Reviews (page 4 of 15)
It’s just so so so angry it’s exhausting and entirely off putting.
Pubertal men stundtals briljant
Not my speed Very dated
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) On Day 99, I reached a massive "high-energy" landmark. You simply can't deny Eminem’s artistic skills and rapping ability. Despite being incredibly provocative and controversial, the sheer quality of the work shows exactly why he is a classic artist. The production is consistent, but the real art is in the storytelling. "Stan" was easily the best song for me—it’s arguably the best storytelling track in the genre. The way the noir atmosphere of the rainy sample blends with his intense delivery creates a 5/5-level experience. A definitive 5/5 to lead into the big milestone.
if you’re the real slim shady please stand up
Great album
enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. The backgrounds are spectacular. Really 3 1/2 but it definitely is closer to 4 than 3. He has an interesting voice and delivery.
It's wild how much more I enjoy this over the Slim Shady LP. It is still a bit longer than I'd like and the skits drag it down but it's got a bunch of great tracks.
It's a well-produced LP, but you have to approach it in the right frame of mind - it leans into the very darkest of its jokes, and isn't half as clever as it thinks it is.
There’s nothing like it really. Something about his sound
Åldrats helt ok
Riktigt klassiskt album med några av hans mest minnesvärda låtar.
Flera odödliga bangers, och egentligen den enda hiphop jag tyckte var bra under min uppväxt.
Classic och underhållande rappare! Eminnem är lika smacklig som M&Ms
Det bästa är såklart jättebra, men inte ens Eminem lyckas undvika stor del oljud.
I am gay
Obviously talented, but the lyrics are off putting.
No sé porqué permitimos como sociedad dejar que un incel pajero se hiciera tan famoso.
The production slaps and his delivery is virtuosic, but i can't get pass some of the lyrical content. I've changed too much to keep bumping.
A few good-to-great good songs including of course the amazing “Stan,” but the second half of this is pretty weak. It’s almost like there are two Eminems contributing different songs - one who is self-aware, funny, and insightful about the way he and the music are perceived by fans and the media, and another Eminem who just wants to look tough and make gangsta rap and not think too hard about it. I’ll take more of the former and as little as possible of the latter.
This is the first time I've listened to one of his albums all the way through instead of just the singles, and honestly didn't find much to go back to outside of a handful of tracks. Obviously Eminem is incredibly influential and deserves a lot of the success he's gotten, but there just isn't much material here that justifies it being over an hour long. But again maybe it's just not my cup of tea. Standouts are Stan, The Way I Am, and Drug Ballad.
(2.5) something about his voice tickles my brain
I don't know how necessary this album is compared to Slim Shady. I listened to it a lot at the time but it seems leaden, over-macho and kinda no fun to me now.
An album later, and Eminem is maybe even more bitter than he was on the Slim Shady LP, seemingly more determined to prove a point. You sense he suffers from a kind of split personality disorder, where he is wrestling with his status as a father, partner and provider alongside his newfound fame and huge expectations of moving units. It’s hard to know what to take seriously, and there’s a sense of juvenile fantasy and projection at play here. I loved it when the Black Sheep did it, but this feels angrier and a lot less tongue in cheek. It’s refreshing to know that Eminem today is vocally anti-Trump, because this album sounds like a kind of blueprint to the confused, misogynistic, homophobic male mindset that led us to him.
Do not need two Eminem albums Do not need two Eminem albums Do not need two Eminem albums Do not need two Eminem albums
You cant deny the sampling artistry but the anger and misogyny is hard to sit thru. Inspired use of the Dido track, though.
Escuela de rap
Exhausted by the start of the second track. He’s undeniably talented but his choices are indefensible. Wish I could unlisten.
Good
Detroit's own Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem, a.k.a. Slim Shady, is an artist whose merits and significance change drastically depending on who you ask. he means many different things to many different types of people, and this is one of the major themes which runs through his work, especially as he climbs the fame ladder all the way to the top of his genre across his first three LPs. his first, The Slim Shady LP, put him on the map with his portrayal of its titular alter ego character, a violent, sadistic, bigoted drug addict who could put together a mean 16 and always had his tongue buried somewhere in his cheek. the obvious command Eminem had over his craft as a rapper made him into a protege of Dr. Dre; his albums would release on Dre's Aftermath label for the next 20 years, and Dre would be credited as an executive producer on every single one of them. those first three in particular would go on to become, in many people's eyes, modern classics of hip hop. for better or worse, Eminem managed to become one of the most influential rappers of all time; of course, he's influenced a fair bit of Cringe Rap over the years, but his fingerprints are all over the work of even highly celebrated artists in his field like Kendrick Lamar (another brilliant storyteller) and Tyler, The Creator (whose early work was heavily indebted to the brand of shock rap Eminem pioneered). even if you know next to nothing about Mathers as a person, if you're old enough, you probably remember seeing him make headlines for all manner of different reasons, most of them negative (although, as we'll see, any publicity is good publicity for Eminem). the SSLP turned him into a target of protest by groups from all over the political spectrum, from PMRC-style conservatives who objected to his violent, profane lyrics, to left-wing feminist groups who objected to his depiction of women. I've also buried a pretty major lede here: Eminem is a white man in a historically Black art form. this meant that, for some audiences who were mainly interested in the music that typically gets made by white Americans (at the time, mainly pop and alternative rock), he was someone with major crossover appeal. this is further evidenced by the fact that he would go on to sell more records than any other rapper in history. (his whiteness has been at the center of a lot of the discourse surrounding his work, but he wouldn't give that aspect of his fame a proper reckoning until he made The Eminem Show.) The Marshall Mathers LP captures Eminem at one of the most pivotal moments of his career; it's largely a response to the success and heated controversy that surrounded The Slim Shady LP. he doubles down on many of his edgiest proclivities, with the overall sentiment being that Shady is here to stay, and you don't want to fuck with him, cuz Shady will fucking kill you! he also takes the time to fire back at many of his critics and send shots at a few of his fellow rappers, especially the Insane Clown Posse, who he mostly brings up to call gay. I mean, this was the 90s becoming the 2000s, after all. (the "Ken Kaniff" skit, maybe the worst skit on a major rap album, features the two Clowns giving head to Kaniff before accidentally calling him "Eminem", leading to him zipping up his pants and kicking them out.) this leads into my main gripe with the MMLP, and Eminem's music generally: if you're not totally invested in the story, character and image that is Eminem, or Shady, or Mathers, there's not much here for you. of course, I would be a fool to deny that there's some great material on this album! in particular, "Stan" is my favorite Eminem song of all time. it sees him penning some of his most self-aware, grounded and timeless stanzas, with the character of Stan himself becoming immortalized in contemporary fandom culture, with his name now used mainly as a verb by overzealous K-pop fans (or people talking about overzealous K-pop fans). there's also "The Real Slim Shady", a danceable Dre-produced banger with a freaky harpsichord riff, and some of Eminem's funniest bars (I especially get a kick out of the Will Smith line). "The Way I Am" features one of his most innovative flows, pairing his rhymes with a syncopated piano arpeggio to create a devastating sense of forward momentum. and, of course, there's the legendary West Coast posse cut "Bitch Please II". that being said, across 18 tracks and 72 minutes, I feel like Eminem and his collaborators tend to repeat themselves a bit. "I'm Back", one of his many songs about being "back" or "back again", comes in at track 10, by which point I had already figured he was back, on account of me being half an hour into the album already. plus, you have the tracks with members of his D12 crew, pretty much none of whom are as good at rapping as he is. then there's "Kim", which... Jesus. I can see the idea he had, and I can't deny that he probably executed it perfectly. it's just no fun to listen to. it's mean-spirited in a way that feels way too real compared to the somewhat satirical, lighthearted angle which he typically approaches a violent track with. it sticks out like the sorest of thumbs. so, again, while I can't deny Eminem's influence, impact, commercial success, et cetera, I just can't buy into his persona for a full LP of this length, with this much self-mythologizing. his penchant for political incorrectness doesn't offend me or anything; I'm just not particularly moved by it in any direction, positive or negative, most of the time. light 5/10.
