MMLP2 Deluxe tracks review

Deluxe:

"Baby" basically takes off where "Evil Twin" left off. Slim Shady completely goes off with multi-syllables, punch lines, crazy flows, shout outs... you get the picture. If you weren't sure Slim Shady was back after the regular version of the album ended, well here he is. The fact that this song (and really the rest of the deluxe tracks) didn't make the album is a testament to the strength of the album.

"Desperation" is the famous Jamie N Commons feature everyone's been waiting for. This is another song about Eminem's love life and all the problems connected with it. Jamie N Commons' hook is devastating. It's safe to say that Jamie and Eminem fit fairly well. This song has some solid punchlines such as "I'm just mad the time it took to discover you were using me for loot like I used you for looks." "Desperation" steers clear of becoming the next "Love The Way You Lie" or "Spacebound" with plenty of jabs at the fairer sex.

"Groundhog Day" is like a darker, nightmarish (in a good way) version of Yellow Brick Rock. Eminem discusses moving from place to place as a kid, discovering hip hop with Uncle Ronnie (RIP), making rap his life goal, and teaming up with Proof (RIP as well). Eminem also discusses, explicitly, coming up in the underground and battle hip hop scenes. The lyricism as always is (rap) god-like. By the end of the song, it's apparent that Eminem is one of the greatest to ever touch a mic. This is a 100% pure hip hop track. No pop.

"Beautiful Pain" goes back to the hip hop-pop balance that Eminem toes the entire album with a clearly pop hook by Sia. Eminem's story telling is top notch. This is a very introspective track discussing pain and depression. Just in case you wanted to know, Eminem is here for you! "And I'm pulling for you to push through this feeling and with a little time that should do the healing." This is the "Not Afraid" of The Marshall Mathers LP 2. Hip hop purists may not appreciate it, but it is an extremely deep track that everyone can relate to.

"Wicked Ways" returns to the Slim Shady persona. "Guess I got a way with words, I could get away with murder." That opening line is an extremely efficient way to explain Slim Shady. The multis on this song are amazing. At times it seems like Eminem doesn't know how to NOT rhyme. It's fantastic. All pop is gone again on this song, and Eminem rips hip hop a new one. This is a great way to end the deluxe version of the album. This song is so good that you can hear Eminem "digging his way to hell" (which makes sense if you listen to the song). The album officially ends with a hidden Ken Keniff skit (he's back!). Ken is taking a piss/shit in a bathroom stall and his combination of horrible gas and singing laced with homosexual references leads the dude in the stall next to him to say "I know that voice," slam his stall open and take off screaming. Ken complains about everyone leaving him and farts one more time as the album ends. Thanks Shady.

Overall, I love this album. To me, The Eminem Show and Marshall Mathers LP were both 9.5/10. Most of the songs on this album are 9's or 10's, but "The Monster" is about a 6 and Survival is probably a 7.5. As a whole, I would give the album a 9/10 (8.5 at the lowest). It's not quite as good as The Eminem Show or original MMLP, but it may be on par with The Slim Shady LP, and is certainly beyond the rest of his albums. I love this album, and I'm probably going to have it on repeat for at least a week. This album paints a picture of an older, only slightly more mature Eminem who is extremely relate-able. It also seems to find the perfect balance between Eminem and Slim Shady. Relapse was too much Slim, Recovery was too much Em. MMLP2 is the right amount of each with enough Marshall Mathers thrown in to make you feel like you know him. Not to mention Ken Keniff is back. There have been rumors that this is Eminem's last album, and though I hope it's not, it would be a deserving final album.