audio review : Remember Me ( song ) … RBX + Sticky Fingaz + Eminem

Eminem may have the best verse; Sticky Fingaz is a close second; but him being on this song sort of goes against the concept of it. Sticky and RBX introduced themselves to the world in 1992. Eminem’s only been famous for just over a year, so his Remember Me quotes seem silly compared to what came before them.

The “can of gas” line is classic though. I also like the “trenchcoats” and “out shooting” bits. Sticky Fingaz offers some funny lines of his own. “I get more pussy than them dyke bitches Total,” he boasts. RBX’s sole standout has him threatening to “hit your ass like the train hit that bitch that got Banned From TV.”

my rating : 4 of 5

2000

audio review : The Marshall Mathers LP ( album ) ... Eminem

audio review : Xxplosive ( song ) … Kurupt + Six-Two ( featuring Nate Dogg + Hittman )

The odd song structure, which starts with a hook never heard again and separates two rap verses by what itself sounds like a Nate Dogg song demo, isn’t as off-putting as it should be. In fact it works, mostly because it all sounds good. The best part, aside from Nate’s splendid vocal melodies, is the beat; a pimped-out funk-guitar loop that sounds like it was made to smoke weed and fuck hoes to.

my rating : 4 of 5

1999

audio review : Chronic 2001 ( album ) ... Dr Dre

audio review : The Slim Shady LP ( album ) … Eminem

audio review : The Slim Shady LP ( album ) ... Eminem

“I wanted an album so rugged, nobody could touch it,” Eminem proclaims. If he’s referring to rap albums, this LP might just be that. I’ll say here and now with no hesitation or reservation that Eminem is the best rapper I’ve ever heard. No popular rapper you can think of, alive or dead, even comes close. I might’ve been saying the same about guest Royce Da 5-9 if he weren’t upstaged by a rapper whose comedic wit, clever wordplay and sheer rhyme skills near genius.

There is very little filler in Eminem’s verses. Even when he’s lacing them with unnecessary profanities; the Slim Shady persona is a deviant (white-trash) druggie who aims to offend; almost every two bars are a quality set and many of those sets are classic quotables. Unless he’s cheating it somehow, his creativity is close to amazing. He even does his own sound effects. The beats are also impressive, so the album’s only major drawbacks fall on Faulty choruses and silly skits.

my rating : 4 of 5

1999

audio review : The Marshall Mathers LP ( album ) … Eminem
audio review : Hell [ The Sequel ] ( album ) … Bad Meets Evil