After receiving criticism for his 2017 album, “Revival,” Marshall “Eminem” Mathers dropped a surprise album, “Kamikaze,” dissing other rappers in his old, glorious rapping style. “Kamikaze” brings fans back to the age of “Marshall Mathers LP2” and “Recovery,” showcasing Eminem’s lack of consideration for public opinion.

The album begins with “The Ringer,” in which  Eminem takes a powerful shot at popular rappers Lil Yachty and Lil Pump. He addresses the criticism he’s received, stating that his first thoughts are of “punching the world” in the face. The song’s rhythm and flow of lyrics brings out Eminem’s talent for creating a smooth rapping pace.

His disses are clever and specific, as he makes references to podcasts or tweets that have called him out. Eminem even has room to take shots at President Trump, raping  that his verses make Trump nervous because he had the Secret Service investigate him. The song is one of the best in the album, bringing back Eminem’s classic style and attitude.

In  “Greatest,” the 45-year-old displays his ability to spit words at amazing speeds and rhyme multi-syllable words with one another. Reading his lyrics proves that all his disses and wordplay make sense; he isn’t just speaking gibberish as many  believe.

The most popular song of the album, “Lucky You,” features Joyner Lucas, and has a fast-paced beat that expresses both rappers’ energy.  They rap about their humble beginnings and what they wish for. Eminem also raps about his accomplishments and what he gained from them.

The song was my favorite in the album, as its lyrics subtly diss other rappers, and its beat and flow are amazing. The track reveals how humble Eminem is and how his fame hasn’t changed him. It lets his old fans revisit his journey to the top, and listening to the song reminded me of the rap style of the 90s.

Eminem’s bars are hilarious, and his sophisticated rapping style makes his songs sound like a malicious poem. I loved the disses because most current rappers aren’t as creative as he is—he manages to avoid repetition and keep listeners constantly entertained.

Toward the end of his album, he eases his hard beats and offers  an upbeat song with singer Jessie Reyez. These songs aren’t as solid as the first few tracks. The level of intensity decreases, going from lyrics such as “Old me killed the new me, watched him bleed to death” to carefree songs such as “Nice Guy.”

Despite this, the depth of his album surprised me. On a surface level, the album was catchy, with the beats and smooth flow getting my head shaking back and forth, but on a deeper level, it tells the story of Eminem’s career and how he feels about the current state of the rap game.

The lyrics and tone  of the album will take the listeners back to the 2000’s when Eminem’s powerful rapping made him  a legend. The album, in essence, revives the old Shady and brings him back to his king’s throne.