| Kamikaze | |||||||
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| Studio album by Eminem | |||||||
| Released | August 31, 2018 | ||||||
| Recorded | 2018 | ||||||
| Genre | Hip-Hop/Rap Alternative Hip-Hop | ||||||
| Length | 45:49 | ||||||
| Label | Aftermath Records, Shady Records, Interscope Records | ||||||
| Producer | Dr. Dre (also exec.), Slim Shady (also exec.), Swish Allnet, Fred Ball, Boi-1da, Illa da Producer, Jeremy Miller, Tay Keith, LoneStarrMuzik, Mike Will Made It, Luis Resto, Ronny J, S1, Tim Suby, Jahaan Sweet | ||||||
| Stream | Apple Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube Music | ||||||
| Eminem chronology | |||||||
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| Singles from Kamikaze | |||||||
| view • edit • talk | |||||||
Kamikaze (stylized as KAMIKAZƎ) is the tenth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on August 31, 2018. This previously unannounced album features guest appearances from artists Joyner Lucas, Royce da 5'9", Jesse Reyez and uncredited vocals by Justin Vernon.
Kamikaze received mixed to positive from critics. The album was officially certified "Platinum" by the RIAA on October 22, 2018. The album has sold 434,000 copies.
Recording and release[]
On October 10, 2017, Eminem released an anti-Donald Trump freestyle titled "The Storm" at the 2017 BET Hip-Hop Awards. His freestyle was later mentioned on the song "The Ringer". Producer Illa da Producer sees Kamikaze identical to The Slim Shady LP in terms of its ferocity rather than Revival.
On August 30, 2018, Eminem posted a 15-second teaser of a new song on Twitter, featuring the logo of the comic book film Venom, without comment. American singer Justin Vernon of the indie folk band Bon Iver, whose vocals were uncredited on track 10 of Kamikaze titled "Fall", disclaimed his participation in the album, claiming he was not in the studio when the recording was made.
Album cover[]
Front to back, the full album cover of Kamikaze shows Lt. Mathers III, a fighter pilot, intentionally crashing a North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet into an unknown object. The album cover's design pays tribute to the cover art of the debut album by Beastie Boys, License to Ill released in 1986.
Beastie Boys[]
The cover of the album pays homage to the Beastie Boys' debut album Licensed to Ill with the tail number "TIKCUS", which backwards is "SUCKIT" ("suck it"). The Beastie Boys' cover had the tail number "3ATM3", which reads "EATME" when read in reverse.
Controversy[]
Eminem vs. Machine Gun Kelly feud[]
Eminem and rapper Machine Gun Kelly have had an ongoing feud for years because on May 7, 2012, he tweeted about Eminem's daughter Hailie, who was 16 at the time and he was 22, saying she was "hot as fuck." On September 3, 2018, MGK released a diss track titled "Rap Devil" in response to "Not Alike." Ronny J produced both songs. The track's title refers to "Rap God" and Eminem went into the studios days later to record his own response. His song was called "Killshot" and was released on September 14.
Homophobic slur[]
On the track "Fall", Eminem uses the homophobic slur "f*gg*t" against rapper Tyler the Creator. Singer Dan Reynolds of rock band Imagine Dragons has criticized his use of the slur, calling his language "hateful." Guest vocalist Justin Vernon has separated himself from the collaboration due to the message. Eminem later apologized in his "Kamikaze interview" with Sway Calloway.
Response[]
Rapper Ja Rule responded on Twitter, re-igniting a feud the two had in 2002. Joe Budden, Lord Jamar, 6ix9ine, Iggy Azalea, Die Antwoord and Lupe Fiasco have publicly responded to Eminem, with the third releasing a skit called "Legend" that raps over "Lose Yourself". Artists like 50 Cent have come out in suport of Eminem.
"Hi Bich" allegations[]
In response to allegations that the pre-chorus and chorus of the song "Not Alike" sound similar to Danielle Bregoli/Bhad Bhabie's "Hi Bich," she has responded that she takes the comparison as a compliment. She revised the lyrics of her debut mixtape 15 to pay respect to Eminem.
Reception[]
Despite the controversy, Kamikaze received generally positive reviews from music critics. Metacritic gave the record a 62 out of 100 based on 16 critics.
Track List[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Ringer | Ray Fraser, Matthew Jacobson, Katorah Marrero, Mathers | Illa da Producer, Ronny J, Eminem | 5:37 | |
| 2. | Greatest | Jordan Carter, Kendrick Duckworth, Asheton Hogan, Jordan Jenks, Mathers, Jeremy Miller, Anthony Tiffith, Michael Williams II, Symere Woods | Mike Will Made It, Miller | 3:46 | |
| 3. | Lucky You (feat. Joyner Lucas) | Mathers, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Gary Lucas, Fraser | Boi-1da, Illa da Producer, Eminem, Jahaan Sweet | 4:04 | |
| 4. | Paul (Skit) Paul Rosenberg | Eminem | 0:35 | ||
| 5. | Normal | Erik Bodin, Fraser, Larry Griffin, Jr., Mathers, Yukimi Nagano, Maurice Nichols, R. Sheldon, Fredik Wallin, Hakan Wirenstrand | 3:42 | ||
| 6. | Em Calls Paul (Skit) | Mathers | Eminem | 0:49 | |
| 7. | Stepping Stone | Mathers, L. Resto, Mario Resto | Eminem, L. Resto | 5:09 | |
| 8. | Not Alike (feat. Royce da 5'9") | Brytavious Chambers, Mathers, Ryan Montgomery, Spence, Jr. | Eminem, Tay Keith, Ronny J | 4:48 | |
| 9. | Kamikaze | Bobby Ervin, Mathers, Dwayne Simon, James Smith, Timothy Suby | Eminem, Suby | 3:36 | |
| 10. | Fall | B.J. Burton, Mathers, L. Resto, Justin Vernon, Williams | Mike Will Made It, Eminem | 4:22 | |
| 11. | Nice Guy Eminem & Jessie Reyez | Fred Ball, L. Griffin, Jr., Mathers, L. Resto, Jessica Reyez | Ball, S1, Eminem | 2:30 | |
| 12. | Good Guy (feat. Jessie Reyez) | Norio Ano, Fraser, Lisa Gomamoto, Mathers, Reyez, Yukata Yamada | Eminem, Illa da Producer | 2:22 | |
| 13. | Venom (Music from the Motion Picture) | Mathers, L. Resto | Eminem, L. Resto | 4:29 |