Another one, Em...please??

Still rummaging through my currently limited music collection and needing something to work out on besides the repetitive radio tunes, I came across the latest Eminem CD "The Eminem Show". Now before anyone gets excited (and any true fan should already know this), this is his compilation from 2002 (although rumors have it that he's working on his next and probably last CD as we speak :( ). Anyway, everytime I listen to Em's work, I re-recognize the attributes that really make this guy a creative genius. First, I am forever floored by how much emotion he is able to capture in EVERY delivery of every verse. Seriously, I am about as calm and as patient as they come and I even get riled up after listening to such cuts as "Soldier" or "Till I Collapse". Not to mention Em's rhyme scheme is absolutely vicious. He, like no other, has this innate ability to put words together that don't necessarily rhyme (check out the second verse of "Cleaning out my Closet"). You truly keep getting surprised at how many words Em can match together in flawless flow. Even after listening to songs 3 and 4 times, there's always some word, phrase, simile, or metaphor that you don't realize you missed. Truly a beautiful thang!! Moreover, Em, unlike many rap artists, carries a real understanding of his craft. You can tell this guy really did his homework and/or was HEAVILY influenced by all the "great ones" - Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Kurtis Blow, Jay-Z, Nas, etc. This is evidenced in how well-rounded he is, singing hooks (and sometimes verses - e.g., Haillie's Song), writing his flows, and even now producing. But even better, this is evidenced in the content of his songs. Em's quite comtemplative, witty, honest, and extremely sharp under his biting, macho man persona. Songs like "Say Good-bye to Hollywood", where Em recognizes the heavy price of fame, "White America", where he picks at the sideways morality of American society, and "Sing for the Moment", where he simlutaneously reiterates the role that rap music can play in someone's life, speaks on how that role is not always negative, and explains why rappers sometimes do the stuff that they do (like carry weapons). All-in-all, as a white rapper in an all black arena, I definitely think Em has shot to the forefront on one reason alone -- amazing talent...ok and maybe a little controversy!!

RECOMMENDATION: If you can get past the foul mouth, the repeated references to killing his ex-wife, and the outlandishness that comes with many rap CD these days, you'll see the true talent that lies beneath and why I, for one, am very, very thirsty for his upcoming, and hopefully not final, CD.