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Revival (Eminem album)

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Untitled

Revival is the ninth studio album by American rapper Eminem. The album was released on December 15, 2017 through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records and Interscope Records.[3]

Production for the album took place during 2016 to 2017 at various recording studios. Production was handled by various record producers, including Rick Rubin, Skylar Grey, Eminem himself, and executive producer Dr. Dre.[4] Revival features guest appearances from artists Beyoncé, Phresher, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, X Ambassadors, Grey, Kehlani, and P!NK.

The album's lead single, "Walk on Water", featuring Beyoncé, was released on November 10, 2017. "Untouchable" was released as a promotional single on December 8, a week prior to the album's release. On December 14, "River" featuring Ed Sheeran, was revealed to be the album's second official single, with a release date yet to be determined.[5] Revival was leaked online on December 13, 2017, two days before the album's release date.[6]

Background

Eminem first revealed that he was working on an album when he announced the song "Campaign Speech" on his Twitter in October 2016, writing, "Don't worry I'm working on an album! Here's something meanwhile."[7] Rumors about the release date started in late 2016, saying the album would be called Success and would be released sometime in January 2017.[8] A fake tracklist also was leaked at the same time.[9] Rumors were sparked again in February and March 2017, when Eminem announced he was headlining three shows in Reading, Glasgow and Leeds.[10][11] Various news articles said that because he was performing, he would have to release new material to perform, or at least preview, at the festivals.[12]

Release and promotion

Well-built, performing African-American
A white man with a long, grey beard
Skylar Grey (left) and Rick Rubin (right) served as the album's producers.

On October 10, 2017, Eminem performed a freestyle titled "The Storm" at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards, criticizing President Donald Trump.[13] The rapper's freestyle went viral, garnering millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes on YouTube within weeks. As of December 16th, 2017, the video has over 41 million views and over 1.1 million likes.[14]

On October 25, 2017, Paul Rosenberg posted a photo to Instagram of Yelawolf's Trial by Fire.[15] In the background of the photo, there is a billboard ad promoting a drug called "Revival." Suspicion was aroused when fans noticed that the 'E' in "Revival" was reversed, similar to Eminem's previous logos. Visiting the website listed on the billboard ad revealed several clues. On the website, a promotional video about "Revival"[16] makes references to Eminem's song "Lose Yourself". The website also references "Sing for the Moment", "Brain Damage", "Fack", "Role Model", and "Any Man". According to the website, "Revival" treats "Atrox Rithimus," a nonexistent medical condition. One translation of Atrox Rithimus, from Latin, is 'terrible rhyme'.[17] The website is also registered to one of Eminem's labels, Interscope Records.[18] When the phone number for "Revival" is called, it plays the background music of Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor", which Eminem features on.[19] These details led fans to believe Eminem's new album will be called Revival. This would follow suit with the names of two of his last three solo albums, Relapse and Recovery.

The album release date was teased multiple times, leading fans to wonder the release date. Then, on November 28, 2017, the release date of the album was announced to be December 15 via both Dr. Dre's and Eminem's social media accounts, while also revealing the fake drug campaign of the record.[20] On December 5, 2017, Eminem shared a complete list of all the tracks featuring on his album via his Instagram account. The list features a total of 19 tracks, including an interlude track to Revival, featuring artists such as Phresher, Ed Sheeran, Skylar Grey, Alicia Keys, X Ambassadors, P!nk and Kehlani.[21] On December 7, 2017, the album cover was revealed and projected onto a Detroit building. That night, the song "Untouchable" was released and a pre-order was set up on iTunes.[22]

Singles

A woman stands with a microphone
Beyoncé served as the vocalist for the lead single "Walk on Water".

On November 8, 2017, Eminem tweeted a picture of a doctor's prescription note with the words "Walk on Water" and "Take as needed." written on it.[23] Additionally, the doctor's note was labeled with the logo for Revival. This caused speculation that the first single would be titled "Walk on Water".[24][25][26] On November 9, Paul Rosenberg shared a video on Instagram linking the drug "Revival" with "Walk on Water" and confirming the song, which was subsequently released the next day.[27][28] An audio video was uploaded to Eminem's YouTube channel. As of December 16th, 2017, the video has nearly 50 million views and over 1.1 million likes.[29]

