For Eminem, the first half of this past decade started much better than it finished.
2010’s Recovery was regarded as one of Marshall’s best project in years, not to mention being the vehicle that brought him his most commercially successful single to date, “Love The Way You Lie.” From there though, Em’s social standing in the court of public opinion started to slowly decline. The slander from fans and critics alike became so bad that Em was forced to drop his own version of a Kamikaze in 2018; a full-on diss album geared towards the world at large.
A few public rap beefs later and Em, clearly channeling his Slim Shady alter-ego, now has a brand new surprise album that triples down on the murderous tendencies he’s been boasting for his entire career. Music To be Murdered By dropped out of nowhere, similar to Kamikaze, but unlike the aforementioned album, this new project is even darker and clearly calculated.
If Kamikaze was the crime of passion in retaliation to the onslaught of criticism Marshall faced since 2013 then Music To be Murdered By is the premeditated homicide being willfully carried out on anyone left that denies his GOAT status.
For starters, the album begins with a woman being stabbed to death and then subsequently buried as Em sets the record straight on his past few panned projects. On “Premonition – Intro” he raps, “They said my last album I sounded bitter/No, I sound like a spitter/Who 90 percent of/These hypocrites are tryna get rid of/But why would I get a chip on my shoulder?/I was considered, one time, as the illest.”
It’s just one of many times Em declares his dominance in the culture he feels turned their back on him for trendier acts.
Ironically enough though, Em should get props for (almost) leaving behind his prehistoric formula of verse-female-R&B-chorus-verse-female-R&B-chorus records, which was arguably the biggest crux to his musical arsenal. Instead of loading the emotional songs with basic choruses from the likes of Alicia Keys and P!nk, he employs a slick verse from Young M.A on “Unaccommodating,” a verse and chorus from Anderson .Paak on “Lock It Up” and an infectiously catchy chorus from the late Juice Wrld on “Godzilla.”
He also keeps his dazzling lyrical tirades on point with a plethora of verses that are damn near impossible to discredit. On “You Gon Learn,” he dishes bars such as “Do not let me catch you slippin’/I will pop up and I’ll take a spot from you/I’ll get to doing what a leaky faucet do/But I ain’t talkin’ drip when I say that I’ll get the drop on you” and tactically addresses MGK with lines on “Marsh” like “I could keep beefing/Fuck is the point?/I could make it really difficult for motherfuckers to come to Detroit/If you’re still looking for smoke, I already gave you an L/I’d rather just see you in hell but I should get Puff on the joint.”
It also wouldn’t be a classic Eminem project without a healthy dose of controversy which this album has plenty of – especially on talk-of-Twitter track “Darkness.” With the same emotive pen he wrote “Stan” with, Em pens a track speaking from the perspective of Stephen Paddock — the infamous 2017 Las Vegas shooter. The song hauntingly recites the thought process the shooter went through before and during what is now deemed the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
While this track is utterly disturbing and hard to listen to, Em’s attempt at the concept is notably imposing and an angle he obviously felt compelled to tackle on such a dark album. Aside from stepping into the mind of a mass murderer and putting it on wax, on “Unaccommodating” Em controversially raps “But I’m contemplating yelling bombs away on the game/Like I’m outside of an Ariana Grande concert waiting,” which has been under serious criticism from the internet (obviously) and the mayor of Manchester where the bombing took place.
Although these are some redeemable musical moves for Em in 2020, he still couldn’t resist throwing Skyler Grey and Ed Sheeran on their own respective songs, which are rendered skippable snoozefests.
He also fell back into the bad habit of placing far too many songs on the final tracklist of this album. Twenty songs is simply too heavy for any artist to throw on an album, let alone an artist that raps incredibly dense material at rapid-fire speed. Along with the two aforementioned radio reaches, there are filler cuts like the poorly Serani-sampled “Farewell” and Don Toliver-assisted “No Regrets” – a forcefully remorseful track that Eminem has been making for years.
Marshall Mathers is starting 2020 exactly opposite to how he started 2010. Music To Be Murdered By is far from the star-studded, commercially sustainable album Recovery was, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. On this album, despite its handful of flaws, Em shows strong signs of adapting to the times through modern musical choices and smarter songwriting.
If he can keep making these minor melodic updates while keeping the tongue-twisting rhyme schemes and controversial themes, the real Slim Shady might actually stand back up this decade.
[apple_news_ad type=”standard”]
DOPE 4 life
Rap God
Reviewer is completely wrong about Leaving Heaven. That track is unreal! Albums definitely a 4 or higher.
Also missed the double meaning in Darkness. First two verses reflect different stages in his career
I really can’t stand “Leaving Heaven”. The flow is not smooth at all and he’s screaming all of his lines like he recorded this while he was constipated. He should stick to the effortless flow he had earlier in his career or go back to the style he had on all of the mid-2000 G Unit features.
Different times.. did you not pick up on the subject matter? G Unit was a fantasy project. A great one that let him play the hard guy. This songs raw emotion.
It’s not the subject matter as a much as his screaming voice and forced flow. He has rapped about serious subject matters before in his prime (Rock Bottom comes to mind) without screaming and still flowing great
Idk what you mean he had more screaming/angry type tracks earlier in his career. “The way I am” as a prime example. His flow is more effortless
Now than it has ever been
3.8? Are you for real? At this point in time he as nothing to prove. A lot of rappers need to step up another level to catch him. You can tell he clearly puts the work in. A student of hiphop, I actually prefer him now than earlier in his career.
your opinion should be disqualified for that last sentence. He cannot rap or say anything as meaningful or as purposeful as he did on his first 3 albums which is why he tried to cram a million syllables into every bar to compensate. This album is ok but I agreed with much of the review. If this album had the 10 best songs on it as opposed to 20 it would have been better
10 songs!? Attention span of a goldfish!
So the album has 10 best songs and you think he cannot rap or say anything meaningful. Please share with the class the last albums you found 10 best songs on.
Just because your brain can’t keep up with the syllables doesn’t make him any less of a GOAT.
You prefer what? You sound mad!
Dope album and caters to his fans. What more could you ask for.
Propaganda music
This chitt is ehhh
Nada bruh
Album is satanic propaganda trash
Mediocre at best.
Dope Album..This review was trash! No mention of Yah Yah, Godzilla, Marsh, I Will ..nothing
Moneybagg Yo gets a 3.7..this site is has fallen off so much!
