Eminem - 'Encore'

Opening Opinion 8/10

Okay, so this is an in depth review of Em’s fourth album, Encore…sadly I have a bootlegged copy with no skits, so I won’t talk about those. Encore is known as being Em’s worst album...and, in my opinion, that is true. Let’s get into it…

The album starts with “Evil Deeds,” an up tempo oddball of a song…I really like the chorus, however. Em equates heavenly father to his father who he never got the chance to know. Interesting right? “Never Enough” features an excellent Nate Dogg hook and 50 Cent. I really like the song, but wish it was longer. “Yellow Brick Road” is easily one of Em’s most introspective songs, period. And unlike other songs he’s done, this one is pretty much 100% truth. Em raps about being white and admiring black culture and his relationship with a black woman, who I’m assuming was named Kim (not his ex-wife). In fact, he even references the “old foolish pride girl” here.

“Like Toy Soldiers” is another heartfelt track. The chorus is a terrific sample. The beat is hot too. It’s about Em’s beef with Benzino and Ja Rule and how 50 Cent dragged him in to the latter beef. “Mosh” is another one of my favorite Em tracks…so far good album, right? Yup! On this song Em takes jabs at then President George H.W. Bush. It’s a dark and empowering track.

“Puke” is, as my high school friend put it, the “Whitest song on the album,” lol. But I love it. It’s obviously about an ex-lover aka Kim. I love the beat, actually sounds like the “Till I Collapse” beat a little bit. The lyricism is kinda bad…it’s almost like he wasn’t sure what to say cause he was so mad, hahaha. I love at the end, he says, “Fuccn Bitch” lol.

“My 1st Single” is basically a failed 1st single song. It’s a truly weirdo song. It’s funny, but I feel like Eminem has nothing important to say on it. He coulda just left it off. Eminem compares himself to O.J. Simpson here….crazy right? It’s not very good. “Rain Man” is an improvement. It's stupid af. That beat though. This song is homo man, lol. Dr. Dre says, “Yeah” on it. The song really proves Em was on drugs.

“Big Weenie” is the diss track to Benzino (Look him up, he was a rapper haha). It’s effective. Em’s flow is decent too. “Just Lose It” is the usual single song and it's really good. He kinda takes jabs at himself on 8 Mile on this track. I love it. The beat is great too. That video though…not feeling that. I like Michael Jackson. “Ass Like That” is interesting. Why you say? It’s track 14 and it sounds a lot like 50 Cent’s “Just A Lil Bit” song, which was, gasp, track 14 on The Massacre album. You see, this is why they pay me the big bucks! The song, “Ass Like That” is so funny. I like the video too.

“Spend Some Time” is an ode to diss the ladies. But it's really about a failed relationship. Obi Trice, Stat Quo, and 50 Cent aid Slim. I like the chorus, but the song is too long, but it isn’t really skippable imo. “Mockingbird” is an ode to his daughter Hallie. I love this song. Just listen to it. It proves Eminem is a top rated MC. The beat is like the opposite of typical Encore beats, but I like it.

Someone I knew said “Crazy In Love” was their favorite Em song. I looked at her in disbelief, but hey it is a good song. The beat is so good and that sample man! “One Shot 2 Shot” features D-12… and ironically it is the last time they are on a Eminem album, I believe. They are really good here! The beat is infectious too. The song is basically a telling of a shootout in the club. The final song is the title track. It is really enjoyable. I like how Eminem says “We gon make Dre do it” in regards to Dr. Dre releasing Detox. I.E.. It never came out, but, hey, now we have a better album, so the great Hip Hop Dr. says. 50 Cent is decent here too. The end is just stupid. “See You in hell fu**ers.”

Closing Opinion: 8/10. While not up to usual Em standards, Encore is still a fun listen. You should check it out if you never have.