Tunesday 1st April 2014: The Monster - Eminem ft. Rihanna

Yeah, I’m totally an Eminem fan, and will happily debate the point with anyone who denies his creative storytelling genius over the past fifteen years. This is how I see Eminem, and the effect he has had not just on the rap industry, but on the whole contemporary music scene.

The pessimistic sense of humour and unmistakable insight into human psychology – clear attributes of his writing – are typical of one who works through the ranks with gritted teeth, rides to the top on the euphoric crest of a wave, and is never going to be content with just that.

His recently released single ‘The Monster’, with regular collaborator Rihanna (their fourth overall), is a fine self-reflective example of these traits. In recent years Eminem has found within an extra element to his skill set; the ability to comment critically on himself. The man has had his faults, and boy does he know it. I don’t doubt that he would make a fine reviewer, if he ever felt so inclined. Although perhaps this song is less about those faults and more about what causes them in people.

It has to be said, though, that neither Eminem nor Rihanna can take full credit for this tune. A fair chunk must go to little-known singer Bebe Rexha, who wrote the hook for the song when she was going through a depressed phase. Safe to say, upon listening to The Monster, this feeling was one not lost in translation.

EGS