Hater tracks just aren’t what they used to be. Once the preeminent force in blasting pop icons via raps — so “dangerous” that he spawned a national discussion in the We Obviously Had No Real Problems Whatsoever Late 90s — Eminem has released his first new album since 2004. Like “Just Lose It,” the new track (“We Made You“) feels reheated, with no passion behind the rhymes. Most of his “targets” this time around are essentially VH1 from two years ago. Who cares?

I hate writing that. No, I was never an Eminem fan, per se, but I know every word to The Real Slim Shady. At the time, he was like a lone voice of criticism in the wilderness of Britney Spears, Fred Durst and TRL girls screaming. It was culturally-acceptable teenage rebellion that was also funny and somewhat insightful. Eminem was a fresh perspective, but the greatest part was that a lot of his fiercest rhymes were reactionary. If he perceived someone as insulting him in the press — BAM! — now you’re giving Carson Daly a blow job in his song. Kinda like a twisted hip-hop Bugs Bunny.

In that sense, Eminem’s biggest problem was his success, of which he was well aware. “I got everyone kissin’ my ass / And it’s a disaster, such a catastrophe…” When everyone started respecting him, and choosing their words carefully when discussing Mr. Mathers, Eminem had no one to fight. So he found easy targets like Kim Kardashian and Michael Jackson. Not that Christina Aguillera wasn’t an easy target, but at the time of “The Real Slim Shady” she was at least in her prime.

Maybe a negative backlash against this new album is exactly what he needs. Slim Shady needs to be provoked. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.