OK, I get it. You know cuss words and you don't care what other people think. Yawn. Actually, the music and instrumentation is fairly clever, and his vocal delivery is definitely original for the time. It's not as bad as I would have thought it would be 26 years ago when it came out. In fact, I do kind of like it, I just don't have time for the canned controversy about the language and subject matter of the lyrics. And BTW, whatever happened to Dido?
Nostalgic
great, almost all songs are amazing, i love "stan"
Tiene varios temazos, buena intro, y en general te dan ganas de mover la cabeza al ritmo. Muy bueno
The music is catchy and the quick rhymes. But I dislike the misogyny so much it ruins it for me.
Nice
Great album, stacked with classics. Eminem's influence on the 21st century of hip-hop and rap is really hard to quantify considering its sheer consumateness, and it's a pedestal that's richly earned. At least, for the first half of his career. Em's lyricism has always been the weakest part of the Slim Shady package: it's genuinely clever with its wordplay in many parts, but it's more often playfully crude often to its own detriment. I'm no snobbish prude, and usually appreciate some foul comedy that skirts the fine line between edgy and genuinely hateful, but Marshall's particular brand of perverted juvenile comedy never really seemed to work. It's most evident in the interstitial skits, which almost always hit like a wet noodle, and TMMLP doesn't differ in that regard. This record is more mean-spirited and much dorkier in ways than I think Eminem thinks it is, as he sings these anthems for mildly-awful, disenfranchised, white suburban teenagers destined for dead-end jobs (I say, somewhat affectionately). He's softened a bit as he's entered middle age, but here is Eminem at his most transgressive, his most gleefully disgusting, his most slur-ridden angsty persona. There's definitely a sarcastic character to it, the terrible 'Slim Shady' who represents and echoes all of rap's dirty laundry. It doesn't really work the whole time, but there's a place for what it represents. It's a general saying in comedy that if you're going to go for dark humour then it's really gotta be funny/witty or you're just being cruel. And that's a balancing act that Eminem can't execute on particularly well, especially in the latter half of this album. It's definitely a misunderstanding to take every lyric on the record at face value, understanding that Slim's as dexterous on the mic as he is mischeivous, but then you hear 'Kim' which so plainly warrants a 'come the fuck on, dude'. But how tightly can you hold an artist accountable for all those misogynistic, homophobic, violent teens who take in the message of the work uncritically, who don't see the subtext of it? it's a different situation to something like Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, another great album fit-to-bursting with sleazy cheek, but the more macabre production and self-seriousness on TMMLP makes it a lot harder to spot the sincerity. Despite all that: his delivery, his cadence, his ear for a catchy flow and a sweet beat can't be understated. All that's nestled in some of the best production in the industry, indisputably at the top of its game. Hardly a surprise with Dre at the wheel. Hooks on stuff like 'The Real Slim Shady', 'Kill You' and 'I'm Back' are timeless earworms, and Stan remains a work of some classic genius. Seriously, Stan deserves all its superlatives. It's got this sense of space to it that feels impressively ambitious. I do think Em has talent, when pointed in the right direction. So overall TMMLP is a great album, and indisputably an important one. fav tracks: Kill You, Stan, The Real Slim Shady, I'm Back
Probably still have the bootleg I bought at lunch for $5 + basketball tutoring during gym class. Coincidentally saw a pierogi named 'Stan' walking the streets of the Strip District (Pittsburgh) whilst listening to this album. Not for nothing, I guess.
A classic
Aggressive but I had a fun time. Really can't beat some of his early rhymes and melodies
The sheer "quantity of lyrics recited" metric yields a 5 for me. Best enjoyed in your car with your windows down and system up. Since i was a pre-teen I've loved Em's syncopated rhymes, wordplay, and flows combined with stupid, clever, and funny lyrics. Liz Cheney was probably right to be concerned. I'd posit exposure to Eminem likely influencing my sense of humor to this day. Listening to this is the equivalent of watching a horror movie. Why is it that we can enjoy tv or movies about subjects that are villains, but we get our nickers in a twist when the same is applied to music? I don't buy that you need to agree with the character or artist's point to enjoy the art (e.g. Walter White?) The modern-day complaints about his lyrics and persona is no different than in 2000, and is kind of playing into his whole point. If we are going to moralize and make it about the artist instead of the art, I feel like there's an argument to be made that it's actually better for an artist to exaggerate his offensiveness but is actually neutral to decent IRL. I'd prefer that over someone who is shitty behind closed doors but has a fake nice, manipulative public persona. That said, I don't necessarily buy his argument that he bears no responsibility for what he says and how it affects others. But, again, we don't hold other forms of media to this standard. cons: skits, tough to listen to around non non-fans or if you aren't in the mood.
I love this album! It does take some compartmentalizing to ignore the misogyny and homophobia, but if you can, this is a wild ride, super fun, and musically interesting. He's an amazing lyricist with all kinds of rap rhyme tricks, imagery, and great humor! Yes, the imagery is sometimes horrifying and the humor often has someone on the point of it, but again it's the craft of it all that grabs me. It's just so well written! He's a reasonably fast rapper, which only got faster in later years as most rappers did. But a big difference is that he is always still understandable. Lord, I hated that whole mumble rap thing and am glad it's behind us! There are very few rap acts where I point to the music, especially in these last few years. It always seems to be a light keyboard and some cicada sounding drum beats. BORING! But Dre brings his best to the Em albums even more than on his own! So many cool beats and great sounds abound. Hooky and fun., I'd listen to some of this stuff as plain instrumentals. So, yah. He's a monster (Or is he? Is it an act like he says sometimes?) But as Vonnegut said in Mother Night "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." I know that a lot of people can't get past his spewing hatred and I do get it. But he's not really out there killing people. Right? I don't love hatred and belittling people in the real world. If I heard someone say these things while I was in an office or something, that fella would get punched. But with a humorous touch and an amazing turn of phrase, Em gets away with it for me. Because it is for show. He KNOWS that people get riled up, talk about it, and buy his albums simply because he says it. What a weird line to walk. And I don't think I ever had to defend it like this to anyone, but there it is. He's a bad man with some great lyrics. It's almost crazy to give this a 5, but since it's one of my most played albums in my whole life, it deserves that 5.
Da hani mi zerst chli degege gsträubt das Album zlose willi scho sehr fest kei lust uf Eminem gha han. Aber schlussendlich ischs eig doch no ganz amüsant gsi. Die zwüschesequenze sind aber au meh für de spass und weniger für en guete album flow. ufjedefalls gits mal ganz durchschnittlichi 3 M&Ms
My tea’s gone cold, I’m wonderin’ why I Got out of bed at all The morning rain clouds up my window And I can’t see at all Eis vo de schönste und trurigste lieder ever. Straight outta world class banger tracks. Abgseh devo hani de slimy slimster frühner ja geil gfunde, aber hüt chani di meiste tracks nüm voll gnüsse. Aber doch na einigi bangers im album z gfinde. Da heds für jedes E und M im name es sternli verdient.
