How does one review an album/EP that's been anticipated for longer than Dr. Dre's Detox album which feels like its been in production forever (12 years to be exact but Dre, release the fucking album already). As unbelievable as that seems, it is the case with Hell: The Sequel, Bad Meets Evil's debut album, one which was originally talked about way back in 1997 even before Eminem's Slim Shady LP came out. Royce Da 5'9 (Bad) and Eminem (Evil) met in the late 90's and released their first single as Bad Meets Evil called Nuttin' to do. The duo would look to release a full length album together but before that happened, Eminem went to California to work with Dre on his critically acclaimed and commercially successful "debut" album (Infinite was first but no one calls it his debut for some reason) The Slim Shady LP. Em and Royce's relationship was still very strong at the time which led to Marshall calling Royce to Cali to work on Dre's sophomore album 2001 (Royce ended up writing the song "The Message" for Dre which ended up on the final cut of the CD.). After the release of 2001 Em and Royce still frequently collaborated, the most memorable being Rock City, a song off Royce's debut album of the same name.
Things all went downhill for the duo after the release of Rock City as Royce and the members of D12 got involved in a public falling out or in hip-hop terms: beef (does anyone know how that term started?) which led to several diss tracks made by both parties (Eminem was never involved with the diss tracks but people have speculated that he did address the issue in the song "How Come") and the end of Eminem and Royce's relationship for the time being. Eventually the two motor city rappers would reconcile their friendship; possibly due to the death of mutual longtime friend Proof who got killed in 2006, something that might have brought the two closer together. They would begin to make music together again shortly after Eminem and his label Shady Records signed Slaughterhouse (a hip-hop group that consists of Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9) which brings me to the point of this article in the first place (I felt that the history of the group was important in writing a review for their album so that is the reason for the first two paragraphs).
The first thing that you will notice upon listening to the album is that it is true lyrical hip-hop (didn't know how to else to put it.. its basically the exact opposite of Roll Up by Wiz Khalifa) and that if you are not a fan of hard-hitting beats and double-time lyricism by two of the game's best, then this album is not for you. The first song of the EP is "Welcome 2 Hell", an intro that starts off fast and never lets up with Royce and Slim Shady spitting over a booming beat produced by Mobb Deep's Havoc (now that Prodigy's finally out of jail, I'm hoping that they can start making good music again). The song sets the tone for the rest of the album with the way that Bad and Evil trade punchlines and metaphors seamlessly one right after the other. Eminem and Royce's chemistry in the booth is best shown on the album's second song, "Fast Lane" (my favourite song from the EP), where Royce raps about hanging a cop by his balls from a unicorn's horn while Eminem tells us what he wishes to do with Nicki Minaj (Penis----->Anus).
Above The Law (one of the few songs i've ever heard where another rapper outshines Em; seriously, Royce kills it), I'm on Everything (a song about every drug and drink possible which is contradictory considering Mr. Mathers' past) and The Reunion (a "true story" of how Eminem and Royce met; listen for the clever way Em uses the accent from Relapse that was in my opinion wrongly hated on) are more songs that showcase the duo's lyricism and chemistry. The final song on the album (not counting Living Proof and Echo which are on the deluxe version of the CD) is Loud Noises featuring Royce's group-mates Slaughterhouse. Eminem and the rest of slaughterhouse take turns in delivering 5 solid verses (I think Joe Budden had the best one) over a Mr. Porter beat (he does the majority of the production on the EP which is solid but nothing spectacular) without any sort of hook in between. The only two songs that feel out of place on the EP are Lighters which is an inspiring anthem featuring a hook from pop star Bruno Mars and Take From Me which sounds like it should be on Recovery (Eminem's previous album). Not to say these songs aren't good (Lighters I feel will be a great song to experience live in concert) but just that they don't fit with the album's overall feel and intensity. The reason for them being made are clear though as Take From Me and especially Lighters are songs that will appeal to a mainstream audience and get some radio airtime. This is an example of hip-hop's business side because even if your album is great, if no one hears about it through the radio (it's still the main source of music for most people even though its extremely slow in putting out music) then it won't end up achieving good numbers sales-wise.
