Eminem’s new album Marshall Mathers LP 2 was released on November 5^th of 2013 and is already a major hit. The album is lyrical genius, and the beats are classic Marshall Mathers. The cover of the album features a rundown house that was condemned; on the back is a notice saying the house was condemned, as well as the track listing.

Eminem’s most recent album “Recovery” was also a major hit, and sold 3.42 million copies in the U.S. between Jan. 4, 2010 and Jan. 2, 2011. Recovery was 2010’s bestselling album, and Billboard expects MMLP2 to sell about 700,000 – 750,000 albums in the first week.

The overall expression for the MMLP2?  In our opinions, it might be the best album of the year. It has 16 tracks in the standard edition and 21 in total for the deluxe edition. He was already named artist of the year by the YouTube Music Awards because of his track “Berzerk.” The album feels like a blast from the past, and has the same flow as he did back in the 90’s as Marshall Mathers. His lyrics are still as powerful and meaningful as on all his other albums.

There are many great tracks on the MMLP2, like “Bad Guy,” which brings him back to playing the role of Marshall Mathers. In the 2^nd to last verse of the song, he even takes on the role of Stan’s brother (from the first MMLP). In “Headlights” he apologizes to his mother for blaming everything bad that happened in his life on her. He says that even with all the hardships they went through, he knows she tried her best to give him a good life. “Stronger Than I Was” is a letter to his ex-wife Kim, saying even though they had tough problems together and she essentially ruined his life, she made him stronger than he was before.

The most standout track of MMLP2 is “Bad Guy,’’ because the lyrics are deep and people can really embrace them. His Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady flow have returned, and so did the lyrical style. The beat was very catchy, and so was the chorus. On the other hand, the worst song overall is probably “Rhyme Or Reason” because the lyrics were much different than the rest of the album, and the beat felt a little “off.”

All in all, we rate the MMLP2 5/5 stars, because it had a Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady twist mixed with the modern Eminem we all love.