Shady XV
by Eminem
  • Record Label: Shady
  • Release Date: Nov 24, 2014
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 384 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 257 out of 384
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 384
  3. Negative: 69 out of 384
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  1. SeaBassMon
    Nov 26, 2014
    4
    Was expecting Eminem to showcase true rhyming ability coupled with better storytelling. MMLP2 was an album that bridged old Shady with new Marshall, and I sincerely enjoyed it. This album was a major letdown for me. The collaborations are adequate to extremely good - "Y'all Ready Know" is a solid piece of work involving a great crew, but other songs were so poorly written and the rhymeWas expecting Eminem to showcase true rhyming ability coupled with better storytelling. MMLP2 was an album that bridged old Shady with new Marshall, and I sincerely enjoyed it. This album was a major letdown for me. The collaborations are adequate to extremely good - "Y'all Ready Know" is a solid piece of work involving a great crew, but other songs were so poorly written and the rhyme scheme was out of whack at times. It felt, at times, as if Eminem was trying to outrap the beat and it created a dissonance that, if there was a good message to the rap it would have worked. I've listened to every Eminem CD from Infinite onwards and this one is probably my least favorite to date. There's no denying the quality in Eminem's rapping, and it shines in some of the songs. But overall the album left a bad taste in my mouth and was a poor followup to MMLP2.… Expand
  2. Spangle
    Nov 29, 2014
    6
    As a whole, Shady XV is both disappointing and what I should have expected. These record label collaboration albums are always a mixed bag and this one is no exception. Thus, I will focus on individual artists. Royce da 5'9" and everyone else in Slaughterhouse were great. Lyrically on point with great flow and delivery. Their track “Y'all Ready Know” is the best on the album. “PsychopathAs a whole, Shady XV is both disappointing and what I should have expected. These record label collaboration albums are always a mixed bag and this one is no exception. Thus, I will focus on individual artists. Royce da 5'9" and everyone else in Slaughterhouse were great. Lyrically on point with great flow and delivery. Their track “Y'all Ready Know” is the best on the album. “Psychopath Killer” is also great, while Royce has the best verse on “Detroit vs. Everybody”. Yelawolf is also a winner here as his hook on “Psychopath Killer” is perfect, while his solo track “Down” is my second favorite here. He is also very strong on “Twisted”. In terms of losers, Eminem lost here. “Guts Over Fear” is good and “Shady XV” is pretty good. However, “Die Alone”, “Vegas”, “Fine Line”, and “Right for Me”, are all incredibly weak and scream of him trying to recreate old Eminem and falling flat on his face. As an Eminem stan, it kills me to say that, but is is entirely true. He is the weak link on all of those tracks thanks to terrible flow and delivery, in spite of his lyrics being strong throughout (except on “Vegas”, where they are incredibly juvenile for a 40+ year old man with a daughter almost in college). D12 also lost here as “Bane” is absolutely putrid. As a collective, “Y'all Ready Know”, “Down”, “Psychopath Killer”, “Guts Over Fear”, and “Twisted”, are the best tracks here. Meanwhile, “Vegas” and “Bane” stand out as the worst, though none of the Eminem solo tracks (other than “Guts Over Fear”) and “Detroit vs. Everybody” are good and certainly hold this album back from being better.… Expand
  3. geedup
    Nov 25, 2014
    6
    THis was a double disc release....thoguht to be reminicent of encore. But what we get is a full 2nd disc of songs previously released. Which, obviously makes my anticipation significantly less. Then listening to the CD, I can say M's lyrics are tight but with nothing new to say. I like the fact he is away from the "rock" infusion we heard recently from him-despite one track on this releaseTHis was a double disc release....thoguht to be reminicent of encore. But what we get is a full 2nd disc of songs previously released. Which, obviously makes my anticipation significantly less. Then listening to the CD, I can say M's lyrics are tight but with nothing new to say. I like the fact he is away from the "rock" infusion we heard recently from him-despite one track on this release in that category. But the "winning over losing" the songstress hook infused songs, the pill poppin has all been done-by him in particular. There is nothing new here. New word play for sure, but over the same subject matter.… Expand
  4. partycoolalex
    Dec 3, 2014
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this album is just basically the greatest hits from the slim shady records. they have put on the greatest hits and they also have put out new music.the new music is ok i mean i had expected more from this album. the first song called shady xv kicks off of the new album. it was a sick song didn't really dig the beats but i dig the lyrics.than slaughterhouse kicks off the album also with ''psychopath killer'' and ''ya'll Ready Know'' the songs from yellawolf was alright it was listenable. than came the first single called ''Guts over fear'' all eminem dose is brag about his successful career. there was only one track from the famous Detroit rap group d-12 i mean come on!!. than after that eminem tries to seal the album by putting out two tracks. I have to say that the last track of this album was the best ''Detroit vs everybody'' which features some of the rappers from Detroit. than the rest of the album is the greatest hits. what i thought was cool about this album was the demo version of lose yourself other than that this album is trash. i would recommend of listening to this album but its not an album that you should waste your money on.… Expand
  5. MiguelNunes98
    Nov 20, 2018
    5
    (Reviewing disc 1) Not eminem best, but still with nice rhyming and skill.
    Songs like Vegas, Fine Line,Die Alone, Right For Me and psychopath killer diserves a listening.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. PopMatters
    Jan 20, 2015
    60
    The “Greatest Hits” CD is made up more of deep cuts than big hits, but with a few well known tracks included. There is substantially less Eminem than on the first side.
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 15, 2014
    50
    As a reminder of Eminem’s vocal showboating, ShadyXV is impressive. The problem--and it’s a persistent one--is that where once his anger was energetic, now it simply betrays lethargy.
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  3. RapReviews.com
    Dec 9, 2014
    40
    Shady XV seems like it was made for: diehard fans of Marshall; and fresh kids who don't know no better. Otherwise, you'll probably have forgotten about the album by 2015, and 95% of the label's energy will soon be diverted to the next Eminem solo LP all over again.
    Read full review
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