In the United States, "Walk on Water" debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the 57th entry for both artists on the chart. The song was first performed by Eminem at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards on November 12 with co-producer and writer Skylar Grey on vocals.[30] Both performed the song and a melody of Stan/LoveTheWayYouLie on Saturday Night Live on November 18.[31] Eminem stated on his website that he was going to release a new track on December 8, 2017, this led to the promotional single "Untouchable". The song features a sample from the song "Earache My Eye" by the comedy duo Cheech & Chong.[32]

On December 14, 2017, "River" featuring Ed Sheeran, was revealed to be the album's second official single, with a release date yet to be determined.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic50/100[33]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Daily Telegraph[34]
Consequence of SoundF[35]
The Guardian[1]
HipHopDX[36]
The Independent[37]
The A.V. ClubD+[38]
NME[39]
Paste6.8/10[40]
Rolling Stone[41]
Slant Magazine [42]

Upon release, Revival received mixed to negative reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Revival received an average score of 50 based on 15 reviews from critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[33] Don Needham of The Guardian criticised the album's production and focus, stating that "If Eminem thinks his verbal box of tricks can overcome the weakness of any backing track, his recent albums have demonstrated otherwise."[1] In a positive review, Andy Gill of The Independent complimented the album's lyrical themes: "But ultimately, it’s all about Eminem himself, and nowhere more dynamically than in the berserk self-assessment “Offended”, where he asserts, amongst other things, that if the time he spent writing were taken into account, he’d be a minimum-wage slave – a faintly ludicrous claim, but immediately backed up by a bravura extended burst of rapid-rap babble that both explains and exemplifies his skills, and leaves one wondering not just how long it took to write, but how on earth he manages to pronounce such a polysyllabic torrent so perfectly."[37] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph stated that Revival "represents Eminem on top form, which is to say unstoppable, unbeatable yet often indefensible."[34]

The Irish Times concluded that Revival is "mildly more admirable than previous outings but no more enjoyable. A chance to bust out of the slump has passed Eminem by. It just might never happen for him."[2]

In a scathing review, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times remarks that while the album is "probably the best of his recent albums", he criticizes Eminem's apparent lack of awareness to the evolution of hip hop's sound in general, arguing that he is too "beholden to his own aesthetic."[43]

Commercial performance

Revival is projected to move between 280,000 and 300,000 album units in its first week.[44]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Walk on Water" (featuring Beyoncé)
5:04
2."Believe"
5:15
3."Chloraseptic" (featuring Phresher)
Mr. Porter5:01
4."Untouchable"
  • Eminem
  • Batson
  • Haynie
  • Mr. Porter
6:10
5."River" (featuring Ed Sheeran)
Haynie3:41
6."Remind Me (Intro)"
0:26
7."Remind Me"
Rubin3:45
8."Revival (Interlude)"
0:51
9."Like Home" (featuring Alicia Keys)
4:05
10."Bad Husband" (featuring X Ambassadors)
4:47
11."Tragic Endings" (featuring Skylar Grey)
  • Mathers
  • Hafermann
  • Grant
Alex da Kid4:12
12."Framed"
4:13
13."Nowhere Fast" (featuring Kehlani)
4:24
14."Heat"
Rubin4:10
15."Offended"
  • Illa da Producer
  • Eminem[a]
5:20
16."Need Me" (featuring Pink)
  • Mathers
  • Hafermann
  • J. Ingoldsby
  • Grant
Alex da Kid4:25
17."In Your Head"
Scram Jones3:02
18."Castle"
DJ Khalil4:14
19."Arose"
Rubin4:34
Total length:77:39

Track notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer.
  • "Remind Me" features backing vocals by Mr. Porter.
  • "Revival (Interlude)" features vocals by Alice and the Glass Lake.
  • "Offended" features vocals by Kent Jones.
  • "Castle" features vocals by Liz Rodrigues.

