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Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 2:21pm
Eminem in XXL: ‘Hip-Hop was going Downhill’
back with a vengence
They say, the award you never want to win more than once is comeback player of the year but in Eminem’s case he’s made a career out of it. After returning from his latest hiatus and fresh off introducing Run DMC at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Em has once again captivated his beloved fans and nut ridding press alike by storm. (SEE: MTV) Slim Shady has once again begun making the rounds on the covers of the hip hop rags, well at least the one that’s left, XXL magazine.
If the dual cover theme which features him as the Punisher is any indication, he’s ready to once again retire some rappers from the game, and this time not just cause its en vogue. Speaking of which, in the excerpts from the interview published on the magazine’s Web site Eminem lets everyone know he’s been keeping tabs during his absence.
“I stayed up on the music, and obviously I watch TV and saw what was going on,” he said. “And without naming any names, it just felt like hip-hop was going downhill. And it seemed like kinda fast. You know, in them three years, it was like everybody just cares about the hook and the beat; nobody really cares about substance. But with this new T.I. album, with this new Lil Wayne album of recent, it seems like things are looking a lot better now. You can appreciate Lil Wayne using different words to rhyme and actually rhyming words that you know. Or T.I., where you hear sh– and you’re like, ‘Whoa, ah, I wish I would have thought of that!’ You know what I mean? Or you hear all the compound-syllable rhyming and all that. It just seems like now the craft is getting cared about more.”
I’ll have to beg to differ on the props to Lil Wayne, perhaps he could have used some better example…if there are any. One thing is for sure however, that Eminem’s most recent dissapearence was directly related to the death of his close friend and inspiration, D12 member Proof. As Koach K. recently pointed out, this April marked the three year anniversary of his murder and to the day its still something the rapper has a hard time dealing with.
“Everyone felt his loss, from his kids, to his wife, to everyone,” he explained. “But, for some reason, in hindsight, the way I felt was almost like it happened to just me. … Maybe at the time I was a little bit selfish with it. I think it kind of hit me so hard. It just blindsided me. I just went into such a dark place that, with everything, the drugs, my thoughts, everything. And the more drugs I consumed – and it was all depressants I was taking – the more depressed I became, the more self-loathing I became… Proof was the anchor. He was everything to D12. And not just the group – for me, personally, he was everything.”
Sharing more about his subsequent drug addiction Eminem says he had to come to grips with the fact he had a problem.
“I wasn’t ready mentally. I wasn’t ready to give up drugs,” he explained. “I didn’t really think I had a problem. Basically, I went in, and I came out. I relapsed, and I spent the next three years struggling with it. Also, at that time, I felt like I wanted to pull back, because my drug problem had got so bad. “
Slim Shady’s 6th studio album is slated to drop May 15th on Interscope/Aftermath/ Shady.
FILED IN Music, Need to Know
I have been waiting for this moment to come. Eminem is a dope rapper, mc, lyricist, whatever you want to label him. He’s one of the best period. Hip hop has had many wack ass artists come out in the past couple of years. A lot of the blame has to go to Atlanta, real talk. I can’t say that they started the whole dance song movement but they do have too many artists coming out with just dance songs. Sorry ass songs and these cats really want to call it hip hop. Laffy Taffy? Crank Dat? Lean with it, Rock with it? There is so many more damn annoying songs out there. I’m even ashamed of my hometown (Dallas, Tx) because now we got artists coming out with some bullshit dance songs. Ever heard of the GS Boys? Stanky leg is straight GARBAGE! Ricky Bobby is straight GARBAGE! These damn kids are wack. I’m not saying Eminem is the savior of Hip Hop but dude is ill and will give the game a fresh breath of air that it so desperately needs. I know he always comes out with a radio record but other than that his music is great. Come on Em, drop another classic on these suckas! I hope you get blessed with selling more than a million the first week. Remind Weezy who still the platinum touch!
born and raised Oak Cliff Texas right here….B.E.B. i feel you on all that. but Juan even if em cosigns weezy. that don’t show y’all?????andif you wanna hear /see some REAL artists outta dallas
http://www.theamazingamateurs.com
myspace.com/theamazingamateurs
myspace.com/akutaboveent
He has to. I don’t
His new song isn’t that good, in my opinion. But if he feels that he can still make an impact at the age of 36- more power to him! I’m on this new positive kick where I only notice the good in others. (Juan: (thinking) “I wonder how long that will last?”)
probably over by now.
I dont think you can put it all on ATL. I would rather blame the weak ass artist, I do agree that the dance song shit has gotten outta hand tho. D4L vanished into thin air, souja boy has a fan base of middle school students, and the GS Boys will do the same, give it time. I am an artist myself, I listen to lyrics and flow. I have taken time to listen to Wayne, I respect his work ethic but he is one of the wackest/overated cats I’ve seen or heard. I dont mean to hate but thats my opinion. As for Em, yeah its about time he came out with some new shit.
For a few yrs. everybody was running to Atl. to get a deal.
I feel what Em is saying about T.I. dude really been going in lately even that “dead and gone” joint that they play on the radio every 2minutes, his lyrics are tight he shouldn’t have put jutsin timberweak on the hook though.
He gave props to Wayne and I feel him on that Wayne is good when he’s not high as hell spitting jibberish, Carter 2 is still one of my favorite albums so I’m not going to discount him as a emcee just cause as of late he’s been too bent to rhyme for real .
As for Em with me he’s in the Same Class as B.I.G., Ghost, Jay, Nas They gonna lay it down 90% of the time. So I’m just sit back wait for Em’s album to drop and enjoy!
ghost and nas aint in the same category as wayne big t.i. and jay and em.
I did say “with me”… not “with cash”. I’m sure u have ur own artists that u would put in that category.
I can’t even believe I’m hearing this conversation.
lol
u don’t understand wayne.
I did say Carter 2 was one of my favorite albums.
Lol @ 4pl!
-B.
u don’t understand wayne that was for Talon
em is a beast, people like who they like, alot of peopleare druids. I mean u hear it over and over and cats hop on every track so it doesn’t surprise me to hear em likes wayne or whoever. i know whats hot and I have some flame for the world matter of fact my whole camp does so the balance will be re stored
that’s the Feminem cover. they can keep this badly photoshopped cover.
lmao