Post by ceb on Feb 20, 2013 11:56:37 GMT -5
SSLP review:
Overview:
The Slim Shady LP (SSLP) is the second studio album by Eminem and referred to as one of his greatest because no one before him had been a successful white rapper or rapped about the subjects he did or said what he said in this record. As well as this he brought his own style of rapping and brought some of the most complexed raps and rapping style which no one had heard before. This is why its heavily considered one of his greatest albums and I would agree. The album contains overall 20 tracks in the normal version and within this it contains 6 skits including the intro 14 songs with 3 of them originally coming from the Slim Shady EP ('just don't give a fuck,' 'If I had' and also '97 Bonnie and Clyde')
Production:
Production of the album was mostly between Eminem and the Bass brothers but also includes 3 Dr Dre tracks which all became singles for the album. The beats for the album overall are good and fit the scene well for each individual song and by hearing the beat you can almost tell what type of song to expect so it provides a good atmosphere for each and every song. The production is very strong throughout the whole album and very good the only weak point about it is being overshadowed by the lyrics and content within them although this could be a good thing since its rap music and the focus is meant to be on the words this is one of the few faults in the album Eminems lyrical ability overshadowing his skills in producing as well.
My name is:
The first true song on the album and also the lead single for the album which provides a catchy beat produced by Dr Dre and the song is about Eminem introducing himself on the scene and showing everyone what slim shady is all about with his unique style and amazing/skilful rapping ability whilst talking about crazy subjects and out of this world stories which for the time was unheard of. Although most of his skill shown is almost completely ignored by critics due to the fact of is explicit lyrics it is a very lyrical and skilful song as well as being catchy and the type of song you rap and sing even if you don't like the song that much. (10/10)
Guilty conscience:
This is the second song on the album and also the second song with a Dr Dre production and was the third single released from the album. The song also features Dr Dre and the song is about Eminem and Dre acting as the angel and devil on each shoulder in 3 situations which is the structure for the 3 verses where they go back and forth explain what to do in each situation and why they should listen to them and not the other. It didn't go down well originally when it was first released but over time it has been recognised as one of Eminems finest songs and I would agree with this and just shows how good the chemistry is between Dre and Eminem (10/10)
Brain Damage:
The third song on the album is a tale about how Eminem was treated at school and also as a child to and explains how Slim shady was created by his past experiences and how he was treated. This is also the first song on the album to feature production from Eminem himself and the Bass brothers. Within the song though he also uses a very clever rhyme, rhyming a word that typically doesn't rhyme with anything and being able to rhyme it, with "four inch" and "foreign" with "orange" he also rhymes the next word after each as well, with "four inch screws" "foreign tools" and "orange juice" which is really impressive and very clever at the same time. So brain damage is not only a story about how slim shady came around but his rapping abilities as well and I would say this is one of the best songs on the album. (10/10)
If I had:
This song is the first song of the Slim Shady EP that is featured on the album and is a more personal side of Eminem but still displaying the slim shady side of him in the album. Whilst he is personal rapping about what he is tired of in life and what he wants in life but still would act crazy and do irrational acts such as "rob armoured trucks" and although he is still carrying the slim shady theme throughout the song, it makes you feel closer to Eminem as he raps about subjects that everyone can relate to in some way, and being able to show his personal side (Marshall mathers) whilst still keeping the shady theme of the album and also making you feel close and personal and feel for his struggles shows an excellent choice of words throughout the song showing that he is a jack of all trades in rap. (9.5/10)
97 Bonnie & Clyde:
The second song of the Slim shady EP to be featured on the album, is a controversial tale about him and his daughter disposing of his wife's dead body who is also his daughter's mother by throwing her in the lake which makes up the album cover as well. The production of the song is handled by Eminem and the bass brothers again and straight away your not sure what expect of this song as it almost sugar coats the fact he killed his wife by him acting like a good and understanding father towards his daughter. This is one of the more controversial songs on the album but despite this shows Eminem's skill in story telling and being able to set and paint a scene in your mind. (9.5/10)
Role model:
The second single from the album and the last Dr Dre produced track on the album is one of Eminems most controversial songs as his Slim shady ego is in full effect as well as demonstrating in-genius wordplay and rhyming skill in between. The song is meant to be Eminem acting as a bad role model hence where the title 'role model' comes from, and saying "you can be just like me" almost showing the negative sides to acting as crazy as slim shady. The song is a very good display of Eminem's Slim shady character and the relationship between Dre producing and Eminem rapping over the track and in my opinion possibly the best song on the album. (10/10)
My fault:
