Infinite: The Road to Recovery
One of the most iconic artists in hip-hop, Eminem has received eleven Grammy awards and in 2008 was voted “The Best Rapper Alive” by readers of Vibe Magazine. Though Eminem has seen great success with nearly all of his albums, it is important to understand what makes him such a great lyricist. Enter Infinite.
Stylistically unlike all of his subsequent albums, Infinite’s mellow instrumentals blend with less aggressive lyrics to produce an album that’s very laid-back. The reason for this, Eminem has claimed, is that he wanted to create “radio-friendly” songs in the hopes of getting airplay. When compared to The Slim Shady LP, which was released just three years later, Infinite seems like it was written by an entirely different person.
Produced officially by Denaun Porter and “Slim” for F.B.T. Productions (although it’s been rumored to have been produced by various producers), the album exhibits generic melodies and heavy bass lines. Eminem‘s lyrics contain both clichéd hip-hop themes, such as self-aggrandizing and becoming wealthy, yet also include themes of struggle, poverty and most unusual for Eminem, honest-to-goodness love. Because of the generic sound of the music, the album comes across like one of those bootleg Eminem “freestyle” compilations one might find floating around the internet. But despite the music, Eminem‘s lyrics do a good job of maintaining interest.
It’s clear when comparing this album to Eminem‘s later outings that he really shines when he is not holding back. Infinite’s rhymes are good and, for the most part, clever. However, when one listens to tracks such as “Space Bound” from Recovery or “Criminal” from The Marshall Mathers LP, and then listens to any track from Infinite, one can easily tell that the raps are neutered.
The lackluster performance of this album would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as when Eminem was finally picked up by Interscope Records and began production of The Slim Shady LP with Dr. Dre, he took the ball and ran; with that kind of backing, he was unstoppable.
Infinite is well worth a listen or several, depending on your musical tastes. It was re-released in 2009 on ThisIs50.com, however the download is no longer available. As it stands, only bootleg copies are widely available. If you have a chance to listen to it, take it. The album speaks volumes about Eminem’s progression and will give you a better appreciation for where his music is today.
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