I laugh at this trash written here as a review, this album from Eminem is better than anything in the last three years, no wonder magazines became irrelevant as journalists or anyone that can write their opinion, added their overdoze input to try to discredit such an amazing, I am sure Migos Culture III will get a rate of 4.5.
But anyone review or no review, Eminem keeps us warm in this current state of hip hop. HHPD is like Lord Jamar, we talking XXL if we talk serious
Album is a classic. Pure ?
A lot of haters in here ?. I have the album on constant reply. Dope album
Haters are desperate at this point. Shit is comical.
amazing
Love or hate em most the low scoring complains about what he is best known to do. He is as consistent as ever love or hate what he says you have to acknowledge his talent at what he does. Luke nwa they all were propaganda and still were icons. Em did his thing and if love or hate he earned his respect and crown as one of the heirs to the throne of the greatest.
.
The best to do it!
Nope just your opinion
This Album was ?? he gave the real hip hop heads exactly what they wanted
Meh
I miss Eminem
Very mediocre at best. At worst, complete trash and no replay value on most songs
4.5 / 5
There’s thought and versatility on this album, something for the new style of hip hop listener something for the old school heads too, this album has balance.
Best description
Ummmmm. How the fuck is there no mention of Yah Yah or the Slaughterhouse track????
Btw why some y’all bitchin 3.8 is a good score!! Unfortunately I think it’s more like 2.5/5
I’m saying 4 out of 5. Too many filler tracks. This album makes me want another Bad Meets Evil album though! Em gets busy for sure but I wish he could just let the critics go. He use to say I just don’t give a fuck!
On form, this was a pleasure to listen to and keep on replaying.
The album is awful. Please stop releasing albums. M never had a prime expect to pop fans. Pop fans like all types of bullshit like macklemore, machine gun kelly, mumble rap. They must be great too. Just because m sells alot doesn’t mean he is great. I guess drake is a goat although he has ghost writers. Gang star, blackmoon, ghost, ins., czarface and billy danze all have better albums but sell less. hip hop is a smaller audience than pop trash thats why m sells more. He is nothing special to hip hop fans. Other hip hop artists would kill shady’s albums. He can’t do hip hop records because he would be outshined by hip hop artists.
This album is better than 3.8… It’s a RAP album through and through.
It’s one of the best albums in recent years!
This album is fire, i give it 4/5. All the tracks are dope and i don’t care if nobody else like this album by Eminem. I’m a huge fan and i can’t stop playing it. I have a few favorites like Godzilla, Darkness, Yah Yah, Stepdad and Unaccommodating. Good work Eminem, Its his best work since his 2018 Kamikaze.
Great album that’s on constant replay! The tracks with Royce are pure fire.
No mention either of the fact it’s number 1 in 63 countries already
Not good.
Bullshit ??
A dope album!
An amazing work or art.
Fire
Lol, it’s so obvious that you literally spent the time to write 5 comments with 5/5 album rating. Your the reason Stan’s are hated.
We get it u dont like em.. ur on all em posts trying shit on em fans for being supporters. Go listen to w.e it is u listen 2 and fuck off. Let em fans rejoice he finally dropped a good album.
Em haters always wanna over exert their opinion to make others feel the same way. Kys
Haters are just desperate at this point man. It’s almost comical.
Stans aren’t hated except by the ppl that don’t like that same artist. Not sure why you’re even hear less trying to insult a ‘stan’
Dope album
You can make a decent 6 or 7 song ep out of this album and have it be not awful, but otherwise, meh. Too many love songs and terribly annoying shout raps like that I hate my stepdad bs from a 50 year old man.
Overall decent. There are some very solid tracks like Godzilla, Marsh, little engine, and everything Royce touched. The album also has an incredible list of features. However, the album is bogged down by some corny tracks and ones with tired concepts. Cutting these would make fore a more focused and concise listen. The album feels unfocused and I think some tracks should have been cut to maintain the core idea of the album and drop the album down on the corn scale. In too deep, farewell, and never love again all deal with the overdone subject matter of Eminem’s love life. But in too deep and never love again have twists on the idea ( juggling 2 lovers at once, and an extended metaphor for drugs) that make them worth listening to if you enjoy the sound. However, aside from having the weakest production, Farewell does nothing to shake things up, and therefore feels like it should have been scrapped as the concept has already been done so many times. Stepdad and Those Kinda Nights are also stinkers in my eyes. They are just straight up corny to me. Premonition seems like more of kamikaze, which (even though I enjoy the album) I didn’t want to hear more of. The track ironically comes off as incredibly bitter. Honestly if this had been repurposed as a bad meets evil album, I think I’d enjoy it a lot more. The current Eminem’s in-your-face wordplay and abrasive flow are really balanced out by Royce’s more laid back and pensive flow. He’s already all over the album. Overall I’d give this 3.5/5
Royce is the best part of this album. 3 features which is the most another artist has ever been featured on a eminem album. Royce is better then eminem overall.
The haters on here are desperate and clearly aren’t really Eminem fans, AKA “Trolls”. The album was artistically, lyrically, and genuinely created in a way that No one Else could do. I can’t believe a hater at this point because Eminem is at the pinnacle of his career and just continues to impress me in every way possible. Not many artists can do that for this long. He’ll continue to shove his greatness in your face whether you like it or not and he’ll continue to be the best. ??
The best?????? U don’t listen to hip hop right. There are so many hip hop artists that would kill m at any time. He is so overrated it is ridiculous. I bought the 1st album and lost it somewhere. Pop fans have no idea about real rapping. U see a white guy rapping and go crazy. There are better white rappers in hip hop than shady. Anybody can sell out and make more money. If this country was mostly black, he wouldn’t sell shit. Shady sounds like an over aged frat boy picking up young women. Enjoy the new album! Happy new years.
I haven’t listened to the album yet but how is he overrated? Say what you want about his choice of beats and topics but many have stepped up to him and literally nobody has come out a victor. Unless you count Juice defeating him in a rap battle before he was famous, but even he would not have touched him on wax. Not even Canibus could touch him, and that’s saying a lot. Most don’t want no part of him. That includes the rappers that frequent most peoples goat lists. So please, name me these “many hip hop artists that would kill him at any time.” I’ll wait. Oh and since you’re at it, name some white rappers that are better. I’ll wait for that too.
