EminemBase wrote:Cube23 wrote:
The Slim Shady LP is more inventive, innovative, entertaining and original than those albums combined. Both Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt are classics, and obviously great albums. And, whichever anybody likes best out of the three, is preference...
But, I'd love to see somebody try and argue how Illmatic or Reasonable Doubt are superior in artistic terms. And yes, I do believe that is an argument that can be had with some logic and sense, and I think points can be made and scored in a sense. If we're talking... creativity and artistry.
If we're talking about what we prefer musically, the conversation is aimless. But artistically - The Slim Shady LP towers above those albums.
Jay and Nas tackle pretty basic themes on those albums. It's their execution which makes the music interesting. And with Illmatic especially, the praise was mostly upon its stylistic brilliance. And whilst execution can be everything, in terms of if something works or not...
On The Slim Shady LP, Em tackles... bundles more topics in bundles of more interesting ways. Beyond that he's got one of the most genius and most brilliantly executed concept tracks EVER on it ("97 Bonnie and Clyde")... I mean, that track alone (never mind the album) is miles more interesting and unique than anything out of the mouths of Jay and Nas on their albums.
Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt are really good albums. But, Jay and Nas are just rappers. And by 'just' rappers, I mean... they write rhymes. They write their thoughts, they write little psuedo-stories, they cover topics and themes, but neither of them are really - deeply creative artists. Like Em is a deeply creative artist. People forget it so quickly with Em because of the fact he's done so much introspection now and it's probably what he's most famous for. But The Slim Shady LP is the work of a seriously creative writer and lyricist, much more-so than any other in mainstream hip-hop.
I don't find it more entertaining. Because it's not. If I Had and Cum On Everybody would've been embarrassments to those two flawless albums and certainly downgraded Eminem's debut, as well.
Jay-Z and Nas aren't creative? They have both continued to develop throughout parts of their careers.. Lucier, 99 Problems, Rewind are all three very creative songs from the top of my head. Eminem has been very lackluster at points in his career. The Encore and current era are very hurtful to someone who really hasn't released very much music compared to the others.
If we're going to praise artists for being creative and not just their rapping, Kanye West is the greatest artist of all time. Period and end of story. But that's not all there is to a judgement of an artist. Lyrics, flow, delivery, and beats (the biggest for me).. Eminem has failed incredibly hard to find interesting beats on some songs over the years (especially on Recovery.. Just pure garbage. Lasers was the same way for Lupe. Both are unlistenable). Eminem had a very nice stint there in his career that will always make him in the top ten for me. But Encore and Recovery are honeslty unlistenable to me. If anyone uses that cliche "Oh, Encore would be a good album for anyone but Slim".. No. It's not even comprehendible. Tush-mul bish? With two albums like that in a discography with six studio albums (I don't count Infinite), I find it hard to regard Eminem as one of the greats.
He was innovated at points in his career and that certainly showed on The Slim Shady LP, but that album had some weak, weak songs on it to me. He doesn't even really say anything in If I Had. It's just nonsensical mumbling about how much life sucks.
Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt are flawless albums. They could be better, but so could every album. When I say flawless, I mean that there is not one song that makes me go "ehhh, skip". Not having skits certainly helps that too, though it can provide consistency.. Not on Eminem's albums normally. Just out of place and take away from the music.
