8 Mile (Clean)
How Eminem was able to assemble so many credible emcees of today and yesteryear (Jay-Z,Rakim) to endorse his Holly'hood coming-out party is anyone's guess. What is clear, however, is that (dare we say it) the Shady One might be growing up. On "Lose Yourself" Em abandons his callous, hardcore posturing to write thoughtful hood-centric coming-of-age lyrics that would makeMelle Melproud. On "Battle,"Gang Starr's Guru tears through a sick beat from rap's most prolific producer, DJ Premier. Sadly,Naswastes more valuable studio time dissing Jay-Z (ho hum) on "You Wanna Be Me." Interestingly, once you get past the living-legend love-in and peep the skills from Em's lesser-known Shady Records roster of underground wordsmiths, such as 50 Cent ("Wanksta") or Obie Trice ("Adrenaline Rush"), you might urge Em to consider giving up his thespian pursuits to become a full-time record executive. Not even the baffling inclusion ofMacy Gray's humdrum "Time of Your Life" can sink this project.--Dalton Higgins