White rappers: Ill bill, apathy, esoteric. They have dope beats and rhymes.
Better albums than shady: gang starr, black moon, czarface, ghost, ins, sean p.
The white audience gets overly excited about an average white rapper because most whites don’t listen to hip hop. If m was black, the white audience wouldn’t have the same response. M is good for the pop audience because they have nothing to compare him with. Therefore m is the greatest rapper in the world. How is he the greatest when the best rappers come from hip hop not pop music. Its just my opinion enjoy the album.
You didn’t name any of the “many hip hop artists that would kill him at any time.” Probably because you can’t. I could have told you that Gang Starr and Black Moon had better albums. That’s just off topic. Ill Bill, Apathy and Esoteric are dope and all but they are not close to Eminem’s level. You might not like his songs or whatever (I don’t always either) but his skills cannot be denied just because you don’t like the fact that he’s white.
And you say most whites don’t listen to hip hop. Most whites where? In the Midwest? The reason that underground hip hop, which we both seem to have love for, began to thrive in the late 90s was originally because a mostly white audience in Europe was heavily into it. That’s how Fat Beats and Rawkus became so big. And that paved the way for rappers like Mos Def, Talib Kweli and so many other dope rappers. It’s not my opinion. Just facts.
I already made a spotify playlist to cut about 6 songs from it. Though it is a very good album, If he did that himself this would be a great album.
5/5
Wordsmith with great content best album ive heard from em in a minute
The only 3 MINOR problems I have for this album are: Young M.A.’s feature was decent at best, I wish Q-Tip had a feature on “Yah Yah” instead of just doing the chorus and I was also hoping for more disses at Prick Cannon than just the “barely nicked ’em” line on “No Regrets”. But given the fact that the latest part of that beef was just last month, Em and his team were probably just finishing up the final touches of this album with the mixing, mastering and setting up the plans for the filming of the “Darkness” music video and maybe didn’t have time to pen a FULL response to Nick for MTBMB. So for that last minor problem, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t believe 50 Cent actually told him not to go at Nick…because Fif himself has been one of the KINGS of trolling before there was even a word for it dating back to “How To Rob”! Hell, he STILL goes at Ja Rule to this very day here & there and that fake Pac’s career ended before Twitter and Instagram were even a thing! Hopefully, we’ll get a post-release diss track like “Killshot”; at least he went at Lord Jamoron on “I Will”. Also, I hope the next interview that he does for this album is long like the “Kamikaze” one…but not separated into parts day by day. I want to hear his in-depth inspiration for this fantastic album all in ONE video!
I wasn’t expecting a Nick response at all. I don’t think it has anything to do with finishing up the album. It would have just been pointless and played right into Nick’s hand. Forget that! Let Nick continue to diss himself.
Yeah, I guess; I was just hoping because he’s Em first enemy to mention, not just Hailie, but Alaina as well in a diss towards him. That was really crossing the line more than Ja Rule or MGK ever did, so I was hoping for Em to respond to that alone because you know how pissed off he gets when it comes to cocksuckers speaking ill of his daughters. But at least we got another album from him, because I’m ALWAYS down for some new music as long as he’s breathing! So yeah, we’ll just let Prick Cannon keep shadowboxing. LOL
Good tracks
There’s four songs I would have dropped (In Too Deep, One Of Those Nights, Never Love Again, Farewell) which are the usual relationship filler albeit one being a metaphor about drug addiction. But the rest of the album was awesome. The flows, versatility and wordplay were off the scale. His beat selection shows a marked improvement and it has much better features than some of his other albums. Darkness was a surprise and was a very impressive concept with a lot of impact. Overall I’d say it was his best effort since Eminem Show. I don’t think it’s fair to mark an album down for it’s length as long as the content is compelling (it has 16 songs which is a standard amount for most albums, modern listerners seem to have an attention deficit). All in all, he killed it. Would just like to see more story telling and concepts on the next album.
I really like “Never Love Again” but otherwise I agree with you on the other three tracks.
5/5 because even the few relationship filler songs don’t hit with me, the rest of the album surpasses everything I would have expected from him on another album. The rest are all just perfect! Darkness is a masterpiece! Love all of the features. Having the Slaughterhouse crew was the icing on the cake for me with reference to features. Great, great album!! I will be listening to it for a very long time.
The only song out of place is stepdad. Other than that, this is a classic. 4.9/5. No regrets is an amazing song. Your review of this album is a 3.8 out of 10
But he has never talked about his stepdad? Why not now? It makes the album more personal imo. A bunch of kids can relate to that type of abuse from their step dad. Just because you can’t relate doesn’t make it trash.
Actually he talked about his stepdad on Relapse on “Insane”.
Amazing album. Won’t believe a hater at this point so keep desperately trying and failing. Lol
Probably closer to 2.5. Not bad but not much I’ll be returning to.
You gotta give it AT LEAST a 4.
What did this site give kamikaze?
Bc this is better than that, and kamikaze was fire
It’s only .2 points but still, MtbMb is lit
Absolutely loved this album. I truly think this is one of Eminem’s best albums. There is so much variety on this and I believe he still keeps a dark theme some what throughout the album that match the title and concept of this project. For me every song was great, even the softer party anthems were pretty good. He gives you everything on this album, complex lyricism, witty shady humor, good features, great beats that fit the times, constant flow switch ups, broke another record for fast rapping, gave us a great story telling song with deep meaning. I have no complaints. Call me a Stan but I’m rating this a 5/5, thanks Marshall for outdoing yourself once again. You are your only competition.
great album, one that will only get better with time, as you continue to unearth new lines, wordplay double entendres and Eminems unique ability on the mic. Not sure many rappers albums these days get better over time, unless they are top of their game- and he most certainly is that.
Worse song In too deep!
Ps not sure how ‘no regrets’ can be a filler in your review, it’s a tune
???
Essentially this ends up being the same as every Em album since Eminem Show for me…there’s some good stuff, but I prob won’t listen to it more than a few times. He just doesn’t capture my attention like he used to, maybe it’s cuz I’m older but I just don’t get excited for Eminem anymore. Basically to explain what I’m trying to say…on Friday I threw on Mac’s album first
This is a solid album and his best work in a long, long time. His wordplay, double entendres, rhyme structures and varying cadences are elite level. I get it if his music doesn’t move you but his artistry is undeniable. If you appreciate lyricism you’ll enjoy this album. The production was decent at best…
I love the Album, the diverse songs selection and we already know Em always delivers on the lyrics. I really feel like this album is more of the hip hop style than the other albums I have heard.
