Marshall Mathers LP, The (Explicit) - Eminem

...Manson.

The Marshall Mathers LP is, for me, his best album. First released in 2000 (and subsequently re-released in 2001) it's angry, turbulent and contains some of the most graphic rapping that I've heard for a long time in 'mainstream' music. He's never tried to be mainstream, that's the thing. If he was a mainstream act he'd lose a lot of his appeal; some years ago I'd imagine his work would have been banned for the drug references, ...
...And so starts The Marshall Mathers LP!

Eminem kicks off with a track called 'Kill You'. God knows how many times I'm going to use the word angry in this review, but this song is definitely angry. At first listening you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a track about the hate he feels for women in general but listen closely and you'll realise he's talking about his MUM. There's little music as such in this track but it's got a cracking ... more

OK, so everyone has a view on Eminem. People tend to love him to bits and take what he says as entertainment and then there's those who find him utterly offensive and a blight on music in general. Um... I love him to bits. Yes, he's offensive. Yes, he swears a lot. Yes, he's downright awful to certain groups of people. BUT if you take time to listen to what he has to say you'll find he talks a lot of sense. He has his own morals that he follows which are probably not to everyones liking but you've got to give the guy a bit of credit for not being scared to stand up and say what he thinks. He's out of place as the only major white rapper in a predominantly black enviroment, but Dr Dre took him on board and let him do his own thing. His own thing turned out to be a combination of hip hop and rap but I'm sure there's a bit of a heavy rock influence because of the themes of his music, graphically violent he's the only rapper to be blamed for tradgedies on a regular basis a la Marylin Manson.

The Marshall Mathers LP is, for me, his best album. First released in 2000 (and subsequently re-released in 2001) it's angry, turbulent and contains some of the most graphic rapping that I've heard for a long time in 'mainstream' music. He's never tried to be mainstream, that's the thing. If he was a mainstream act he'd lose a lot of his appeal; some years ago I'd imagine his work would have been banned for the drug references, swearing at every other word and explanations of what he'd like to do to people who have upset him through his life. If you're offended by the tracks he's released as singles, you'll hate this album. Simple. I'm not easily offended, however, so this is what I think.

I'll not bother going into the various skits on the album as most of them are simply Eminem making waves, letting the world know what a 'Bad Boy' he is. I've never quite got to grips with the skit thing anyway, the first time you hear them you can have a bit of a chuckle I suppose but after that they just sort of get in the way of the music.

Starting off with a 'Public Service Announcement' someone (I have a suspicion it's Nate Dogg but don't quote me on it!) speaking on behalf of Eminem informs you that 'Slim Shady does not give a f*ck what you think, if you don't like it you can suck his f*cking cock'. And so starts The Marshall Mathers LP!

Eminem kicks off with a track called 'Kill You'. God knows how many times I'm going to use the word angry in this review, but this song is definitely angry. At first listening you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a track about the hate he feels for women in general but listen closely and you'll realise he's talking about his MUM. There's little music as such in this track but it's got a cracking bassline with the 'gangsta rap' jingly tune over the top which doesn't fit with the murder and chainsaws that he's rapping about! Works though.

You've probably heard 'Stan' on the radio, for this track he teamed up with Dido to create a deeply moving song. Basically this is a song about an over-enthusiastic fan who goes from pleading for autographs to killing himself and his pregnant girlfriend when Slim Shady (as opposed to Marshall Mathers the man) doesn't respond. It's a gorgeous track with just a verse included in the album version which was cut from the radio edit because it was seen as condoning drink driving and murder/suicide. Dido's voice works beautifully against a haunting bass and when Eminem comes in with his violent use of words the track sends shivers down my spine. As well as this version try and get hold of the Eminem v's Wycleff Jean edit of Stan mixed with Wycleff's hit '911', it's truly brilliant.

"Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screamin in the trunk but I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you
cause if she suffocates she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too"

'Who Knew' is Eminem trying to defend the subject of his rapping in his own inimitable style. He knows he's regularly blamed for suicides and violence in the States but this is him saying he's not to blame, he just writes music. Yeah, right! He raps so quickly in this one and the thumping background music is recorded loud so you can't hear at first what he's saying but it's definitely one to offend when you do realise what he's talking about!

'The Way I Am' is another erm... angry one. If you're not into anger you might as well forget this album now because you ain't gonna like this one! He's saying here take him or leave him. And fair play. Even the music is angry, thumping and working so well with Eminems voice as he shouts his way through the track. The paragon of virtue that is Jill Murphy commented on my last op that she wanted to know about my sinful past, and this song plays a big part in my sinful past. Long story short, I'm drunk at home and very angry with one of Marks friends. I'm sitting listening to this song (one of my favourites on the album) and I saw red. I beat the living crap out of said friend (with a 5kg dumb-bell no less!) - this song has that power over you. Obviously I didn't use this as my defence in court but I had a good laugh with the police about it! If you listen to the words and hear the emotion in Eminems voice you can see just why some people take it on themselves to do bad things after listening to him. Road rage material.