My fault feels to be a pop song when you first hear it due to the high tempo beat and the way Eminem portrays the hook when in actual fact is a song about Eminem finding the funny side to drug use and a woman overdosing. This song again shows how clever Eminem is at choosing the right words to give us a story and be able to cleverly portray a scene, and in this case a woman overdosing after him encouraging her to take drugs. The pop production again produced by Eminem and the Bass brothers is to carry on from the previous skit (lounge) to see the funny side of it as he jokes about it in the song. Although it is again a controversial song if you see past that it is a clever and funny song when you know not to take it seriously. (9/10)
Cum on everybody:
This again has a pop feel to it and has a solid beat behind it which again feels more of a pop beat than a rap beat but nevertheless Eminem is able to take the beat and make it his own and showing he is far from a one trick pony by being able to make a rap/pop track by himself by only sampling part of Le Pamplemouse "gimme what you got" and feels very much like the party song of the album but even though its a pop song the theme is very much still shady as the opening line states "my favourite colour was red like the blood shed in Kurt Cobain's head when he shot himself dead" which certainly is a dark image in your head and makes you think 'did he just say that' but also shows lyrical skill rhyming "red" "shed" "head" and "dead" in one bar, so although it still feels like a pop song the rap element of the song is very much still there as he doesn't let a bar go to waste. (9.5/10)
Rock bottom:
This song has a very similar place in the album to which "if i had" did as Eminem lets you in on his life and everyday struggles of his which and how his acts come from his past where he has nothing so he is forced to think reckless and do mad acts which makes you feel for him more similar to "if i had" because he makes you feel its not his fault for becoming what he has become. The opening line of the song grips you from the off with a strong punchline where he goes "I feel like im walking a tight rope without a circus net" and it makes you want to carry on listening to every word because you want to know why he feels that way and being a true word smith is able to tell you his story and make it relate about showing a true value of skill and emotion in this song. (10/10)
Just don't give a f*ck:
The last song of the Slim shady EP to be featured on the album it doesn't really have a named subject its just a song all about Eminems skill in lyrics and his Slim shady character as he goes from one line to the next coming out with outrageous comments which can disguise how clever the song is at first because in a line he states "pathological liar blowing sh*t out of proportion" which you can tell that he is just saying it to give you the wow factor when truly the song is only about the skill behind it and is a true display of lyrical skill throughout and makes it a brilliant song even when he is coming out with out of this world comments that still do this day can leave you jaw dropped. When truly everything about this song is jaw dropping. (10/10)
As the world turns:
In this song Eminem tells you two stories of him as a kid and as an adult where he is violent to woman and how since a kid hasn't change but only escalated since he is older. Again this song is very controversial, but Eminems skill in telling a story and the ability to find the funny side of the song and make it funny and laughable to a controversial tale shows his wise choice in words are able to make the song feel like a laughable but controversial tale which sounds almost to outrageous to be true. Which is what Slim shady does best. (9.5/10)
I'm shady:
This song has a very "my name is" feel about it and has a pop feel to the song as well although in my own opinion the beat to it isn't that great it doesn't make it a bad song as Eminem still manages to keep up his wizardry with his words and lyrical ability and make up for that for me atleast. It's a very random off the wall type song which goes from dark to funny to personal in the blink of an eye. Showing a spontaneous change of emotion and that makes you wonder what may be coming next as his lyrics go back and forth while his skill in rhyming stays the same. Amazing. (9/10)
Bad meets evil:
Bad meets evil is the second and last song with a feature on with Royce da 5'9 being the guest and is a tale about how the two of them used to run a small town together as bad meets evil and says about how they met also. Royce's chemistry with Eminem on the track is something special. Both pushing each other to their very best lyrical potential both one-uping the other each verse and Royce being able to play as the alter ego 'bad' while Eminem being 'evil' both bring their own shady and dark feel to this track and I feel Royce did nothing but make this song the best it could be and making it one of the best on the album. (10/10)
Still don't give a f*ck:
The last song on the album is far from the worst. The whole song is brilliant and how an album should end, because it keeps you hooked till the end. With fast wordplay and incredible lyrics he's able to come out with lines such as "I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives, a brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives" then you hear Eminem explain his own punch line in the background by saying "sh*ting on rappers" which with that line you can't help but agree with. Although it maybe the last song it is far from the worst and is certainly one of the many highlights of this album. (10/10)
Conclusion:
Production 9.5/10
Don't get me wrong the production is great for the most part but i felt as if one or two beats may have been better not to say they were bad but more under par compared to the rest.
Lyrics 10/10
Eminems lyrical skill is something untouched and incomparable to the present day and this album revolutionised rap by taking it to the next level and raising the bar for others and I would certainly agree with that.
