#NEW SOUND: MONSTER - Eminem ft Rihanna

That’s in keeping with the general branding of the rapper’s new disc, which officially arrives Nov. 5. It’s titled “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” in reference to the star’s diamond-selling second CD from 13 years ago.

Eminem and Rihanna repeat themselves on their new single.
“The Monster,” released via iHeartRadio on Tuesday, plays off the dynamic of the stars’ 2010 smash “Love The Way You Lie.”
While their earlier smash dealt with Rihanna’s lust for abuse and Eminem’s easy way of dishing it out, “Monster” finds the two bonding about their mutual embrace of their demons.

“You think I’m crazy/you’re trying to save me/stop wasting your breath,” Ri announces.
“I am nuts for real,” Em parallels back. “But I’m okay with that.”
It’s not just the viewpoint that’s similar - so is the interplay between Em’s pointed verses and Ri’s breathy chorus. If the melodies of the two singles have their distinction, the new one can’t help but have the cynical taint of a sequel.

At least Em gets off some good lines in the new song. “All I wanted/was to be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf,” he raps at one point.
“I’m getting so huge/I need a shrink,” goes another turn of phrase.

In both those lines, as well as much of the song, Eminem recounts his love-hate relationship with fame.
As a single, “Monster” doesn’t have the dizzying verse or the needlingly cool riff of the earlier single, “Rap God.” But it’s hard to tell how the new song will read in the context of all sixteen tracks on the full CD.