8/10
um classico
This one was a surprisingly difficult one to rate because while it has some absolutely monster classics on it, and generally the beats throughout the thing are amazing (No one sounded like Eminem around this time - Extremely singular sound). Slightly approachable, but the horrorcore vibes are vibing), the quality does falter slightly towards the end, particularly with cuts like Amityville and Under the Influence (Although the chorus on this one is not great). Those songs aren't necessarily bad, just that their presence kinda extends the runtime of the album to be a tad long. Additionally, despite having amazing beats, a few songs do kinda stretch on a tad long. But yeah, this album is packed full of great tracks like pretty much the entire first half (Kill You, Stan, The Way I Am, The Real Slim Shady), and then you have absolutely harrowing stuff like Kim that, while I don't know if it's necessarily "good", it's a shock to the system when you compare it to the other songs on the album that might be similarly shocking, but clearly are joking. And Kim is not. So yeah, it's one of those albums I really want to give full marks to, but don't think I can just because of the inconsistencies towards the end of the album. (I didn't really let it affect my rating, but the skits were generally unnecessary too, especially the Ken Kaniff one).
gay slave hypnosis
Good
7/10
i feel guilty liking this, it's so misogynistic and homophobic. some of the lyrics are so absurd or straightforward that i can't help but laugh. but nevertheless, listening to the songs is so enjoyable fav song: Kim, not directly to listen to but just the pure anger still sticks with you afterwards
Yea I know so much sexism and shit but I love this album so much and I used to be a huge Eminem fan so I have to
Erg leuk album. Kende best wat nummers. Soms wel wat te grof qua tekst. Twijfelde of ik 3 of 4 sterren zou doen, maar doe toch 3, omdat ik sommige nummers wat irritant vond
So many complicated feelings about this album. Sonically adventurous. So surprising and so funny. Predictably, he goes way too far and tips into celebrating misogyny rather than parodying it. But the rhymes are so tight and creative, and the attitude is so self-confident that it's hard not to enjoy yourself. I'd say he's doing that "force you to come to terms with what it means that you're having a great time," but I don't see any evidence in the world that he ever properly wrestled with that. He acknowledges it, but it was always in a winking, almost dismissive "I'm such a rascal" way. That's probably necessary in order to be the person capable of making this album, but I can't decide what to do with that. Is this a five-star album that's intensely, intentionally complicated? Or is it a one-star album that the world would be better without? Is he holding up a mirror to society, or is he creating culture? The answer is both, and that's really messy. I was 20 when this came out, and I remember already vacillating between "this is a work of genius" and "the world is probably a worse place because this exists." At the time, I leaned toward the former statement. In my 40s, I still sit somewhere between these two sentiments, but now lean towards the latter. I still secretly love it, but don't want my kids to ever hear it. If this weren't a public record, would I just give this five stars and be done with it? Then again, I listened to this constantly, memorized all the lyrics, and absorbed none of it into my personality. Is that self-awareness at work? Or am I overestimating the power of this music? Maybe it's just funny to hear him go so over the line, and I shouldn't worry that a whole generation had their values shaped by the violence, homophobia, and celebration of misogyny. All that said, what was it about the early 00s that made everyone overstuff their albums to get close to the 79-minute limit on a CD? A bunch of kids grew up on Enter the Wu-Tang but never noticed that it's the perfect length, leaving you wanting more rather than skipping late-album filler tracks.
Pas mon style de base et j'ai pas vraiment aimé certaines des musiques mais d'autres sont très cool comme Stan, The Real Slime Shady ou Under The Influence !
I can get on with rap when it’s a bit more coherent like this (or say, Jurassic 5). But it hasn’t aged well. Bits that were ‘edgy’ are now just unpleasant, but it definitely did change things in music so deserves its place on this list.
Here’s a white guy from Detroit acting like a black rapper, and somehow he was successful. I remember hearing “The Real Slim Shady” on the radio back when Eminem was popular. (Is he still?). Hiphop/rap performers seem to collaborate with each other, which is nice. It hit me that the whole album seems self-centered. Too much talk and violence, and a waste of 77 minutes in my opinion.
Eminem makes sense [for the list]. But I'm guessing he's going to be a tough one for me to rate. Here is my Eminem backstory: I got his album because the singles were catchy and everywhere, but because I was like, 12, my parents only let me get the clean version and they took away the lyric booklet. Understandable parenting decision, because the lyrics are insanely toxic. However! Even at that age I was very anti-slur, and so if I heard the uncensored version I expect I wouldn't have listened to it or liked it nearly as much. I would probably have been an Eminem hater like I am a hater of so many others! Instead, I liked the album a lot and played it a lot, and so I'll likely rate it higher than I would if I were listening for the first time here in 2026. There are very few things I once liked that I don't like anymore. Speaking of censoring, the line in 'I'm Back' that goes "I take seven (kids) from (Columbine) / stand 'em all in line" has "kids" and "Columbine" elided, even on the original version!! Same for a similar line on 'Kim'. I understand censoring such things on the radio/clean version, just like in classic school shooting songs 'Pumped up Kicks' and 'Teenage Dirtbag' (love to live in a world with school shooting songs as a genre, but I digress), but to make that decision and leave in all the other peak offenses... interesting stuff. Slur count = 116. Notably, Em (being white) doesn't use the n-word (which, naturally, I support, and which he alludes to on 'Criminal'). Of course he's also not a women, gay, trans, or disabled, and he didn't let that stop him, so I think we can take this as more evidence that the n-word tops the offensiveness-of-slurs hierarchy even in 2000. Always interesting to see where "equal opportunity offenders" decide to draw their lines (see also: South Park, Dave Chappelle). The major theme that comes through on the album (even in slur-version) is: I'm famous even though I'm saying horrible things and commercially viable because I'm white and isn't that a sad commentary on society? And like, yeah! It is!!! We stan a self-aware king!!! Also, the legacy of 'Stan': Launched Dido to (short-term) radio fame. I even bought Dido's album! (It's fine). And then the word "stan" (n.),(v.), which exploded into the popular vernacular (there's even a wiki article on "Stan culture"!!). I associate it with ONTD but it's gone so beyond that. Incredible reach. Minor themes: (1) violence, esp. against women, (2) America is fucked, (3) growing up poor is fucked, (4) being famous is fucked, (5) misc. pop culture banter - this guy is keyed in to MTV as much as he trashes it. Also, a lot of middle finger talk. Eminem Show Callbacks: in 'Kill You', the ending "I'm just playin', ladies/You know I love you" comes back again in 'White America' ("I'm just playin', America/You know I love you"). OK, it's way too big a task to list all the Eminem callbacks, lol. But there's a lot! In lyrics, templates ("we just met but..."), words, prosody, things return again and again. What is this, Les Miserables?! It's a rich discographic text! Linguistic intrigue: Also way too much to list, but one thing that always strikes me is the line "Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs", because ditransitive "switch" is fine for me, but not for my students, and I always want to cite this line but it's ancient history... speaking of ancient history, were people genuinely still using "VD" in 2000? Mashup potential: Fiona Apple's 'Criminal' x Eminem's? Highlights: 'Stan', 'The Way I Am', 'The Real Slim Shady', 'Drug Ballad' (space rap??? spiritual sister to Amy's "Rehab"??), esp. the line "In third grade, all I used to do / Was sniff glue through a tube and play Rubik's Cube", Snoop & Nate Dogg & Dre & Xzibit all on one track, what a throwback! Lowlights: 'Remember Me?' (what are we doin' here), any time he pulls out his lil singing voice, like the chorus of 'Marshall Mathers' (so unserious), 'Amityville' (zzz), 'Under the Influence' (zzzzz, really watching the clock on this one -- where interestingly, a line about shooting a kid goes uncensored, and I think there's also "ASAP" pronounced as [æs.æp]) OK, I still dunno how to rate this. I think it helps that Eminem's cooled it with the offenses a little as he's older, and expressed some regret? Am I rationalizing?? I think he's really talented and the lyrics delight and disgust me in near-equal measure. Clean version gets a 5 (maybe they should make a Kidz-Bop-ified 1001 albums list with only censored albums on it, lol), but I guess the real deal gets a...4?? I disavow the content, but the form is so influential (for me but also for The [Mainstream White American] Culture). I quote his stuff probably like once a week.
