Image via Complex Original
Eminem recently announced that the title of his upcoming album, due November 5th, will be The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (or MMLP2). Reprising the title of his 2000 classic, The Marshall Mathers LP, goes along with Em's return to rocking his signature blonde hair. (See this interview on ESPN, as well as in the video for the first single off MMLP2, “Berzerk.”)
Since his return to hip-hop in 2009 with Relapse, through 2010’s victorious Recovery and his rare subsequent appearances, Eminem had been wearing his natural brown hair—a sign many took to represent the end of his "Slim Shady" persona. In came through in his music, which sounded more mature than his earlier work. Does this mean that Shady's back again … again? There could be worse things!
This got us thinking. What else might Em bring back?
From D12 to prank calls and acting, here is a list of a few more things we hope that Eminem revives on his upcoming album—or just in general. Check out 10 More Things Eminem Should Bring Back.
Written by Nicholas Sella (@therealnsella)
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Prank Calls
Eminem has always been known for his sense of humor. Many of his lead singles (with the exception of “Not Afraid”) followed a comedic formula that found him poking fun at celebrities and pop culture figures. Aside from the funny rhymes, Eminem also featured a character named Ken Kaniff on skits on a number of his albums. Em used his Ken Kaniff voice to make a prank call on The Slim Shady LP and mock Insane Clown Posse on The Marshall Mathers LP.
Prank calling seemed to be something Eminem loved doing and we loved hearing. On the cassette sampler for MMLP that he did with Stretch Armstrong, there were a ton of prank calls Em did (you can peep most of them below). He also went on to appear on Comedy Central's Crank Yankers, and he memorably prank called LL Cool J when LL appeared on Shade 45. Let’s hope Shady brings back the prank calling because it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Touring
Eminem is one of the most famous rappers in the world, but sadly you don't get to see him perform live very often. Much of this is due to the fact that touring is a trigger for his drug abuse and he tries to stay away from anything that could cause him to relapse. While this is understandable, if you didn't catch him on his last Anger Management Tour in 2005, there have been just a handful of opportunities to see him perform live in North America since.
Many fans have been hoping that Eminem will embark on a large scale tour sometime soon. Em will surely sell out any venue he plays. We can only hope that Marshall can find a way to give his fans what they want, but not compromise what is best for himself, because many of his younger fans have never gotten a chance to see him perform.
Storytelling
Eminem is lauded for his songtelling songs. From the song "Guilty Conscience", where Eminem and Dr. Dre battle over the moral thing to do in certain situations, to "Stan," the infamous track about an obsessed fan, to the more recent "Love The Way You Lie," some of Em's best material has come in the form of storytelling raps.
This has always set Shady apart from the rest of the competition. While he hasn't completely stopped telling stories, Recovery featured more personal raps than say, the completely off-the-wall imagination of The Slim Shady LP. Newcomers like J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are often praised for their storytelling, so we know this generation of rap fans would love to hear some stories from Em. Hopefully, Eminem will continue to push the envelope artistically and conceptually on the MMLP2.
Detroit
As we're sure you've heard, Detroit recently went bankrupt. Once dubbed the "Paris of the Midwest," nowadays the D is more known for urban decay than charm. Even Detroit's sports teams are bound to get you down, aside from the Red Wings—but that's hockey. The Tigers have appeared in 2 of the last 7 World Series but went a combined 1 – 8, the Lions have had one winning season since The Marshall Mathers LP dropped, and the Pistons haven't been a factor since Em stepped back on the scene in 2009.
Eminem is synonymous with Detroit and his appearance in the 2011 Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler/Detroit was powerful and moving. He still lives in Detroit and could be the face needed to help turn the city's fortune around. He's also hella rich and unlike most rappers didn't waste his money on diamond chains and expensive cars, so maybe he can buy the city on discount?
Producing For Other Artists
Eminem hasn't totally stepped away from producing. He'll get behind the boards for Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf, and he still produces a lot of his own material, but that's about it. His signature dark beats of heavy bass mixed with eerie piano were featured on songs like Jay-Z's "Moment of Clairty" and "Renegade," Nas' "The Cross," and Jadakiss' "Welcome to D-Block," as well as a number of 50 Cent, G-Unit, and Shady Records artists' albums.