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[45]

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Various December 15, 2017

References

  1. ^ a b c Needham, Don (December 15, 2017). "Eminem: Revival review – witless beats and puns in a total rejection of hip-hop". The Guardian. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Eminem: Revival review - gruelling, relentless and sterile". The Irish Times. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "Eminem Finally Reveals 'Revival' Album Release Date". Billboard. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Dr. Dre Is Working On Eminem's New Album". Rap-Up. July 10, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ a b Cantor, Brian (December 13, 2017). "Eminem & Ed Sheeran's "River" Set For Pop Radio Push". Headline Planet. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "Eminem's "Revival" Leak: Internet Has Mixed Reactions". Hot New Hip Hop.
  7. ^ Mathers, Marshall. "Don't worry I'm working on an album! Here's something meanwhile". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ "Is Eminem Dropping His New Album 'Success' In January?". Capital Xtra. October 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "Eminem New Album 'Success' Release Date, Tracklist Leaked?". Hall of Fame. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "Back to the UK this August for Reading & Leeds '17!". Twitter. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ "Just added another Europe show! at the @gssfestival on Aug 24th." Twitter. March 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "Eminem new album may release in August; Glasgow, Reading & Leeds 2017 confirmed". BlastingNews. March 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ "Over 2 Million People Tweeted About Marshall After Anti-Trump Cypher went viral". Billboard. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  14. ^ BETNetworks (October 10, 2017), Eminem Rips Donald Trump In BET Hip Hop Awards Freestyle Cypher, retrieved November 6, 2017
  15. ^ "Look what arrived at the Shady offices today! @Yelawolf TRIAL BY FIRE comes out this Friday 10/27! #cdbaby". Instagram. October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Are you ready for REVIVAL?". MyMemory. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  17. ^ "You searched for: atrox rithimus (Latin - English)". MyMemory. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  18. ^ "Revival". Detroit Free Press. October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "Here's what happens when you call 1-833-243-8738, the number for Eminem's new album, "REVIVAL"". Twitter. October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  20. ^ "Instagram post by Dr. Dre • Nov 28, 2017 at 8:05pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  21. ^ "Instagram post by Marshall Mathers • Dec 5, 2017 at 5:32pm UTC". Instagram.
  22. ^ http://www.eminem.com/news/revival-album-art-reveal
  23. ^ Mathers, Marshall (November 8, 2017). "pic.twitter.com/VXgVGHK5TN". @Eminem. Retrieved November 8, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  24. ^ "Eminem Teases Possible New Single Called 'Walk On Water'". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  25. ^ b3llydrum (November 8, 2017). "Sounds like the single will be called Walking on Water. Hell yeah!". @b3llydrum. Retrieved November 8, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Gillespie, Curtis (November 8, 2017). "Walk on water- name og 1st track to get released?". @CurtG89. Retrieved November 8, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  27. ^ Andrieu, Pierre (November 10, 2017). "Eminem, Beyoncé release new single "Walk on Water"". CBS. Retrieved November 15, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  28. ^ Madden, Sidney (November 10, 2017). "Eminem And Beyoncé 'Walk On Water'". NPR. Retrieved November 15, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  29. ^ EminemVEVO (November 10, 2017), Eminem - Walk On Water (Audio) ft. Beyoncé, retrieved November 12, 2017
  30. ^ "eminem is performing a new song at the 2017 ema". mtvema. November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  31. ^ "5 Things We Want to See from Eminem on 'Saturday Night Live'". Billboard.
  32. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (December 7, 2017). "Eminem Drops New Single "Untouchable" Off Upcoming Album 'Revival'". Complex Media. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Reviews for Revival by Eminem". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  34. ^ a b McCormick, Neil (December 15, 2017). "Eminem: Revival review – Marshall Mathers proves he's still the boss". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  35. ^ Weiss, Dan (December 18, 2017). "Eminem Revival". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  36. ^ Clark, Trent (December 15, 2017). "Review: Eminem's "Revival" — A Sober, Middling Effort From A Weathered Legend". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  37. ^ a b Gill, Andy (December 15, 2017). "Eminem, Revival review: Political anger from a conflicted poet". The Independent. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  38. ^ "Won't the real Slim Shady please grow up?". The A.V Club. December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  39. ^ Bassett, Jordan (December 18, 2017). "Eminem – 'Revival' Review". NME. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  40. ^ Garstin, Emily (December 15, 2017). "Eminem: Revival Review". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  41. ^ Weingarten, Christopher (December 15, 2017). "Eminem 'Revival' Review: Raw, Honest, Compelling as Ever". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  42. ^ "Slant review".
  43. ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 18, 2017). "Hip-Hop Changes. Eminem Doesn't". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  44. ^ "Eminem Revival First Week Sales Projection Report". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  45. ^ Revival (CD liner notes). Eminem. Interscope Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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