¡¡¡¡¡Breaking news: White guys likes eminem!!!!!
Undeniably fun and foul in equal measure, its hateful language and edgelord persona is almost quaint in this day and age. No wonder Eminem has basically kept spinning his wheels for two decades, unable to escape his own shadow, and you can’t really add much more depth to an artistic project like this one.
Hates his mom Beats his wife Loves his daughter Kim was a hard listen. Def a few classic songs here but I think it did not age that well as a project. Very influent in terms of style and aggression and persona building. The general perception of teen listeners who grew up in eastern europe in the early 2000's thought this is what hip hop is all about.
I kind of wanted to like this, but I just don’t. The violent lyrics is just very un appealing. I like the beat of rap music often, but this did really catch me.
horrifying lyrics
Zou het miss wel een 3,5 geven
Classic rap album. Amazing rapping, beats are also really good. Stan is an all-timer for sure. Easily Eminem's best
As a white guy myself i almost have to give this its flowers or maybe i feel the opposite, embarrassed by this white boy. But its the former. He was the best for a time. I cant speak on anything beyond almost 2005 or so but that was his time. And this might be the greatest of his achievements. Its still just a brash and in your face as his first but it also shows some moments of getting it. Stan is the popular one and it is great but hes got others. About not expecting that dumb kids would follow his every word and he wrestles with that. It still has those moments of fuck you i do what I want but he understands the gravity. And the beats all over are great. The songwriting is great. Its just overall the best he has and ever has. Kim still exists and its awkward as hell. Very uncomfortable. But even then thr hook is great. What else is there. Its the best white boy album of all time. Even if it is alot at times it still stands above anything some jack Harlow or whoever could ever hope to do
There's so much to say about the commentary this album had on the times in which it was produced, about the creative lyricism, the satire, the shock value, the violence, the controversy, and everything in between. But I don't have the words to get into it. Eminem did, though, which-- I expect-- is why this album is over an hour long. Somewhere between the controversy and the mastery and the discomfort associated with listening to the song Kim is where this album falls. I'm gonna call it a 3.
Hay temazos y al mismo tiempo una colección insoportable de misoginia
Toujours un classique même si trop violent
Містить багато хітів, досихпір завжди на слуху
It's so funny how there used to be a whole community of people who were like "all rap except Eminem sucks because it's about women and violence" because they clearly never listened to a single song of his. I don't see so much of that type of thing on the internet anymore, which is nice to see. I didn't particularly like this aside from the Dido sample, but it's interesting how much of it I was already passively aware of, certainly one of the more significant albums I've heard for this.
Is Eminem ground zero for white boys doing the 'wikki-wikki' DJ sound? He must be held accountable for his crimes. Still fun though.
This album stand out not only because of the incredible flow of Eminem but also because it has this kind of groove that catch everyone's ear. Favorite Songs: Stan ; The Way I Am ; The Real Slim Shady ; I'm Back
For the first time in 80 albums I couldn't bring myself to finish listening to the whole thing. Just loathsome. He had his moment in the 2000s where he sold albums hand over fist and won award after award, but how about we just leave him there with his homophobia and misogyny and teenager bravado and addictions? Nice beats I guess. There are, it seems, two albums from Eminem on this list and I have done with both of them. So let's move on.
Some great writing here (as well as some garbage). I can hear the influence in rappers I like more. Also some really good production. But hasn’t aged that well for me.
I don’t think this will ever resonate with a version of me that’s not 13
⭐️⭐️ I started this shit and I HAD to turn it off a third of the way through. Idk if the second half somehow redeems the album, but DAMN that first portion was unbearable 💔
As a Michigan resident, we take some pride in Eminem's Detroit roots. I also admire his skills - he's deft with words. The thing is, I'm not only a Michigan resident. I'm a woman. And the repeated violent lyrics regarding women are a problem. There's this tongue-in-cheek attitude on the album that comes through at times, but I can't laugh this off. He put this music out into the world, and there's no taking it back.
Was a little weird returning to this album after so long. I used to listen to Eminem more for the silly lyrics than the hip hop merits, but now 20 years later and having heard much more of the genre, I was surprised at how well the album holds up. Even despite the some of the more questionable material.
...
yalo escuche lo mejor del rap blanco jaajajaj
Not edgy or angry enough for all of Eminem. It's also not all aged great, it's fairly juvenile. But man, Stan is amazing. I mean, it gave the English language a new word!!
I understand the cultural significance of some of these songs but it’s not my cup of tea tbh
Day 14/15 — Eminem — The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) Listened: Mar 9, 2026 Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap Vibe: Angry, playful lyrical deep wordplay with perfect production for his groundbreaking style Highlights: • Kill You • Stan (feat. Dido) • Who Knew • The Way I Am • The Real Slim Shady • I’m Back • Marshall Mathers • Drug Ballad • Amityville (feat. Bizarre) • Bitch Please II (feat. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Alvin Joiner & Nate Dogg) • Under the Influence (feat. D12) • Criminal Impression: Loved this album as a 9th grader when it came out and love it now. Top to bottom great album. Rating: 4.7/5 Keep songs? Absolutely Revisit album? For sure
потрясно
Naaaah the lyrics are fucking disgusting.
Haha, nice
its eminem
Han er jo bare for cool. Jeg kan virkelig godt lide det.
some of the songs were great but I just can't get over the rage toward women/homophobia. I know he says half of his lyrics are a bit but it's still super hard to listen to
really horrible icky vibes
Arguably Eminem's best album. Used to jam out to this a bunch back in the day. Still mostly holds up, although some did not age well.
Eminem is very talented in what he does. His is some of the only rap I can tolerate. This record, however, wore very thin. It lands somewhere between sketch comedy and hardcore hip-hop and doesn't seem to do either very well. There's certainly very little relisten appeal here.
Imma kill you
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Good - There are moments of absolute brilliance on this. Dre's beats are ridiculously good and the hooks seem to almost write themselves. I do think the themes and subject matter can get a bit tired after a few tracks and a few are just bad. I usually like weird and silly bits on an album but this doesn't quite do it for me.
Great, angry album. The Way I Am (my fav first listen) was my song of the album. The Real Slim Shady and Stan were my other highlights
Not really my deal
Perusvarmaa eninemiä. Ei taaskaan se oma suosikkilevy mutta toimii kaikinpuolin
Näpsäkkää puheilua, taustat ihan kivoja. Osa biiseistä kyllä tosi shittiä
Melkeinpä ainoita räppäreitä, joita jaksaa kuunnella. Useampi tuttu biisi, ja muutenkin ihan pätevää settiä.
