Angry over the state of rap as well as the poor critical reception of his album, ‘Revival,’ Eminem surprises with an angry, surprise album, ‘Kamikaze.’

Cutting straight to the chase, it’s no secret that Revival, the 2017 studio album by Eminem, was panned by critics for the most part.  I personally didn’t feel as harshly towards the project – it had some moments – but definitely didn’t consider it vintage Em either.  The Academy Award and Grammy-winning rapper definitely ‘got wind’ of the criticism thrown toward Revival, and he got pretty angry.  That anger he brings to his surprise 2018 studio album, Kamikaze.  While Kamikaze doesn’t return the rapper to his peak per se, it’s definitely an improvement over Revival.

“The Ringer”

“But they been puttin’ me through the wringer / So I ain’t ironin’ shit out with the press / But I just took this beat to the cleaners.” Eminem commences Kamikaze with a bang on “The Ringer,” going H.A.M. as he disses numerous rappers and his critics.  There’s lots to sort through, but among the most colorful, funniest, and obvious disses the rapper serves up is towards Lil Pump: “So finger-bang, Pootie Tang / Burger King, Gucci Gang, dookie, dang…”  He also raises eyebrows towards the end of the lengthy opener, prior to the above-mentioned shot taken at the media.

“I said my beef is more meaty, a journalist

Can get a mouthful of flesh

And yes, I mean eating a penis

‘Cause they been pannin’ my album to death.”

Eminem doesn’t back down on “Greatest,” keeping things incredibly profane from the jump.  Notably, he makes a number of references, including mass murderers Stephen Paddock and James Holmes, South African hip-hop collective Die Antwoord, Ja Rule, Michael Jackson, and Muhammad Ali. Not without its own fair share of controversy, on the hook, he takes a shot at white rappers ‘jocking’ his style.

“Greatest in the world, greatest in the world, greatest in the world

No lie, I might be

The best to ever do it, the best to ever do it, the best to ever do it

I feel like the greatest

Woke up to honkies sounding like me

Never be as good, never be as good

Packing up wife-beaters, white t-shirts, white

But I’m the greatest.”

“Lucky You” 

Marshall Mathers continues to ‘fire on all cylinders’ on “Lucky You” featuring Joyner Lucas. Joyner Lucas gives him a mighty lift with hard-nosed, hella agile rhymes.  Not surprising – the man’s got some sick bars.  Eminem doesn’t enters the picture until a bridge which follows Lucas’ verse.  He follows up himself with a verse that once more disses the current state of hip-hop.  He also asserts his ‘comeback’ – “‘Cause I took an ‘L’ when I dropped my last album / It hurt me like hell but I’m back on these rappers.” “Lucky You” goes hard – rhymes and production.

Eminem continues to use his critical failure as fuel on “Paul – Skit” featuring a voicemail from manager Paul Rosenberg, before dropping “Normal.”  He asserts, “I just want you to be normal / Why can’t you b*tches be normal?” Essentially, wants a healthy, successful relationship without the dysfunctions he’s experienced in his relationships in the past. It’s an interesting record, with its fair share of twisted-ness, if not as attention-grabbing as the “The Ringer” or “Lucky You.”  The skit that follows, “Em Calls Paul – Skit,” is entertaining, as the rapper tells Paul Rosenberg he’s on his way to confront a hater – “But I swear to God this motherfucker lives in Michigan and I think I figured out his address.”

“Stepping Stone”

“Feels like I’m on the descent, but it was not my intent / To treat y’all like a stepping stone.” On “Stepping Stone,” Eminem looks back to 2002, specifically after experiencing success with his rap collective D12.  He’s reflective, feeling guilty that he used his co-members “as my stepping stones,” while their respective solo careers never took off.  At the end of the third verse he asserts, “It’s not goodbye to our friendship, but D12 is over.”

On “Not Alike” featuring Royce Da 5’9, Eminem returns to dissing modern hip-hop, specifically the likes of SoundCloud fueled mumble rappers who thrive off of ad-libs.  The pre-chorus and chorus are savage to say the least.  Furthermore, as Em mocks a number of dumbed down artists, he’s backed by a sick, malicious, trap-oriented beat.  His second verse is among the most epic of Kamikaze.

“Kamikaze” 

“Yeah, I’m a f**kin’ kamikaze crashin’ into everything.” Title track “Kamikaze” features some of the wackiest production of the album, sounding like a circus.  Notably, Eminem interpolates himself – “FACK”, not to mention LL Cool J.  Matching the quirky production are agile, biting, twisted, and unapologetic rhymes, whether it’s the blunt “Stuck up in my rectal crack, kiss my disrespectful as,” or “The shit’s embarrassing as me rear-ending Tara Reid bare.” While middle-aged Marshall Mathers isn’t nearly as controversial as he was back in the beginning, he still has the ability to pack a punch.

“Fall” features the vocals of Grammy-winner Justin Vernon, better known as Bon Iver.  Vernon serves up some lovely falsetto on the chorus, contrasting the tough delivery of ‘Em.  Again, there’s plenty of pop cultural references, including Charlamagne, Hunger Games, Migos, Drake, Gabby Giffords, and Jack the Ripper.  Among the most savage lines? “Tyler create nothin’, I see why you called yourself a f****t, b*tch.” Day-um son!

“Nice Guy” 

The brief but effective “Nice Guy” is the first of two songs featuring Jessie Reyez.  Her distinct, coarse pipes are perfectly suited for an Eminem collaboration.  The blend of the two on the chorus is definitely a lot to handle, in a good way.  The post-chorus definitely can’t be characterized as ‘nice’ (“Suck my dick, you f**kin’ suck, b*tch”).  Reyez stays aboard for another brief number, “Good Guy.”  Where she was featured prominently on “Nice Guy,” her biggest claim to fame is the outro, following Em’s sole verse. Notably, she sounds a bit more refined compared to “Nice Guy.”

“I got a song filled with shit for the strong-willed / When the world gives you a raw deal / Sets you off ‘till you scream, ‘Piss off! Screw you!” Kamikaze concludes with “Venom – Music from the Motion Picture.” The soundtrack cut matches the anger and attitude exhibited throughout the course of the LP.  Gotta love the melodic, yet gritty nature of the chorus.

Final Thoughts

Has Eminem come all the way back after such a cool reception for Revival? While he’s not back on the same level as he was in his heyday, Kamikaze is definitely better and more intriguing than Revival. It helps that the rapper has ‘fuel for the fire’ (anger), and that Kamikaze is a much tighter 45 minutes as opposed to the 80 minutes that plagued Revival.  There’s definitely replay value, and Em definitely makes relevant points about the state of modern rap.  

Gems: “The Ringer,” “Greatest,” “Lucky You,” “Stepping Stone,” “Not Alike,” “Kamikaze” & “Good Guy”

Eminem • Kamikaze • Aftermath • Release: 8.31.18

Photo Credits: Aftermath