em's work on xv was directed towards the battle circuit

[Elision]

So I thought this was pretty clear but upon reading what people are saying here that doesn't seem to be the case. Now, I don't think every verse is showing out to KOTD/URL and their members, but the majority of them seem to. Let me make some points:

1. We know Dizaster is Em's favorite battle MC currently, which shows he probably still keeps up with the movement, even if just the major title matches.
2. His most recent focus prior to XV was Total Slaughter.
3. Nearly every verse is written like Dizaster/Bender, even the acapella cypher he was using their entire style. Just pure spazzed out multi stacking beginning to end. This on top of the fact that he not only acknowledges Diz but Diz is his favorite artist in the scene.
4. He straight up pays homage to the Diz vs. Pat battle on the opening track. http://youtu.be/JrDhEzASzMA?t=41m49s
5. A battle MC can't be interviewed today without Em's name getting brought up with regards to stepping back in the ring, mostly due to the fact that he's the only mainstream cat who came up through it. I don't think it's a reach to assume with this project that he was showing he's still relevant in the circuit, especially given his recent involvement in it.

I have a few more small points but I don't think they're pertinent, just thought I'd share my take on XV. Which is arguably my favorite Em work to date, I know most of you hate the rapid fire flows and shit but you need to understand there's really nowhere else for him to take it at this point, and there's a handful of other artists who have found themselves in the same position, making them very inaccessible to newer fans of the genre. He's just showing he can keep his head above water with today's elites, and I think it was directed towards them and their fans as opposed to the mainstream crowd.

[DetroitSkills]

i actually agree tbh, i want to see this fuckin dude Battle

[Elision]

also keep in mind my link isn't the only time pat does that in the battle. he takes a pause and then says "...that was awesome" like 6-7 times during the match.

[csw621]

My favorite Em work to date

Won't argue bro

[boonim]

This is a very interesting theory -- I don't know enough about the battle circuit to comment, but it is certainly smart that he is reclaiming/expanding his fan-base. And taking his career in a new direction in terms of stepping into the battle circuit is quite exciting if that is what he has in mind.

What I took away so far from the album (it's taking a lot of time to digest), is that he is doing quite a few Slim-Shady like quirky/crazy content with extended metaphors, violent, but cartoonish imagery. But doing this at a whole new level with incredibly complex rhyming and lyrics. I'm sure there's lot more to think about.

Also wanted to say: I love his style and am in awe of it.

[yoda you can call me]

At the end of Right For Me, he says something like "leaving the game with integrity". And he also said he was going back underground on the Cypher. He's well aware of the chatter in certain circles of hiphop and maybe he slightly agrees with them. He'll probably be releasing hardcore shit from now on. Just a thought. Could be way off though. You never know with this dude

[yoda you can call me]

He'll probably be releasing hardcore shit from now on.

Please, please be true

Lol

[Nostradomus]

Interesting, it's funny though I've watched that Dizaster vs. Pat Stay battle a dozen times and I never thought Em was referencing it with the "that was awesome" line but it's possible.

There are some major parallels in the cypher to lines from battle rappers.
Em uses a similar rhyme scheme to disaster when he says "plus with the history of muscular dystrophy it wasn't a mystery"
Dizaster says in his battle versus D.N.A., "leave your stomach in misery like muscular dystrophy"

The first thing I thought of when Em started doing the "warrior's mind, I'm pro-hydrocodone euphoria" shit was one of Bender's schemes.
Pretty awesome

[Lezu]

Don't be surprised once we start seeing Em some underground rap battles.

[csw621]

He won't come in second again, that's for sure.

[mdemaz]

was directed towards my anus

[boonim]

I have a few more small points but I don't think they're pertinent, just thought I'd share my take on XV. Which is arguably my favorite Em work to date, I know most of you hate the rapid fire flows and shit but you need to understand there's really nowhere else for him to take it at this point, and there's a handful of other artists who have found themselves in the same position, making them very inaccessible to newer fans of the genre. He's just showing he can keep his head above water with today's elites, and I think it was directed towards them and their fans as opposed to the mainstream crowd.

Who do you think are these other artists?

[Zhadeix]

"I'm back for revenge, I lost a battle that ain't happening again"

A lot of people are sleeping on that Almost Famous song.

[Elision]

I have a few more small points but I don't think they're pertinent, just thought I'd share my take on XV. Which is arguably my favorite Em work to date, I know most of you hate the rapid fire flows and shit but you need to understand there's really nowhere else for him to take it at this point, and there's a handful of other artists who have found themselves in the same position, making them very inaccessible to newer fans of the genre. He's just showing he can keep his head above water with today's elites, and I think it was directed towards them and their fans as opposed to the mainstream crowd.

Who do you think are these other artists?

twista, lowkey, tech, busta, diabolic, rittz, jarren, celph titled, krayzie bone, snow tha product, i'm sure there's more i'm forgetting.

[Zhadeix]

I have a few more small points but I don't think they're pertinent, just thought I'd share my take on XV. Which is arguably my favorite Em work to date, I know most of you hate the rapid fire flows and shit but you need to understand there's really nowhere else for him to take it at this point, and there's a handful of other artists who have found themselves in the same position, making them very inaccessible to newer fans of the genre. He's just showing he can keep his head above water with today's elites, and I think it was directed towards them and their fans as opposed to the mainstream crowd.

Who do you think are these other artists?

twista, lowkey, tech, busta, diabolic, rittz, jarren, celph titled, krayzie bone, snow tha product, i'm sure there's more i'm forgetting.

Tech9 is so overrated.