The Marshall Mathers LP is considered one of the most impactful albums in hip-hop, and is the album in-which Eminem solidified his position in the music industry. Coming off the back of the hugely controversial Slim Shady LP, where Eminem first introduced the world to his alter-ego Slim Shady, the album provides listeners with a closer look into the artist behind the controversy. The first noticeable difference that struck me when listening to The Marshall Mathers LP was the maturity and development, evident in the production and even the sound of Eminem himself who delivers lyrics with purpose and venom, with an air of retaliation. The album is executively produced by the infamous Dr. Dre, which is critical to its' success, allowing Eminem to flow on strong, crisp beats.
The powerful opening track 'Kill You' expresses Eminem's views on the media's attempted censorship of his music, as he stands his ground, continuing to provoke and anger critics through the content of his lyrics, invoking his alter-ego to commit heinous crimes.
The next track from the album is one that has substantial cultural impact to the point where the name of the song 'Stan' became common vernacular and was added to the dictionary. The song explores the concept of an obsessive fan who writes Eminem letters which progressively become more unsettling as he doesn't receive responses, to the point where he spirals out of control, eventually killing himself and his pregnant girlfriend. The songs storytelling ability, as well as the though-provoking views of fame and celebrity worship achieved the song critical acclaim and a permanent place in the history of hip-hop. The album also included other hugely successful songs including 'The Real Slim Shady' and 'The Way I Am' ensuring the album's commercial appeal. Tracks on the album such as 'Who Knew and 'Marshall Mathers' further appear to be an outlet for Eminem, allowing him to express his anger towards critics and those who attempt to exploit and capitalise on his fame. There were, however, few songs that did not reach the hights of their peers. 'Remember Me? and 'Under The Influence' were songs that felt unnecessary, where the verses from both Eminem and the features were simply average and didn't compare to the rest of the album.
The album is very well-rounded showing clear development from The Slim Shady LP as well as strong versatility and skill in his story-telling ability. Songs such as 'Kim' and 'Criminal' mimic the success of The Slim Shady LP, creating fantastical scenarios where Eminem shows off his alter-ego Slim Shady. The rest of the album shows growth and maturity in Eminem's rap style and content, evident with the array of introspective tracks revealing Eminem's perspective on fame, his new-found influence and the music industry itself.
9.5/10
By Tom Mccorley
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