Eminem Presents The Re-Up [Explicit Lyrics]

Eminem may well be one of the greatest rappers ever. Despite the less than stellar Encore album being his last proper album to date, his reputation is already cemented based on its three predecessors and he will forever be remembered for that. Then why does he choose to surround himself with such mediocre peers?

Em's crew, which takes in the ultra-offensive D12, 50 Cent's mostly awful G-Unit and the likes of newcomers like Bobby Creekwater, all pile into this mixtape-a-like album that doesn't really gain Eminem much ground following Encore. This isn't an Eminem album, this is an album that is executive produced by Eminem, and quite frankly, production is not Marshall Mathers' strong suit. His basslines and beats are almost always far too weak and his taste for octave vocals grates after a while, but here we are with almost a whole album produced by him.

Coupled with the death of Proof, this album was made under less than auspicious circumstances. In hindsight, it's probably about as good as it could be considering. Too many of the songs - D12's 'Murder,' the title track and the late Proof's contribution - sound like sketches or weak filler for the individuals' own albums and as previously mentioned, Eminem's production is often uninspired. Even his own rhymes are below par, as while his multi-faceted, intricate style melds effortlessly to all of these beats, he doesn't really mention a great deal of his recent life events, which could all have made for fascinating listening.

Luckily, the album's not a complete bust. Fantastic lead single 'You Don't Know' is probably the album's best song, its thudding drums and party atmosphere a welcome change to the otherwise fairly grey atmosphere. 'Jimmy Crack Corn' isn't too bad either, hopping along on a sprightly beat that matches its name, though 50 Cent's rapping lets it down. Almost as good as 'You Don't Know' is 'There He Is' by the relatively unknown Bobby Creekwater. A masterful, psychedelic production laden with samples (which by the way, sounds totally out of place here) backs his unfortunately slightly generic rhymes.

All in all, this is really only a necessary purchase for a hardcore Eminem fan. Otherwise, you may as well not bother, becuase this is far from essential listening.

While everyone was debating whether Jay-Z's Kingdom Come would mark the resurrection of Hip-hop, the Gatman & Robin duo of 50 Cent & Eminem released "You Don't Know" featuring proteges Lloyd Banks and Ca$his to radio and watched it rise up the pop charts. It had been a long time since a non-Dance rap track had climbed so high up in the charts. Probably not since Eminem's "When I'm Gone" in '05. Such is the power of the man and it got me thinking that if anyone can 'save' hip-hop from hip-hop its Eminem, because he doesn't have to make you dance to make you listen. Maybe other rappers will start to believe that they do not have to make snap music to sell.

Em and Alchemist play it clever by including 4 remixes and a couple of single verse tracks to give the tape a real mixtape feel and as far as original beats are concerned Eminem continues to improve. He maintains the style he has become famous for but he experiments more with the instruments (even including some beat boxing on the title track) to great effect. Alchemist & Dr. Dre contribute a couple of gems and the rest is from some kids I never heard off but I'll definitely keep an eye on.

The biggest question for most fans is whether after doing it all musically and having a private life that rivals any soap opera (marriage, divorce, drugs, retirement, deaths etc.) does he (Eminem) still have it. Unfortunately we'll have to wait for an album before we can fully answer that question but this mixtape gives us hope that he can remain relevant. The full spectrum of the MC's skills are on display on here albeit in quick fixes, Slim Shady with the humour, Marshall Mathers showing off his serious side.

Eminem is not the only one who revives hope as the surprise (arguably best) performance is from Mr Curtis 'Interscope' Jackson a.k.a 50 Cent himself who raps with a renewed vigour on tracks with Eminem. Gone are the sing song choruses, or the soft verses to the ladies and in with the Gangsta, hustler we all fell in love with (albeit a bit more grown & comfortable i.e. less hungry). The disses are still there but they are more tastefully done (" I carried Game's style for 9 months and gave birth to it/ Now I feel like a proud father watching him do it"). His 4 appearances including a nice remix of his Disco D (R.I.P) classic "Ski Mask Way" are definite highlights of the tape.

As far as proteges go Obie Trice rubber stamps his position as the most gifted outside of Em, Dre & 50 by continuing where he left off on Second Rounds On Me. These days it seems MC's have forgotten all about the flow in favour of hard-core or conscious lyrics but Obie takes it back to when it was all about the flow.
Yeah, Trice is back on the Alche' track
With Ca$his, capitalizing on this mic in fact
We f%$@in with the captain of rap
My ni%%a with the Nike cap keep the continuity quite exact
So I lure you cats into the second classic
We're mature as the numero uno aspect, as yet
Who's to pass the driver?
O tries to flow to die fo' and the death blow survive (woo!)
I echo through your external vibe
with internal experiences I've acquired (uhh)
I'm probably the most honest hip-hopper alive
A victim depicting images from my own eyes (yeah!)
...
It's Ca$his, O. Tri', rappers we blow by
This is as accurate as the masses will have it, no lie
Ni%%a!

If I have to criticise Obie though I would have to bring up the fact that his swagger (or ego) is not as big as his talent and as a result when he speaks of revenge on the remix to "Pistol, Pistol" he is not quite convincing.

Ca$his is the most prominent MC on the tape after Em with two solo joints and while he is talented he doesn't have a style or voice that really set him apart and as a result he is at his best when the beat is also tight e.g. "Cry Now (Remix)" Bobby Creekwater is the more compelling of the two newbies with hard lyrics and a southern drawl that seems to be a requisite for a successful rapper these days. He has a style that makes him easy to listen to and more importantly easy to believe. Stat Quo on the other hand is a bit of a let down, given that he gets to helm one a rare Dr. Dre beat. Lyrically he is all over the place and its not clear if he wants us to take him seriously or whether he wants to play the joker role like Ludacris of old. Finally D-12 also make an appearance which will keep fans happy but won't necessarily win them any new ones, although Proof does kick a hot 16 on "Trapped"

Overall I'd say it is a masterpiece as far as mixtapes go and it is better than most compilations which are usually too all over the place. It acts as a teaser, a warm up record, a declaration of the return of Shady, a return of 'no gimmick hip-hop.' As an album it is slightly flawed but it serves its purpose

This was supposed to be released as a mixtape and for that reason people need to be aware that he has that mixtape flow to which works extremely well here! First eminem is awesome on this album no more of that 'ass like that' nonsense he had on encore and finally some serious flow! This gives me hope that eminems next album really will work if he stays away from some of the stupid rap he sometimes does! All the tracks with 50 are great to the way he sells his flow and the verses he drops!

One of the great things as well is the introduction of some of the newer artists, i'm not gonna mention obie as although he is good his flow just doesn't work for me! Out of the new additions Ca$his is quality real southern rhymes being sold with that southern attitude! Bobby creekwater also stands out as a great new rapper on the shady label! Judging by this mixtape i'm expecting big things from the shady camp in 2007!

To summarize every rapper on this tape nails it from start to finish with some great production and lyrics, this is highly recommended!