Top 20 Eminem Songs
#20: “Rap God”
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The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013) Rapping has been a vehicle of both comedy and emotional catharsis for Mathers for over two decades, and each of these elements cemented his legacy in hip-hop for years to come. Then he turned 40, and some began to use phrases such as “has-been” when describing Slim Shady. Instead of lazily referring to mounds of Grammy hardware, in response to all his haters Eminem released a 6-minute statement of his unmatched prowess in this LP2 single. There’s no deeper meaning to Rap God, just clever rhymes that are fired off at record-breaking speed.
#19: “Just Lose It”
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Encore (2004) Eminem has become infamous for what he has labeled his alter ego, Slim Shady. Shady first debuted 5 years prior to this song, but we’ll get to that later. He’s back again and causing mischief and mayhem, with nonstop rhymes that are equal parts shocking and hilarious. For anyone who was scared Mathers had become too serious with his later work, this song puts it all out there with fart humor, Michael Jackson jokes, and more. This song reminds us of Em’s silly side, but his lyricism is still on point.
#18: “White America”
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The Eminem Show (2002) Eminem is one of the most controversial artists out there, which has undoubtedly added to his legacy and success. He’s also never been one to shy away from haters, with White America serving as one big middle finger directed at those who rebuke his work for its shocking nature. In particular, he calls out the hypocrisy of lawmakers attempting to censor him, and the delicate sensitivities of suburban households. Mathers takes no prisoners, and instead comes in with guns blazing to defend his work.
#17: “When I’m Gone”
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Curtain Call: The Hits (2005) While there are many shades to this American emcee, he really excels when writing lyrics from the heart. In “When I’m Gone”, Em expresses the pain and guilt of leaving his daughter behind while pursuing his career in music. It’s a tremendously sad song, as Em ruminates on his family life and how he wishes nothing more for Hailie than to continue living her life to the fullest even when he’s gone. The track symbolized a new chapter for the emcee, who declared it to be basically ‘the death of Slim Shady’.
#16: “Godzilla” feat. Juice WRLD
Music to Be Murdered By (2020) Few rappers can boast as much influence in the hip hop world as Eminem. So it’s only fitting he wrote a song to demonstrate his monstrous impact. A collaboration with the late Juice WRLD, “Godzilla” would serve as both the young rapper’s first posthumous release, and somewhat of a follow up to “Rap God '' when it comes to high speed bars. While it’s not as lyrically deep as other cuts, the flow, rhyme schemes and sheer rapping prowess on display is classic Eminem. And with Juice WRLD providing the perfect melodic chorus, “Godzilla” will go down as one of the highlights in Em’s later catalog.
#15: “My Name Is”
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The Slim Shady LP (1999) In 1999, the world was introduced to Eminem, and also to his controversy-spawning alter ego, Slim Shady. My Name Is managed to attract a $10 million lawsuit from Marshall Mathers mother, but insurmountable praise as well; including a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance and a #39 spot on the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time. Its light-hearted melody seems fit for daytime television, but its lyrical content is far from it. No one is safe from an unremorseful roast in this four-minute spew-session that only Eminem is capable of.
#14: “Mockingbird”
(Encore) (2004) This Grammy-nominated top-20 hit off Encore showcases Eminem’s storytelling ability at its finest: the ode to his daughter is real, honest and personal. While recounting the hardships he’s gone through with his baby momma while raising their kids, Em proves once again he’s got a softer side. He also shows he knows how to turn alternative hip-hop, piano balladry and a traditional lullaby into a simple, yet touching work.
#13: “Sing for the Moment”
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The Eminem Show (2002) Though The Eminem Show also gave us the infectious “Without Me,” it’s this rap rock number that samples Aerosmith’s “Dream On” that’s got our vote. With Joe Perry’s guitars in the background, Marshall Mathers takes on the media and the parents blaming his music for youth violence – and he reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top 20 in the process.
#12: “Love the Way You Lie” feat. Rihanna
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Recovery (2010) Although Eminem has rapped about toxic relationships in the past, many of those songs were written from a single perspective. With “Love the Way You Lie”, both sides are brought to life in vivid color. The track details how love can be complicated, destructive, and sometimes impossible to give up, an experience that Eminem and superstar feature Rihanna sadly know all too well. With five grammy nominations, over 12 million copies sold in the US and over 2 billion views on YouTube, this vulnerable and heartbreaking track will live on as one of Eminem’s most memorable collaborations.
#11: “Rock Bottom”
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The Slim Shady LP (1999) The Slim Shady LP wasn’t his solo debut, but it was still his first major label release. The album spawned several notable tracks, including the Bass Brothers-produced “Rock Bottom.” Sampling a Big Brother & the Holding Company tune, the song has Eminem getting real serious about his past troubles with money. In short: it’s poignant, powerful and thought-provoking.
