Since 1999, Eminem has been one of the most polarizing figures in hip hop. Whether you love him or hate, he has solidified himself in raps hall of fame. Today, we will be ranking his discography enjoy the list!
10. Revival (2017)
After a five year absence, “Revival” marked Eminem’s return to Music. The album’s goal was to tear down and attack the current social and political landscape of the United States of America. Instead, we got a messy and deluded version of a once-respected MC blurting out his incoherent thoughts. In this landfill of generic pop-rap, there were a few stellar cuts in “Castle” and “Arose”, but that’s all worth mentioning. Overall, this is a detrimental stain on Marshall’s legacy and a huge factor of why many clown him to this day.
9. Encore (2004)
Due to his first three albums’ success, Eminem grew to be one of the biggest stars in the entire country. With the nation watching his every move, they waited to see how he would top his previous classic’s, and his answer was “Encore“. Having nearly the entire record leaked weeks before its release, Em was forced to record over an hour’s worth of material quickly. The result of this was a rushed album filled with immature humor and terrible sonic choices. Besides “Mockingbird”, “Just Lose It” and “Like Toy Soldiers” there’s little to nothing memorable here.
8. Recovery (2010)
After being clowned by the mainstream for his 2009 return “Relapse”, Eminem quickly fired back at critics with “Recovery“. The record mainly focuses on Marshall’s journey to sobriety, but it is drowned in generic poppy love songs like “Love the Way You Lie” and “Space Bound”. Cuts where Eminem’s utilizing his rapping ability like “Not Afraid”, “No Love”, and “Session One” would make you think he’s in the prime of his career but after observing the entire body of work, this album is pretty much just lyrical rap for dummies.
7. Kamikaze (2018)
After being scrutinized for his atrocious “Revival” album, Eminem wasted no time firing back to the fans, rappers, and critics who dissed him with “Kamikaze“. From Donald Trump to Joe Budden and all the way Tyler, The Creator Slim Shady lashed out on all the individuals he felt had spoken on his name wrongfully. While cuts like “Stepping Stone”, “Lucky You” and “Not Alike” showed off Em’s technical proficiency, the entire project suffered from his pretentious ideas that new rappers like Young Thug, Playboi Carti and Lil Pump were detrimental to hip hop as a whole. While sounding like a corny old head for most of the record, I still put it over a fair share of his albums as it has a focused narrative.
6. Music To Be Murdered By (2020)
Coming with another surprise album, Eminem gave us “Music To Be Murdered By“. This project saw Em dive into a darker direction as he drew inspiration from legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and his compilation of the same name. Cutting the corny out, Marshall was able to return to form and create a fun experience as we saw him work with veterans like Black Thought, Q-Tip, and Royce Da 5’9 while also working with newer acts like Juice WRLD, Anderson . Paak, Don Tolliver, and Young M.A. With all of its highs, it was still held down by some poppier songs with artists like Ed Sheeran and Skylar Grey. As a whole, this was a step in the right direction for Eminem as he was able to display his artistic and lyrical maturity.
5. The Marshall Mathers LP2 (2013)
Creating a sequel to one of the highest-selling rap albums of all time was undoubtedly hard, but Eminem didn’t shy at the opportunity. “The Marshall Mathers LP2” furthered ideas from its predecessor while also giving it a distinct feel. Eminem’s lyrical ability is at full throttle here as we see his aggressive side on cuts like “Bad Guy” and “Survival”, yet we see his vulnerability on “Legacy” and “Headlights”. Even the poppier songs like “Monster” are pretty intricate and enjoyable here. While Eminem’s work in the 2010s wasn’t great for the most part, this record is the outlier of the group.
4. Relapse (2009)
During his journey to sobriety following his almost fatal drug overdose, Eminem decided to make his return to rap with “Relapse“. The record is a dark journey into the polluted mind of Eminem. From the horror-core cuts “3 a.m.” and “Medicine Ball” to the industry diss “We Made You”, Eminem unravels years worth of locked up thoughts here. With all of its gore and humor, the record is not exempt from addressing suicide and depression as “Beautiful” lets us glimpse at the battles Marshall is fighting internally. When it comes to a conceptually focused and sonically rounded record, “Relapse” is amongst the top of the Eminem’s catalog.
3. The Slim Shady LP (1999)
The unmatched hunger of a whiteboy from Detroit trying to make a name for himself in the rap game makes “The Slim Shady LP” a certified classic. On the record, Eminem taps into his alter ego Slim Shady which relies on a combination of dark humor and satire to shock the audience with his controversial lines. We truly get to know Marshall on tracks like “Rock Bottom” and “’97 Bonnie & Clyde” as he welcomes us into his chaotic life, which revolves around his deadbeat parents and crazy wife. Adding more substance, cuts like “Role Model” and “My Name” poke fun at cultural figures like former president Bill Clinton. Even 21 years later, “The Slim Shady LP” remains a pivotal piece to Eminem’s career and pop culture collectively.
2. The Eminem Show (2002)
Closing out one of the biggest trilogies in hip hop history was no easy task, yet “The Eminem Show” managed to wrap everything up in one of the most formidable ways possible. Eminem shows off his maturity on tracks like “Say Goodbye Hollywood” and “Sing for the Moment” while also proving he can still wreak havoc on “Without Me” and “Square Dance”. Furthering the development of Marshall’s character, “Hallie’s Song” and “My Dad’s Gone Crazy”, give us a glimpse at the humps Em’s been challenged with as a father. When it comes to satisfying final acts theirs only a handful of records better than this one.
1. The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
After being put under a microscope by the mainstream media, Eminem released his commercial opus “The Marshall Mathers LP“. With a fire lit under him, Em goes on a fury where he acknowledges the issues that have accompanied his fame. Cuts like “Who Knew”, “The Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am” address the public perception of him, and why it is blasphemous to blame him for many of the issues with the youth at the time. Additionally, cuts like “Stan” and “Drug Ballad” show off his pens versatility as each story is unique and glued together with a distinct tone. Looking at the big picture, the MMLP isn’t just one of the most iconic albums ever; it remains as one of the premier albums hip hop has to offer!
