He is attempting to regain his status as a rap icon. Eminem is clearly responding to the feedback he received from his last album, and he does so in both a direct and indirect manner. “Kamikaze” is, for all intents and purposes, a reactive album. Despite drug addiction, an array of controversies and countless public feuds –– including ones with his own mother, his ex-wife and President Donald Trump –– Eminem has shown his ability to adapt and overcome. Throughout “Kamikaze,” Eminem’s resilience carries through once again. Eminem, ever self-aware, admits this fact on his new album’s second song, “Greatest,” wrapping that “‘Revival’ didn’t go viral.” On “Fall,” Eminem shows that he remains unfazed: “I took an L when I dropped my last album / It hurt me like hell but I’m back on these rappers.” This surprise release was especially surprising given the poor performance of his previous album, “Revival,” which he released in 2017.
While most musicians spend months drumming up excitement for an album release, Eminem’s 10th studio album, “Kamikaze,” came unannounced. Eminem’s creativity has kept him relevant in the ever-changing rap music scene, and his 100 million worldwide album sales are a testament to that. Over his 20-year career, Marshall Mathers, better known by his stage name Eminem, has accumulated a large fanbase with his distinct rapping style and clever lyricism. The Detroit, rapper deploys lyrical tongue twisters and explores topics as diverse as Vice President Mike Pence and the Grammy Awards during his ferocious attempt at a comeback.
Eminem lashes out at anyone and everyone on his latest album “Kamikaze,” reacting fiercely to the disappointing commercial and critical performance of his 2017 album “Revival.”