Kamikaze
by Eminem
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Aug 31, 2018
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 1419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,144 out of 1419
  2. Mixed: 127 out of 1419
  3. Negative: 148 out of 1419
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  1. madmoneyandswag
    Aug 31, 2018
    0
    In utter disbelief at some of the reviews this has been getting. Same old same old from Eminem as of recently. Cool, he raps fast. Ha ha lyrics so funny. So hard so cool. Give me a break. He's lost it and it ain't coming back.
  2. BeastJ18
    Sep 1, 2018
    3
    Below average. Slightly better than Revival, but that's no accomplishment. Eminem thinks he can just rap fast and continue calling himself the best. How about some meaningful lyrics or creative music behind him? No, he was never even close to the best and has quickly and consistently become one of the worst rappers in the industry.
  3. MrGraxyPlays
    Jul 23, 2019
    0
    All these 10 are fake probably or just dumb kids, who love to listen to fast lyrics without knowing the meaning of them. Criticizing other rappers won't make you the best rapper alive, and all those critics are just out of context and free, you're just complaining about your "Revival failure". The Eminem Show, was a great album, Marshall Mathers, was a great album, but this, this is just bad.
  4. Wrong_Opinions
    Dec 19, 2020
    2
    Wow. This is one of Eminem’s worst projects to date. It’s awful. Awkward flows, terrible beats, I could on and on. But honestly this album doesn’t deserve any more of my attention, which is why this review ends here. 2/10. Definitely would not recommend.
  5. ExhibitAtrocity
    Oct 11, 2019
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Those who think this is Eminem at his best are clown. It is just Eminem whining about critics trashing his trash album and rappers who are relevant than him.… Expand
  6. Cway
    Jan 25, 2020
    0
    just doing my part.........................................................
  7. ManiacUK
    Sep 5, 2018
    3
    Eminem has really lost the plot in recent years, and this album is unfortunately more of the same. The entire album is made up of diss tracks where Eminem moans about people he doesn't like and the poor reception of his last album, Revival. It seems that Eminem loves playing the victim and, while he may feel aggrieved, I'm not sure it warranted the creation of an entire album to thatEminem has really lost the plot in recent years, and this album is unfortunately more of the same. The entire album is made up of diss tracks where Eminem moans about people he doesn't like and the poor reception of his last album, Revival. It seems that Eminem loves playing the victim and, while he may feel aggrieved, I'm not sure it warranted the creation of an entire album to that effect. In fact, the whole thing reeks of desperation - a declining artist with delusions of grandeur and relevance trying to recapture his glory years.

    As far as the music itself goes, it’s not much better. Some of the underlying beats on the tracks are ok but with Eminem’s obsession for rapping as fast as possible over the top of them, the whole thing lacks life. Sure, people will point to the clever wordplay of the lyrics, but this just papers over the fact that they don’t actually go anywhere. The songs simply have no hooks. With Eminem’s old albums, there were always songs with lyrics you could remember and a chorus you could sing back. Even “River” from Revival was successful in that regard. This entire album has none, and for all the talk of being a masterful lyricist, Eminem has failed to deliver any catchy lines.

    Inspirations for this album seem to be all over the place as well. Eminem likes to whine about the state of the rap industry at the moment, with all these new era rappers redefining the genre, but some of his own material is remarkably similar; songs such as “Lucky You,” “Normal” and “Not Alike” are very much what you would describe as modern rap. On the other hand, tracks “Stepping Stone,” “Fall” and “Good Guy” would not be out of place on some of Eminem’s earlier albums, perhaps Recovery or Marshall Mathers LP2. Unfortunately, there are also some entries which are purely unlistenable, most notably “Nice Guy,” which I maintain is the worst song I’ve listened to all year. The album is then topped off by commercial obligation “Venom,” clearly noted as “Music From The Motion Picture” and recognisable through its truly awful chorus, which at least clears up the timing of the release of this “surprise” album.