Ohan tässä kaikki nippelit ihan kohillaan. Taitavaa räbää ja homottelu vahvasti läsnä. Jotenkin nää Niämisen setit on olleet omaan korvaan kauheen ryppyotsasia ja ykstotisia, vaikka tässäkin on kovaa vitsintynkää mukana. Ei siis voi kauheita pojoja antaa, kun ei vaan itelle lähe.
On kyllä kova levy. Vähän liian pitkä ollakseen täysi viiden tähden lätty, muutama täytebiisi seassa. Mutta vahva 4 tähteä. Muutaman biisin olemassaolon olin jo ehtinyt unohtaa (esim. Under The Influence), niin oli ihan kiva kuunnella tämä pitkästä aikaa!
This was essentially a movie in my ears. Fan commentary (e.g. "Stan") and lots of sucking dick were huge motifs.
Ok this is the first album I simply refuse to listen to because I know I'll hate it lol I rlly just hate gross music that's gross for no reason except shock value and to be hateful
Go on kid, get that anger out.
Good and important in hip hop but kinda awful in content
One of the best ever examples of world-building and meta storytelling in an album, Eminem is simultaneously the main character, the narrator, a spoof, a hero, a villain, and lots more. The production is top-notch. Some of the lyrics are problematic, obviously, but it does seem like an intentional conversation-starter. The album works so well as a whole but also contains some of the most iconic singles and stand-alone tracks of the 2000s (I'm looking at you 'Stan'!). It goes without saying the lyrics and rapping skills on show are absolutely phenomenal.
This album is full of huge hits! Very nostalgic for me personally, and some of Eminems best songs I get he's not everyones cup of tea though! 5 ⭐️
This was very violent, very graphic, disturbing, but you can't deny that this is an amazing hip hop album. One of the best of all times. I loved it. I agree that it didn't age well when it comes to the homophobia in the lyrics, it's kinda hard to listen to that, but almost everyone was like this back then sadly. Also, this is hip hop, it's supposed to be controversial and to make you angry, and looking at lyrics from newer hip hop, rap or trap, this becomes a masterpiece just because of how childish some new songs sound. Think of Stan, that is a whole movie in a 6 minute song. There are very few that can write as well as Eminem.
Once my dad found this album in his Saab and he was god damn mad about it. He didn't like this disc. I really did at the time. The lyrics never really interested me and never seemed serious. 25 later they are a lot more shocking, back then it was more of a joke than a thought. I have always enjoyed Eminem for his ability to make hits and his skills on the mic. ...Cuz you don't...wanna fuck with shady....{cuz why?}....cuz shady will fucking kill you. 4/5 boosted by nostalgia, probably won't listen to ever again.
Eminem has the ability to make some genuinely good music but I spend more of this album cringing than actually enjoying it.
I think this album is kind of good, but **deeply** flawed, but I do think that to even approach this, you kind of have to tackle the phenomenon that Eminem is. I have so many thoughts about this and about the particular way in which it annoys me a little bit that I kind of don't even know how to start. I think there's a disconnect between Eminem, his fans, and the negative reactions to his work, and I've really been trying to get to the bottom of it for a while now. I think the thing is that on The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem is really pushing against the conservative purity culture of the 2000's. At a time when politicians and the larger cultural hegemony tried to push US society to embrace traditional values, and happy families and God Fearing Americans. Eminem is one of the many who felt the dissonance between that and a life of poverty, broken families, substance abuse etc. And I think the thesis here is kind of "Why are you complaining about my violent little poems when we bomb people in the Middle East", "Why are you accusing me of being homophobic, when you're trying to push queerness out of society". And in a world where this album ends up as a cult classic, I think maybe it works better. But the problem is kind of that this ended up selling millions and millions and millions of copies. Eminem's technique here on a social level is pretty much to lash out indiscriminately. He takes shots at politicians, radio, The Grammys, his family, his ex, gay people, his label, rap culture even. So while he isn't exactly punching down, some strays end up going down. And because of how society is structured, those are the only people that really got hurt by this album. For example, I am queer, and I honestly do not think Eminem is homophobic. And I think that on some level, his use of slurs and occasional focus on the queer community is his own weird, imperfect way of trying to include us in his band of outcasts, flying in the face of "polite" republican society. But he uses the language of homophobia, and that, coupled with his insane popularity and audience of teenage edgelords added fuel to a culture of homophobia. And I think he ultimately exacerbated the problem of anti-queer sentiment in the US. Because the thing is that he had an audience of white teenagers eating out of the palm of his hand. And this is an audience that could just connect with his because they were at a time in their lives when lashing out at everyone and everything in response to feeling socially wronged is just the thing that you do. Lets face it, the highschoolers listening to Eminem weren't saying "hmm, I see, Eminem's usage of the word "faggot" hurls the beliefs of white America back into it's own face while including queer folks among his army of those wronged by this culture", they were saying "Dude, I also think it's cool to say slurs because gay people are gross". And I honestly just wish he was more honest about it. I also wish he was more honest about the fact that a lot of his popularity is an Elvis situation, where a majority white audience could only stomach Black art when coming from a white face. Let's be honest, even if you love this album, *that* is why it sold so well. It's a situation where I can see what he's doing, and I kind of get it. But I just don't think he executed it well on some level, especially since I'm living in the cultural aftermath of it. As for the album itself, the beats are good, Eminem has a great flow, and at his most earnest moments, he has some interesting content here. But I think some of his voices are annoying, I think the mixture of edgy, tongue in cheek, and earnest results in some really off moments, I think his singing usually sucks, and I think that any feature here trying to "do the Eminem thing" has aged badly. For example, the Bizarre feature on the otherwise good Amityville is fucking *terrible*. And even though it's a really interesting song, the tone issues are the worst on Kim. I understand it's a character portrait kind of, but Eminem can only really write from the perspective of people who are sort of just him on some level. So the song about killing his ex sits weirdly. Weirder still because of the theatrics and the jarring difference between Eminem screaming his brains out, and the hokey acting from "Kim". I like it on some level, but it comes across as ugly in a really odd way. Especially when surrounded by some much goofier songs. And there are all kinds of weird instances of Eminem putting his foot in his mouth here. I have some real problems with this album. And it has a lot of good too. But I just don't know if I can personally go higher than a 2 on this.
Whew boy does this have some rough stuff in it for these current days. Talent is still obvious though
I’ve always liked this Album. Very patchy butvthe good Tracks are really good. It gets a bit samey
Some of the attitudes and sentiments in this album weren't OK at the time and totally unacceptable now, but there's no denying his ability. Some classics on here.
There were some parts I loved, some parts I liked and some parts I didn’t like so much. I think to appreciate Eminem you need to actually hear what is being said as opposed to just listening to it. Its raw, energetic and vulgar but that’s what it’s all about, that’s the purpose, Eminem is putting it all out there, speaking his mind not sugar-coating anything, isn’t that sort of what music is all about, expression? However, what makes this not completely chaotic is the clever writing and flow. I can see how some people will not like this music, but I think on first listen id be the same too, you benefit from listening to this album twice and pick up on things you miss first time, it helps understand what is being said. Standout songs ‘Stan’ and ‘The real slim shady’, the storytelling in ‘Stan’ is crazy, that combined with the meaning and the instrumentals makes a fantastic song it really is so well done. ‘The real slim shady’ I think perfectly sums up this album as well as provides a catchy beat, great flow and wordsmithing. Most songs all pretty good with one or two not really taking my fancy. Something I hate across all music is sex noises, can it stop please, whatever music I’m listening to I’m not trying to hear it, it really takes you out of the listening experience. Rant over and concluding this review, for me this a 4-star album and I’d say it leans more on a listening experience album rather than music to listen to but is still a great listen in parts.