#10: ‘“Till I Collapse” feat. Nate Dogg
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The Eminem Show (2002) While the phat beat and funky sound of the Slim Shady and Nate Dogg collaboration “Shake That” earned them a Grammy nod, we’ve chosen to highlight this Queen-inspired track instead. Thanks to its hard rocking beat and the two rappers’ hardcore flow, you’ve got a hard-hitting but catchy tune that you can’t help but clap your hands to. Though it’s not a single, “Till I Collapse” has appeared throughout pop culture on various occasions.
#9: “Role Model”
The Slim Shady LP (1999) Produced by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, this single off The Slim Shady LP has Eminem mocking multiple public figures normally seen as role models – including himself. Because of its dark content, the song was censored for radio airplay but still managed to find minor chart success. Not only does “Role Model” illustrate Mathers’ lyrical style, it also showed how well the rapper and the Dr. could work together.
#8: “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”
The Eminem Show (2002) For every Eminem detractor eager to point out his controversial lyrics, there’s a handful of avid supporters who are ready to defend him and point out the unprecedented authenticity of his lyrics. Cleanin’ Out My Closet focuses on another person in Mathers life who is the subject of unapologetic scrutiny: his own mother. The chorus begs forgiveness, but the verses furiously lash out, as Marshall recalls events from his life that have forced him to completely cut his mother out of his life. It’s clearly therapeutic for Eminem, and the beat is catchy for us listening. Love it or hate it; few have a lukewarm opinion about this tell-all tune.
#7: Not Afraid”
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Recovery (2010) Eminem frequently has vicious and shocking messages that would very likely result in widespread hatred for a lesser artist. But it’s his vulnerability that leads fans to resonate so strongly with his work. “Not Afraid” slows things down and puts the jokes on hold as Mathers opens up about addiction and his struggle with sobriety. He’s been accused of many things, but never has there been cause to believe he’s ignorant of his own personal demons. With two Grammy nominations and a number one spot on the Billboard, all signs suggest that both the song’s powerful message and catchy sound were well-received by all.
#6: “Guilty Conscience” feat. Dr. Dre
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The Slim Shady LP (1999) While Eminem and Dr. Dre’s partnership has produced notable tracks like “What’s the Difference,” and “Forgot About Dre,” it’s “Guilty Conscience” that’s the highlight for us: by pitting the two rappers against each other in a battle between good and evil, we’re given an extremely entertaining and captivating single that’s one of the finest examples of Em’s writing and rapping skills.
#5: “Without Me”
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The Eminem Show (2002) Eminem has his own unique style that can never be truly replicated. Adapting the persona of a comic book hero, Slim Shady wastes no time getting off to the races in this song. For him, this means calling out haters, cracking scandalous jokes, and not-so-subtly reminding the world who’s in charge of the rap game. The beat in and of itself is enough to entice listeners, but the unprecedented flow is what garnered enormous praise resulting in a number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Without this track, Slim Shady just wouldn’t be the same.
#4: “The Way I Am”
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The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) This hardcore hip-hop track from The Marshall Mathers LP is aggressive, dramatic and unapologetic: all qualities people usually associate with Eminem. You might just say “it’s the way he is.” Fusing much of his real-life personality with his alter ego’s image, the song showed the rapper’s range and his ability to produce strong beats while delivering some of his best lines.
#3: “The Real Slim Shady”
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The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) Although it wasn’t his first ever release, “The Real Slim Shady” served as Eminem’s arrival to the front steps of rap, MTV and mainstream culture. Despite the fact that it made fun of some of the very pop artists recognized by the Recording Academy, this song earned the rapper a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. But it was for good reason: the top-5 tune skillfully blended comedy, hip-hop and special effects to create something fresh and original with a funky beat.
#2: “Stan” feat. Dido
The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) There’s just something about “Stan:” whether it’s Dido’s soulful vocals, its emotional lyrics or Eminem’s storytelling prowess, this is the one song that even non-Eminem fans can’t help but respect. Based on the story of a deranged fan whose love for Eminem causes him to kill himself and his pregnant girlfriend, this track is considered one of the rapper’s most creative productions ever.
#1: “Lose Yourself” (2002)
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8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture (2002) It didn’t win Eminem the first Oscar for a rap song for nothing: thanks to its inspirational lyrics, thumping beat and Em’s incomparable flow, “Lose Yourself” was the rapper’s most critically successful and highest charting single to that point. Though he’s since had other number one hits, it’s this theme song from “8 Mile” that continues to be cited as one of hip-hop’s best. Heck, the track became so iconic and took on such a life of its own online, it even inspired Eminem to open a chain of Italian restaurants called “Mom’s Spaghetti”. Thanks, Mom!