Eminem is releasing some "exclusive wax" in the form of a 7" vinyl record that will include his 1999 hits "Hi My Name Is" and the Dr. Dre-featured "Bad Guys Always Die" in honour of Record Store Day. The seasoned MC made the announcement on Thursday Twitter.

Eminem is a few weeks removed from his last project, Music To Be Murdered By. Dropping out of the blue, much like Lil Uzi Vert with this morning’s Eternal Atake and 2018’s Kamikaze, Em’s latest project is by far one of the better ones he’s dropped in the recent years of his career. With guest appearances from more of the younger generation than usual, he tapped artists like Young M.A. and Juice WRLD to the tracklist. The latter ultimately featured on “Godzilla” which is easily one of the biggest tracks on the album.

Following the launch of the #GodzillaChallenge, Eminem and Lyrical Lemonade have announced the music video for the single which is due out next week. The trailer for the visuals exceeds the levels of insanity that Em reaches for in his lyrics. Monsters, chainsaws, rocket launchers, and Hennessy is all that can really be said about the trailer. All that being said, perhaps Cole Bennett is the only director out right now that can really bring Eminem’s crazy vision to life.

Em’s been pushing this single heavy since the album dropped. He recently dropped the lyric video before sharing the trailer. Keep your eyes peeled for the visuals. Check the trailer out below. 

Eminem has always been a commercial juggernaut dating back to his major-label debut in 1999, but somehow the rapper continues to secure platinum plaques over twenty years later. With his latest album Music To Be Murdered By already having gone gold, it seemed inevitable for breakout single, the Juice WRLD-assisted "Godzilla" to follow-suit. What with the ongoing #GODZILLACHALLENGE and all, which has already elicited responses from Biz Markie, Bizzy Bone, and Twista. 

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This is a new era, and a viral challenge has often proven to be crucial in boosting both sales and longevity. As responses continue to roll in, Chart Data has confirmed that Em and Juice's "Godzilla" is the first record off Music To Be Murdered By to hit that platinum status, clocking in a grand total of one million album-equivalent units. Not bad for a song that has yet to receive a music video, though Em has already confirmed that it's on the way.

At this rate, it won't be long before the RIAA makes the news official, with the next logical step being the album's own platinum ascent. It's crazy to think Slim Shady is still moving units this deep into his career, on a single that found him breaking a Guinness World Record at that. As he once said on "Till I Collapse" all those years ago: "A plaque and platinum status is wack if I'm not the baddest." Given that Em has once again hit a clear stride on Music To Be Murdered By, you've gotta give credit where credit is due. Something tells me this won't be Eminem's final platinum record -- though it might certainly be his fastest. 

Nick Cannon's beef with Eminem and 50 Cent doesn't seem like it'll be going away any time soon. The TV host and radio personality fired three separate diss tracks towards Em which prompted 50 Cent to call out Nick for being "corny forever." Things have since simmered down but in Nick's mind, it's because things got "a little too intense."

Speaking to Miami 99 Jamz radio station, Nick Cannon detailed the current status of his feud with Eminem and 50 Cent. Nick was all about "keeping the same energy," so to speak, when he decided to go at Eminem but he had already knew that Em would likely not respond. "That's the thing," Nick said. "Everybody was saying, 'You better not say nothing.' And I'm like, 'Why not? Nobody's scared of him.' Even with 50, ain't nobody scared of 50 either. I'm like, 'Let's go.' I match energy.... I think it might've got a little too intense for them."

However, this turned into an invitation for 50 Cent and Eminem to show face at Wild N' Out."We keep telling [50 Cent] to pull up," he said. "He's the king of jokes, king of being petty. He's perfect for it."

Needless to say, Nick Cannon is pushing positivity and even went onto praise 50 Cent for his success in the world of film and television. Peep the clip below. 

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During an interview on the #AfternoonGetDown, @nickcannon tells @supacindy and @dj_entice how he feels about @eminem after they traded diss tracks earlier this year. He also invites @50cent to @mtvwildnout to get these jokes off! #WildNOutTour #NickCannon #50Cent #Eminem #99JAMZ

A post shared by 99JAMZ (@99jamzmiami) on Mar 4, 2020 at 2:20pm PST

Ever since Eminem broke the Guinness World Record for fastest rap of all time with his breakneck "Godzilla," the subsequent #GODZILLACHALLENGE has awoken the competitive spirit of fellow choppers like Bizzy Bone and Twista. And while Bizzy recently tried his hand, albeit in his own unique way, many fans were left wondering whether Twista would answer the call with a response of his own. As it happens, the time has come. Yesterday, Twista took to Twitter to confidently accept the challenge -- much to the rampant delight of his fans.

Given that Twista is one of the quintessential double-time spitters of all time, there's a certain gravitas that comes with his participation. It's unlikely that he'll simply rap Em's verse verbatim, but rather move to one-up Shady's record-breaking lyrical onslaught. Some have even been speculating that a full-blown remix is the only logical conclusion, bringing Em, Twista, and Bizzy Bone together in a no-holds-barred battle of technical prowess. 

One has to wonder if Em's open challenge is enough to get Twista back on his record-breaking mentality, his Adrenaline Rush grind, reclaiming his rightful spot as rap's reigning chopper. In truth, it's kind of strange seeing Em as the current title-holder, given his embrace and subsequent mastery of double-time flow is a relatively recent development. If Twista sets his mind to the task, there's no telling whether Em's record is safe. All we have to do and wait and see what the Chicago legend cooks up. Do you think Twista will be the one to break "Godzilla?" 

