Eminem’s Marshall Mathers 2 LP Crowned Rap Album Of The Year, Take A Closer Look

At last night’s (February 8) 57th Grammy Awards, Eminem’s Marshall Mathers 2 LP grabbed “Rap Album Of The Year” honors. This is the fifth time Em has received these honors, in a career that has witnessed seven studio albums (not including Infinite). The Detroit, Michigan superstar MC/producer was not on hand to win the award, no surprise given the Shady Records founder’s rare attendance record.

With Eminem topping out Childish Gambino, Common, Iggy Azalea, Wiz Khalifa, and ScHoolboy Q, MM2LP will be a hallmark album as Hip-Hop is remembered in the Recording Academy lens. Upon closer look, the November 2013 Interscope Records-backed release (the only ’13 nominee in the category) marks Eminem’s first foray with producer Rick Rubin. Also involved was Recovery alumni Alex da Kid, Emile, DJ Khalil, as well as S1 (Strange Fruit Project), Sid Roams (Joey Chavez and Bravo), Frequency (The Trackmasters), Jeff Bhasker, plus longtime collaborator Luis Resto. Label-mates Skylar Grey and Kendrick Lamar appeared, in addition to recurring mic partner Rihanna.

Perhaps due to Rubin’s involvement, many 1980s Hip-Hop and popular breaks were implemented in a considerably upbeat progression from Recovery and Relapse five years ago. Breaks from The Zombies, Billy Squier, and Lou Donaldson are included, in addition to allusions to Beastie Boys, Schoolly D, Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D, and J.J. Fad are part of the LP.

Multi-platinum, Eminem’s eighth offering was met with commercial acclaim, and a sixth consecutive #1 position on the charts. Meanwhile, British daily newspaper The Guardian awarded the effort a perfect rating, with Spin, Rolling Stone, and XXL all reviewing quite favorably as well. Others, including Entertainment Weekly were not so impressed. MM2LP grabbed a 72/100 on Metacritic, less than both OXYMORON‘s and Nobody’s Smiling‘s 78, and Nothing Was The Same‘s 79.

Do you feel Eminem’s Marshall Mathers 2 LP was the deserving winner? If not, who should have grabbed it?

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