Album Review: Bad Meets Evil, Hell: The Sequel (Deluxe Edition)

Bad Meets Evil


Hell: The Sequel (Deluxe Edition) (released June 14, 2011)


Here’s an album that, even as recently as nine months ago, I never thought would see the light of day.


Ryan Montgomery, aka Royce da 5’9, broke into the industry in the late ’90s with a young Marshall Mathers. After a couple of head-turning collaborations (I still play “Scary Movies” weekly) pundits labeled the pair rap’s next big superstars.


They were half right.


After label politics and an ill-advised beef with Eminem’s boys D12, the pair had a nasty falling out. Eminem became one of the biggest icons in music, while Royce was banished to rap’s underground. I’ll wager that 75 percent of you probably have never even heard of Royce until this blog post.


As Em broke records and stirred up controversy, Royce quietly gained momentum, especially after joining rap supergroup Slaughterhouse.Thankfully, time has healed wounds and the pair recently reconciled. Eminem signed Slaughterhouse to his label, and, after a decade of drama, the duo known as Bad Meets Evil has finally given us an EP.


But longtime fans of Slim Shady and Nickel 9 shouldn’t expect to totally party like it’s 1999. These two have evolved from brash, loudmouthed upstarts to two of raps most potent lyricists. As good as their rhymes were in ’99, they’re miles ahead now.


Lyricism is a lost art in hip hop (I fight daily with young’ns who try to convince me that “lyrics don’t matter no mo'”) so it’s great to hear to masters of their craft letting it loose. Listen to Em and 5’9 trade bars – it’s as if they’re constantly competing with each other. Sometimes, Em comes out ahead. On the Bangledesh-produced banger, “A Kiss,” Em chases away groupies: “I’m ghost before you can even say boo, hun, let alone call me one…why do you think they call it boo? Cuz the sound of it’s ‘posed to scare you.”


But usually, it’s Royce who steals the show. He clearly still has something to prove, as he mentions on “Living Proof”: “Imma get rich or die trying/that’s why it’s kill or be killed, so call me suicide-homicide Ryan.”


Even when Royce’s Slaughterhouse brethren show up on “Loud Noises,” he’s still in command (although Joell Ortiz comes very close to stealing his thunder).


While Em and Royce’s lyrics have evolved, their familiar themes remain. “Welcome 2 Hell” and “Above the Law” will remind you of a bygone era – haunting beats and aggressive, nitro-fueled lyrics. But take off those rose-colored glasses, and some of those themes haven’t aged well. Georgia Mae feminists, cover your ears when “The Reunion” hits your speakers. Ten years ago it would be lauded for Eminem’s demented storytelling, but the wildly over-the-top degradation of women is just played out in 2011. Playa, you’re nearly 40 years old, enough already. And despite potent lyrics on the tongue-in-cheek “I’m On Everything,” it’s just kinda lame to hear middle-aged guys bragging about their recreational drugs on the hook.


There are flashes of maturity, however. On “Take From Me,” which chides us all for illegal downloading (gulp), Royce gets extremely frank, without the usual insults or death threats: “But y’all better read my lips/I don’t spit raps this ill for you to hack and steal.” Simple, and to the point. “Lighters” also shows that the boys have become men but Bruno Mars’ vocals – while pitch-perfect – are much too poppy for the moody atmosphere.


I’ll admit, my hopes were absurdly high for Hell: The Sequel. But to nitpick flaws does this album a great disservice. Sure, it’s not perfect. Em and Royce are still clutching to their past while simultaneously reaching for the future. It’s not a smooth transition, but when it comes to those two, the more chaotic, the better.




Best tracks: “A Kiss,” “Welcome 2 Hell,” “Above the Law”


4 stars out of 5