The Eminem Blog

Bryan Stepp is the co owner of a Detroit hip hop magazine. He is the author of numerous beautiful drawings in which he represents many Detroit artists.
Here is a a beautiful, expressive and deep Eminem pic. You can feel a concentrated Em surrounded by RIP Proof’s presence. Not present physically, Big Proof’s spirit is there, inside and out side of Em.

I will post more Bryan Stepp pictures for all of you to acknowledge this man’s great talent!
PS: DO NO STEAL THIS PIC, SINCE IT IS SUBJECT TO THE AUTHOR’S COPYRIGHT! THIS PIC HAS BEEN PUBLISHED WITH BRYAN STEPP’S PERMISSION. PLEASE HAVE THE DECENCY TO ASK HIM BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY OF HIS PICS!

The Guardian has published a story today that really saddened me.
I think that this tragedy should raise more concern from people about the African American community in the USA.
He was young, had his whole life in front of him and was about to marry the love of his life, who also happened to be the mom of his two little daughters. In short, Sean Bell, 23, of New York had everything to be the happiest man on earth. But destiny decided it otherwise and would hit his family very hard.
Sean Bell belonged to the black community of the Queens. Saturday the place near a NYC strip club would soon turn into the theater of a tragedy.
The most shocking is that the men-including Sean Bell- who were shot were unarmed.
Why did the police shoot at them? Well, just because they suspected those men to be armed.
So the police has the right to shoot people on a simple presumption of being armed?
Or could it be that this affair simply « stinks » to quote Reverend Al Sharpton, a black civil rights leader, in his own words?
It looks like many racial crimes are freely committed.
When you see that a beautiful fiancee like Nicole Paultre is now deprived of a husband and her two kids of a father, don’t you think that we should all stand up for more justice and less racial discrimination?
Reality sometimes surpasses fiction. Real life dramas like this one could be avoided if the police stopped treating people like criminals simply because of their skin color.
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I wrote this article a while ago…ok this time I am going to talk about politics…some of you might not share my point of view, but well, I really needed to express myself on that controversial subject…I think that too many of us don’t realize that the simple citizen is always going to pay for our politicians’ mistakes…feel free to comment, but please always with respect. Thank you.
PS: my views are anti Bush oriented, but in NO WAY anti American. I have mad love for American folks, so please don’t misquote me.

It is shocking to hear about terrorists plans about blowing up underground stations, busses or planes. I think that there are no words to express how much I hate the thought of hundreds, maybe thousands of innocents dying for nothing and to realize that I could be one of them.
I find suicide bomb attempts horrific in their whole dimension. I find it scary that Al Quaeda employs a lot of young brainwashed people in order to accomplish their despicable « duty ».
Yes, those are huge crimes against humanity and I have always hated injustice.
However, without condoning the terrorist’s plans, I really understand their motivations behind those horrible acts.
When you realize the mess dictators like Bush and Blair cause in Iraq and the way they treat Iraqi citizens, you cannot feel comfortable with that.
People have been raped and killed by US Army soldiers who had been commanded to do so.
Do you find it normal that people were humiliated in their faith while people threw Holy Qurans in the toilets?
How would you react if somebody attacked the fundaments of your faith or spirituality?
From what I understand about all the bloody wars in the Middle East, there is always Bush’s hegemony will over those countries mischievously masked by the word « democracy ».
Bush is a monster. He is nearly as horrible as Hitler. His torture methods are inspired from the Nazis. You don’t believe me? Did you know that hardcore rappers’ music was used at a very high level of sonority in order to make them prisoners talk? That’s exactly what the Nazis did in their concentration camps, using prisoners to play Richard Wagner’s music, while other prisoners were humiliated, forced to work like slaves, and eventually killed.
Now, I’d like to appeal to the terrorists’ conscience. I know you hate Bush and Blair. I perfectly know that. But do you think that it is justified for you to kill thousands of innocent people who are struggling to feed their families of who are simply visiting family members in the USA?
I do think that your actions are in no way justifiable. If I was in your place, I’d target the White House or Buckingham palace, but not average people who are in no way responsible for the stupid politicians’ foreign policies.
I have always respected people from different confessions. I am in no way a Bush nor a Blair supporter…so why should I die in the tube for their stupid foreign policies?