Still, it feels like people forget Eminem produced awesome beats like "Way I Am," "Patiently Waiting," and "'Till I Collapse." His sound has changed since the early 2000s, but he's still a solid producer and would bring something different to the table than the current trap sound.
Acting Career
Eminem has played a number of characters in his music videos, but his portrayal of Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith in the semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile showcased his acting chops. Critics and fans alike praised the film, which opened at No. 1 at the box office and went on to be a huge success.
Since 8 Mile, there have been a number of films that Eminem has been attached to but they never seemed to pan out. Recently, he was supposed to star in Elysium, but wanted the production to take place in Detroit so that it could create jobs for his city. When this didn't work out, he dropped out and the role eventually went to Matt Damon. He had a memorable cameo in 2009's Funny People and appeared on HBO's Entourage in 2010, but it would be nice to see Shady back on the big screen for a lead role.
Collaborating With Xzibit
There was a time when Xzibit was known for more than just being the host of MTV's Pimp My Ride. He was one of the best rappers on the West Coast and had gold and platinum selling albums. He collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G, and Dr. Dre. Dre even executive produced his 2000 album Restless as well as 2002's Man vs. Machine.
He also had a number of standout tracks with Eminem and the two had great chemistry. 2000's "Don't Approach Me" found the two artists dealing with their recent fame and addressing criticism from the media. "And I'm the bad guy, cause I don't answer my door like 'Hey hi/You guys want some autographs? Okay, form a straight line,'" rapped Eminem. They got back together on 2002's "My Name"—a diss aimed towards Canibus, Jermaine Dupri, and Moby where Eminem flipped Nas' flow from "Ether." They also both appeared on Eminem's "Bitch Please II" and Dr. Dre's "What's the Difference," both classic cuts.
Xzibit hasn't really been a factor in hip-hop for the past few years (though he had some great scenes in The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans where he smoked crack with Nicolas Cage) and could use some life injected into his career. Who better than Eminem to help out an old pal?
Politically Driven Rhymes
Eminem is not the first rapper to be politically outspoken in his rhymes, but during the George W. Bush presidency he was definitely one of the most vocal. His first two albums came out during the tail end of the Clinton administration and Em would use the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal as something to poke fun at, but it was more for jokes than social commentary. But on The Eminem Show and Encore, he was really going at Bush.
Prior to the 2004 presidential election, Eminem released "Mosh." "Stomp, push, shove, mush/Fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home," rapped Eminem. He even held a "Shady National Convention" in New York City to promote his station Shade 45, and Encore, one week prior to the 2004 election. Since Obama was elected in 2008, we haven't heard much from Eminem in terms of politics, but it would be interesting to see his take on some of the controversial issues that have been in the news lately.
Battle Rapping
It wasn't that long ago when Em was involved in a number of rap feuds. There was Benzino, Ja Rule, Everlast, Limp Bizkit, Canibus, and Insane Clown Posse, just to name a few. While beef in hip-hop has sometimes led to violence, when it remains on the mic as a battle for lyrically supremacy—it's a treat for the fans.
Many of Eminem's diss tracks are not only classic, but some of his best material. He came up in the game as a battle rapper, so we'd love to hear him throw a couple of darts at just about anyone's way. If Em dropped a diss song as vicious as "The Sauce," "Nail in The Coffin," or "Go To Sleep" in 2013, you know the Internet would lose its damn mind.
D12
Maybach Music Group, G.O.O.D. Music, and Young Money are the dominant rap crews of today. They all have artists who can top the charts, but none have experienced the success that D12 had as an actual group. Both of the group's albums, Devil's Night and D12 World, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard, something MMG's Self Made Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Cruel Summer and We Are Young Money never did. D12 also saw their 2004 hit "My Band" crack the Top 10.
Sure, they had the biggest name in the game (maybe even the world) to carry them, but each member of the group brought something unique in their own right. RIP to Proof, who was Em's right hand man and the most talented behind Shady, but Kuniva, Mr. Porter, Bizarre and Swify McVay all hold their own on the mic (and Mr. Porter is also ill behind the boards). The group appeared on the original MMLP on the cut "Under the Influence," so it would be nice to see Em reunite with the remaining members on the sequel.