No, Eminem does not believe he is being cancelled. No, he does not diss deaf people, little people, trans people, or paraplegics here. This is A CONCEPT ALBUM. Let me repeat myself, so you arrested in development people would understand: A CONCEPT ALBUM. It is made in response to people constantly demanding from Eminem to be like his "old self", aka Slim Shady. If you stop liquefying your brains by listening to Playboi Carti and learn to actually pay attention, you will notice a subtle narrative running through this album, but made abundantly clear on Guilty Conscience 2.

That narrative is essentially saying: Slim Shady was a persona Eminem needed back when he was struggling to get on, and then when he was being attacked by everyone, and then when he was dealing with his addiction, but he doesn't need it anymore because he's doing well. The point is, if Shady existed today, he would be attacking random people, like disabled, trans, deaf, fat, etc. You idiots don't realize that you're only proving his point by saying the album is corny. Because you're taking seriously what's supposed be a satire ("Would this rhyme be okay if South Park had did it?").

But that doesn't mean everything Shady said was a joke. He was also a vehicle for Em to say things he didn't necessarily feel like saying. Again, to reiterate, Shady was a persona he needed. So, sometimes, when he had to say something, it was easier to do it using anger and exaggeration. It's actually genius how this album recontextualizes his previous two albums, which were assumed by everyone to be simply aggressive retorts to towards mumble rappers and those who disliked Revival. It's cheekily implying "I didn't do it, Shady did." I mean, it should've been obvious from the skits on Kamikaze that he's self-aware and pokes fun at himself "getting mad" over every negative comment, or how he ended up collabing with Young M.A. after kinda mocking her, but this album spills the beans for those who were too dense to understand it. Though, seeing how this album went over everyone's head, I don't even know what else Em was supposed to do to reach through the thick goo that envelops your brains. This is what happens when Marvel movies and TikTok are most people's favorite pastime.

I think there is a beauty in Eminem admitting his own vulnerability and reliance on this made-up character throughout his career. Slim Shady was never just one thing. This album basically highlights all the shades of gray in what seemed to have been a black-and-white picture. And if that isn't what his whole career has been about! From painting a simultaneously critical and empathetic portrait of an obsessive fan on Stan, to his complicated relationships with his ex-wife and his mother on Kim and Cleanin' Out My Closet respectively, to admitting to growing distance between the D12 members on How Come and Stepping Stone. Hell, 8 Mile even exemplifies how embracing negative aspects can lead to a more powerful and genuine work of art.

And this is what this album is. A powerful and genuine work of art. If only you dumbasses actually paid attention, you'd see it. Most of you don't even listen to Eminem. I saw your AOTY and Last.fm profiles. Your musical tastes are not even close to what Eminem does, yet you check out his each new album just to spew your pointless opinions on the internet because that's the only way you can validate your worthless existence. This album cannot be truly appreciated by someone who isn't a fan. You need to be aware of Eminem's past releases to see the meta-narrative this album weaves through his entire discography.

"Pick apart a Picasso and make excuses to hate" - what a perfect metaphor for what happened.

Happy New Year.