LifeStyle Unrated™

The new Eminem disc Relapse, is startling and bonkers, entertaining and epic, in the sense that it paints vivid portraits to one's mind about the dark world he imagines and ironically lives in. Relapse features a welcome return of Dr. Dre's famous bottom-heavy West coast beats. From the beginning skit through to the record's last song, which happens to be my favorite, and some critics as well, 37-year-old Marshall Mathers proves he's still one of hip hop's most influential rappers. He creates elaborate horror scenarios to hide behind on his comeback album, there hasn't been anything this profane and funny, yet scary and spooky since the days of Geto Boys. Relapse is a horror-core album,  songs like My Mom and Insane have no real precedence in hip hop. Dr. Dre's influence on the record is massive, and he brings out the best in Mr. Mathers on Old Time's Sake and, especially, on Crack A Bottle.

Underground/ Ken Kaniff the record's last track, is the best in my opinion. Here, Em raps without the mock accent he employs on We Made You, he raps dark and fast using the english language to paint crazy images and bending syllables: "Two weeks in Brighton, I ain't enlightened/bitin' into a Vicodin, like a Viking/oh lightning is striking, might be a sign I need a psychic/evaluation, forget Jason, it's Friday the 19th," and on and on. I enjoyed the album, pick it up, maybe you will also.