👍
es una perla
I loved this album when it came out. The first time I heard Stan was incredible. Then it aged. Really, really aged. I found myself in a constant state of bobbing my head and cringing at the lyrics.
Classic, boppin, I like it.
I guessed who's back, and it was the 2000 Slim Shady. It's definitely a product of its time, with the lyrics being done to shock as much as they can. And to be fair, at some points the album was genuinely a bit too uncomfortable for my taste (ahem, Kim, ahem). All in all though, the backing tracks were great, and the vocals were on point. The lyrics are, well, they exist. Not the best rap album ever, but I definitely enjoyed it despite its flaws.
Ugh, the music of these songs is in my bones but the lyrics are obviously not great now. Could also do without the “Skits”. The musicianship and variety of rap styles is really impressive, and the offensive stuff I guess is a weird dark mirror of the time and how prevalent it was, but I was cringing.
Such an angry young man.
Good. Not all songs are that solid though.
Um some good songs but some dodgy ones
Really good album. Some tracks the structure of the rap is dazzling. Bit overlong and the homophobia feels less “in character” and more lazy abuse than when Slim or Marshall raps about violence. Less self aware and critical.
Hard work. I hate this for the reasons he is bragging about. Total shite.
I wanted to give this a 4 because the beats are good and Eminem is a talented rapper. But I literally cringed at multiple lyrics and had to skip a couple songs that I couldn't bear another 2-3 minutes of
Amityville
May I have your attention please? Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Well, it's a legend. Stan is a separate love. I love this track.
I am a fan of Eminem, and I think I enjoyed this album more now than before. Many other albums have much better tracks, but this is solid overall
Fkn disgusting
Same as Dre’. Beats and sounds are cool but can’t take the lyrics. Same fake bravado and real misogyny and slur dropping. Maybe he’s playing a character but it ain’t working. And it keeps getting worse
Man liekas nav sliktu dziesmu.
I realize that Slim Shady is a character and that some of this veers a little into satirical territory. And, while the delivery and clever turn of phrase on this album is really very good, the overt homophobia, misogyny, and over-use of the "r" word is just too much. Furthermore, those with the inability to recognize a character or satire tend to take the use of these words as an endorsement of their own hateful ideology. So, while I appreciate the quality of the art and the talent of the artist, I cannot in good conscience give this more than a 2.
dobry LPek nie jest zly, a tych zlych eminem nie miewal w tamtym czasie
Not terrible but not my pick
Eh...
el rap no es para blancos
3,9 Highlights: Stan, The Real Slim Shady
ehhh
White man problems
So stoked that this album is on the list. This was Eminem’s follow up to a massive success in which his fame clearly is weighing on him. The entire album grapples with his personal responsibility as a public figure and persona. I will acknowledge that this album is seriously dated. The beats and cadence are so very clearly aughts that I spontaneously sprung oversized cargo shorts. Don’t let that distract you, though. The brilliance of Eminem shines through regardless of the drum kit used. He expresses his surprise at his success with a mix of anger and internalized disappointment. He shoulders the blame for people emulating him while angry that he’s being held responsible for the actions of others. The expectations that were suddenly thrust on him for his success is a rebellion point for his alter ego Slim Shady. Meanwhile, Marshall is spiraling from drug use and mental health issues. What has always impressed me about Eminem is he was fairly self aware. This album shows his recognition of the man that he is (was). He doesn’t see himself as someone to emulate and can’t figure it why people even would. He decided the best route to go is to show exactly how depraved he is. Some tracks are fun. Some are tragic. But overall, this us a spectacular album.
I just read Misery by Stephen King. Annie Wilkes is fucked up. She's scary, she says horrific things, she runs over a state trooper with a ride-on lawnmower. It's terrifying and disgusting. And it's a great book. Now, I wouldn't go so far as to say Stephen King is a terrible person for imagining such a character. Why should I? He's an artist creating a character and depicting it the way she should be depicted. It's interesting that we rarely treat songwriters the same way. Eminem's Slim Shady alter ego is clearly a character who does and says terrible things. This is a challenging album to listen to, due to the homophobia, misogyny, and violence expressed throughout it—but it's important to recognize that it was meant to be that. He's playing a character. He even, essentially, expresses that several times throughout the record. But still, many people would say he is "glorifying" homophobia, rape, misogyny, and violence. But... does it really? I don't know. People do and believe terrible things, and we're willing to watch films and read books about it. Why are we so afraid of music about it? I'm not immune to judging an artist's character in my ratings. I know it has affected how I've rated Morrissey, Tupac, Kanye West. And so, in that spirit, I'm going to look at who Eminem has become as a person. His actions in this world point to him being pro-gay rights, pro-women's rights, pro-gun control. I think it's clear where he falls, and it's clear that the shocking lyrics exist to shock, not to represent actual beliefs. Regardless of all of these thoughts, Eminem is clearly an incredible talent. His delivery and lyricism are distinctive and memorable. His influence on hip hop and popular culture are undeniable. The word "stan" exists in the dictionary because of a song from this record. For all these reasons, it's a deserving 5 stars, even if it's a challenging 5 stars.
I don’t remember this album being so dark.
I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. The instrumental was realy smooth, and while his rapping style is not melidic at all (it feels like hes just trying to get through as many words as possible) it is stable and has a calming element to it. Also some lyrics are too funny and I'm glad I could give some context to some lines I knew from friends or memes.
this one triggered strong emotions in me both negative and positive lmao. i've always loved the song stan and liked finding out that his worry about the impact he has on fans is a major through line in the album - that said as soon as he becomes even marginally sympathetic on that kind of topic he starts with the family annihilator shit again which i know is on purpose / the point but it doesnt make it any easier to get through. genuinely felt like i was trudging through mud to finish the album at points especially on kim and that horrible dick sucking asmr interlude. dr dre's production is for the most part very good so that was a highlight
we get it. ur white and u rap and u love saying slurs. this album really needed some trimming imo but overall I did like it because I grew up listening to Eminem (sorry for my crimes)
bruh it started feeling hella repetitive thats all
The cringy parts of this album haven't gotten any less cringy over the years, but I found it to still be a really entertaining listen beyond that. I know a lot of people don't like the 'lyrical miracle' aspect of Eminem's music, but I don't mind it.
Some how smoother and more aggressive than the Beastie Boys at the same time. The man drops lots of cleverly rhymes words in a brilliant way that people find appealing, there are stories and layers to some of these songs that are well grooved paths.
Not my type. I would listen to it while I’m doing my workout.
I can’t stand his voice
Nop, para nada mi gusto. Tiene mucho insulto. Es ese tipo de rap que para nada me atrae. Y me molesta, xq me gusta mucho la música de eminem
I hated this. I made myself listen through the entire album for the sake of gaining knowledge, of being able to thoroughly participate in the argument of whether something like this has objective artistic value. It was hard to get through, disturbed me, left me grimacing and covering my own neck, feeling more miserable today than if I hadn't listened to it. I've decided there is simply no need to have to engage with any dissertation trying to justify a 5 star review because of the culture of 2000, or his upbringing, or the vulgar contemplations of fame and influence, or the idea that offensively subversive = thought-provoking = inherently good. I'm not wasting my fucking time. This sucked and felt bad to listen to and I feel bad. There is no value to me in constant homophobia, rape, throat slitting, the fucking disgusting ICP blowjob skit, acknowledging the violent influence of his work while saying it ain't his problem and you can suck his dick about it, everything about Kim. Awful. I'm sparing my sanity by disengaging myself from any discussion of this album once I hit send on this review. I don't want to think about this anymore. Fuck this. I'm good.
