Marshall Mathers – why did you leave us? Why did you succumb to falling from such height at such a rate, then decide to take your merry time in returning to us? There was no warning, you exploded onto the scene with the Slim Shady LP, shocking in every way and not least due to the lyrical ability. The Marshall Mathers LP, the difficult second album? You made it look easy. Brutality with wit, insidiously insightful and viciously articulate, you captured a generation and shook us to the edge of death with a thought process demonstrating there was method to the madness. A Shakespeare on speed.
The Eminem Show, from slums to center stage you took off the mask and gave us a peek at what it was like to be the biggest rapper on the planet. I’ll discuss the legendary trilogy at a later date, keep that ego in check for a second – tell me what happened next? Don’t look away, stop fiddling and don’t mumble. Had trouble sleeping did we? As far as problems go, you’ve suffered worse previously, haven’t you? Don’t shrug, aren’t those the same shoulders that held up so much but wouldn’t budge? You’re a soldier remember…
