Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - All 15 Tracks Analysed

4. Survival

Perhaps the best way to sum up 'Survival' is to say that it would not have felt out of place on Eminem's last album, 'Recovery'. Released as the album's second single back at the start of October, it is a far more obvious radio hit than 'Berzerk', based around a catchy hook, performed by Liz Rodrigues. The song was used to promote Call of Duty: Ghosts, continuing the rapper's long-standing association with the video game franchise - Previously, 'Til I Collapse' and 'Won't Back Down' had been used to promote Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops, respectively. DJ Khalil handles production well and ultimately, the track sounds pleasing enough. It is certainly not bad, it just lacks imagination. Overall, it feels a little too much like a filler track and too much like the sort of old ground you don't really want Eminem to be re-visiting here.

5. Legacy

As the title suggests, this 5-minute track sees the rapper pondering the legacy he will leave behind; a theme he returns to again later in the album. It also sees him address a number of childhood issues, including feelings of isolation and self-doubt, eventually culminating with him embracing those aspects of his personality which make him different, because they are what set him apart from his competition. In terms of the themes covered in it, it is far from the most original track on the album; in fact, Eminem has produced similar efforts in the past. Yet it emerges as one of the album's best moments, due in equal measure to the hook, which is perhaps the best on MMLP2, and Em's delivery of his verses.

6. A**hole

Produced by Alex Da Kid, 'Asshole' is a fast-paced celebration of Eminem's own 'asshole' status, complete with a hook by Skylar Grey, in which she repeatedly states: "Everybody knows that you're just an asshole." As a result, the obvious comparison is with Kanye West's 'Runaway', which served a similar purpose. However, several times during the track, especially early on, it touches upon the same issue Eminem wrestled with on the Marshall Mathers LP's tracks 'Who Knew' and 'Marshall Mathers' - namely, his ability to negatively influence children with his music and his bemusement that anyone would actually care about what he has to say. Later on, he becomes more concerned with the issue of Father Time catching up to him, but brushes it off, seemingly accepting it and stating rather optimistically: "Even if I'm half dead, I'm half alive." The track is also notable for another nod to the original Marshall Mathers LP, as he once again makes reference to his old foes, the Insane Clown Posse.