Wed Jun 3 2009 12:53:42 By: danielletbd ( 141)
Nice writing but I have to disagree with the sentiment: the compound syllable combo stuff he does on songs like "Insane," "Bagpipes from Baghdad," and " "Stay Wide Awake" off "RELAPSE" is sick! His themes may be a bit repetitive at times but the way he goes about them is unique and memorable. And D12 World? Take a second listen: "How Come" is completely underrated and "40 oz" instrumental will get stuck in your head for days.

Wed Jun 3 2009 13:13:49 By: Simbarashe ( 15)
@danielletbd Replapse is probably the best of the last three, but to me it's simply an improvement upon those other albums. I have this entire argument that could best be described in basketball analogies; maybe I will get into it in another column.
As for D12 World, if two songs redeem an album and one of those songs doesn't include rapping, I'm going to have to stick by my earlier sentiment. If you REALLY BELIEVE you got your monies' worth on that album, hit back at me and I'll give it another chance (but not really).

Wed Jun 3 2009 13:53:32 By: danielletbd ( 141)
I probably wouldn't get the basketball analogy. I haven't followed since Shaq left the Lakers.
I'm actually quite partial to Encore for the political and personal tracks (Mosh and Like Toy Soldiers are my favorites). I never count greatest hits or compilation albums toward an artist's solo body of work because of the lack of creative control they usually have in them. For example, "Curtain Call" was not an album of the songs he thought were his best but the ones that did the best in mainstream media. The only reason I bought it was for "When I'm Gone." "D12 World" and "The Re-Up" weren't Eminem albums: they were D12 and Shady Records albums, so a lot had to be compromised to get a variety of artist's voices/POVs across.
"40 Oz" isn't an instrumental track; there are lyrics. I just think the instrumental alone is amazing.

Wed Jun 3 2009 14:06:50 By: Simbarashe ( 15)
@grimoneus the one time I was truly affected at a Samuel L. mail-in: the light saber fight that led to his demise in the new Star Wars trilogy. But even then, I directed all of my anger at George Lucas.

Wed Jun 3 2009 14:17:26 By: Agent Smith ( 5400)
Eminem has sucked since "Without Me", but even that was a novelty. The rest of that CD blew.
"I love my daughter and hate my mommy" blah blah blah.
Get over yourself you white trash loser.
Simbarashe- awesome!

Wed Jun 3 2009 14:42:46 By: hatsoff2us ( 1976)
Hey Grim, Samuel L. Jackson is still the MAN.

Wed Jun 3 2009 15:31:57 By: Simbarashe ( 15)
I am with Grim on this, though I have to interject that many A-listers with great careers have done this. Jack Nickolson, Al Pacino and Tom Cruise are the top three worst offenders of actors who are still alive and working. Hell, even Morgan Freeman is vastly underrated in this category.

Wed Jun 3 2009 16:47:57 By: nicerack ( 8973)
Whatever.

Mon Jun 8 2009 00:11:49 By: Meteors in the Sky ( 14)
THIS LETTER IS DOPE!

Thu Jun 11 2009 02:31:20 By: xi_2_slow_ix ( 9)
Well, that was mildly entertaining, yet not worth reading past the first few sets of rhymes. Anybody who can look down on The Eminem Show CLEARLY can't tell REAL good music if it were to break their nose in broad daylight. 90 percent of The Eminem Show was real talk. Encore was FULL of good stuff. And Relapse, even though a bit off the wall and weird, was also full of REAL good music. Clearly some people don't understand that Relapse is the lyrical way of showing the world what went through his head as he got back into pills and alcohol. All I can say is I will PROUDLY support Eminem all the way, and CANNOT wait for the next CD to drop.