WAYLAND | Shady’s back, back again

The “Shakespeare of the 20th century” will rise from the ashes of Detroit next month just as Jesus rose from the dead.

Alright, that may be an overexaggeration, but it has been more than five years since the world has heard from Eminem, Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers on a full-length album.

On May 19, the anticipation will cease and everyone will undoubtably find out if the 36-year-old, multiple personality rapper is still worthy to be categorized with the kings of rap/hip-hop.

“Relapse,” Eminem’s fifth solo album (excluding “Curtain Call: the Hits”), is scheduled to hit stores in 34 days and it will be the first mainstream album I have bought for myself since Nov. 12, 2004 when “Encore,” his fourth solo album, was released.

And as with his prior albums, I hate his first music video single.

“We Made You” follows suit with “My Name Is,” “Without Me,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Just Lose It” by having immature, shenanigan raps with a catchy beat that do not showcase the raw, poetic rhymes he is capable of.

The song pokes fun at current trends and people in pop culture, such as Jessica Simpson, Tony Romo, Bret Michaels’ “Rock of Love” TV show, Jessica Alba and “Star Trek.”

However, within the ridiculous, slapstick humor of the music video and lyrics, Eminem addresses the skeptics that have questioned his longevity and skills with: “Can he come back as nasty as he can? Yes I can, can, don’t ask me this again.”

Personally, I believe him.

In the half decade that Eminem has been in the shadows, numerous life-impacting events have happened nationwide and personally to the Detroit hip-hop icon. With his stint in rehab for sleeping medication and longtime friend/D12 group member, Proof (DeShaun Holton), being killed on April 11, 2008 in a Detroit night club, the album adds up to be his most emotional and hard-hitting one yet.

features@cm-life.com