For pretty much all of his incredible career, Em’s first singles have been Slim Shady-fueled, celebrity-bashin’, tongue planted-firmly-in-cheek tunes that scream, “OK, Jimmy you want a radio record, here you fuckin’ go, buddy.” A lyrical master dumbin’ down for the dum dums. Thankfully, Marshall switched the style up on Recovery. Produced by one of Drake’s production partners-in-crime Boi-1da, Em’s “Not Afraid” is a stirring, here I stand declaration that’s painfully honest about his professional and personal problems of the past few years. It feels and sounds stadium status but it’s also sensitive and subtle with wonderful wordplay paired with a haunting huge hook. Say it loud and proud: The white dude from Detroit is still one of the greatest to ever grip a mic. And he’s still standing.