Best Album since Eminem Show
easily my favorite project of his since TES. Great production, phenomenal verses, and no song I’d skip. only one i’m iffy on is “in too deep”, but i don’t dislike it and it’s got some clever verses and storytelling that makes me enjoy it. personally i think it’s a triumphant return to form. instant classic in his discography for me.
Solid Album
This album is straight fire! One of his best projects for sure! When at least half of the album is playable and enjoyable to listen you got yourself a great album
Tbh, my first impression of it was 3 out of 5 but it just gets better with every repeat, and now I have the whole album on repeat. I rarely enjoy albums that much.
3.8??? How do you figure??
Have you really listened to it? You missed several amazing parts in your review. Listen again…Juice…Royce…Crooked…All Pretty remarkable and worth mentioning in addition to the fire Marshall is bringing track after track.
Juice? HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAA you thought you could just sneak that name in there alongside 2 greats? Oh man. Anyway listing a couple of high quality names doesn’t make a patchy album better. There are some good moments but too much mediocrity in between that has zero replay value. Sorry I don’t care if he does a lot of rapid raps. It actually has to be interesting for me to want to listen to it again, and Em has failed yet again in that department. This is a 3.5 at best.
This album wasn’t that great to be a 5/5. 5/5 is a classic and this album is far from a classic. There are some good songs in this project, but for this album to be timeless it requires more than just some good tracks. There are too much skippable tracks in here. The one with Ed Sheeran, Skylar Grey, In Too Deep, this is not classic material for example. The track with Black Thought and Q Tip has a wack beat. Some choruses are really annoying when Eminem is singing (stepdad as an example). These few points already lower the numbers.
A 5/5 album would be: Illmatic, Ready To Die, The Infamous, Paid In Full, Built 4 Cuban Linx, The Low End Theory, All In One, Liquid Sword, Capital Punishment should I go on? Eminem was a great rhymer on this album no doubt, but content wise nothing special. A 5/5 album (which would be a classic), requires a little more than what he does. If I look at the underground I see rappers who can do the same but with better beats and content, (R.A. The Rugged Man, Locksmith, Elzhi, Skyzoo).
You truly played out some great names that have all the potential to.match white with em but collaboratively not Individually. Ra the best one you mentioned but isn’t at the same level …. em is a rappers rapper at is more of boom bap rap cat. I’m a huge fan of similar lyricists like chino xl ras kass copywrite even vakill and these are my heroes. Gods of the mic but not better em is the mesh of it all but he is a rapper. The others supplement the lack of hos skill with entertainment. He is to good for himself. Mi d you I still prefer chino XL and thirstin howl over em
5/5 this album is fire ? ? ? ? ? Eminem the GOAT
The????? Are 5 flame icons (showed up as question marks
In case you’ve noticed, I’m an idiot who like to reply to myself because I got no friends and peope around I’m a silly clown bye ? ? ? ? ?
The album is really good i enjoy it.. 4/5 because the skid and 2 songs are not my style not bad songs but not my style…overall is a dam good album.. #SlimShadyISback
Great album, classic album the lyrics, flow and production are great, best work so far and definitely one of my top 5??
Well done eminem?
This is his best album since the Eminem Show. It actually has balance and seems more thought out than his last few albums.
Answer me this writer, if this isn’t at least 4/5 what is? You twisted media liars are being summarily called out and losing what little cred you had over these unqualified or quantified reviews. It’s truly your own suicide, cuz I’ve disagreed with almost every rap review you’ve done on this site and this is my last click, trust is gone and there are multiple conversations happening about this on my sizable social media presence, I’m no Stan, lol, this album just sits with the best so clearly you fucked up.
All these fake biased critics need to carry their ass back to the Daily Bugle and try again
Congrats to the reviewer for finding the many positives in this, rather than hating morons on on certain music rating websites.
Great album
You know, the complaint that it has too many songs is really bullshit. Back in the day fans would’ve been happy that their favorite artist blessed them with 20 songs but in this short attention span era, people complain and complain and complain which is stupid. Also idk what yal have against Skylar and Ed but both hooks were fire
Agreed. This is the dumbest complaint to pop up in the music industry.
Especially considering you KNOW Em has to have hundreds of unreleased tracks.
I was yelling at the screen when I read that part. For real if he would have put out 12 tracks they would have been saying he doesn’t have a full album in him. No matter what he does they just hate that he is so successful. This isn’t even about a race thing either. Media just loves to hate Eminem.
It’s a fair criticism, but we’re in the iPod era where people delete tracks anyway. So that should be taken into account.
Hey
The beats on this outing are incredible. Flow is as flawless as ever.
Great body of work, em killing it…once again. hope he releases new material soon.
Perfect project.
I enjoy every song on the album and I still put it in repeat and I don’t skip any tracks. I think it’s his best work in a awhile.
I love the features from Ed Sheeran to Black Thought.
best since tes
Y’all really cant appreciate talent
5/5
I don’t see what else do people want from him…the album was straight fire…. just because he is 47 doesn’t mean you have to purposefully deny his talent…
Fire. Really isn’t anything to skip.
Glad most people like the album, I thought it was just okay. I need to give it a couple more listens, but I really only like about 4 tracks. The track I expected to like the most, Yah Yah, is up there, but not on top. I think the beat is messy and overdone. Lock it Up is my favorite. Altogether It’s more pop than Kamikaze. Depends on your preference.
Tone Deaf people give it less than 5/5 or its these new school rappers who listen to migos and high pitched tory lanez.
What is this man supposed to do. He puts out music talking about politics they tell him to shut up. He puts out music taking on who he is and that’s the goat and they tell him he’s trying to hard. Damned if he does damned if he don’t. He’s 100% right on the album when he talks about this. The critics just are hating on the greatest. Or I should say hating on greatness. All them mfers can sit down and shut up already. You are not going to stop him. He’s still to good. Guerrilla track is proof enough. Jesus Christ that was dope
Perfect
Stop dick riding, album wasn’t good.
