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Eminem built his career on controversial material, so it's no surprise to hear him tackle delicate subject matter on "Love the Way You Lie." The rapper wrote his new single with featured singer Rihanna in mind, and he chillingly alludes to her troubled relationship history in his rhymes. "Told you this is my fault/Look me in the eyeball/Next time I'm pissed, I'll aim my fist at the drywall/ Next time? There will be no next time-I apologize." Rihanna's chorus is exquisitely melodic and surprisingly hopeful, complementing the turmoil of Em's dark, introspective rant. Producer Alex Da Kid has a knack for mainstreaming classical instrumentation, and here he cements the story with a slick, midtempo percussive punch that showcases both performers on equal planes. At this point, Rihanna's track record as a collaborator is just as strong as her solo output, and Eminem's new pairing sounds like a lock for No. 1.
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