Kamikaze
August 31, 2018 5:36 AM Subscribe
With zero warning, Eminem dropped a new album last night titled Kamikaze, with thirteen tracks (two of which are skits rather than songs) including music from the Venom soundtrack.
Bonus: wholesome video of rapper Hopsin after noticing that he was name-dropped on the album
Bonus: wholesome video of rapper Hopsin after noticing that he was name-dropped on the album
Wow. Where have I seen that album art before?
posted by ardgedee at 5:45 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 5:45 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
You didn't read the article? The Beastie Boys cover art homage is mentioned in the second paragraph.
posted by WhyamIhereagain at 5:53 AM on August 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by WhyamIhereagain at 5:53 AM on August 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Wow. Where have I seen that album art before?
Agreed, I'm digging the tribute to the Beastie Boys. He's also sampled some of their work previously, offhand I can think of "Fight For Your Right" in his 2013 song "Berzerk."
Also, Eminem is 45. If you told me he and Idris Elba were the same ages, I wouldn't believe you.
posted by mike_honcho at 5:55 AM on August 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Agreed, I'm digging the tribute to the Beastie Boys. He's also sampled some of their work previously, offhand I can think of "Fight For Your Right" in his 2013 song "Berzerk."
Also, Eminem is 45. If you told me he and Idris Elba were the same ages, I wouldn't believe you.
posted by mike_honcho at 5:55 AM on August 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I didn't want to gush in the main post but, holy shit guys, this album is fire. If you've been lukewarm (or full cold) on the last couple of Eminem albums, don't let that make you skip this one. Give Lucky You a listen.
posted by 256 at 5:59 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 256 at 5:59 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Tyler is bad because he's gay. Yay homophobia.
Tyler create nothing, I see why you called yourself a fa**ot, bitch
It's not just 'cause you lack attention
It's 'cause you worship D12's balls, you're sacrilegious
And this is the best diss he can do about Earl Sweatshirt?
Get Earl, the Hooded Sweater, whatever his name is to help you put together some words, more than two letters
posted by humuhumu at 6:04 AM on August 31, 2018
Tyler create nothing, I see why you called yourself a fa**ot, bitch
It's not just 'cause you lack attention
It's 'cause you worship D12's balls, you're sacrilegious
And this is the best diss he can do about Earl Sweatshirt?
Get Earl, the Hooded Sweater, whatever his name is to help you put together some words, more than two letters
posted by humuhumu at 6:04 AM on August 31, 2018
MetaFilter: You didn't read the article
posted by Fizz at 6:06 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 6:06 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Giving it a whirl right now. It's starting pretty solid. But I'm hesitant, his last album was a yawn for me.
posted by Fizz at 6:08 AM on August 31, 2018
posted by Fizz at 6:08 AM on August 31, 2018
I don't have Spotify so I can't listen.
This is probably the new "do I have to have a television..." :)
posted by hippybear at 6:10 AM on August 31, 2018
This is probably the new "do I have to have a television..." :)
posted by hippybear at 6:10 AM on August 31, 2018
You really think he would have gotten the message in 2018 not to use that word...
posted by Krazor at 6:21 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Krazor at 6:21 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
He did get the message, he's doing it to be a dick. His widespread success as popular artist is in large part due to the media coverage he got from saying wild ass shit on his records and the furor surrounding his lyrical content driving more sales. He's one of the finest hip-hop lyricists of all time but that's not the reason he's the best selling rapper of all time, it's the free publicity.
posted by dudemanlives at 6:36 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by dudemanlives at 6:36 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
And he's white, so that probably doesn't hurt sales.
posted by dudemanlives at 6:37 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dudemanlives at 6:37 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'd like to enjoy Eminem's work, but I can't and I'm not giving him any money until he gets better. Eminem has been homophobic forever. This was his response to criticisms back in 2013:
‘I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times… But those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words [with being gay].
Which is an excuse that wears pretty thin when he's using homophobic insults specifically against a rapper that has alluded to not being straight. The problem isn't that no one's listening to you, dude, the problem is that it's hard to believe.
His homophobic lyrics include:
My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That will stab you in the head/ Whether you’re a f** or les’/ Or the homo-sex, hermaph’, or a trans’a’vest’/ Pants or dress, hate f**s? the answer’s “yes”.’
I mean, it's obviously nothing about homosexuality, right? It's just a complete fucking coincidence that these are the words he uses in this stanza, and when he says he hates f**s, he really means he hates ... something else.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 6:40 AM on August 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
‘I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times… But those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words [with being gay].