White phags posting a million 5/5 comments and attacking anyone who doesn’t like the album. smh
What’s it like being a racist, homophobic, piece of shit?
Yeah, only you can only review once from your phone or PC. Nice try though. You’re white too BTW. No POC would have written/spoken that way. LOL
Loved every song in the album. Definitely recommended for all Eminem fans. Can’t believe all this negative attitude towards this masterpiece
3.8? Wtf! Shit is a classic! Best next to MMLP and TES. Even as good for it’s time. It’s been a while since I put a new album on repeat. Thank You for the bleesing Slim Shady!
EMINEM FOREVER ……. o and I ain’t white bruh (that seemed important to say)
Masterpiece!!!
album was def good and i give it 4/5 or 8/10.
i would give it 4.3 actually
Best album in recent times according to me.
Fuckin legendary
Keep posting 1/5 haters
5/5, the album bangs even to non stans
5/5 the album bangs even to non stans
This is a great album, no doubt
Great album – consistent theme, and lyrics goes over your head. That’s why you need to keep listening to this album to get the wordplay, track hierarchy, as well as Eminem’s prior album(s). Not his greatest but cant deny how good this album is! Don’t be biased. Listen to the album first, then critique.
The ? stop hating torey lanez fans????
Pure dopeness.
I really like it, not entirely, but overall good. 4-4.5.
bad
Good album
One of the better works of hip-hip in the last few years. The cool thing is, he used “mumble rap” producers for most of the tracks and made decent to excellent songs out of the beats. Hats off Marshal. You are one of the GOATS, undeniable. Personal favorite was little engine. This dude made really good tracks with Ed Sheeran and Juice Wrld. I’m shocked.
I think this is Em’s most hip hop album since Encore. There’s only one poppy song (the Ed Sheeran feature) and even that is more of a club record than a pop song. All the other songs are proper hip hop records with amazing storytelling, flows and lyricism. There’s a perfect balance between songs with content and songs which have rapping for rapping sake. The features are insane- Black Thought, Royce, Slaughterhouse and Anderson Paak. Also, Em definitely stepped up the production on this album. The beats are hard!
Definitely a 4/5 album if not a 4.5.
Album is fuccing TRASH….Royce murdered Em on his own shit…
Critics seem to hate this album, fans seem to love it.
Fans > bitter critics
Critics seem to hate this album, fans seem to love it. Fans > bitter critics
Trash for white trash
Beat is angry nig
Stop being man u been rappin since hs and still cant get on lrx
don’t be mad bc you been rapping since HS and still can’t get on lrx
don’t be mad bc you been rapping since HS and still can’t make it lrx
If it weren’t for a few throw aways like Those kinda nights, and Leaving heaven i would have given it a 4.5. Serious bars by Royce on this joint as well. Oh and Tariq Trotter aka Black Thought on YA YA? BONKERS!!! There’s 8 solid bangers on here i would give a 5 too. You be the judge.
I like it, 4.5, but since i cant put that imma give it a 5
The lyricism in this album can’t be overlooked…yes there was some filler songs but overall this album has too many good songs to be rated a 4 or lower.
Amazing album. Bars out of this world…been on replay since it came out….better than kamikaze and kamikaze was a very good album. Eminem = Goat
Best albumn hes put out since the 1st Marshall Mathers albumn. The whole thing is ?. Im not in love with the skylar Gray song but the rest of it is truly a work of art.
I like it, 4.5, but since i cant put that imma give it a 5.
Superb album! Album of the year!
Crazy good…better than Kamikaze. All these fools giving it poor reviews have zero knowledge of good hiphop. A definite classic without a doubt
Dope
Excellent
If this site were to EVER give anything over a 4 basically, this would be the album. You clowns give mumble rap albums a score in the mid-3’s. This is such a joke. If Kamikaze didn’t do it, then this album DEFINITELY cements him as best rapper ever. 3/4 of the album probably went over your head.
Fire
Classic
4 of 5
At first release I wasn’t feeling it that much but after a few replays and a spliff this is banging. For me there’s only 2 -3 skippers. The rest is Shady blazing through with word play.
3-4 fillers that blew but the rest of the project is strong. em always over loads his albums with fillers for w.e reason
Holla at a playa. Y’all be frontin. This album bad asf.
It’s better than I expected
This album… A bit over 4.0/5. Not worthy of 4.5, since it has Farewell’s horrible beat on it. That’s the only track I have to skip and also the one that does not play in my car playlist at all. But still, a quality album overall and so far heavily in rotation.
hhmmm, i actually enjoyed it
Em does it again.
TC
Not a bad song on the album, fuck he haters.
Me at his best! 5/5!!!
A great return for Marshall. His best body of work since the underrated RELAPSE.
Favorite songs: Little Engine, Stepdad, I Will, Lock It Up and Premonition.
If you think this album is good you are not a fan of hip hop. You are a fan of Em or just like bad music. This album doesn’t have one head noddin beat or anything that bumps. Beats and lyrics go hand n hand and he never has any soul in his music. Another boring Em album that all the stans say is a 5mic. Stop it.
You went full retard, neva go full retard
the hell are you talkin ’bout dude, before saying stupid things like that at least listen to the album. Man how do you even think saying things like “he never has soul in his music” after hearing Darkness or Stepdad you retard.
Stop it.
2mics
The intro is what an intro should be. It’s like “The Ringer,” but to the point (reminds me of Welcome 2 Hell). Features on here all fit so well together, even Ed Sheeran (The songs is a little cringy at times, but has replay value). Godzilla, Marsh, Unaccommodating, and Yah Yah are all masterpieces where the entire song is memorable, while other songs like You Gon Learn, I Will, Little Engine, and No Regrets are catchy songs where you dont need to full grasp the verses to enjoy. Stepdad is hilarious to me. It’s just fun to listen to and the production on the song is amazing. I’m glad Em only put one song like “Leaving Heaven” on here. It’s a typical Recovery/Revival song that can be skipped or played by select listeners. Darkness has those “Stan” and “Bad Guy” feels. It’s like a audio book, and despite the harsh reality, it is pleasant to hear. The only song I personally do skip is In Too Deep. It’s not terrible, but it is outshined by the rest of the songs. However, it is the type of song I can play in the background and vibe to it, which is the point of the album. Overall, I hear a complete album with substantial replay value, an appropriate amount of substance (it’s there but not overwhelming), and controversy that sparks necessary criticism, but doesn’t take away from the music itself.
