Listening to it for the first time, I have mixed feelings. From the initial first listen, I love Rhyme or Reason, So Much Better, Brainless, So Far, Love Game, Headlights, Evil Twin.
The end of the chorus of rhyme or reason reminded me of a beatles song, which was kinda cool. Legacy sounded very repetetive and redundant, at least on the first listen. Theres a country/early rock vibe in So Far and Love Game, something I was not expecting. Kendrick and Eminem were great together, I wish there was someone to challenge Em on every song cuz it seemed like Kendrick's verse made him want to step his game up. Made it a great song, dont love the production though. Headlights was so incredbily heartfelt, and a very mature perspective on his mom; a nice change. Evil Twin is what I thought most of the album (I suppose hoped) would be like. A sick beat and nice flow/raps. Not in love with the beats on this album. They're fine...good..but just don't seem like Em.
That can obviously be attirbuted to Rick Rubin. But fuck Rick Rubin. The production is cool, but fuck him. I noticed alot of soft singing, alot of it. Shouldv listened to his own fucking words on Hailies song "i cant fucking sing". It works in small sections, like the begining of The Apple, that sounded cool, fit in with the song. But Stronger then I was was just cringeworthy. I feel like either Em or Dre produced Evil Twin.