Which is an excuse that wears pretty thin when he's using homophobic insults specifically against a rapper that has alluded to not being straight. The problem isn't that no one's listening to you, dude, the problem is that it's hard to believe.
His homophobic lyrics include:
My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That will stab you in the head/ Whether you’re a f** or les’/ Or the homo-sex, hermaph’, or a trans’a’vest’/ Pants or dress, hate f**s? the answer’s “yes”.’
I mean, it's obviously nothing about homosexuality, right? It's just a complete fucking coincidence that these are the words he uses in this stanza, and when he says he hates f**s, he really means he hates ... something else.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 6:40 AM on August 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
‘I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times… But those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words [with being gay].
I hear people say things like this about a heap of things on the "problematic" to "just-plain-wrong" to "whoa, you're actually an irredeemably terrible person" spectrum, and on a case-by-case, I actually believe some of them! Maybe that's just how you were raised, or you were never exposed to information to the contrary. Like in The Office when Michael doesn't get it and says:
"I would have never called him that if I knew. You don't call ******ed people ******s. It's bad taste. You call your friends ******s when they're acting ******ed."
I have seen people who are legitimately embarrassed and apologetic for their mistakes and they don't ever do it again. What I don't get is the people who respond to this new information defensively or worse- take offense to being corrected!
"oh, I'm sorry, I don't actually mean to disparage [group inextricably associated with negative stereotype]. I only meant to use [negative stereotype] to disparage something else."
"Cool, so now that you know you won't do it again, right?"
"But that's not what I meant. I'm talking about a weak person, so I'll keep using it."
Grr. Why!?
I have a handy little tool I've developed called the New York Test that helps delineate between intent and optics, and it can be used for nearly everything I've tried it on. Think about what you want to say and say to yourself "I want to say/do (X), but I really mean (Y)." Now think of a loud man with a thick New York accent saying incredulously "but ya gadda understand how that looks/sounds, right?" Works every time.
"I want to wear another culture's dress to an event. I respect the culture and have studied the history behind the garment and don't intend to use it as a costume."
"but ya gadda understand how that looks, right?"
"Good point."
I want to teach Eminem the New York Test.
posted by Krazor at 7:29 AM on August 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
I hear people say things like this about a heap of things on the "problematic" to "just-plain-wrong" to "whoa, you're actually an irredeemably terrible person" spectrum, and on a case-by-case, I actually believe some of them! Maybe that's just how you were raised, or you were never exposed to information to the contrary. Like in The Office when Michael doesn't get it and says:
"I would have never called him that if I knew. You don't call ******ed people ******s. It's bad taste. You call your friends ******s when they're acting ******ed."
I have seen people who are legitimately embarrassed and apologetic for their mistakes and they don't ever do it again. What I don't get is the people who respond to this new information defensively or worse- take offense to being corrected!
"oh, I'm sorry, I don't actually mean to disparage [group inextricably associated with negative stereotype]. I only meant to use [negative stereotype] to disparage something else."
"Cool, so now that you know you won't do it again, right?"
"But that's not what I meant. I'm talking about a weak person, so I'll keep using it."
Grr. Why!?
I have a handy little tool I've developed called the New York Test that helps delineate between intent and optics, and it can be used for nearly everything I've tried it on. Think about what you want to say and say to yourself "I want to say/do (X), but I really mean (Y)." Now think of a loud man with a thick New York accent saying incredulously "but ya gadda understand how that looks/sounds, right?" Works every time.
"I want to wear another culture's dress to an event. I respect the culture and have studied the history behind the garment and don't intend to use it as a costume."
"but ya gadda understand how that looks, right?"
"Good point."
I want to teach Eminem the New York Test.
posted by Krazor at 7:29 AM on August 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
So...your conscience has a New York accent?
posted by elsietheeel at 7:39 AM on August 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 7:39 AM on August 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Not wanting to pile-on, exactly, but it's the same thing with the misogyny and advocation of domestic violence.
"They asking me to eliminate some of the women hate"
but no, he won't. I hear he's a decent dad, and I hear his ex wasn't the nicest person, but even if his personal circumstances somehow completely justified his feelings
"But if you take into consideration the bitter hatred that I had
Then you may be a little patient and more sympathetic to the situation"
There'd still be a more than sufficient argument that, you're a massive artist with the power to shape the beliefs of millions, especially young people, so take a bloody stand and cut that shit out. He understood that with his anti-Trump stuff, he knows it might actually matter to some of his fans what he thinks. So extrapolate, if you really do give a damn.