"No patience is in me and if you offend me, I'm liftin you 10 feet in the air
I don't care who is there and who saw me destroy you, Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit "

'The Real Slim Shady' sounds like a fun song with the jingly beat putting in an appearence UNTIL you hear the words and you realise he's talking the same general nastiness as he does on the angry songs! lol It's a lighthearted look at the way he's portrayed in the media and he doesn't like it, he knows he's not likely to ever win anything when there are "little girl and boy groups" around winning everything.

Eminem teamed up with RBX and the rather terrifying Sticky Fingaz for 'Remember Me'. He's dropped his voice to a much lower pitch and comes across as a raving madman! The same thumping bassline is used with a similar sound to 'The Real Slim Shady' put on top, but this song does not come across as light hearted in any way, shape or form. Put bluntly it's a song about murder - don't want to be listening to this one when that friend of Marks is near!

'I'm Back' is Eminem shouting to the world (again) that he says what he thinks and doesn't give a stuff what anyone thinks of him for it. Another angry one and in my opinion one of the two weak links on the album, it seems like it's included as a space filler because it doesn't say anything that you've not already heard in 'Remember Me' and 'The Way I Am'.

'Marshall Mathers' is a song about everyone wanting to be his friend now he's a star. It's another haunting tune where Eminem replaces some of his rapping with singing, although the anger comes through. Still he's talking about shooting people who dare disagree with him and despite the sad way this track starts, it's a highly homophobic song which was definitely written to offend.

As the name suggests, 'Drug Ballad' is indeed a erm... drug ballad. He calls this his 'love song' and is an upbeat tune coupled with a rap about hardcore partying, one of Eminems less offensive offerings this is a cracking tune about how much fun drugs are but how they *do* catch up on you in the long term. A bit of a laugh track, and the other weak link I referred to earlier.

Back with the angry side of Eminem is 'Amityville' which is collaboration with Bizarre from D12. It's a dark track and brilliant. There's no real story behind this one as far as I can tell, it's another one about murder, death and destruction with a loud beat which comes across as extremely violent.

"Mentally ill from Amityvilllle, accidentally kill your family still
Thinkin he won't? God-damnit he will, Mentally ill from Amityville"

For 'Bitch Please II' Eminem has teamed up with the equally wonderful Dr Dre and Snoop Dog. This is a typical Dre tune, pimp and drug references ahoy! lol The typical jangling tune that Snoop Dogg (could he get any cooler?) uses in his tracks, you can almost see the bouncing cars in your head!

Even as a big Eminem fan I can honestly say he's overstepped the mark with 'Kim'. Kim is his estranged wife and in the midst of a very dark tune and bass he not only talks of killing her but acts the whole scenario out. This is the only Eminem song that really bothers me because he has a woman acting Kims part and it ends with him choking her and telling her "Bleed bitch, Bleed." Nah, there's no need for this song. No need at all.

The last two songs on the album are 'Criminal' and 'Under The Influence' and I'm lumping these together for the simple reason that they're basically the same song! Different beats admittedly, but essentially these two were written to be lumped together under the general heading of murder and homophobia. Criminal in particular is pretty insulting and would be highly offensive if you happen to fall into one of Eminems target groups.

To sum up, what can I say? As a big fan of hip hop and rap in general I think it's excellent, the weak links I mentioned are more than made up for by the mans sheer talent with words. The album as a whole is much darker than 'The Slim Shady LP' and is quite similar to his later release 'The Eminem Show'. A lot of the tracks sound the same because of the limitations with beats and basslines available to rap artists, at the end of the day these guys are talking not singing so the beat and music must be at a tone and pitch to easily hear what's been said.

To reiterate what I said earlier, if you're easily offended and you buy this album then it's your own fault! By now everyone knows what to expect when it comes to Eminem; he IS graphic, he raps about rape and murder, he thinks drugs are 'clever' and he's never heard of the term politically correct. And this is why I love him. The album comes with a Parental Advisory sticker so a no go for your 5 year old nephew - or your nan! If you like the sound of Eminem you can grab a copy on Amazon for £9.99, if you don't I suppose there's always Boyzone...

The title of the review is taken from 'Kill You' with one of the most bizarre lines I've ever heard!

"Okay I'm ready to go play, Got the machete from OJ,
Ready to make everyones throat ache."

Thanks for f*cking reading. *grin*
 

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