As a side note, the Alfred Hitchcock references and samples make listening to the album itself fun, especially in the Intro.
Actual Grade: 4.75/5
This album is a classic. Eminem is the only HipHop artist with seven classics to his name. He is indeed the rap God.
7 classic albums to YOU maybe. And hip POP artist. Get it right.
This is the album the fans & the haters have been looking for. I great mixture of Slim Shady, Eminem and Marshall Mathers. Great content, great lyrics ( as usual) and great flow. This album will be staying on replay for me!
One of the best to ever do it. Classic material right here.
It can go head to head with the holy trinity
This album is incredible from start to finish. Cant stop listening to it.
Trash. Needs a drake feature to make it tolerable. He appeals to the 13 year old geeks that play call of duty and cus out their moms for asking them to come down for dinner. Drake makes universal music. Eminem fans are virgin losers.
Dude Eminem went #1 in 73 different countries with the Kamikaze album. Only 79 countries have access to music he is the most global hip hop artist ever my guy. He has multiple diamond albums and singles. Drake just got his first diamond with God’s Plan which he used a topic of god to sell a track. It was a success but come on man nothing else Drake has done come close to Eminem
Vanilla Ice outsold all of the other rappers during his time. His album went diamond as well.. commercial doesn’t mean good
Hahaha Drake… He’s for the monotoned loving 13yr olds you’re talking about
Amazing
Music to be Murdered by joins MM2, Recovery and Kamikaze as post glory days excellent albums.
5/5 for sure every song hits, verses on point, instrumentals fire as well. What more can you ask for? It’s the fucking shit and Im black I love this album
Lol good for you
We know your also ACE . And we also know that your trying too hard to convince that your black. You said “I’m black” in both your comments lmao
5/5 for sure every song hits
verses on point
instrumentals fire as well.
The Flow and Rhythm fire
def a classic
What more can you ask for? Im black I love this album
this has nothing to do with Race but people tend to say Black people don’t listen to this man they’re wrong
Album is great and keeps growing on me. Just a couple skippable unnecessary tracks and that Yah Yah beat could’ve been better. Overall he’s done a track for everyone and addressed different topics. Kamikaze had bangers but this album is more enjoyable and thorough.
This album was terrible, I’d be more excited to here a project from Ja Rule or Nelly in 2020.
You spelled “hear” wrong. Don’t expect you to appreciate real bars.
I give it a 3 because I can’t give it a 3.5. He took all elements of all of his albums and blended it into this one. There are beats to bang to, lyrics that grab your ear and those questionable fillers. At the end of the day will he get the respect he deserves and then quickly taken away. People always say they can’t relate to him so that’s why they can’t listen to him. Let me ask you this can you relate to dripping? Fake money staking? F@cking big a$$ b!tches? Your life style isn’t any of that but you think it’s your relatable environment. You rather praise that then someone who keeps trying to reinvent themselves regardless of the outcome taking chances. I hope Busta drops this year and some other old rap heads, rap is on life support right now
It’s a lit.album
Lol, the track with Skylar Grey a snoozefest… the dude raps about digging up his dead father so he can spit in his face… Track is dark
at first i didnt like that song only hood, now i love it. really deep and good
Very well portrayed album.
One of his best with some his best deliveries and flow switching.
Smart song writing, impossible deliveries. Slim is back.
He never sat down. Just too many hollow-headed people in the world that don’t understand what he’s saying.
Oh we understand his satanic propaganda track music you need to Wakedafucup
Thank you Eminem
I have purchased, listened to, and put on repeat every album Eminem has put out. I have always felt he would never repeat (on an album-wide scale) the impactful nature of The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP.
I enjoyed the skill and rapping complexity in Relapse, but it was functionally a horrorcore album (probably the best there ever was).
Recovery was “normal” eminem, but I did not embrace the beats and production as much. His skill was excellent as always.
Revival was bloated to me. His skill and lyricism continued to get better, but several songs were extra and skips. The album could have been halved. However, more of the “old” story telling was back. The production and many beats were still not my taste. However, as a lyricist, he had never been better.
Then, Kamikaze hit. I didn’t consider it an “full” Em album. By far the shortest of his projects, but my favorite album since the MMLP and TES. Only a couple skips on that album. Beats and production were fire. Lyricism again, better then all previous projects.
NOW: Music To Be Murdered By. His Coup de Grace. His Magnum Opus. I’ve run through this album probably about 10 times+ since release. No skips. Every song is enjoyable, with numerous, numerous bangers. Amazing guests, beats are the best ever, story telling and painting a picture at its finest. Lyricism and lyrical complexity at an all time high. Everything about this album is wonderful. I never thought he would recapture, and certainly not best TES and MMLP but he has (in my opinion). This project is absolutely a work of art.
Disagree with pretty much all your points but I appreciate that you expressed them like you did. I do agree that Kamikaze is one of his best albums, but now I’m thinking that much of what I like about that album is how short it is. This new record is too damn long and I get exhausted with it in one sitting. Some incredible tracks though.
If you want bars, got it. If you want beats, got it. If you want fast rapping done well, got it. If you want slow methodical rapping, got it. Oh you miss slaughter house, Qtip, Black thought or Juice, got it. I mean I can do this all day.
Graet I like that nigga
Its beautiful album and well executed
Beautiful FOH LMAO
Finally sounds like he’s having fun again, dope album
Yall gave this album 0.4 more than Kanyes weak as fuck album and less than his Ye album?! I haven’t really listened to em for years but this album is pretty decent, def way better than the two Kanye ones
4/5
I honestly like the album but I dont love it. His bars seemed better on Kamikaze…but I like the fact he’s back to having fun here
This is one of the best Albums since the Marshall Mathers since LP. I might say its number 2 on my list. The beat picks phenomenal, a couple of club hits, the duality story of darkness l, the bars etc. This could be album of the year also. 3.8?? wtf? at least 4.5!
Em is in goat status among many other goats How many rappers today could put out a full 18 to 20 track album. Not only a handful of songs.
great album
5/5 for sure. Bars. Hooks. Beats. Production. Bars. Theme. Features. Bars. Length. Promotion(lack of) and bars.