I appreciate Eminem, but I don't care to listen to a whole album
Eminem’s lyrics are so wild. I feel like they wouldn’t fly today so beautifully unhinged. This made me appreciate him a lot more. I loved this album
Ja sicke beats en teksts, soms wel echt griezelig.
Actually thought i would like this more, but he actually is quite tiring to listen to in the long run. He is talented and of course there are some great tracks among it, but in the end it's not great, just.. good
It was provocative when this LP came out, it is provocative still today. It generates discussions, which I believe is great. Clever and challenging lyrics, backed by great tracks.
Une immense zinzinerie 😱😱😱
I liked this much better when I was 14, I know why I liked this more, the humor is really at that level. Nevertheless the hits on this one remain some of the all time classics
Liked: Stan Added: Stan (already added)
Ay yi yi! So much to say but I’ll try to keep it short. I’ll start by saying, this was the first album I bought with my own money when I was 10 years old. Edited version from Wal-Mart for sure. But I eventually got my hands on the explicit version. And explicit or not, I loved it. Obviously, not fully grasping everything he was talking about and really taking in the overall beats and playfulness. I’m 36 now. So listening to this, there is some nostalgia attached to it for me. However, over the years as I go back and listen to Em, he’s really not as great as the pedestal we put him on. His lyrics…well, let’s just say they haven’t aged well. And his flow and cadences are even elementary like. The one saving grace of this album is the production quality! Even in 2026, these beats and the production value still slap. Could have been a truly timeless album with the right lyricist on it.
Terrible lyrics, but excellent delivery and production. Without the lyrics, this could easily be a 4 or 5-star album.
I've always found Eminem compelling. Can't put my finger on it but when his music comes on I have to listen. His lyrics are somewhat chilling but the rhythms and the chord structures keeps me interested.
No thanks.
This has incredible production, hooks, flow and dense lyrics. But its one of the most unlistenable things ive ever heard as its so filled with hate, moaning, bitching, homophobia, misogyny, sexism and really pathetic whining. To make the decision to use what appears to be such a significant talent to sound like a pathetic person who thinks the world is against him, but owes him something, makes him sound like such a whiny little bitch. If the incel movement has a theme song, its basically this album.
Kim is the fucking Incel anthem
Nope
Eminem makes it clear that he gives zero fucks about what anyone says about him and how he’s perceived. The result is one of the most rage-filled, intense, and vulgar rap albums ever made. Most people have heard Stan and The Real Slim Shady, and will probably fail to realize that this is a HORRORCORE album. It is extremely disturbing and even uncomfortable to listen to at times (re: Kim), but all of that is just the brand. Being offended by this is a waste of your time—it’s supposed to be offensive. If you’re comfortable with the lyrics, then you will be treated to an incredible rap album that completely spits in the face of the industry. Marshall Mathers does a deep dive analysis on his public image and how he’s been perceived since releasing the Slim Shady LP. How he’s been blamed for the actions of people who listen to his music, and how he’s been called everything from a pervert, to a degenerate to a criminal. It’s a great introspective record, backed by funky beats, wicked production, and impossibly tight rapping.
I still struggle to understand why this album was embraced so enthusiastically in the early 2000s, considering how blatantly problematic many of its lyrics already were. A few tracks stand out, but overall the record doesn’t feel nearly as remarkable as its reputation implies. Dr. Dre’s production is the anchor here — sharp, heavy, and meticulously constructed — giving the album a level of polish it wouldn’t have on its own. But even his work can’t smooth out its more tedious stretches. And 𝗞𝗶𝗺 isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s genuinely unlistenable, functioning more as shock value than music.
3.5
what is wrong with you
When the songs slap, they slap. Some of the rest of it is not my cup of tea.
Funny and well produced
top 3 - The Real Slim Shady, Stan, Criminal. Never been a big fan of his voice, only like the songs in my top 3 and that’s about it.
Public service announcement 2000 - n/a Kill you - 4 Stan - 5 Paul (skit) - n/a Who knew - 3 Steve berman (skit) - n/a The way i am - 5 The real slim shady - 5 Remember me - 3 I'm back - 4 Marshall mathers - 3 Ken kaniff (skit) - n/a Drug ballad - 4 Amityville - 3 Bitch please ii - 5 Kim - 1 Under the influence - 4 Criminal - 4
Nope. Zero stars.
It’s abrasive and vulgar but everything is catchy and high quality.
I didn’t get the hype behind this album/eminem in general until around this time LY. Then it hit me. Heard 100+ times this year, but let’s go again. Love the start, the skits/interludes are so good throughout (except Ken kaniff). Right into kill you, love the Dre production. Extremly well written as is the Eminem way. It’s not the best or worst on the album, but it’s really good. As much as I love stan the song, it feels a little out of place in the album and that is my man complaint with the whole thing. It’s an all time classic, maybe the most recognizable em song. I get it after “kill you” but I think both should be later in the album or put it first, with Jill you right after, then into who knew . With that being said, Stan has one of the best samples of all time and top to bottom is a great song. Love how the Paul/steve berman skits keep coming up throughout the next few albums. I’m a sucker for cohesion like that. Who knew is another banger. Again the beat/production is so good. Every song seems like it was produced and written at the same time, they all work so well. Very catchy chorus. The way I am is all about the lyrics. Beat is so cool too, but a little simple. The way he can tell a story/Talk about his life in rhymes like this is unmatched. And another super catchy chorus. Love the bells. And I love how you can feel the raw anger all the way through. Fade into real slim shady🔥🔥. It’s not the best song on this album, but it probably is the most recognizable. Beat is so sick. This song reminds me of watching vh1 music videos during summer break. Really awesome music video, haven’t seen it in 15 years at least and I think I know every scene. Chorus is the best, overall song is middle of the pack compared to the rest of the album. Remember me is just Ok, but the lead into I’m back turns it into a much needed add in this spot. Beat is really cool, lyrics are goofy. I’m back is so good. Great lyrics, great production. Great middle of the album song. I want to like Marshall Mathers more but I think it’s jus ok. I like the chorus, verses don’t hit so hard. Still a good song, just not as good as the song prior. Ken kaniff skit sucks. I skip everytime. Drug ballad rocks. No notes, I love this song. Beat is pretty simple but works so well. Amityville too is just straight 🔥🔥. The back half of the album is banger after banger. Snoops verse on both please is so good. The beat is so good. And xzibit from limp my ride? Yup. Another fantastic song. Kim is pretty good, I like the raw emotion and story telling. Beat is just OK. This should’ve been the last song under the influence is a good song but feels out of place. Should’ve been around drug ballad. Even though I think that Kim should be the last song, I still believe that criminal is a great choice to end it as well. I think I just would’ve liked Kim More. With that being said criminal ties everything up and sticks to the theme. It’s a great closing song. It’s also a great song on its own. Overall, I love this album and everyone needs to hear it. It’s not perfect but it’s damn close. Top 20 album I’ve ever heard, pushing top 10. 4.6 stars.
1/5. Perhaps only listenable if you're a musicologist or anthropologist. A herald of the multiple-layers-of-irony attitude that infested American media for much of the 2010s. Vile and insincere lyricism, unimpressive music, and corporate shock marketing is here in full force. That's all that's here.