Think twice about your actions…and get a clue!
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Straight from “jail”, Akon presents his convict music to his listeners. Konvicted is Akon’s brand new release. Akon is blessed with a warm, profound voice.
The Senegalese born American resident manages to offer an attentive ear a full range of diverse musical influences. True to his African roots, the gifted singer also enriches the CD with some reggae, rap and R’n’B influences. Open the diary of a convict and be ready for a crazy ride with Akon.
Shake Down beautifully opens the journey that is enlightened with drum, violin, rhythmic claps, trumpet and keyboard sounds. The singer’s vocal performance deserves praise in any case. Swing on the rhythmic song and enjoy.
Soft violins introduce Blown Away while hammering piano notes are mixed with guitar and flute sounds. Akon’s singing talent is combined with Styles P’s well delivered raps.
No need to introduce Smack That featuring Eminem, which is one of the most played and sung contemporary hits.
I Wanna Love You featuring Snoop Dogg is not really my cup of tea, since I am not that much into love songs. The graphic details of the song are not really useful, as far as I am concerned and the lyrics’ quality could be improved.
Feel violin notes drop like pouring rain on the face of earth. Imagine a man screaming and standing in the rain. Feel the drama that is suggested by piano notes combined with soft violin sounds and vocals. It offers the colorful image of a person drowning in his sorrow. Feel his broken soul liberate all the negativity and crash down like a burning plane that is about to explode. I loved The Rain. I recommend this song to all of you, because it is beautifully high on true emotions.
Never Took The Time is a rhythmic track constructed on guitar notes and keyboard sounds. The song is full of nostalgic accents and tells the story of a disappointed boy left by his girlfriend.
Mama Africa is a warm song with a good reggae flavor dedicated to Senegalese people. I really enjoyed that song, because Africa has always had-and still has a great importance in my life. Enjoy the pure blackness of the song reminding listener of the sunny Continent called Africa.
I Can’t Wait is enhanced with a funky flavor. The rhythmic track is full of joy and hopeful feelings.
Gangsta Bop takes you back to the streets. You will probably like the swinging track in which Akon’s vocal talent comes to shine, once again.
Tired Of Running expresses the lassitude of thug life. The gangsta track narrates the story of a man on the run, trying to escape from the police.
Don’t Matter is built on cithara and guitar sounds. Sometimes two people love each other, but their entourage don’t want to see them together and throw obstacles on their way in order to separate the lovers. Sometimes, two people mean the world to each other. Both lovers will fight for their right to love one another. Well made, with a good reggae taste in the background.
Globally, Akon’s album should catch your eyes and ears’ attention. Not only is Akon’s voice exceptional, the whole album offers a various panel of artistic collaboration and musical styles. I liked most of the songs and I think this album is really worth your attention.
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars

Dogmatic is one of those Detroit underground emcees that inspire you respect from the beginning. Not as much known as his long term friend RIP D12’s Proof, Dogmatic has nevertheless the mastery of a veteran when it comes to hip hop skills.
If you have no idea about who Kevin Bailey aka Dogmatic actually is, I’d recommend you to first listen to Promatic, a CD he did with Proof. Promatic is a hard worked on CD in which Proof and Dogmatic’s talents are complementary. From a range of hilarious to more serious topics, Promatic includes some interesting collaborations and Sick Notes produced tracks.
You want to know more about the REAL 8 Mile, the actual border that separates black and whites communities in Detroit? Let Dogmatic introduce you into his 8 Mile chronicles.
Soft instrumentals, soft female vocals will lead you into the famous place where segregation, killers on the block, darkness, desperation and the harshness of an emcee’s struggle are part of the story. So many hip hop soldiers catch slugs for nothing. The song has some nostalgic accents. No romance, the truth in its roughness gets fully exposed.
Hitzville 313 is one of those beautiful sick-noted and entertaining track enriched with some good instrumentals. Dance along, get your hands up, feel the festive and euphoric atmosphere brought to you by pot smoking Dogmatic. Let him drop them hits.
Like Dat Matic featuring Stat Quo has a beautiful gansgta flavor. Violins and keyboards enhance the street atmosphere.
