The cringe pop songs are gone, Eminem's flow is pleasing to the ear without the yelling or as much of a choppy flow, but the production is way too bland once again. At this point I'd rather him make a mixtape and rap over classic beats. He still raps well (of course) and writes some noteworthy bars (albeit too much of this is about the same thing), but the songwriting as a whole isn't good enough to make tracks with replay value. I was surprised 'Tobey' was a single, and after listening to the whole album more than once, 'Houdini' aside, nothing has hit single written all over it by any means. The concept of the album is maintained, but in doing that there is too much repetition. I love Eminem as a rapper, but there aren't songs here that I get excited about.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★★☆/★★★☆
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Renaissance, Houdini
1. Renaissance
Fun rapping over a hard beat - Something we should get more of from Eminem. Content wise it feels like something from 'Kamikaze'. - "Cause I don't see no fans, all I see's a bunch of complainers/Kendrick's album was cool, but it didn't have any bangers/Wayne's album or Ye's, couldn't tell you which one was lamer/Joyner's album was corny, Shady's new shit is way worse/Everything is either too tame or there's too much anger"
2. Habits
This begins a theme of Eminem poking fun at cancel culture and the Shady Vs Marshal battle. The production isn't great but the rapping and flow gets better as the track progresses with a beat change-up.
3. Trouble
A short skit leading into the next track.
4. Brand New Dance
The Christopher Reeve references are back from Relapse. Apparently this was an Encore leftover. It's one of the least interesting songs on the album.
5. Evil
"And not the good kind of gay either (What?)/Where two men fuck each other and hate beaver (Woah)" Haha. Jesus... Again, the instrumentation isn't that impressive, but it's the best song since the opener.
6. All You Got (Skit)
More Shady Vs Marshal
7. Lucifer
The hook is okay, but the beat is repetitive and makes the song drag on.
"Why can't you make fun of people behind their backs like a normal person?"
8. Antichrist
This is mostly about Eminem being offensive and provoking. As above though, it drags on. The lyrics are better here with more quotables. "Cause I can spit a bar that is a/Cross between Nas and GZA, Biggie Smalls, and RZA/So hard, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj'll scissor."
9. Fuel
About Em never stopping! Decent feature from JID.
10. Road Rage
There is a whole verse about how we are meant to coddle obese people, pretend there's nothing wrong with it and that it looks good. "Yeah, all my obese people, if you're fat, proud, and you know it (Hey)/Raise your hand if you're shoving food in your mouth at this moment (Mmm)/But if you're mad 'cause they're clownin' you for poundin' them donuts (What?)/Put 'em down and either do somethin' about it or own it."
Then this in the next verse - "Call me a transphobe (Really? Yeah) 'cause I just can't go (What?)/And try and pretend you was never a man though (Sorry)" Then the song transforms into Juvenile's classic 'Ha'. This is a song most will agree with the content of and the beat change makes it fun. Of course this site predictably has their knickers in a twist about it. "Ha!"
11. Houdini
The catchiest song on the album thanks to its contagious hook. A well chosen first single that borrows from Eminem's earlier hit, 'Without Me'.
12. Breaking News (Skit)
13. Guilty Conscience 2
Shady and Marshal trade bars about what trouble Shady has gotten Eminem into. The most enjoyable bit of this is where Em goes through all of his feuds. He is about to kill Shady, but then he wakes up...
14. Head Honcho
Basically brag rap/overcoming the hate featuring Shady Records signee, Ez Mil. "Give a fuck if you hate me worse than each track on Revival."
15. Temporary
The first song to change up the theme of the album being a song for his daughter, Hailie, for when Marshal dies. Eminem raps, at times, unevenly, over a piano evoking sadness. It's no 'Mockingbird'.
16. Bad One
Eminem brags about his place in hip hop. There are some quality bars. "Haters, I made a few/But like when Three Stacks just plays the flute/I ain't got shit to say to you (Nah)."
17. Tobey
This second single set the tone for the album regarding the quality of the beats. It's average and I think BabyTron has a poor voice. The chorus/concept is kind of creative though. I'll give them that.
18. Guess Who's Back (Skit)
A 'comedic' skit that partly makes fun of the flow of Em's in 'Houdini'.
19. Somebody Save Me
The second song from Eminem directed to his family. He apologises for not being the best father ("I don't even deserve the father title"). The hook from Jelly Roll isn't bad here.
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