse. Seemingly another no-holds barred assault on whatever pops into his mind with quoteables like...

"I cut my toes off and step on the receipt before I foot the bill,
Listen garden tool, don’t make me introduce you to my power tool,
You know the f'ing drill"

"I gave Bruce Wayne a Valium and said,
Settle ya f'in ass down I’m ready for combat-man,
Get it calm batman?"

"Gotta shake that ass like a Donkey with Parkinsons,
Make like Michael J Fox in the jaws playin’ with a etch-a-sketch"

"Does a bird chirp, Lil Wayne slurps syrup til he burps and smokes purp,
Does a wordsearch, gets circles wrapped around him like you do when I come through"

"Fork was in the road took the pyschopath
poison ivy wouldn’t have me thinking rash"

That Bruce Wayne combat man/calm batman pun was creative, as was the get circles wrapped/wordsearch rap double entendre. Side Bar: Interesting how OSU's own MZ of The Smoking Section called shenanigans on Jay-Z's triple entendre line off his collabo with Drake on Light Up. Not gonna lie the line about Michael J Fox, whom you may have read has Parkinson's disease, and the etch-a-sketch was little out of bounds...but after the making fun of Christopher Reeves' disability, his mockery truly knows no bounds?

On a humor note, I definitely felt like an idiot at the 3:31 mark in the track where the sound on the track does a quick fade for the beat to recover (no pun intended) with Em yelling TURN ME BACK UP! I'm serious I had it on the iPod in the shower and I was like WTF!! who is in here turnin' my music down!!...crazy how even 2 sec fade can be so noticeable when you naakkkeedd.

While everyone has been quick to negatively judge Drake's new album, which sprung a leak this week, I'm reserving judgment for a few weeks because I've only begun to soak in his deeper than people thought debut album. Despite that, I'd definitely give the nod to Eminem whose first two singles (Not Afraid and Won't Back Down) are better than Drake's (Over and Find You Love). We'll see if Eminem can continue this regained sense of vitality with his rhymes and overall effort on tracks...I'll say one thing, with these two tracks he's turned me from a half decade long hater to a believer all over again..

Give it a listen...
Eminem feat P!ink - Won't Back Down (prod by DJ Khalil) | Download

First Single off Recovery...Eminem - Not Afraid (prod by Boi-1da)

This...ladies and gents is what I'm talkin' about. Finally...at last...it's about time...a track that isn't so cracked out lyrically that it's hard to take seriously. Nope this one is quite fitting as a lead single for his new album Recovery.

Starting with a build up that is on par with a track Maino's All the Above, you can tell that he's about to take you on a full 18 hole journey that deals directly with his recovery from drug abuse. Shouts out to Boi-1da on the production too, I'm glad to see he's getting more acclaim and work from other well known artists after being Drake's main man behind the boards for so long. Seems like this is sort of an ode to the fans and special people in his life out there who "admittedly I probably did it subliminally, for you, so I could come back a brand new me, you help see me through, and don't even realize what you did, believe me you....".

Definitely a spiritual track that is going to serve as an inspiration to those who "have been down the same road". Notable quoteables:

"When I say 'em or do something I do it, I don't give a damn
What you think, I'm doing this for me, so f the world
Feed it beans, it's gassed up, if a thing's stopping me
I'mma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly
And all those who look down on me I'm tearing down your balcony"

"I shouldn't have to rhyme these words in the rhythm for you to know it's a rap
You said you was king, you lied through your teeth"

""And to the fans, I'll never let you down again, I'm back
I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact
Let's be honest, that last Relapse CD was "ehhhh"
Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground" - VERY TRUE

"I promise
To focus solely on handling my responsibility’s as a father
So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof like my daughters and raise it
You couldn’t lift a single shingle on it
Cause the way I feel, I’m strong enough to go to the club
Or the corner pub and lift the whole liquor counter up
Cause I’m raising the bar, I shoot for the moon
But I’m too busy gazing at stars, I feel amazing and...I'm not afraid"

Real down to earth accessible track that was exactly what I needed to begin being excited again about the music Em is putting out. Welcome back Em, I'm back in your corner and absolutely can't wait for Recovery now after hearing your first single...

Check it out...
Eminem - Not Afraid (prod by Boi-1da) New Single!!!