Rapid guitar and violin notes, catchy beats will allow Dogmatic to speak from his heart. Dogmatic will describe you the hood with its killaz and its weapons. Dogmatic shoots his words at you literally, creating an electrifying ambience.
Killaz On The Block is a very cadenced gig based on melodic violin sounds.
Da Fever beautifully enlightens Dogmatic’s lyrical performance. The artist shows a real nice flow delivery on the song.
Inventive skills, rhythm, good flow various and well handled instrumentals are the ingredients that will allow you to taste Dogmatic’s recipe with delight.
Let Me Put You On The D: swinging beats, colorful keyboard sounds fully draw you the hustling atmopshere of the D. Life is a hustle, particularly when you originate from the D.
8 Mile Road is a nostalgic track that Dogmatic revamped and renamed « 8 Mile’s tribute to Proof » after his friend tragically died on April the 11th in 2006. I reviewed the moving song that takes his whole meaning as a tribute to 8 Mile’s fallen soldier.
Earlier in April 2005, Detroit lost another valuable soldier, Blade Icewood who was shot in his car. Dogmatic pays tribute in mixing a style of his own with a Streetlordz flavor.
Who could better represent a place like the murderous 8 Mile than Dogmatic?
Lyrical soldier, gifted emcee, Dogmatic draws you a realistic picture of the D.
This CD is worth your attention. True hip hop heads will definitely like it!
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 3. 5 stars
Snoop Dogg has disappointed me a lot lately, since he started collaborating with Pharell Williams in particular. His music had become an annoying, tasteless and sugarcoated mixture of R’n’B alike songs. However, it looks like the rap legend has put some more efforts into his most recent album. Not all of his songs nor collaborations have convinced me, but the album contains some strong and valuable tracks that keep it gangsta and appeal to more creativity.
Intrology takes the listener by surprise. Introduced by a dark instrumental background, featuring George Clinton, the prelude of the album will remind you of the old Snoop Dogg. Based on an enthusiastic rhythm, it describes a life of luxury and introduces the blue carpet treatment aimed at super stars.
Trumpets, keyboards, soft funky sounds draw a relaxing atmosphere while Snoop Dogg flows faster than the wind, contrasting with the funky/soul atmosphere of the song. Well done!
Crazy featuring Nate Dogg beautifully describes a California life style. Watered sounds are combined with soft female vocals. It is time to relax and to enjoy Snoop playing with the vowels. Sit back, relax and feel good: Snoop is taking you to a trip in a good West Coast style.
Vato is definitely worth your attention. It intelligently combines Snoop’s talent with Cypress Hill’s B Real genuine Latino style.
Follow the beginning of a beef and enjoy both rappers’ narrative skills in a chronic style. I recommend you the song and video to Vato.
Well…That’s That belongs to the songs I find superficial and horrible. Maybe it is also due to the fact that I never liked R Kelly. More strikingly, Party songs are not my cup of tea. No way.
Candy Dripping Like Water is quite disappointing too. It is not better than 50 Cent’s Candy Shop. The lyrics are poor and E 40, Mc Eiht, Goldie, Daz and Kurupt don’t help improving it. It sadly lacks imagination.
Get A Light featuring Damian Marley is not among my favorites either. I’m not really satisfied with the content nor with the use of the instrumentals that sound repetitive and boring as hell.
Gangbangin’ 101 is a Snoop/ The Game collaboration. Keyboard sounds, harpsichord notes and rhythmic claps will transport the listener into a Californian gangsta atmosphere.
Lax featuring Ice Cube has some police cars sirens in the background. The soft vocals strangely contrast with the sirens and will make you guess the dangerous and unsafe environment Cali actually is.
The song that I really enjoyed is Lil Crips. Built on somber bass sounds married with some banging lyrics, the song describes baby gangstas’ criminal activities. The song is rhythmic and well worked on.
Unsafe again is Round Here. Harpsichord notes combined with swinging beats totally describe the harsh environment of the LA hood. It ain’t safe to leave the house: you have been warned by a true OG.
Bitch I Knew has that beautiful G Funk flavor in the background. The song is luscious as hell. Sensitive souls better skip the song. Strong stomachs will probably enjoy the filthy song in which Snoop plays the role of a kinky pimp (you guessed it).
