“Music To Be Murdered By”, the unexpected 11th studio album by American hip-hop artist Eminem, was dropped on Jan. 17, and quickly reached the top position on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Boasting 20 tracks in a variety of styles that mostly contain undertones of horrorcore, the album itself feels like an organized mess of ideas brought together by heavy Hitchcockian influence.
Background
Originally known as Marshall Bruce Mathers III, Detroit artist Eminem debuted on the rap scene with the 1996 album “Infinite” along with “The Slim Shady EP” the following year, breaking into the mainstream after releasing “The Slim Shady LP” and the hit single “My Name Is.” Signing with Aftermath Entertainment, he released three more albums before going on hiatus due to a prescription drug habit.
Later, he roared back onto the scene with a string of hit records. Selling over 130 million albums and 389 million singles across the globe, Mathers is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Rolling Stone magazine lists him as one of their 100 greatest artists ever.
Similar to how “Kamikaze” was released, Eminem did not market the album before its release, instead opting to surprise fans with his new record’s arrival. Featured artists on “Music To Be Murdered By” include Ed Sheeran, Black Thought, Skylar Grey, Juice Wrld and Anderson Paak.
Highlights
1. “Godzilla” (feat. Juice Wrld)
This seems to be the most popular track on the album, debuting at number three on the Billboard 100 chart; the source of its popularity is a well-produced beat coupled with the late Juice Wrld’s booming choruses and Eminem’s wordplay-laced lyrics. Both artists work incredibly well together, and it’s a shame that we won’t get to see another collaboration. The chorus frames both artists as lyrical monsters, and the verses back that claim up. I couldn’t agree more.
2. You Gon’ Learn (feat. Royce Da 5’9” and White Gold)
Backed up by Royce Da 5’9” and White Gold, Eminem and crew bring resilience and determination to the forefront and show how important it is to stay strong in the face of adversity. The features are top-notch and the beat is well-made. Royce should really be on more of Eminem’s album, as the duo collaborates quite well.
3. Yah Yah (feat. Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, and Q-Tip)
Once again utilizing Royce Da 5’9” along with The Roots’ Black Thought and Q-Tip, the fearsome four display their talent for impressive lyrics over a pounding beat produced by dEnAun. It’s genuinely something to behold.
However, there are some duds on this record. I wasn’t a fan of “Farewell” or the homicidal fantasy track “Stepdad.” The album also includes a few genuine moments of tension; I felt somewhat scared listening to some of these tracks, including “Unaccommodating” and “Darkness.” That scare factor is also hyped by the samples of Alfred Hitchcock’s album from which this record got its name.
