Eminem returns next month with his first album since 2010’s comeback record Recovery. The new album is titled The Marshall Mathers LP 2, calling back to his sophomore release, the one that really put him on the cultural map.
Today’s SOTD, ‘Berzerk,’ is the first single from the new album, and it’s a riotous throwback to the old-school rap of the original white rappers, The Beastie Boys. Produced by Rick Rubin (like The Beasties’ debut record it samples), the song is bursting with fun, inventive touches.
I wrote about sampling yesterday, and this track is another example of doing it right. In addition to the Beastie Boy snippets, the song makes heavy use of Billy Squier’s ‘The Stroke,’ the beat of which is one of the most sampled in rap history. Eminem even gives Squier some face time in the video.
The first Marshall Mathers LP had a couple of tracks in this Slim Shady party mode, but mostly it was a dark and disturbing trip through Eminem’s damaged unconscious, featuring such groundbreaking tracks as ‘Stan’ and the horror movie assault ‘Kim.’
I wonder if this sequel will mine similar territory, even now that Eminem has emerged relatively healthy, both mentally and physically, after a struggle with drug abuse that nearly killed him.
Now this shit’s about to kick off, this party looks wack
Let’s take it back to straight hip-hop and start it from scratch
I’m bout to bloody this track up, everybody get back
That’s why my pen needs a pad cause my rhymes on the ra-aag
Just like I did with addiction I’m ’bout to kick it
Like a magician, critics I turn to crickets
Got ’em still on the fence whether to picket
But quick to get it impaled when I tell ’em stick it
So sick I’m looking pale, oh that’s my pigment
Bout to go ham, ya bish, shout out to Kendrick
Let’s bring it back to that vintage Slim, bitch
The art of MCing mixed with da Vinci and MC Ren
And I don’t mean Stimpy’s friend, bitch
Been public enemy since you thought PE was gym, bitch
[Bridge]
Kick your shoes off, let your hair down
(Go berserk) all night long
Grow your beard out, just weird out
(Go berserk) all night long
[Hook]
We’re gonna rock this house until we knock it down
So turn the volume loud, cause it’s mayhem ’til the a.m
So baby make just like K-Fed and let yourself go, let yourself go
Say fuck it before we kick the bucket
Life’s too short to not go for broke
So everybody, everybody (Go berserk) Grab your vial, yeah
[Verse 2]
Guess it’s just the way that I’m dressed, ain’t it?
Khaki’s pressed, Nike shoes crispy and fresh laced, so I guess it ain’t
That aftershave or cologne that made ’em just faint
Plus I showed up with a coat fresher than wet paint
So if love is a chess game, check mate
But girl, your body’s banging, jump me in, dang, bang-bang
Yessiree Bob, I was thinking the same thang
So come get on this Kid’s rock, Bawitdaba, dang-dang
Pow-pow, chica, pow, chica, wow-wow
Got your gal blowing up a valve, valve-valve
Ain’t slowing down, throw in the towel, towel-towel
Dumb it down, I don’t know how, huh-huh, how-how
At least I know that I don’t know
Question is are you bozos smart enough to feel stupid
Hope so, now ho…
[Bridge]
[Hook II]
We’re gonna rock this house until we knock it down
So turn the volume loud, cause it’s mayhem ’til the a.m
So crank the bass up like crazy and let yourself go, let yourself go
I say fuck it before we kick the bucket
Life’s too short to not go for broke
So everybody, everybody (Go berzerk) Get your vinyls
[Scratch]
[Verse 3]
They say that love is powerful as cough syrup in styrofoam
All I know is I fell asleep and woke up in that Monte Carlo
With the ugly Kardashian
Lamar, oh sorry yo, we done both set the bar low
Far as hard drugs are though, that’s the past
But I done did enough codeine to knock Future into tomorrow
And girl, I ain’t got no money to borrow
But I am trying to find a way to get you a-loan (car note)
Oh, Marshall Mathers
Shit head with a potty mouth, get the bar of soap lathered
Kangol’s and Carheartless Cargos
Girl you’re fixing to get your heart broke
Don’t be absurd, ma’am, you birdbrain baby
I ain’t called anybody baby since Birdman, unless you’re a swallow
Word, Rick, word man you heard, but don’t be discouraged girl
This is your jam, unless you got toe jam
[Bridge + Hook]
Meet Me In Montauk 
I have to confess that, the few times this song came on the radio while driving with the family, I turned it off not knowing it was Eminem and finding it rather assaulting. In fact, this is the first time I have heard the entire thing.
I have never really been a fan of the Beastie Boys or this heavy style of rap, so I guess it makes sense that my first instinct was to change the dial. Having now given the song a fair and complete listen, I can appreciate better what Eminem is doing here. Still, it’s not really my cup of tea. I’m hoping the rest of the album is less assaultive musically.
Eminem’s singles are always on the funny/loud side, and I actually like this one better than most of them. But yeah, I hope the rest of the album is more in line with his other releases (and I suspect it will be).
Well, the early singles were more fun than loud.