Rating: NNN
Eventually Eminem was bound to grow out of the shock-for-shock-value shtick and start using his skills as a confrontational MC to deal with relevant issues beyond his own bizzaro celebrity world. While he’s still ready to take on all haters – including Triumph the Insult Comic Dog – Eminem’s shifted his attack strategy slightly in Encore. He seems less interested in trying to offend as many people as he can, instead choosing his targets – the Bush regime, Michael Jackson and Jessica Simpson – more carefully. As usual, he’s most successful with his more personal revelations, namely the breakdown of his media battle in Toy Soldiers and his response to accusations of racism in Yellow Brick Road. The most disappointing aspect is the production, with lame beats from Dre and appalling sample use that sabotages a potential breakthrough.