Overall 10/10
This album is certainly a must listen for any Eminem fan or any rap fan even. Even if you don't agree with what he is saying in his songs any hip-hop fan could agree that his talent is undeniable. I would recommend this to any rap fan as a must buy and certainly any Eminem fan. It is without a doubt one of Eminem's best performances and one of his best albums, It is without a doubt a legendary album and that is why I would rate it 10/10
Overview:
The Slim Shady LP (SSLP) is the second studio album by Eminem and referred to as one of his greatest because no one before him had been a successful white rapper or rapped about the subjects he did or said what he said in this record. As well as this he brought his own style of rapping and brought some of the most complexed raps and rapping style which no one had heard before. This is why its heavily considered one of his greatest albums and I would agree. The album contains overall 20 tracks in the normal version and within this it contains 6 skits including the intro 14 songs with 3 of them originally coming from the Slim Shady EP ('just don't give a fuck,' 'If I had' and also '97 Bonnie and Clyde')
Production:
Production of the album was mostly between Eminem and the Bass brothers but also includes 3 Dr Dre tracks which all became singles for the album. The beats for the album overall are good and fit the scene well for each individual song and by hearing the beat you can almost tell what type of song to expect so it provides a good atmosphere for each and every song. The production is very strong throughout the whole album and very good the only weak point about it is being overshadowed by the lyrics and content within them although this could be a good thing since its rap music and the focus is meant to be on the words this is one of the few faults in the album Eminems lyrical ability overshadowing his skills in producing as well.
My name is:
The first true song on the album and also the lead single for the album which provides a catchy beat produced by Dr Dre and the song is about Eminem introducing himself on the scene and showing everyone what slim shady is all about with his unique style and amazing/skilful rapping ability whilst talking about crazy subjects and out of this world stories which for the time was unheard of. Although most of his skill shown is almost completely ignored by critics due to the fact of is explicit lyrics it is a very lyrical and skilful song as well as being catchy and the type of song you rap and sing even if you don't like the song that much. (10/10)
Guilty conscience:
This is the second song on the album and also the second song with a Dr Dre production and was the third single released from the album. The song also features Dr Dre and the song is about Eminem and Dre acting as the angel and devil on each shoulder in 3 situations which is the structure for the 3 verses where they go back and forth explain what to do in each situation and why they should listen to them and not the other. It didn't go down well originally when it was first released but over time it has been recognised as one of Eminems finest songs and I would agree with this and just shows how good the chemistry is between Dre and Eminem (10/10)
Brain Damage:
The third song on the album is a tale about how Eminem was treated at school and also as a child to and explains how Slim shady was created by his past experiences and how he was treated. This is also the first song on the album to feature production from Eminem himself and the Bass brothers. Within the song though he also uses a very clever rhyme, rhyming a word that typically doesn't rhyme with anything and being able to rhyme it, with "four inch" and "foreign" with "orange" he also rhymes the next word after each as well, with "four inch screws" "foreign tools" and "orange juice" which is really impressive and very clever at the same time. So brain damage is not only a story about how slim shady came around but his rapping abilities as well and I would say this is one of the best songs on the album. (10/10)
If I had:
This song is the first song of the Slim Shady EP that is featured on the album and is a more personal side of Eminem but still displaying the slim shady side of him in the album. Whilst he is personal rapping about what he is tired of in life and what he wants in life but still would act crazy and do irrational acts such as "rob armoured trucks" and although he is still carrying the slim shady theme throughout the song, it makes you feel closer to Eminem as he raps about subjects that everyone can relate to in some way, and being able to show his personal side (Marshall mathers) whilst still keeping the shady theme of the album and also making you feel close and personal and feel for his struggles shows an excellent choice of words throughout the song showing that he is a jack of all trades in rap. (9.5/10)
97 Bonnie & Clyde:
The second song of the Slim shady EP to be featured on the album, is a controversial tale about him and his daughter disposing of his wife's dead body who is also his daughter's mother by throwing her in the lake which makes up the album cover as well. The production of the song is handled by Eminem and the bass brothers again and straight away your not sure what expect of this song as it almost sugar coats the fact he killed his wife by him acting like a good and understanding father towards his daughter. This is one of the more controversial songs on the album but despite this shows Eminem's skill in story telling and being able to set and paint a scene in your mind. (9.5/10)
Role model:
The second single from the album and the last Dr Dre produced track on the album is one of Eminems most controversial songs as his Slim shady ego is in full effect as well as demonstrating in-genius wordplay and rhyming skill in between. The song is meant to be Eminem acting as a bad role model hence where the title 'role model' comes from, and saying "you can be just like me" almost showing the negative sides to acting as crazy as slim shady. The song is a very good display of Eminem's Slim shady character and the relationship between Dre producing and Eminem rapping over the track and in my opinion possibly the best song on the album. (10/10)
My fault:
