In a move that no one saw coming, Eminem has released his tenth studio album Kamikaze, dropping lyrical bombs towards his critics.
The album arrived on streaming platforms early Friday (Aug. 31), with the album art reflecting our emotions–a crashing fighter plane with an “FU-2” tail marker with a presumed illustrated Em as the pilot. Kamikaze was produced by a bevy of artists like Dr. Dre, Mike Will Made It (“Greatest” and “Fall”), Illadaproducer, Ronny J, Jeremy “Backpack” Miller, Boi-1da & Jahaan Sweet, Tay Keith, Tim Suby, Fred Ball and S1.
The album’s art also appears to be inspired by Beastie Boys’ Licenced To Ill album art.
The album carries plenty of themes but the overall one appears to be Em’s response to the criticism of his previous album Revival. The project has been named his worst by critics, fans and friends like Joe Budden. Songs like the blistering opener “The Ringer” takes aim at some of his industry critics like Vince Staples and Charlamagne The God.
The clever skits play to the themes of criticism with his manager Paul Rosenberg questioning Em’s psyche.
“Are you really going just to deride everybody who, you don’t like what they have to say about you or the stuff you’re working on?” Rosenberg says. “I don’t know if that’s really a great idea, it’s like what’s next, Kamikaze 2, the album where you reply to everybody who didn’t like the album that you made replying to everybody that didn’t like the previous album? It’s a slippery slope, I don’t know if it’s really a good idea.”
Tried not 2 overthink this 1… enjoy. ?#KAMIKAZE Out Now – https://t.co/ANw73KbwMt pic.twitter.com/qfQoTYBTUy
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) August 31, 2018
Some of his other targets included Lil Pump and Lil Xan, who he claimed to be carbon copies of Lil Wayne. He also shared his sentiments on the state of hip-hop. “I can see why people like Lil Yachty, but not me though/Not even dissin’, it just ain’t for me/All I am simply is just an emcee/Maybe “Stan” just isn’t your cup of tea/Maybe your cup’s full of syrup and lean,” he spits.
His beef with President Donald Trump also lingers throughout the album.
See the tracklist and stream the album below.
Kamikaze Tracklist
The Ringer Greatest
Lucky You (feat. Joyner Lucas)
Paul – Skit
Normal
Em Calls Paul – Skit
Stepping Stone
Not Alike (feat. Royce Da 5’9′)
Fall
Kamikaze
Nice Guy (feat. Jessie Reyez)
Good Guy (feat. Jessie Reyez)
Venom – Music from the Motion Picture