Eminem finally dropped his new album Revival, first studio release after 2013’s Marshall Mathers LP 2. Some of you may have heard it already since the album leaked in full two days ago. The 45-year-old rapper has been working on the album from 2016, officially confirming it in October 2017.
On the Revival’s 19 tracks you’ll be able to hear features from numerous artists including Beyoncé, Phresher, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, X Ambassadors, Skylar Grey, Kehlani, and Pink. Alongside Eminem Rick Rubin, Skylar Grey, Alex da Kid, and Dr. Dre are listed as producers on the album.
Walk on Water, featuring Beyoncé, was previously released as the lead single for the album and already became a hit.
In a SiriusXM interview before the album’s release, Eminem spoke about the title of the album, saying that it reflects the revival of himself but also “hopefully the revival of America.” Speaking about the process of making the songs for the album, the rapper said he needed to “let off the gas” and that he recorded “40 or 50 songs” for Revival.
“One of the first things I had to do when I started making this album is I had to let off the gas. I’d realized (with) a couple of songs a couple of years ago, ‘Phenomenal’ and ‘Kings Never Die,’ I never took a breath.” – said Eminem. “I recorded 40 or 50 songs for this album. … Say I record three songs. Now I’ve got three songs to try to build off. As I go along, as this song’s better than the last one, the last one gets scrapped. I just keep going ’til I feel like I’ve got the right ones.”
Upon its release Revival received mixed reviews from the critics. According to them, although there are flashes of his old dynamic, it’s a weaker release compared to his previous albums.