Globally, the albums offers some interesting musical perspectives from a man who totally made it in the rap game. In many songs, Snoop’s mastery of his art comes to shine. Unfortunately some other songs are much more disappointing and ways too commercial to me.
However, the listeners should give the album a chance, because of its highly positive assets mentioned above.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars
Big One’s Spanish flavor, its distorted scratches sounds and hammering piano notes will take you for a walk into the lyrical killers’ world. Enjoy the performance of an artist who makes music for the love of it. You probably guessed it: Sham is on the track with his invincible lyrics that totally match with the dark instrumental background.
Closed Casket is the follow up of song Nr 1. It is leaves no place for cowards in the game. Learn the art of war from lyrical soldier Troopa.
Think Fast combines piano and keyboard sounds with some beautiful guitar sounds. You are invited to use your brain if you want to be an astute player in the game.. Again, Sham shows some beautiful skills.
Gifted Boston underground emcee Mr Nash exposes wankstas in a total nudity. Fake Thugs get no love, that’s a matter of fact. The song is an invitation to keep it real. Soft piano sounds are interrupted by some strident siren sound. Take the instrumentals as a warning aimed at the posers in the hood. As the track goes on, distorted sounds follow the siren, strongly suggesting an unsafe atmosphere of danger.
Flow That welcomes you to hell. Hammering sounds, harpsichord sounds, scratches, slow beats fully draw you the picture of an upside down universe. Mad Pat likes it raw. So do I.
Grievance is a deep prayer from people who have been through a real rough time in the hood. Wolfgang Wize’s raspy voice puts the listener into the context of murder and death. Watch the daily nightmares that happen in the hood through the artist’s eyes.
Song Nr 9 will probably make the listener feel uncomfortable between the soft « Amore Amore » vocal in a typical Spanish style and Pedi Gang’s somber words that will turn his space into a bloody corrida in no time.
Partnerz in Crime is another beautiful occasion to appreciate Troopa’s talent and the clever use of the instrumentals.
Track Nr 12 is lead by Troopa as well. Soft piano sounds, catchy beats, astute lyrics, a good combination of scratches and rhythm makes Raize Da Roof highly enjoyable.
Globally, the Partnerz In Crime CD is rich of great artistic collaborations such as Sham, Mr Nash, Troopa, Mad Pat and many more. It also illuminates DJ Xplicit’s specific know how.
Partnerz In Crime won’t leave the listeners indifferent. Be so curious and taste some good Massachusetts rap.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Link: www.NMEwreckidz.com
Bang Out is made of a mixture of harmonic piano sounds and rhythmic drum beats. Piano notes flood into your ear in a symphonic mode transporting you into a nostalgic and scary world in which confrontation with enemies is a daily duty.
Closed Casket starts in a very offensive atmosphere. Haters and snitches watch your mouth, because the Boston emcees come very hard at you, stabbing you lyrically and leaving you in a pool of blood. Piano, drums, keyboards underline the emcees’ bad intentions.
Sonata alike piano sounds combined with some rhythmic violin and keyboard sounds introduce the playful atmosphere of the Bucket song.
Lethal Weapons will allow the listener to appreciate underground emcee Sham’s talent. Sham’s lyrical performance is impressive, as always. The skilled rapper jungles with words with the dexterity of an acrobat. The violin-harpsichord instrumental background suggests a harsh struggling atmosphere. Pro Lung is also featured on the song.
Natural Born Hustla will take you by surprise, taking your ears to a rich and various musical background that fully fits into the Natural Born Hustla spirit.
Bang From Tha Block is a rhythmic track based on pan flute sounds that will give you a full description of the hood problematic.
Ask For City fully enlightens the artist’s nice flow delivery. Feel the passion, enjoy the inventive lyrics.
Without Love will draw you a picture of a love story in the real world. Violins, harpsichord sounds, rhythmic beats will make you feel the overheated ambiance of the track.
Globally, the NME produced CD is an interesting and creative piece of work in which many artists’ talent come to shine. It includes Sham, Pro Lung, X Conn and Bogart’s collaborations. The CD is enriched with the remixes of good songs such as Bang Out and Without Love.
Mr Dilligence did a great production work, as always.
