Take a trip back in time nearly ten years and you will come to a point where famed MC Eminem really started to make his imprint in the music industry. In that year, 1999, Eminem would hit the scene with his first major label debut album, ‘The Slim Shady LP’. The album would go on to win a Grammy for the year’s best Rap Album and his following release, ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’, became the fastest selling hip hop album in history. 
 
Born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in St. Joseph, Missouri, Eminem came from an unhappy childhood and eventually found out that music was his only true escape. As his success from his first two initial albums gave him a mainstream name, audiences connected with Eminem in a unique way. With an outlandish personality and talent was fresh and undeniable at the time, Eminem’s presence in the game was without question.
 
His third major album, ‘The Eminem Show’, was another hit as it debuted number one on the charts, sold well over a million copies in its first week of release, and also garnered Eminem another Grammy award. He would make his Hollywood acting debut in ‘8 Mile’ in November 2002, showing another side of himself that was both talented and pure.
 
While his fourth release, ‘Encore’, was another chart topper, whispers about Eminem’s personal life and lack of passion for his craft continued to circulate and more questions about his future in the music world seemed to pop. A hiatus from Eminem would follow and some insiders felt his time as a top lyricist was coming to an end and that he was going to spend much of his time focused on his role as a producer and record executive.
 
As the years went by, Eminem’s impact in the Rap world seemed to diminish, but as everyone knows he is set for a return this coming May with his aptly titled ‘Relapse’. As stated in a press release this past March 5th, Relapse will hit the stores May 19, followed later by Relapse 2 in the later half of the year, most likely.
 
Love him or hate him, Eminem is set to return. Wanting to get a deeper perspective on how Eminem will fair in his return to the game, 24 Hour Hip Hop took a look at some choice forums on the net to gather the thoughts of the everyday public. In their own words, this is what everyone is saying about Eminem’s return to music…

(Sincere Lee @ ProjectCovo.com Forums)…
“Any hip hop head knows Eminem is one of the greatest lyricists to ever pick up a mic. Most people will also tell you that his “classic period” was the end of 1999 through til’ around 2003. That’s 4 years. Unfortunately that was it for him. I could start naming rappers who’ve been more consistent then Eminem, and who’ve had a lengthier and better catalogue, but I won’t. I don’t know how on earth anyone, now, in 2009, can even have this dude in their top 10. I really liked Em but he only has 2.5 good albums. No hot mixtapes. I think he’s a major hypocrite, and became exactly what he hated. He’s a pop artist now that makes songs for kids and the radio and I’d bet my last dollar he’ll never, ever, drop an album like Slim Shady LP or Marshall Mathers LP again. The ONLY thing I think he’d ever drop something nice on is possibly Detox.
Other than that, this guy is finished.”

(Justin Howell @ Imeem.com Forums)…
“I have high hopes for this album. I truly hope that this album can save what has, for the last 4 years, been a somewhat disappointing showing from eminem. but this track puts me kind of in the middle of love and hate. I hope he does better than this. this track is pretty average all around. even Dre didn’t have that great of a verse. 50 cent, well, he clearly hasn’t learned any new tricks. he’s the same pile of bullshit he was when he first debuted. here’s hoping, I suppose.”

(Sonic Boom @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“I love the Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers LP’s. The last two didn’t do much for me (Encore, for the most part, was a waste of time). Crack a Bottle isn’t very good. 50’s verse is piss-poor and Dre rapping about how much he loves L.A. is sleep-inducing at this point. I’ll always give him a listen because he’s so damn talented but he needs to lay off the goofy bathroom humor that’s come to dominate his material. He layed it on thick on 50’s last album. His track on there may have been one of the worst things he’s ever recorded.”

(Michou @ HipHopGalaxy.com)…
“Fuck you all if you doubt Eminem. He’s the real shit. This rapper is the best. I believe he truly is the shit and I know he’s going to release another hit with Relapse. Just look at the success he had with ‘Crack a Bottle’!  Eminem is coming back in a big way.”

(Ray Abed @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“I’m a fan of a good chunk of his discography. Can’t believe it’s been almost nine years since the release of The Marshall Mathers LP. I wouldn’t call myself a rap or hip-hop fan, even in casual passing, but I’ve always viewed Eminem as more of a lyrically astute pop artist who happens to be one of the best MCs on the planet. I know his last studio album, Encore, didn’t get the glowing reviews that his previous three albums garnered, but it was one of my faves of 2004. I recognize that he was starting to become a bit of a caricature with the bathroom humor and overly-comical scenarios on that disc, but even when Em is hamming it up, he usually manages to pull a strong piece of songwriting pulp out of his ass. He can do these projects in his sleep right now. Take the latest single, ‘Crack a Bottle’, which as far as I’m aware won’t be appearing on Relapse, but 50 Cent’s next album, but I don’t think there’s been official confirmation either way. I heard the first single from Relapse will be ‘We Made You’, due out on April 7th.”