Hell Yeah it’s a 5
F*ckk the writer behind this with 8thousand muthaf**kin VIBE-BRaters @Once’
Mothafucking fiirreee
solid album. 5/5
Solid Work from Slim.
You missed the most important aspect of Darkness, which is what makes it so phenomenal. He is telling 2 stories at the same time, one of himself and the other of the shooter, the latter of which is not revealed until the last quarter of the song. The writing of this song is well beyond the level of Stan, and you’re supposed to be a music critic? C’mon son
Epic
Great album
After deleting what I didn’t like I was left with Premonition, Unaccomodating, You gon learn, Godzilla, Darkness, Yah Yah, Marsh, Little Engine, Lock it up, and I will. Those kinda nights and Stepdad are some of the worst songs Em has ever written.
A top album for the rap community and for him
Critics hate it….people love it….some things never change
I’ve been listening to this on repeat since he dropped it… LOVE IT! 5/5
The over hype continues. One of the most skilled mcs in hip hop but if you compare his best albums to the classics of the 80s and 90s it doesn’t come close. And he suppose to be the goat? please.
Dense material? C’mon “critics”; what’s wrong with ya’ll? Go listen to Trippy Redd or whatever tf.
Dense critics. As usual, EM slaughtered this shit lyrically.
5 MICS
3.5.. the 3 is for lyrical brilliance.. the point 5 is for carryin on the kamikaze production form line.. half of the album tho is passable..
So many Bars music to be murdered by great idea Alfred Hitchcock of course the man gets 5 I love all 20 songs pure Genius
Great album
Once again Em proves why he’s the greatest.
Wu tang forever
It is fairly good album with great lyricism??
5
Better than Revival but nah… this shit doesn’t top Kamikaze and Recovery.
No replay value
Some passable songs. High level rhymes along with mostly high quality production. Some annoying hooks. Not a classic but a very good album.
Terrible flow, no soul… the usual from this wack ass artist who hasn’t made a good album in almost two decades.
Dis sh*t be pure gold.
At first listen it is a 3/5. After multiple listens and catching the complex lyrics the album is pure genius. Not a fan of step dad and maybe one other song but the album is unreal if you take the time to actually listen. Not an album to half listen to during a workout.
I tried listening to the album, could barely get through the first 8 songs. I haven’t been compelled to listen to this piece of garbage since my initial times trying to listen. This dude makes music for White people, period. Niggas in the hood don’t listen to this dude and that’s a fact. Another corny, lame ass attempt at a pop smash with Ed Sheeran again? More Skylar Grey duets like it’s still 2010? Eminem is just garbage at this point. His entire fan base is 99 percent White at this point and they all shop at Abercrombie. This dude should have retired after Encore. Man has to surprise drop albums now to stay relevant. If he would have release date this thing, nobody would have listened. Except White people who cop VLONE to fit in with the niggas. Eminem used to be an all-time great until he wanted to keep dropping bad albums that his White fan base consistently overrates. No one says- “Hey, throw on that new Eminem”. You will never hear this dude blaring out of a car’s speakers. The man is killing his legacy at this point. His White Stans are the most delusional and blind followers on Earth. If Em pooped on the mic and put out the sound, his White Stans will defend it as if it’s the new Illmatic. This dude rapping in 2020 is so cringy. Just please, stop dude.
Well if he makes music for white people then just don’t listen to it
His last 3 or 4 albums were pretty wack but this was a step in the right direction
I don’t see black people telling Michael Bolton or Kenny g to stop making music. And they definitely make “white music”
But also didn’t dre discover Eminem? Dre was black last time I checked
Stans are fuckin awful but you black elitists are just as bad
And if eminem makes white music was does Kanye make
Lord Jamar? Is that you? Go back into your closet… I mean we don’t know where Grand Puba and Sadat X are so we certainly don’t care about you.
???? stop hating cause Em does it better than black people.
Your favourite black rapper says Em is better than them..
The verse on the fat joe album Eminem recently did was better than any other verse released last year.
Your dead arse reviews are filled with stupid non facts
I hope your family is murdered in front of you. You are the only trash here. You will never amount to anything, sad loser.
I keep hearing black people say that no other black people fuck with Eminem cuz he weirdo shit
…have y’all seen today’s black youth? Dresses, tight clothes, weirdo face tattooes, crazy rainbow teeth and hair. Oh and the music. Lil yatchy, Uzi, all those mumble rappers are fuckin weirdos. At least em has talent
But eminem has fallen off
Da fuck y’all talking about
Best rapper in the game. However, really lacking the beats that the Bass Brothers hit him with. And I know Dre has at least 3 radio joints in the tank for him. That’s what he needs. But you can’t deny the mans talent… all flames
This album is dope…i think there are a lot of haters and non eminem fans….and a bunch of snowflakes lol
nah, we just bored of the man trying his hardest to rap as fast till the point he sounds like a washing machine on a trap beat. It’s just not that good. Y’all giving it an unbiased 5/5 because you’re stans
Gotta say I love all of it! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Kudos
Best one yet
Seriously should have had 50 do a little number but still ?
He spits too many punchlines for dummies to comprehend.
hahahahahahaha
Album is great.
CLASSIC! HANDS DOWN!
SHIIIIDDD!! THIS FELLA IS A DAMN MONSTER!!! THE GAME NEEDS EM
solid effort showing he still has great skills
Very Solid I’ll say a few songs didn’t really resonate with me but overall I’d say it’s a good mix. I Will makes me wish they brought Back Slaughterhouse minus Budden. Just keep the 3 guys with EM. I was always convinced one of the only dudes who could spit at EM’s level is Royce and this Album further proves that.
Hate him all you want
This album is fire.
Dude that wrote this review is a complete moron. Ok, yes I’m a Stan. But for him to say that the songs with Skylar Grey, and Ed Sheeran are skippable snooze fest is just crazy. Obviously he didn’t actually listen to the song with Skylar Grey. The lyrics in that song are deep, and the song is fire. As far as the album being to long, you’re stupid. I wish the album had 100 tracks on it. Em couldn’t ever put “to many” tracks in an album. And to rate this album 3.5 you’re just being a hater. Name 1 other artist that can do what Em does. He is a lyrical genius. People just love to hate Eminem, and no matter what he does it will never be good enough. I think the album is straight fire. 10 out of 10 all the way through. You have to be able to take the time to actually listen to what Em is saying in his songs. He’s actually saying something. Not like these wanna be rappers like trippie Redd, and lil mumble rapper.
