When I first heard his verse, I was

because of all the energy that song had. Nas and EPMD were working overtime trying to make it memorable and then once the baton got passed, it's like Eminem sucked all the energy in the room just to do everything you would expect of him.
The second time, it wasn't as bad. I don't think this is anywhere near as bad as his "No Favors" verse, for example. But I think the reason it bothered me so much was because he was doing this shyt on someone else's work. The new album from my personal GOAT, on a track with artists that I know he respects and worships. And I'm sitting here like.......why did he turn this verse in? I know he can do better than this. But I start wondering if he can.
I feel like when it comes to Eminem's albums, everything is tailored to him. The production, the vibe of the tracks. He's not going to feel out of place in his own world where he can control everything. But when he has to step out of that world, his flaws are far more noticeable and that’s when you realize.......he's only capable of rapping like this, saying things like this, flowing like this. He's gifted and limited at the same time. It's bizarre.
It's also like
@old boy said perfectly in that Eminem is just not that musically sound. He's not, and I'm wondering why because it wasn't always like that. Perfect example: The first D12 album. I've been listening to it these past few weeks and the Eminem we have on that one is a completely different person. That Eminem could have slid on a track like this. But I've been trying to figure out what the hell this man's problem is and I just have a bunch of ideas, not facts.
Yes. But he's trying to use the blazing fast shyt to cover the fact he's not really saying shyt now.
Like I'm sure he's studied the dictionary, but I doubt he's read a book or is able to speak in detail about any subject thats not hip hop related.
His best music recently was shyt like the ringer. Where he's pissed and venting about something specific.
You're right in that he doesn't read books. One of the few books he's read cover to cover is LL Cool J's autobiography, along with the dictionary.
Kamikaze is still a really good album in my eyes because for once, it doesn't sound like he's overthinking shyt. He's just angry at everything and everybody. I know it might come off as bitter, but I feel like this is the closest he's gotten to MMLP Eminem. He has the same rage that he did on that album, it's just utilized in a different way.
I might be looking into this too much, but I'm wondering if he's starting to enter another decline. His music in the 2010s got progressively worse until Revival was the point of no return. He made a comeback with Kamikaze, then the MTBMB albums were a mixed bag, and......what do you call this era now? He's not screaming like an idiot any more, he's not using Alex da Kid or Rick Rubin anymore, but the bad punchlines have been around since Recovery, and the speed rapping/beat switching have been around for at least five years.