All of Eminem's Recovery Leaks: Elton, Mariah and Aquaman on Notice!

Rapper's comeback album, featuring collaborations with Rihanna, Pink and Lil Wayne, spreads online a full two weeks before its official release

By Gina Serpe Jun 08, 2010 5:03 PMTags

Guess who's back? OK, that's an easy one.

Now guess what's back? More leaked tracks from Eminem's Recovery album.

The much-hyped comeback isn't due out until June 22, but the Internet never was one to discriminate in its choice of whose spot to blow up. That's the bad news for Em. The good news is that the tracks, featuring collaborations with Pink, Rihanna and Lil Wayne, are gaining near-universal praise.

Showing glimpses of his return to mid-noughties form, Eminem has increased his scope on the latest album, which both fans and critics somehow got ahold of in advance of its release. Universal Media Group, in turn, has gone into overdrive disabling YouTube posts featuring the songs, though their copyright arm is apparently no match for the rapper's proud proselytizers.

Gaining the most online traction of the leaked tracks are, of course, those featuring superstar sit-ins.

On "Love the Way You Lie," Eminem gets an assist from Rihanna and will inevitably provide the fodder for media types to draw yet more parallels with the personal lives of both singers seeing as how the song chronicles a destructive, abuse and overall violent relationship.

"Just gonna stand there and watch me burn/ Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts/ Just gonna stand there and hear me cry/ That's alright because I like the way you lie," Rihanna sings.

On "No Love," Eminem pairs with fellow rap heavyweight Lil Wayne and in addition to providing the listener with inevitable flashes of A Night at the Roxbury (what? Just us?) with its Haddaway sampling, it also makes a cracking reference to another fellow rhymer.

"Where the f---'s Kanye when you need him?/ Snatch the mike from 'em, bitch/ Imma let you finish in a minute," Eminem raps.

Oh, timely and funny pop culture references. How we've missed you. Also making the cut on Em's hit list this time around: Elton John, Mariah Carey, Michael Vick, and, um, Aquaman, all of whom get name-checked on "Cold Wind Blows."

Last week brought the first of the leaks, "Won't Back Down." As expected, Eminem's duet with Pink is loud, angry and full of energy.

The question now isn't whether he's back. The question is whether his album will still sell in the wake of the entire thing being available on line (if you dig deep enough). We're guessing the answer's still yes.

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A new album's all good, but vintage Em hasn't gone away. Get the deets on his latest feud.