(DTownReppin214 @ ProjectCovo.com Forums)…
“Nobody checking for this dude but depressed overweight suburban white kids mad at life.”

(Weezy 4 Life @ Imeem.com Forums)…
“I like his beats but the lyrics suck once you really listen to them. Why can’t eminem write something other than sex and women?”

(Donahue @ HipHopGalaxy.com)…
“The vibe i got from Em on The Re-Up makes me think he’s going to good real hard on the Relapse! No matter how much fame and fortune he’s got from the rap game it’s also taken everything because he puts everything into it. He’s gonna rule once again.”

(Dranbon @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“I’m curious to see how well this does. Most the Eminem fans I know have left him behind, more or less. They’ve moved on and rarely even listen to this older albums. They still like him but it seems like they’ve grown out of him. I’m sure the album will be successful but will it be a flash in the pan or a bona fide, long-lasting hit?”

(Sunzoo aka LC @ ProjectCovo.com Forums)…
“Let me see here. He releases one bad album and takes a break and people act like it’s the end of the world for him?. Fuck all that, nobody is denying that he hit a steep decline, but saying he’s “finished” should be reserved for when his new album actually drops. If he drops another encore, then I’ll co-sign every sentiment people are saying, but I don’t doubt dude’s skill to write a verse, and with a 5 year hiatus, I’m sure he has plenty to talk about to keep him away from the bullshit.”

(RD Keed@ Imeem.com Forums)…
“At first I didn’t like ‘Crack A Bottle’ but the more I listened to it the more I can appreciate it. I just like the simple fact that you can throw Em, Dre, and 50 on the same track, that’s monumental. It reminded of the ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ days when 50 was actually good and I honestly miss those days.”

(Patrick Ripoll @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“Eminem was great on his second and third album (haven’t heard Infinite, so I can’t comment there) because he took the nihilism inherent in a lot of rap (“I just don’t give a fuck”) and took it to the nth degree. It was different and fascinating and rarely made the mistake of taking itself too seriously (though “Stan” is one of the most hilariously ego maniacal songs ever). It didn’t hurt that he had a phenomenal flow and Dr. Dre laying down beats. But he’s no longer relevant. Maybe he could re-invent himself somehow, but I don’t see it happening.”

(Badgyal @ ProjectCovo.com Forums)…
“Shady Aftermath has fallen off in general. I’m more interested in hearing their new talent like Drake. ‘Pop a bottle’ was horrible. Especially for 3 industry giants like Dre, 50, and Em.”

(Jake @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“Meh. I got bored with the homophobia and everything else that was this guy’s
shtick. He was cool when I was in high school though, so there was that.”

(HaveLuvah @ ProjectCovo.com Forums)…
“Eminem shouldn’t even be discussed anymore until the album drops. All these responses have been said about a thousand times over and over again. It’s a losing battle. Just wait till the album drop…then talk sh!t (if it’s garbage).”

(Weedsmizzy @ HipHopGalaxy.com)…
“I wonder whats left in the lyrical tank with Em. It’s not so much that i doubt him, even though “Encore” was like 5 yrs ago, it seems like he’s polished every angle possible with his legendary unique perspective, not to mention the flo!!”

(Matt Goldberg @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“I think as a lyricist, Eminem is incredibly talented. He raps quickly but clearly, doesn’t chew his words, has catchy hooks, has created distinction not simply by being white but through his nasally voice and darkly comic songs. His big problem is that he got repetitive. Most of his songs revolved around his shitty home life, tired rapper bragging of how good he’s got it, and old gangster tropes. Even “Mosh”, which is supposed to be a protest song, is ultimately about the glorification of himself and how he’ll lead this generation. That being said, I look forward to this album and hope he has something new to offer.”

(Justin Clark @ CHUD.com Forums)…
“He’s only as good as how many things piss him off at any given moment. He cleared most of that list on Eminem Show, and was just running on fumes for Encore. Still, the guy uses words in a way depressingly few rappers do anymore. Can’t help but be curious as to what he’s got to say this time around.”

Questions and Comments can be sent to Chris at www.Myspace.com/BoxingHarmony