Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP 2 was released on November 5, and is expected to sell approximately 700,000 units before November 12. The highly-anticipated revivification of Eminem’s alter ego, Slim Shady, supplied listeners with undeniable lyrical prowess, controversial subject matter and, of course – iconic bleach-blonde hair.
The standard MMLP2 packaging contains 16 tracks. The deluxe edition delivers five additional bonus songs, as well as an alternate album cover, which displays the complete image taken of his abandoned childhood home – from the window of a car.
Even after these bonus offerings, Eminem has released one more track. The release is a vintage-infused complement to those purchasing his publicly-sponsored Call of Duty: Ghosts, a first-person, wartime video game from Infinity Ward. Unlike “Survival,” which was released along with COD:Ghosts‘ series of promotional media, “Don’t Front” is the 90s boom-bap throwback that has become synonymous with Slim Shady’s rise to omnipotence.
The golden-era rhythm of “Don’t Front” is a direct sample of Black Moon’s “I Got Cha Opin” (produced by DJ Evil Dee), from the group’s 1993 debut album Enta da Stage. Eminem allows Buckshot, a Black Moon group member, to add to the theme of the track by interjecting sporadically.
Eminem’s “Don’t Front” is a lyrical exercise paired with a nostalgic rhythm from hip hop’s most organic period. The track’s featured wordplay, paired with its rolling 90s sample, are reminiscent of Eminem’s earliest work, Infinite, rather than any song on Eminem’s 2000 classic, Marshall Mathers LP.
Slim Shady has proven that his articulate mastery of hip hop’s language remains strong enough to challenge the most constitutional of production. “Don’t Front” is a complete contrast to Eminem’s new-found direction of pop-inspired records, and a solid statement to those that remain skeptical of his spot as one of hip hop’s greatest.
(DMM encourages listeners to support Detroit artists by purchasing their work)