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SideBar: I can't front, and a lot of you may be shocked by the following statement, this new album by Eminem blew me away to the point that I finally see why many consider him as atop 5 MC...



Don't get me wrong, I always enjoyed Em's music since his debut back in '99 with the Slim Shady LP (yeah, I'm aware of Infinite) but I just never took him as serious.  I always admired that he was the only MC that wasn't afraid to insult and criticize mainstream America, because in essence that's how many people felt (those who weren't Pop music fans, etc.);  but, it was also a bittersweet because it just seemed, to me, that was the only ability and content he'd focus on.

When his sophomore LP came out, which many consider a classic, I was on road to discovering his lyrical ability to discuss his life in depth through words that I couldn't believe would rhyme. You felt his pain and frustration through every bar, creating a setting where you feel like you're his therapist.

"Sometimes I just feel like my father, I hate to be bothered
With all of this nonsense it's constant
And "oh it's just lyrical content!"
The song "Guilty Conscience" has gotten such rotten responses
And all of this controversy circles me
And it seems like the media immediately points a finger at me
So I point one back at 'em
But not the index or the pinky or the ring or the thumb
It's the one you put up when you don't give a fuck
When you won't just put up with the bullshit they pull
Cause they full of shit too..." 
                    ("The Way I Am", 2001 Marshall Mathers LP)

I can't even begin to discuss track 12 off Hov's 2001 classic, Blueprint.

Even with all these reasons and realizations, Eminem still wasn't considered a top runner in my list of MCs.

However,
...June 21st, 2010
While listening to Recovery, I became blown away at how much lyrical brutality Em provided over instrumentals provided by DJ Khalil, Just Blaze, Denaun Porter, and more.  The album is definitely a step away from his previous works in terms of content but lyrically, Em is worthy of a top spot MC and he proves that throughout the 17 tracked LP.

Fans won't be disappointed, and I can now say that I am one (a fan).