Eminem is giving us all a chance to try to catch up to his rapid-fire flow on "Godzilla" by dropping a visually-appealing lyric video for the Juice WRLD-featured track. On Wednesday, the seasoned MC announced on social media that he'd concocted a helpful tool for all those visual learners out there hoping to master his unreal verse on the reportedly record-breaking track, which has him spitting approximately 229 words in 30 seconds.

The sophomore slump is a well-known trope. The idea that an artist can come out of the gate swinging and succumb to the pressures surrounding a follow-up release. Many different factors can come into play. An increased budget might lead to stylistic detions. A lack of preparation can result in haphazard songwriting. The list goes on, and many rappers have stood in the shadow cast by the legacy of their own debut.

On February 6th, 2003, 50 Cent released his first album Get Rich Or Die Tryin under the watchful eye of Eminem’s Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. The project earned instant acclaim and sold over twelve million copies in a single year. The rare combination of quality music and universal appeal, a phenomenon not often seen witnessed in the mainstream music scene. Yet such lofty gains undoubtedly heightens the pressure. How does one improve on what may truly be a flawless album? For 50 Cent, The Massacre was his valiant attempt.

Released fifteen years ago to this day, Fif’s second album was met with much of its predecessor’s commercial success — yet not nearly as much of its critical acclaim. Looking back, it’s easy to understand why the media was taking a stricter stance against hip-hop’s seemingly unstoppable villain. Where Get Rich’s hits felt organic in their delivery — particularly the dark dancefloor banger “In Da Club” — The Massacre seemed like a factory for scientifically rendered singles. “Disco Inferno,” “Candy Shop,” and “Just A Lil Bit” were the project’s first three releases, leaving many wondering whether Fif was gearing up for a full-blown crossover. Remember that this was a man who made a name for himself through his blistering mixtape output – a rapper who all but obliterated Ja Rule over his sing-rap formula. Given that Get Rich was largely hailed a (then) modern-day gangsta-rap masterpiece, the slightest detion was enough to raise an eyebrow or two.

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Released in full a few weeks after “Candy Shop” dropped, The Massacre brought a slew of new producers and trusted collaborators into the fold. Dr. Dre contributed a pair of instrumentals (two down for his four on Get Rich). Eminem laced five. Scott Storch had three. Hi-Tek, J.R. Rotem, Sha Money XL, Needlz, and Buckwild rounded out the effort. The expanded roster led to a more eclectic sound, both a blessing and a curse with regards to cohesion. It seemed as if 50 Cent intended for everything to scale up to match his stardom. There’s an undeniable polish to The Massacre, a tonal shift from the minor-key heavy Get Rich. Understandable given his own meteoric rise, though songs like the brooding “I’m Supposed To Die Tonight” serve as welcome reminders of his bleaker urges.

And yet despite pulling onto the scene with a glossier paint job, the same villain sat behind the wheel. “Piggy Bank” has since become immortalized as a 50 Cent classic, one of the cockiest, arrogant, and delightfully obnoxious diss tracks of all time. Not only was he firing shots at his old pal Ja Rule, but he opened the floodgates to include Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Shyne, Lil Kim, Kelis, and Nas. No longer was this an up-and-comer with dreams of world domination, but a full-blown madman slamming his fist down on the big red button. It’s hard not to throw on “Piggy Bank” and be swept away in the narrative of a simpler time, an era in which confrontation transpired on wax rather than social media stories and subtweets.
 

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Let the record state that despite its bloat, there are phenomenal songs littered across The Massacre. Introductory banger “In My Hood” picked up directly where Get Rich left off, capturing the depth of Fif’s appeal without straying too far from his roots. Though not quite “Patiently Waiting,” Em and 50’s reunion special “GATman & Robbin” made for a compelling theme song, boasting a hypnotic flow scheme and one of the hardest Batman flips rap has ever seen. “Get In My Car” might be one of the smoothest instrumentals on the project, Fif’s unflinching bars reminding the masses that he’s not to be tried under any circumstances. The album’s last quarter tends to fly under the radar, but there’s plenty to unpack on songs like “God Gave Me Style” and the vintage-sounding “I Don’t Need Em.” And let’s not overlook Dr. Dre’s cartoonishly badass banger “Gunz Come Out,” which rolls in like a tank over a kingdom of Playdoh castles.

Even an excellent effort can succumb to the sophomore slump. The shadow of Get Rich is simply that powerful. Yet fifteen years removed from those damnable trappings of expectation, it feels absolutely safe to call The Massacre a classic. Perhaps there’s nostalgia attached to that label; what of it? There’s quality across the board, and Fif puts on a masterclass in hitting two major demographics without sacrificing artistic integrity in the process. It’s a testament to his songwriting longevity that “Candy Shop” and “Just A Lil Bit” are still welcome in rotation to this day. Not to mention the fact that it’s currently sitting at 6X platinum, its ascent to diamond status all but inevitable. Considering there are many young fans who likely know 50 as a television mogul first and rapper second, that’s a pretty incredible accomplishment. Not only did Curtis Jackson change the game back in 2005 — he massacred it with a smile on his face.