My fault feels to be a pop song when you first hear it due to the high tempo beat and the way Eminem portrays the hook when in actual fact is a song about Eminem finding the funny side to drug use and a woman overdosing. This song again shows how clever Eminem is at choosing the right words to give us a story and be able to cleverly portray a scene, and in this case a woman overdosing after him encouraging her to take drugs. The pop production again produced by Eminem and the Bass brothers is to carry on from the previous skit (lounge) to see the funny side of it as he jokes about it in the song. Although it is again a controversial song if you see past that it is a clever and funny song when you know not to take it seriously. (9/10)
Cum on everybody:
This again has a pop feel to it and has a solid beat behind it which again feels more of a pop beat than a rap beat but nevertheless Eminem is able to take the beat and make it his own and showing he is far from a one trick pony by being able to make a rap/pop track by himself by only sampling part of Le Pamplemouse "gimme what you got" and feels very much like the party song of the album but even though its a pop song the theme is very much still shady as the opening line states "my favourite colour was red like the blood shed in Kurt Cobain's head when he shot himself dead" which certainly is a dark image in your head and makes you think 'did he just say that' but also shows lyrical skill rhyming "red" "shed" "head" and "dead" in one bar, so although it still feels like a pop song the rap element of the song is very much still there as he doesn't let a bar go to waste. (9.5/10)
Rock bottom:
This song has a very similar place in the album to which "if i had" did as Eminem lets you in on his life and everyday struggles of his which and how his acts come from his past where he has nothing so he is forced to think reckless and do mad acts which makes you feel for him more similar to "if i had" because he makes you feel its not his fault for becoming what he has become. The opening line of the song grips you from the off with a strong punchline where he goes "I feel like im walking a tight rope without a circus net" and it makes you want to carry on listening to every word because you want to know why he feels that way and being a true word smith is able to tell you his story and make it relate about showing a true value of skill and emotion in this song. (10/10)
Just don't give a f*ck:
The last song of the Slim shady EP to be featured on the album it doesn't really have a named subject its just a song all about Eminems skill in lyrics and his Slim shady character as he goes from one line to the next coming out with outrageous comments which can disguise how clever the song is at first because in a line he states "pathological liar blowing sh*t out of proportion" which you can tell that he is just saying it to give you the wow factor when truly the song is only about the skill behind it and is a true display of lyrical skill throughout and makes it a brilliant song even when he is coming out with out of this world comments that still do this day can leave you jaw dropped. When truly everything about this song is jaw dropping. (10/10)
As the world turns:
In this song Eminem tells you two stories of him as a kid and as an adult where he is violent to woman and how since a kid hasn't change but only escalated since he is older. Again this song is very controversial, but Eminems skill in telling a story and the ability to find the funny side of the song and make it funny and laughable to a controversial tale shows his wise choice in words are able to make the song feel like a laughable but controversial tale which sounds almost to outrageous to be true. Which is what Slim shady does best. (9.5/10)
I'm shady:
This song has a very "my name is" feel about it and has a pop feel to the song as well although in my own opinion the beat to it isn't that great it doesn't make it a bad song as Eminem still manages to keep up his wizardry with his words and lyrical ability and make up for that for me atleast. It's a very random off the wall type song which goes from dark to funny to personal in the blink of an eye. Showing a spontaneous change of emotion and that makes you wonder what may be coming next as his lyrics go back and forth while his skill in rhyming stays the same. Amazing. (9/10)
Bad meets evil:
Bad meets evil is the second and last song with a feature on with Royce da 5'9 being the guest and is a tale about how the two of them used to run a small town together as bad meets evil and says about how they met also. Royce's chemistry with Eminem on the track is something special. Both pushing each other to their very best lyrical potential both one-uping the other each verse and Royce being able to play as the alter ego 'bad' while Eminem being 'evil' both bring their own shady and dark feel to this track and I feel Royce did nothing but make this song the best it could be and making it one of the best on the album. (10/10)
Still don't give a f*ck:
The last song on the album is far from the worst. The whole song is brilliant and how an album should end, because it keeps you hooked till the end. With fast wordplay and incredible lyrics he's able to come out with lines such as "I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives, a brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives" then you hear Eminem explain his own punch line in the background by saying "sh*ting on rappers" which with that line you can't help but agree with. Although it maybe the last song it is far from the worst and is certainly one of the many highlights of this album. (10/10)
Conclusion:
Production 9.5/10
Don't get me wrong the production is great for the most part but i felt as if one or two beats may have been better not to say they were bad but more under par compared to the rest.
Lyrics 10/10
Eminems lyrical skill is something untouched and incomparable to the present day and this album revolutionised rap by taking it to the next level and raising the bar for others and I would certainly agree with that.
Overall 10/10
This album is certainly a must listen for any Eminem fan or any rap fan even. Even if you don't agree with what he is saying in his songs any hip-hop fan could agree that his talent is undeniable. I would recommend this to any rap fan as a must buy and certainly any Eminem fan. It is without a doubt one of Eminem's best performances and one of his best albums, It is without a doubt a legendary album and that is why I would rate it 10/10
(when the SSLP was released)