    Overall this album is average at its best and unlistenable at its worst. There’s truly nothing to take inspiration from and the lyrics will be forgotten as soon as a song ends. Frankly, comparing it to Eminem’s earlier work is nothing short of insulting – there’s nothing on the entire album that even warrants a second listen. I very much doubt this album will be making it into many CD collections.    … Expand
  8. NaterK
    Sep 5, 2018
    2
    Surprised to see so many people calling this an Eminem 'comeback'. Honestly, that phrase is a bit of an oxymoron used in this context because Em isn't 'coming back' from anything, he's just producing more of the same WASHED music. When we first heard him 20 years ago it was fresh and inspiring, now its just stale and obnoxious. We know Em can SPIT, nobody will ever question his bars but heSurprised to see so many people calling this an Eminem 'comeback'. Honestly, that phrase is a bit of an oxymoron used in this context because Em isn't 'coming back' from anything, he's just producing more of the same WASHED music. When we first heard him 20 years ago it was fresh and inspiring, now its just stale and obnoxious. We know Em can SPIT, nobody will ever question his bars but he just makes music now that is really difficult to listen to and enjoy. The biggest problems of this album are just the incessant screaming at the mic and his desire to explain verbatim every single thing that upsets him. I call it 'Dad Rap' and others such as Jay Z are guilty in their older years of falling into that trap (though Hov has never put out trash comparable to this). Use metaphors and creativity Em, you don't have to be RIGHT ON THE NOSE with every single lyric. It's disappointing to see a legend release music of this poor a quality but father time is undefeated. I think Em should just do a couple guest spots a year until he has something original to say again.… Expand
  9. ilikeferrets44
    Aug 31, 2018
    1
    Oh no Em what is you doin son?? This is some of his most pretentious, bored, and just awful material he's produced ever. Might even be worse than his last one. This is not good. Couldn't even stomach the garbage enough for a second listen.
  10. effie_oxo
    Sep 2, 2018
    1
    Honestly this album is a 5 out of 10 in my opinion, but needs to be marked lower to make up from the amount of stans giving it a 10. Eminem has a fast flow, and at least the production is better on this one, but this can't make up for the countless poor lyrical choice on this album (lil pump can't even make my dick pump, etc.). The lyrics that are meaningful lose a lot of their effectHonestly this album is a 5 out of 10 in my opinion, but needs to be marked lower to make up from the amount of stans giving it a 10. Eminem has a fast flow, and at least the production is better on this one, but this can't make up for the countless poor lyrical choice on this album (lil pump can't even make my dick pump, etc.). The lyrics that are meaningful lose a lot of their effect because they're so haphazardly woven into these numerous cringe-worthy bars.… Expand
  11. Yeezyducky
    Oct 2, 2018
    0
    This album is not that bad when it comes to the music, it has a point, and it's not as poppy as revival (which was abysmal), but this album is basically all diss tracks, not fun.
  12. Review_It
    Sep 5, 2018
    3
    It's the best album Eminem has released in the past 16 years. That isn't really saying much, however. If songs with dense rhyming schemes and no hooks are things you like, this is the Eminem album for you. If you enjoy things you can listen to in your car, skip it.
    The album opens up with the song 'The Ringer,' and in that song Em says everything he needs to say. He disses the critics,    It's the best album Eminem has released in the past 16 years. That isn't really saying much, however. If songs with dense rhyming schemes and no hooks are things you like, this is the Eminem album for you. If you enjoy things you can listen to in your car, skip it.
    The album opens up with the song 'The Ringer,' and in that song Em says everything he needs to say. He disses the critics, the new wave of rap and most interestingly, calls anyone who disliked Revival a dunce who isn't smart enough to understand the context and wordplay of the terrible rap/rock album. The next 10 songs and 40+ minutes waste your time by saying much of the same thing, in less tack full ways. By the end of it Shady just seems like an old man yelling and complaining about what kids do for fun and like just because it wasn't what he did for fun when he was younger.    … Expand
  13. miles_
    Aug 31, 2018
    2
    Slightly better than Revival but still cringey all the way through. The track "Kamikaze" is probably the worst song Eminem has ever released. I'm sure why he feels the need to rap as fast as possible. Every time he does it ruins the track no matter how good the production is.