Check out Pedi Bang, you won’t regret it.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 5 stars

Drug dependence, the murder of your best friend, the collapse of your marriage can break an individual. After the flood of issues in which Eminem was literally drowning during the last months, many people thought that the skilled rapper would retire from the rap game.
However Eminem is a stand up man with that thick skin that allowed him to resist to life tempests.
Eminem is back with his crew, stronger than ever, bringing to you his new hard worked on CD, the Re Up mixtape.
Joyful violin sounds, gunshots, hammering drum beats starts Shady Narcotics which is the prelude to the mixtape in which Eminem introduces his crew: D12, Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Bob Creek and Cashis.
From the oldest to the newest members, everyone has his precise place and plays his role in this valuable team work.
We’re Back: the shady soldiers are back, more offensive than ever, with razor blades alike works. Big mouth running haters be ready to be punched right in the face. Eminem, Obie, Bob Creek, Cashis and Stat Quo will smash the jealous hoes in the game. Any underground artist aims at becoming mainstream someday: so don’t hate, congratulate!
Gunshots, numerous violins, a dark bassline totally situate the context: the arise of a lyrical battle is imminent.
The heat increases as Obie Trice spits lyrical bullets on a Pistol Pistol sample.
As the sky gets cloudy and darker, you can smell the smoke in the air. Bizarre and Kuniva reinforce the roughness of the hell of a murderous ambience. Be ready for war while keyboard, drums and dark « murder » vocals combined with some gunshots will portray you the Detroit hood like it is.
I think that Bizarre and Kuniva’s beautiful performance needs to be pointed out. I recommend you the song. Don’t sleep on that one.
Everything Is Shady: let Cashis take over in the scurrilous themed song.
The Shady gladiators are teaming up and will leave their enemies lying lifeless, lyrically speaking.
Eminem and 50 Cent introduce you to The Re Up in a rhythmic beat box mode. The song is beautifully rhythmic, Eminem’s vocal performance is well handled from the beginning to the end. 50 Cent will keep on with the same beautiful spirit that will remind many of you of the Get Rich Or Die Trying album. Good job!
You Don’t Know is a classic, already. I reviewed the song and the video a while ago.
Jimmy Crack Corn is based on a Yellow Brick alike musical background. The song is provocative. Eminem humors those who are running their big mouths in the rap game.
Trapped will feature RIP Big Proof as a tribute to the gifted fallen D12 soldier.
When Swifty and Kon Artis unite their talents, bombs are thrown on the scene. Swinging beats, light piano sounds mixed up with violins and keyboars will totally enhance the « killa » track.
Chord sounds, harpshichord notes, light piano sounds, a good dose of offensiveness, sharp and incisive words will underline Bob Creekwater’s good performance. Bob Creek is one of the most underrated Shady Records signed artist, but he is nevertheless talented. Check him out!
I fully enjoyed Eminem’s Public Enemy track that gets political and offers some insight about assassination plots.
Eminem fully masters his flow and shows some good lyrical skills on the well handled song.
Eminem concludes the mixtape with No Apologies. In a long monologue, Eminem shows some lyrical dexterity and confronts critics. No apologies for being himself and for speaking his mind. The « arsenic writer », the lyrical genius is back with some beautiful, poetic lines:
« My head hit’s the pillow, a weeping willow, i can’t sleep, a pain so deep it bellows
But these Cellos help just to keep me mellow, hand’s on my head, touched knees to elbow
I’m hunched over, emotion just flows over, these cold shoulders are both frozen, you don’t know me… »
Monotonous piano and keyboard sounds contrast with the sudden introduction of bells and violins. Marshall Mathers’ voice and lyrics are an outlet for the bottled rage. The song fully enlightens Eminem’s lyrical mastery. I love the track, because it is unique in its creativity and outshines all the excellent tracks of the Re Up.
Globally speaking the Re Up enlightens the whole Shady Records crews’ artistic collaborations. Eminem is so sorry to disappoint all the people who nearly buried him lyrically and artistically. The tight emcee is backed by his crew that also shows some good skills.
The Re Up is worth your interest. I’d strongly advice you to own it in your hip hop library.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Boston rap from the NME label…Partners In Crime and Pedi Bang…stay tuned…the CDs will feature good underground artists such as Sham and Mr Nash…stay tuned:)