Oct 6, 2017 Relapse probably cannot qualify as Eminem's best album, but it's honestly my favorite album. Most people criticize its content (or lack thereof), but I think that's just what makes the album stand out. It stays fresh, other than some celebrity name drops. Given how it's devoid of actual content, but has an overall theme and atmosphere to it, it's like it stands above common life and its problems. It's well crafted, beats are great, Eminem's rhymes and flows are the best he's ever done. It's a weird mix of horrorcore rap but you know the rapper is having fun and just joking, so you know he's not taking himself seriously and trying to convince anyone he's capable of actual things mentioned in the songs. People who dislike Relapse look for something else in their music and fail to see how the very flaws they point out can be entertaining and something to appreciate. I didn't like it at first and agreed with the majority at the time. But after a while it's like it fell into place and made sense. Also, you have to be in a specific mood to really enjoy the album. I guess some people are never in that mood. Once I'm in that mood, I can listen to the whole Relapse + Refill and freestyles at the time that fit the theme, and enjoy them in their entirety. Maybe I'm just as immature as Eminem, but I can totally relate to that humor and way of thinking that I can understand where the album has come from. It's really a shame he suddenly changed his direction and scrapped Relapse 2, making that skit in the album a lie, if we don't count Refill as the second CD. I'm sure he would have grown out of the accents at his own pace but kept the natural flow of his words and ideas intact. Having to suddenly change direction is a shock to the artist and doesn't come from his true place at the time. Relapse was true Eminem at that time, something he felt like doing. I really love this album. It went over most people's heads, but it's a masterpiece in my book.