To close this review I will say that it will show people two things. One, that Eminem is still one of the rap game's best (in my opinion he is the greatest of all time with Tupac, Jay-Z and Biggie in some order behind him) and that Royce Da 5'9 has been slept on for too long as he consistently stays on par with Marshall throughout the album, something few rappers have been able to do. This collaboration has been a long time coming and the end result is worth the wait. If you are a fan of hip-hop then this album is for you and although i know that Watch the Throne (the collabo album between Jay-Z and Kanye West) will be more flashy and hyped up I doubt that even those two rap greats will come through with a complete album as this one. All we can do is watch the throne (see what i did there?) and wait.
Score: 8.5/10
Luka Milanovic
@Luka_M91 on twitter
Things all went downhill for the duo after the release of Rock City as Royce and the members of D12 got involved in a public falling out or in hip-hop terms: beef (does anyone know how that term started?) which led to several diss tracks made by both parties (Eminem was never involved with the diss tracks but people have speculated that he did address the issue in the song "How Come") and the end of Eminem and Royce's relationship for the time being. Eventually the two motor city rappers would reconcile their friendship; possibly due to the death of mutual longtime friend Proof who got killed in 2006, something that might have brought the two closer together. They would begin to make music together again shortly after Eminem and his label Shady Records signed Slaughterhouse (a hip-hop group that consists of Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9) which brings me to the point of this article in the first place (I felt that the history of the group was important in writing a review for their album so that is the reason for the first two paragraphs).
The first thing that you will notice upon listening to the album is that it is true lyrical hip-hop (didn't know how to else to put it.. its basically the exact opposite of Roll Up by Wiz Khalifa) and that if you are not a fan of hard-hitting beats and double-time lyricism by two of the game's best, then this album is not for you. The first song of the EP is "Welcome 2 Hell", an intro that starts off fast and never lets up with Royce and Slim Shady spitting over a booming beat produced by Mobb Deep's Havoc (now that Prodigy's finally out of jail, I'm hoping that they can start making good music again). The song sets the tone for the rest of the album with the way that Bad and Evil trade punchlines and metaphors seamlessly one right after the other. Eminem and Royce's chemistry in the booth is best shown on the album's second song, "Fast Lane" (my favourite song from the EP), where Royce raps about hanging a cop by his balls from a unicorn's horn while Eminem tells us what he wishes to do with Nicki Minaj (Penis----->Anus).
Above The Law (one of the few songs i've ever heard where another rapper outshines Em; seriously, Royce kills it), I'm on Everything (a song about every drug and drink possible which is contradictory considering Mr. Mathers' past) and The Reunion (a "true story" of how Eminem and Royce met; listen for the clever way Em uses the accent from Relapse that was in my opinion wrongly hated on) are more songs that showcase the duo's lyricism and chemistry. The final song on the album (not counting Living Proof and Echo which are on the deluxe version of the CD) is Loud Noises featuring Royce's group-mates Slaughterhouse. Eminem and the rest of slaughterhouse take turns in delivering 5 solid verses (I think Joe Budden had the best one) over a Mr. Porter beat (he does the majority of the production on the EP which is solid but nothing spectacular) without any sort of hook in between. The only two songs that feel out of place on the EP are Lighters which is an inspiring anthem featuring a hook from pop star Bruno Mars and Take From Me which sounds like it should be on Recovery (Eminem's previous album). Not to say these songs aren't good (Lighters I feel will be a great song to experience live in concert) but just that they don't fit with the album's overall feel and intensity. The reason for them being made are clear though as Take From Me and especially Lighters are songs that will appeal to a mainstream audience and get some radio airtime. This is an example of hip-hop's business side because even if your album is great, if no one hears about it through the radio (it's still the main source of music for most people even though its extremely slow in putting out music) then it won't end up achieving good numbers sales-wise.
To close this review I will say that it will show people two things. One, that Eminem is still one of the rap game's best (in my opinion he is the greatest of all time with Tupac, Jay-Z and Biggie in some order behind him) and that Royce Da 5'9 has been slept on for too long as he consistently stays on par with Marshall throughout the album, something few rappers have been able to do. This collaboration has been a long time coming and the end result is worth the wait. If you are a fan of hip-hop then this album is for you and although i know that Watch the Throne (the collabo album between Jay-Z and Kanye West) will be more flashy and hyped up I doubt that even those two rap greats will come through with a complete album as this one. All we can do is watch the throne (see what i did there?) and wait.
Score: 8.5/10
Luka Milanovic
@Luka_M91 on twitter
"Fast Lane" had a pretty innovative and creative music video. It's only the first song I've listened to from the album, but I don't think Royce is quite on Shady's level.
ReplyDelete