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

7. Berzerk

Rick Rubin's presence as a producer is especially strong on 'Berzerk', in which Eminem channels (and samples) The Beastie Boys as he encourages the listener to come with him on a journey, where he pays homage to old-school rap music. The song was released as the album's first single, a move which likely caught many listeners off-guard, not least because it sounds so different from anything on the original MMLP. As mentioned earlier, a common criticism of Eminem in recent times is his use of out-of-date pop culture references, and unfortunately that problem rears its ugly head here, as he tells his listeners to "make just like K-Fed and let yourself go." - A reference to Kevin Federline's weight gain, which is somewhat ruined by...errrm...Kevin Federline's recent weight loss. In truth, it was a strange choice for the album's lead single, especially when there are other, more obvious candidates on the album, but it does a good job of showcasing one of MMLP 2's key themes - an appreciation for classic hip hop - and it sounds better as part of a collection of songs, rather than as a stand-alone.

8. Rap God

The third single from the album, released in mid-October, 'Rap God' deals with several issues which are often raised by critics, including Eminem's inability to shock people in 2013 and criticisms that he is no longer relevant, as a 40-year old voice of teenage rage. Without question, the highlight comes around 4 minutes and 25 seconds into the track, when Eminem switches up his flow and raps at the sort of break-neck speed that would impress even the likes of Busta Rhymes. There is simply no disputing the talent on display here. However, there are a few problems with the track. Unfortunately 'Rap God' suffers a little bit on the production side of things and there are yet more outdated name-checks - I mean, is there any justification for rapping about Monica Lewinsky this many years after the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal? It certainly isn't justified here.

9. Brainless

In terms of its overall sound, 'Brainless' is similar to many of the tracks on 'Relapse' and features some of the album's funniest and most foul-mouthed moments. It is a welcome addition to the album, especially after 'Rap God', which it is very different from. Eminem provides the hook himself, which slightly lets the track down in truth, and is based around the expression "If you had a brain you'd be dangerous". It features an especially awkward rhyme with the made-up word "insaneness." However, the outro then addresses this through a two way conversation: "Insaneness ain't even a word, you stupid f***!" says the first voice. "Neither is ain't," comes the reply.