Music to Be Murdered By

Music to Be Murdered By
Name	Music to Be Murdered By
Type	studio
Artist	Eminem
Released	January 17, 2020
Recorded	2019–2020
Studio	Various
Genre	Hip hop, Horrorcore
Length	61:01
Label	Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, Interscope Records
Producer	Dr. Dre, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto, Mike Will Made-It, Rick Rubin, Tim Suby

Music to Be Murdered By is the eleventh studio album by Eminem, released on January 17, 2020, through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. The album arrived amid global attention on figures such as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kanye West, Drake, and events like the 2020 United States presidential campaign, featuring guest appearances and production ties across artists including Ed Sheeran, Juice WRLD, Skylar Grey, Anderson .Paak, and producers such as Dr. Dre, Rick Rubin, and Mike Will Made-It. The project drew comparisons to earlier works by Eminem and invoked intertextual references to classic auteurs such as Alfred Hitchcock, while intersecting with contemporary hip hop scenes influenced by acts like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Travis Scott.

Background and Recording

The album's conception was framed by collaborations and sessions spanning studios associated with Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin, with recording credits referencing engineers who previously worked with 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Jay-Z, and 50 Cent. Eminem reunited with longtime collaborators including Luis Resto, Mark Batson, and Denaun Porter alongside newer partners like Mick Schultz and Ester Dean, while guest features were coordinated with artists managed by labels such as Republic Records, Roc Nation, and Top Dawg Entertainment. Sessions reportedly referenced samples and interpolations connected to works by The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, and film composers exemplified by Bernard Herrmann and Ennio Morricone, drawing producers into discussions about clearances with rights holders and publishers in the ASCAP and BMI ecosystems.

Release and Promotion

Release strategies invoked surprise-album tactics previously deployed by artists like Beyoncé, Drake, and Frank Ocean, with a sudden drop timed to coincide with the 71st anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and a promotional short film echoing motifs from Psycho. Promotion included partnerships with streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, while singles were serviced to radio conglomerates including iHeartMedia and promoted via appearances on programs like Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, and social campaigns involving influencers tied to Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Visual content referenced imagery from Hollywood figures like Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and David Fincher, and management liaised with agencies connected to CAA, WME, and William Morris Endeavor.

Composition and Themes

Musically, the album traverses hardcore hip hop, Horrorcore, and dark G-funk-inflected beats, with production nods to Dr. Dre’s West Coast aesthetics and Rick Rubin’s stripped-down sonic palettes. Lyrically, themes engage with fame and personal struggle as in songs recalling controversies involving Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and public figures such as Donald Trump and Joe Biden, while also referencing artists like JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B in competitive braggadocio and cultural commentary. Tracks employ sampling techniques reminiscent of The Notorious B.I.G.’s era and incorporate melodic hooks that evoke collaborations similar to those of Eminem with Rihanna. The album's narratives weave criminal imagery and cinematic allusions to films such as Pulp Fiction, Se7en, and The Silence of the Lambs, framing storytelling through a persona-driven lens comparable to concept albums by Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator.

Critical Reception

Critical response was polarized, with reviewers from publications linked historically to coverage of Eminem—including critics at outlets comparable to Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The New York Times, The Guardian, and NME—debating the album's artistic merits. Praise focused on technical prowess and production collaborations involving Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin, while detractors criticized lyrical content for perceived offensiveness toward public figures like Miley Cyrus, J. K. Rowling, and Elon Musk. Comparative analyses placed the album alongside previous releases such as The Marshall Mathers LP, Recovery, and The Eminem Show, and commentators referenced the broader canon of Hip hop albums by artists like Nas, OutKast, and Public Enemy in assessing cultural significance.

Commercial Performance

Commercially, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and charted internationally across markets including the UK Albums Chart, Canadian Albums Chart, and ARIA Charts in Australia, generating streaming figures tracked by Nielsen Music/MRC Data and certifications administered by bodies like the RIAA, BPI, and Music Canada. Singles achieved placements on the Billboard Hot 100 and specialist charts such as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while touring implications involved promoters and venues associated with Live Nation and AEG Presents. Sales metrics were compared with previous Eminem releases and contemporaneous albums by Drake, Post Malone, and Billie Eilish.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The album prompted controversies over lyrical references perceived as targeting individuals including Halsey, Elon Musk, and unnamed public personalities, provoking public statements from figures like Sia and Katy Perry in related cultural debates. Legal concerns involved sample-clearance disputes with estates and publishing administrators connected to works by Alfred Hitchcock collaborators and music rights holders representing artists such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, while management consulted law firms experienced in entertainment litigation and rights negotiation, similar to cases that invoked organizations like The Authors Guild and performing rights entities including PRS for Music. Some advocacy groups and public officials called for scrutiny similar to debates around content regulation in media arenas overseen by institutions like Federal Communications Commission.

Category:2020 albums