Label: Interscope/Shady Records

Back in the early part of the century three Hip-Hop behemoths dominated radio, video and the internet without even breaking a sweat. They broke bread, records and chart history together and were seemingly untouchable releasing fail proof hits time and time again. Lately it’s been dormant at the lab but things are about to overflow all over again at the house Jimmy Iovine built. 2009 promises major releases from Eminem, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre and if that holds true, Hip-Hop very well may save the music industry for two years in a row. Eminem is set to drop Relapse and a few weeks ago a rough version of a new single had heads in a tailspin. Could it be? Is Em really ready to drop again? Crack The Bottle features the three henchmen back from the Aftermath/Interscope training facility in fine form and ready to kill it all over again. Dre drops a lacksidasical beat with ill keys and strings that float just right. Em’s the ringleader as usual and he sloppily sings the hook like only he can. The time off hasn’t affected one of the game’s best spitters and although it’s nowhere near his best verse, it’s miles ahead of the cheesy bullshit he usually splashes on radio jams. Dre is up next and he hits it hard with no half stepping. Detox better drop after this set-up. 50 Cent plays clean up hitter and has the best verse. He does his sing-song thing at the outset but still manages to make it ill from halfway 'til the end. It's no surprise he’s sharpest since he’s taken the least time off. Catching a brick is not an option here. This song will grow on you and if you’re not searching for it as you read this, you are not a fan of rap music.