  14. kryzsec
    Sep 3, 2018
    2
    This has been his best album for his recent work (2011 and later) but that's not a really fair comparison as that includes MMLP2 ad revival... It wasn't as good as it could have been and is more just drawing on controversy to try and make it relevant, but if it wasn't for his dis then almost nobody outside of hardcore fans would really know... The lyrics are immature and the rhymes areThis has been his best album for his recent work (2011 and later) but that's not a really fair comparison as that includes MMLP2 ad revival... It wasn't as good as it could have been and is more just drawing on controversy to try and make it relevant, but if it wasn't for his dis then almost nobody outside of hardcore fans would really know... The lyrics are immature and the rhymes are pathetic (rhyming anything with thing... try again). Look, I really like his old stuff but that is for the nostalgia, I have grown up and as such my taste in music has as well and I can't really get behind this new album. There were 2 songs that I liked so, whatever.… Expand
  15. aon4962
    Jan 18, 2020
    0
    Still best on lyrical and technical lvl, but sales generally speak for themselves.
  16. ilayshenbrun
    Apr 22, 2020
    3
    Eminem fans will defend every new thing that he will drop no matter how bad it is, even the disaster that was "Revival" got defended by them. Not to say that Revival was well-recieved even by them. People look up to him for the music he used to make and now refuse to admit that he's changed for the worse, so they will take everything that is even slightly better than Revival. TheEminem fans will defend every new thing that he will drop no matter how bad it is, even the disaster that was "Revival" got defended by them. Not to say that Revival was well-recieved even by them. People look up to him for the music he used to make and now refuse to admit that he's changed for the worse, so they will take everything that is even slightly better than Revival. The production and writing on Kamikaze are the worst offenders, the production being a mix of his old things, synthy bass sounds, and trap drums and 808's. These all sound like they would make for a fresh take on the old Eminem, but the just add up to a big mess. The writing tries to come off as clever and smart but ends up making Eminem sound annoying and corny. Em centres the whole album about dissing people and the bad change that hip-hop has had in the last few years, giving the spotlight to rappers like Lil Pump and Lil yachty, and while I certainly do not like mumble rap, Eminem comes off as whiney and repetitive. In the mix of people he disses he throws in people who critiqued him in the past, and while the disses and mumble rappers, while repetitive, do have a point. On the other hand, disses on the artists that critiqued him like Tyler, the creator come off as lines he threw in because he didn't have enough people to actually diss. These disses are often pointless and overly aggressive for no reason. The vocals on Kamikaze are a mixed bag. While the flows Eminem presents are innovative and are the best part of the album, the grind in his voice and the aggressiveness of it are just annoying and overly-angry. But I do have to give it to him that He still definitely can rap very fast just like he is known to. Eminem has lost all of the things that people appreciated in him when he just got into the rap game, his cartoony sense of humour, his sharp writing, and the sense of atmosphere in his albums. Now his songs just forget to be songs and are just places for him to complain.… Expand
  17. hiphopplatinum
    Oct 2, 2022
    3
    when it dropped it was great 8/10 but like a lot of Eminem tracks/albums it aged like milk and really showed the petty soft side to Eminem
  18. ChiIIaoi
    Jul 19, 2023
    3
    Review só pra lembrar a nota que eu dei pro album:
    album ruim, agora só escrever pra passar dos 75 caracteres.

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed Album of 2018
7
#7 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 10, 2018
    60
    Kamikaze finds Marshall Mathers revelling in his Slim Shady rabid underdog role, fulminating at critics, boggling at Lil Yachty, and sneering at the Migos flow on Not Alike. How riveting all this finger-wagging is probably depends upon your birth date.
    Read full review
  2. HipHopDX
    Sep 7, 2018
    78
    Fans clamoring for the old Marshall Mathers should stream the old album or hell, rent it from the library or something. After being faced with nothing to prove as the highest-selling rapper of all-time, Eminem’s found another challenge in perfecting the new style he’s put on display.
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  3. AllMusic
    Sep 7, 2018
    40
    As sheer performance, Eminem's vocals remain a thing of wonder, which is why it's so dispiriting to hear him circling the drain, relying on old tricks instead of expanding his worldview. He has the musical skills to mature; he's just refusing to let himself act his age.
    Read full review
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