If Eminem, or most other artists for that matter, really wanted to show that they'd understood the feedback they were getting, they'd not just change their ways for the future, but re-record or alter past work so that you could conceivably experience the valuable elements without making people wince every 20 seconds.
I'm too young to have ever seen the original Star Wars cut, but if we all manage to survive with only the altered version available, and they were changes that I'm given to understand are not widely supported and do not enhance the experience, I think Eminem would survive making his music tolerable to be heard in public.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 7:45 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
"They asking me to eliminate some of the women hate"
but no, he won't. I hear he's a decent dad, and I hear his ex wasn't the nicest person, but even if his personal circumstances somehow completely justified his feelings
"But if you take into consideration the bitter hatred that I had
Then you may be a little patient and more sympathetic to the situation"
There'd still be a more than sufficient argument that, you're a massive artist with the power to shape the beliefs of millions, especially young people, so take a bloody stand and cut that shit out. He understood that with his anti-Trump stuff, he knows it might actually matter to some of his fans what he thinks. So extrapolate, if you really do give a damn.
If Eminem, or most other artists for that matter, really wanted to show that they'd understood the feedback they were getting, they'd not just change their ways for the future, but re-record or alter past work so that you could conceivably experience the valuable elements without making people wince every 20 seconds.
I'm too young to have ever seen the original Star Wars cut, but if we all manage to survive with only the altered version available, and they were changes that I'm given to understand are not widely supported and do not enhance the experience, I think Eminem would survive making his music tolerable to be heard in public.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 7:45 AM on August 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
That was the most sweary wholesome video I've seen. Touching that he ran off to call his mum, though.
posted by Harald74 at 9:59 AM on August 31, 2018
posted by Harald74 at 9:59 AM on August 31, 2018
Reading The New York Test, the voice that came to mind is Artie Lang, which is entertaining as a voice of conscience.
posted by Pronoiac at 10:50 AM on August 31, 2018
posted by Pronoiac at 10:50 AM on August 31, 2018
elsietheeel: So...your conscience has a New York accent?
It's partially about conscience, but in a larger sense, it's a means of taking a second to think before you act, specifically w/r/t how what you're doing/saying will look regardless of intent. For example, in Eminem's case, he says he uses that word without equating it to being gay. Maybe you believe him (I personally don't), but you have to realize that no matter what he intended to convey by using that word, he's going to look, for all intents and purposes, like a raging homophobe to anyone else.
How you come across is just as important as what you mean in most situations, and I've found that applying this has helped me be more sensitive and conscious. A less extreme instance for everyday life is when you mean well, but you want to make sure something will be taken in the spirit it's intended.
For the record, The New York Test sounds remarkably like this in my head, but put whoever's voice works well in yours.
posted by Krazor at 11:27 AM on August 31, 2018
It's partially about conscience, but in a larger sense, it's a means of taking a second to think before you act, specifically w/r/t how what you're doing/saying will look regardless of intent. For example, in Eminem's case, he says he uses that word without equating it to being gay. Maybe you believe him (I personally don't), but you have to realize that no matter what he intended to convey by using that word, he's going to look, for all intents and purposes, like a raging homophobe to anyone else.
How you come across is just as important as what you mean in most situations, and I've found that applying this has helped me be more sensitive and conscious. A less extreme instance for everyday life is when you mean well, but you want to make sure something will be taken in the spirit it's intended.
For the record, The New York Test sounds remarkably like this in my head, but put whoever's voice works well in yours.
posted by Krazor at 11:27 AM on August 31, 2018
Nice homage with the album cover! I like the attention to detail.
The original cover had "3MTA3" as the registration number on the tailfin, which spelled out "Eat Me" when viewed backwards. The plane on the "Kamikaze" cover has "TIKCUS."
posted by ethical_caligula at 11:56 AM on August 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
The original cover had "3MTA3" as the registration number on the tailfin, which spelled out "Eat Me" when viewed backwards. The plane on the "Kamikaze" cover has "TIKCUS."
posted by ethical_caligula at 11:56 AM on August 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
It is interesting that he pays homage to the Beastie Boys, as the Beasties seemed to become more thoughtful as they got older.
posted by 4ster at 11:57 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 4ster at 11:57 AM on August 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by gusottertrout at 5:41 AM on August 31, 2018