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Relapse

(2009, Rap, by Eminem, Label: Shady Records)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Social value lost in glorification of pills, rape, murder.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    This album is loaded with all sorts of contemptible behavior, including multiple descriptions of rape, murder, and drug addiction.

  • Violence:

    Where to begin? Maybe the serial killing sprees, the premeditated rapes or the references to infanticide? The ultra-violent lyrics speak fro themselves.“I see my target…approach a tender young girl by the name of Brenda and I pretend to befriend her, sit down beside her like a spider, hi there girl you mighta heard of me before, see wh-re you’re the kinda’ girl that I’d a-ssault and rape.”  “Drop kick the b-tch before her second trimester.” Brutalizing women is a constant theme on the album and multiple songs discuss preying on innocent young women. On the track Same Some and Dance, Eminem describes strangling Lindsay Lohan and killing Britney Spears (after they both take prescription drugs). “Slowly she gets in and I begin to lynch her, with 66 inches of extension cord.”

  • Sex:

    Most of the explicit sexual content on the album is focused on humiliating and degrading women -- that is when the songs aren't about raping someone. “My little friend’s waiting to say hello, the way your t—ties are wiggling and your booties shakin’ like Jell-O.”

  • Language:

    Profanity is spattered throughout the song lyrics and used casually throughout the entire album. Besides the four-letter words, the grotesque and sociopathic lyrics are just as inappropriate.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One of the major themes of the album is drug addiction. Eminen rattles off a litany of prescription drug brands throughout the album, so much so that he nearly covers the entire pharmaceutical department. On the album Eminem recounts his struggles with his recent drug addiction, however there are also times when he makes light of "popping pills" and it's portrayed as a casual and fun activity.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Relapse

Parents need to know that this album glorifyies rape and murder, and many tracks portray Eminem as a serial killer. Eminem also raps about his addiction to prescription drugs, which includes the brand names of pills.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the effect that listening to songs that celebrate raping and murdering women might have on young listeners The songs are fiction, but do you think it's easy to get wrapped up in the message and have trouble separating fantasy from reality?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Relapse?

  •  I think this title is

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See all 29 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Paly
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    I loovvvvvvveeee Emiineemmm !!! But his songs are really inappropriate though. Yu shud b atleast 15.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    LiLbRaT
    I rate this title for age 13 and give it 0.0

    Perfect for Teens

    I love his songs because it's rap but i don't let my siblings listen to it or i don't play it when i'm around them

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    bradley4846
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Second Opinion

    Yah, the songs are really catchy. I recently reheard the album, and i found its not that great. It's sort of gross of what all the songs are about which include mainly rape and murder. Ya, theres nonstop swearing and some drug things (which you can excpect from eminem) but the rape/murder stuff was gross. Hopefully RELAPSE 2 will be better

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    teamjacob13
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    perfect for kids 12 and up

    of course eminem has lots of songs whit bad languge but he oalso sings songs for his lil girls....anyways kids 12 and up could listen 2 hos songs cause i think younger kids will imatate the words and his videos! {and well if u dont like ma opinion i dont care}

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    scarface24
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Occasional good messages like "Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful, but still, Relapse is not kids stuff

    This is a quite offensive CD for Eminem. But it's not all that bad. Relapse is good for teens 14 and up.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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