The Ringer
Following the train wreck that was his 2017 album, Revival, described by The Guardian as “a total rejection of hip-hop,” the world’s most successful rapper had to make a comeback at some point and in a mere seven months, he returned with the ultimate diss album - Kamikaze. The thirteen track album features the likes of Royce Da 5’9, Joyner Lucas and female vocalist Jesse Reyez, far less than Revival with 8 features. This might be one reason to explain why this comeback album is receiving better reactions. The thing that really caught my ear was at the very beginning, the opening track, The Ringer.
5 minutes and 38 seconds long, the song entails a catalogue of name drops and diss’, he expresses his anger towards the current hip hop scene.
A plane crash fills the first few seconds of the song, fitting with the album theme, of course, Eminem then uses spoken word to lead us into the track,
“Yo, I'm just gonna write down my first thoughts, see where this takes me, ’cause I feel like I wanna punch the world in the fuckin' face right now, yeah!”
A lot of the people receiving his rage in the track are those who have insulted Eminem and his music, such as Vince Staples and Joe Budden. Budden responded to the mention describing him as “the world’s best rapper” “trying to prove he can rap” which pretty much sums it up. Kamikaze is definitely Marshall Matters showing the world he’s still as able.
I think even Eminem would admit this album was to prove himself.
“If I don't pull myself from the jaws of defeat and rise to my feet”
Throughout the song he reminds listeners of his rank in the scene,
Like I said before, this track is Eminem unleashing his opinion on the current scene, he spends most of the track commenting on the up and coming ‘mumble rap.’ He name drops the likes of Lil Pump, Lil Xan and Lil Yachty, he calls them out for imitating Lil Wayne, and Lil Yachty for his ‘choppy flow’. Lil Xan is yet to comment on the track but the other two seem to have taken it well. Lil Pump actually thanked Eminem via instagram along with saying he deserved it.
"Lil Pump, Lil Xan imitate Lil Wayne
I should aim at everybody in the game, pick a name
I heard your mumblin' but it's jumbled in mumbo-jumbo"
"So finger-bang, Pootie Tang
Burger Kang, Gucci Gang, dookie, dang"
He also mentions his ‘beef’ with the press after the negativity surrounding Revival,
"Don't wanna turn this to a counselling sesh
But they been puttin' me through the ringer
So I ain't ironin' shit out with the press
But I just took this beat to the cleaners"
I think the album is pretty good but all the drama surrounding it is definitely helping its exposure.
