AAVV — Shady XV

For the 15th anniversary of Shady Records and his 15th album (excluding Mathers soloists), Eminem releases a compilation album, a double album of 27 tracks (+ 3 bonuses), some of which are original, for a total of over two hours of material. The production is signed by Eminem, Boi-1da, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Statik Selektah, Dr. Dre, Mr. Porter, Luis Resto, Emile Haynie, Mike Elizondo, Conrad Clifton, John Hill, Marv Won, The Maven Boys, WLPWR, Apex, AraabMuzik, Jeff Bass, J-Praize, Katalyst, Witt & Pep, and Mr. Pyro. The performers are both the current members of the Shady Records roster, and the artists of the past: Eminem, 50 Cent, D12, Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf, Obie Trice, Bobby Creekwater, Ca$his, Stat Quo, plus guests Sia, Skylar Grey, Big Sean, Daddy Brown, Dej Loaf, Trick Trick, Kuniva, Kid Rock, Lloyd Banks and Nate Dogg.

The album begins with Eminem no longer stopping in a hookless five-minute cut, single verse, feeling unnecessarily excessive on heavy production and heavier-than-rhythm rapping, bordering on annoyance. Two mediocre tracks follow, so, Bad Meets Evil has another very heavy beat, Montgomery & Mathers deliver hardcore just to go over the beat, it's a weird stretch. Track number five is a rare highlight from the first CD: "Y'All Ready Know". Excellent dark jazzy boom bap production by DJ Premier, fantastic rap by Royce, Ortiz and Crooked, which closes the track on the fourth verse. After Sia's good hook in the next track, the record gets lost a bit in forgettable generic cuts, including D12's "Bane" which has autotune, I think.

The album runs slowly through bland hardcore tracks, up to "Detroit vs. Everybody". Hook by Dej Loaf & Trick Trick, great heavy boom bap with honest drum and sleek piano, Royce's hardcore smooth delivery. Big Sean kills the cut with calm, giving fluidity to the song, takes the track with no apparent effort; it follows Danny Brown with his easygoing eats-the-words style. Then, Eminem goes on for three minutes, placing a bland extra-verse always with his impeccable technique. The bonus track of the first CD "Till It's Gone" is the real surprise of this project: Yelawolf at its finest, over a jazzy light boom bap, accomplished by a wonderful soulful background. The second disc boasts brilliant moments pulled out of the tracks of 50 Cent & Obie Trice, while the contribution of D12 is quite forgettable. On this CD the production becomes annoying and simplistic, Shady doesn't sound at its best. Sure, there's "Lose Yourself", twice (the second is an unreleased alternate version), however, the rest of the songs weren't well selected.

The record is a good commercial success: it's third at home, first among rap records, first in Canada and first in Australia, ranking worldwide and being certified gold in less than a month. Four singles are extracted, "Guts Over Fear" is gold, "Till It's Gone" by Yelawolf is platinum. The compilation is received in a mixed way by insiders. Indeed, it's panned by some critics. The 2/10 assigned by Pitchfork is sensational, and perhaps, the 4/10 of RapReviews is even heavier. Technically flawless, Eminem doesn't really know what to say anymore, nor does he know how to say it, he's shouting things all the time, it's boring. As if that weren't enough, he's overshadowed by every single dude he puts on this compilation, Royce, Crooked, Ortiz, Big Sean, Danny Brown, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Yelawolf. That Nate Dogg hook is a pearl. "Lose Yourself" ain't enough. 3/10.