Eminem – “The Monster” (Feat. Rihanna)
In 2010, Eminem and Rihanna went to No. 1 for seven weeks straight with “Love The Way You Lie,” an evocative duet that, uncomfortably, seemed to capitalize on Rihanna’s widely known status as a victim of domestic violence. That potent commercial tandem is back together on “The Monster,” a new single from Em’s upcoming The Marshall Mathers LP 2. Graciously, Em seems to have toned down the it-goes-to-11 delivery that has characterized most of his recent singles, but anyone looking for the twisted lyricism and cartoonishly bonkers production of the original Marshall Mathers LP is in for a disappointment. (Em raps, “I’m actually weirder than you think,” but he’s not doing anything here to prove that by rapping over a beat that could just as easily be Flo-Rida.) “The Monster” is definitely a monster pop single, though; this thing will undoubtedly be blasting hourly on every Top 40 station in the country well into 2014. Familiarize yourself below.
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is out 11/5 via Interscope/Shady/Aftermath.