2019 reissue on cassette! The Slim Shady LP announced not only Eminem's arrival, but it established that his producer Dr. Dre was anything but passé, thereby raising expectations for 2001, the long-anticipated sequel to The Chronic. It suggested that 2001 wouldn't simply be recycled Chronic, and, musically speaking, that's more or less true. He's pushed himself hard, finding new variations in the formula by adding ominous strings, soulful vocals, and reggae, resulting in fairly interesting recontextualizations. Padded out to 22 tracks, 2001 isn't as consistent or striking as Slim Shady, but the music is always brimming with character. Song after song, there's a never-ending litany of violence, drugs, pussy, bitches, dope, guns, and gangsters. After a full decade of this, it takes real effort to get outraged at this stuff, so chances are, you'll shut out the words and groove along since, sonically, this is first-rate, straight-up gangsta.
A1 Lolo (Intro)
A2 The Watcher
A3 F**** You
A4 Still D.R.E.
A5 Big Ego's
A6 Xxplosive
A7 What's The Difference
A8 Bar One
A9 Light Speed
A10 Forgot About Dre
A11 The Next Episode
B1 Let's Get High
B2 B**** N*****
B3 The Car Bomb
B4 Murder Ink
B5 Ed-Ucation
B6 Some L.A. N*****
B7 Pause 4 Porno
B8 Housewife
B9 Ackrite
B10 Bang Bang
B11 The Message