So good. The flows and music is straight FIRE!
Strong album – great beats, superb writing & better hooks than prior albums. Not as hard hitting as kamikaze but actually a better all round album. Love Darkness but so many great songs.
also can u please get Ems dick out of your mouth an focus on forming thoughts that dont sound like a 14yr old fangirl, heres a direct quote of yours when you YET AGAIN misused ‘to’ instead of ‘too’ (while your in the midst of calling someone stupid/a moron) – “As far as the album being to long, you’re stupid. I wish the album had 100 tracks on it. Em couldn’t ever put “to many” tracks in an album. And to rate this album 3.5 you’re just being a hater”
dude, you have no concept of objectivity do you? youve got the whole attitude of: ‘i love eminem and i know what im talking about so if you disagree youre stupid’ – when in reality, maybe they just dont have the same subpar-taste in music that you have – and this album was bloated as it is, it couldve just kept its 12 best tracks and ACTUALLY been a top flight album….oh and those are straight 14yr old girl tactics, saying shit like ‘if u think its too long youre dumb/i wish it went on forever/Em can literally do no wrong, (and the cherry on top of your pussyhole-sunday) ‘if you disagree youre just a HATER – between the poor grammar and moronic mentality im 50% sure this is just Trump as an Em Stan bahahahah…loser.
and fuck me your logic is so damn stupid i cant even with this…. you are literally saying ‘if you didnt like the new album/or even a song or two on the album, then you just arent listening close enough….i cant even begin to say how dumb that is…does that mean if you have diff music taste from me youre an idiot? If you dont like my music that i linked does that mean you’re just too dumb to understand my bars? – and btw there are literally tens if not hundreds of rappers who can do what Em can, from a technical side you have tech-9, gift of gab, aesop rock, DOOM and from the intelligent/storytelling side you have rappers like Kendrick, Jay-Z, Billy Woods, Earl Sweatshirt etc – just being able to rhyme for the sake of rhyming doesnt make you good, if you wanna hear SMART but still technical/fast bars then listen to someone like Aesop Rock…
okay, done roasting that ass now 😛
Great album. I enjoyed Kamikaze more though.
If you want to argue that Eminem is anything but genius, you clearly are not listening close enough.
This is one of EMs best Albums. EM fuses his great lyrical skills with great beats and hooks. I can’t speak for anyone else but I give this Album 5 Stars. EM has just delivered another great Albums. Kamikaze and now this Album. Every song is heat. This is why EM is simply one of the greatest MCs to ever walk this earth.
Dope album only irrelevant ass critics saying its bad.
Fire album.
classic
masterpiece
Album was average at best
it was a good album
Em still hittin back .Still making dope tracks.Still swtchin up styles while being angry humerous serious chop you the fuck up burry you in the yard hes always been.but faster.
Number one should be music to be Murdered by
I rarely comment on albums, but this one….maaan.
Fire from start to finish! I am really impressed. Welcome Back Shady, Top 5 DOA
Royce’s “The Allegory” up next
I’ve never been one to Stan for Em, and I can pretty much take or leave half his catalog, but this album is fuckin incredible. Great production all around and Em is spittin hard, with some insane levels of lyricism and deliveries. 4.2/5
The revenant. Great álbum.
Exactly what he needed to put out
I am certainly not a big fan of Em. I do respect his catalog and I’ve liked maybe 1 or 2 of his albums total. However, I think that all the guys trying to hate on him is ridiculous. His flavor might not be for everyone, but it’s certainly not to be disrespected. Give me the Royce Da 5’9, that’s more of my flavor. But let the man live!
3.8 is exactly how many songs I can actually tolerate off this bullshit album
this album isn’t bullshit relapse and revival was
The albums is fire!!! Great Flow, Great lyrics, Great Production. Eminem is back to his best. He is the best rapper and his beat selection, song writing skills have been modernized to fit with the new style of rap music. He sounds refreshing and excited on each track and his style of rhyming remains unbeatable. The SLIM SHADY persona comes through heavily on the album. Its been sold as a dark album, which I agree with but its is nowhere near as dark as Relapse. In summary Eminem is the GOAT, no one can outrap him and he has released another premium quality album for his fans.
Album kicks ass and has great beats , love the hitchcock theme
This album has great verses but the hooks in a couple of these songs are bad
Great album on lyrics alone 5/5
? fire
A month later I am still enjoying this and I was not expecting to. This is his first album in seemingly forever that had any stamina to it. (Kamikaze had its moments but MtbMB is much more consistently good). I might skip one or two but that still leaves a lot of great tracks. There’s a ton of great bars in this both from Em and the features.
I think that’s a great album, not my favourite but one of the best in recently years in his carreer.
Eminems best album in a long while. I love Eminem and always have and I have heard where he has missed a few times with albums. But MTBMB is absolutely incredible. Every single song from start to finish is amazing. Premonition is a great opening to the album. Then the first thing you hear is Young MA ripping it on Unaccomadating, then with Royce on You Gon Learn. The order or tracks are well placed and like most of his albums tells a story if you listen from the beginning. This album is heavy with double and triple entendres, metaphors, puns, wordplay, passed references, shout outs to a bunch of legendary rappers, oh yea Black Thought is on Yah Yah with Q Tip and 5’9. This album will be breaking records for years to come. And with a great wrap up with I Will with the Slaughterhouse fam excluding Budden. I will is probably one of the best tracks and hardest on the entire album with a diss to Lord Jamar in the song as well. The album is funny, serious and real all at the same time. Makes you go through every emotion listening again and again for the punchlines.
This album is, at best, good. Not a coherent album. He again made the mistake of trying to prove he can do crazy bars and flows. Also he made ingenuine music like he’s done over the past decade (except on Kamikaze) to make songs that would appeal pop. Even tho it has more great songs than Kamikaze, it is not a better album than that. You Eminem Fans who live outside of the US and don’t know shit about the culture and Hip-Hop’s history and all that need to shut the fck up. Eminem has the worst discography among the best rappers of all time.
Best Eminem album since MMLP2.
Strong album. Not perfect by any means and it has its flaws, but it’s definitely a robust piece of work, no doubt about that. Don’t pretend like you are a fan of elite-level hip hop if you hate on this project.
Fire ?? Oh yes