TLDR: I’m an Eminem fan, Stan is my favorite. Ha, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a fan of Eminem and already somewhat familiar with this album (and several of his others). Had to put off listening to this explicit record as I wouldn’t in front of my kids (6&8), but Eminem does take me back to friends I had in my pre-teen era and was very much a part of my music journey growing up. Abrasive, yes, shocking, yes, offensive, definitely, profound… not always. But the Eminem/Shady/Marshall Mathers personas we see from this artist is one I’ve appreciated seeing evolve over time - and no one else sounds like him. The intro, skits, etc. are all pretty typical for an Eminem album and each one gives a glimpse of what phase he was in at the time. You can’t just take the words/lyrics at face value, it’s more complex than that - and part of why it’s so popular and controversial. Stan by far is my favorite song from this artist, from the sampling of Dido’s “Thank You” to the Phil Collins reference to the music video and vivid story it tells around fame, personas artists put on, and how fans can sometimes take things too far is very powerful, even if it isn’t pretty. It was fun to revisit this song and album as a whole. The other singles ‘The Way I Am’ and ‘The Real Slim Shady’ are iconic, and nostalgic. It may not be your style, but there is no doubt value here.
Lol, this boy so mad he got famous.
The extent of my experience with Eminem was, as a teenager, listening to 'The Eminem Show' and 'Encore' until the discs were knackered. It stands to reason that I -should- have already listened to this album, but here we are. Just from the few opening lines of "Kill You" I can't help but be hooked. The words themselves are, quite frankly, disgusting, but damn if they don't sound great in Em's voice. It's as quirky as it is offensive. with that fun little bassline and clap. I almost hate that I love it, considering that the lyrics have got that teenage boy brand of offensive; it really lacks maturity. "Stan" has always been a classic, with Em's voice fitting around that Dido sample perfectly. Like Kill You before it though, the lyrics are just awful, even if Em did go through getting mail from crazy fans after rising from his own struggles in poverty; the contrast from trailer park to superstar is one that many of us will never have to deal with. Even as I write this, I understand more why the lyrics are as grotesque as they are - moved from trailer park to trailer park, school to school, no father present, then the weight of expectation dumped on you; You're going to feel something, and anger is perfectly plausible in these circumstances, as well as the fact that most musicians write their songs from lived experience. That line in "Who Knew", 'I don't make white or black music, I make fight music for highschoolers.' shows that Em was pretty aware of what kind of reputation his music was catching, and some people are misinterpreting that. He does come across overly edgy, maybe even a little bit goofy with his rage, but I think that's entirely the point; provocateurs are often misunderstood. Regardless of whatever is said though "The Real Slim Shady" is still timelessly catchy and hilarious. There's a reason why, at the time of this review, it has 1.1 billion views on YouTube. In terms of the holistic sound of each track itself, beyond what has already been discussed, "I'm back" and "Amityville". "Under the Influence" and "Criminal" were probably better than I am about to give them credit for but, honestly, I was fatigued by the time Under the Influence started. There is something to be said for "Bitch Please II" though, as Nate and Snoop bring the classic 90s hip-hop sound in incredible fashion. The less that's said about "Kim", the better. I couldn't listen to it all, it was just so uncomfortable, even if being emotionally raw is supposed to be the whole point. ******************************************************************************* This is another album that has felt weird to review, like Antichrist Superstar (crazy I mention this as I didn't know Manson was on "The Way I Am"), because of the person behind the album. Marshall Mathers grew up in social-services-like circumstances, invisible in a terrible welfare, then was catapulted to fame through his time spent in the Hip Hop Shop and meeting Dre. One can't help but feel empathy for him when he made something of himself despite his start, but also anger at the impact that the anger in his lyrics has potentially had on the worst of fans and listeners. When I was growing up, I knew his misogynistic and violent lyrics were wrong, treating them essentially as 'just showing off or something', but others my age at the time may not have been able to make the same distinction. It's tough, speaking your truth and expressing your anger as an artist, but having to think about how your pain expressed on a publicly accessible piece of media could affect others too, all at the age of 27. Going forward, regardless of any lived experience, I will try to remain objective. Despite this, the people that make music are just like the people that listen. They are human.
To say this is not really my genre, I totally ADORE this album. Absolutely jam packed with brilliant songs, great samples, incredible beats. Just my fav hip hop album ever I think.
Flawless thematic and conceptual execution that would have packed a bigger punch without the violent misogyny and homophobia
Awesome
Ég er ekki mikið fyrir rapp en mér finnst rappið hjá Eminem vera mjög gott. Skemmtilegt inntak í lögunum og ég skil betur við hvað hann vill segja í lögunum en hjá öðrum röppurum
This coming out had a wild influence when I was in school. It was a cultural thing of adults being outraged and kids wanting to be cool by listening to it; probably a timeless situation. The album has plenty of skit moments and weaker collab songs that I never felt contributed a ton, but the strength of songs like Stan, The Way I Am, and The Real Slim Shady more than carries it. Tons of relevant social commentary on the role of scapegoating during moral panic. It's not a perfect album but it makes total sense to be on the list and his flow and style are some of the best.
There are some good songs here and Eminem is talented. A great example of rap in this era. Dre doing a solid job on the production. I never got into this album when it was huge. There were too many angry young men into it. The type that would put a punisher sticker on their vehicle. I came around later to appreciate his skill, but this album, I find hard to listen to. Also a bit of quantity over quality going on here, but it was nice of him to feature some friends. The Way I am is a Catchy song. Belongs on the list.
wiggerslop
This is an album for kids whose parents bought them a paintball gun for getting straight Cs. He says about 10 times across this album, this is music for middle schoolers. When someone tells you who they are, listen. Through some combination of nostalgia and perceived "technical skills" as a rapper, it seems this album has had some lasting power. But I'm sorry to say this is real dumb guy shit. The documentary "The Merchants of Cool" does a good job explaining how this kind of music was pushed to middle-class suburban kids in a calculated, coordinated way by MTV, Viacom, and their corporate allies. This brand of crude, violent, gross, sexist machismo was one piece of a larger marketing campaign that included Jackass, Tom Green, pro wrestling, nu metal, South Park (and yes, Eminem actually does a Cartman voice on this album), etc. designed not only to reach young boys, but also to reinforce their warped perceptions of masculinity and gender. Eminem constantly flexes how he clawed his way up from the trailer park through sheer force of talent, like he was somehow at a disadvantage in hip hop because he's white when the opposite is obviously true. Eminem is white privilege incarnate because the forces of racial capital hoisted him into our faces to appropriate rap's popularity and profitability while erasing any/all subversive Black elements that may have "corrupted" white America. This is music of tightly controlled and contrived controversy -- Eminem says a lot of "edgy" things and he's more than willing to make a brave stance out of beating up women and gay people, but he can't be bothered to say anything that genuinely upsets power structures. There's a lot of money and industry power behind this album so it's unsurprising the production sounds well-made. And a lot of hay is made about Eminem's "flow" and his "wordplay" and other supposed indicators of his rap genius. I can't and won't deny he can play the instrument at a high level, and credit granted for creating the concept of the "Stan." But I still don't enjoy the sound he makes. I'm a grown adult whose listened to a lot of music, read books, watched movies -- I understand what it means for an artist to "play a character" and that not everything that comes out of Eminem's mouth is a literal or direct expression of what he believes. I think kids who listen to this music also understand, on some level, that they're listening to a comic book character. That doesn't mean I have to find that character compelling and I still think it's worthy to judge whether the juice is worth the squeeze; is Slim Shady saying or doing anything so artistic worthwhile that it warrants verse after verse of rape threats?
Some bits are 5 but overall..
Another terrible pile of crap, -5 if I could
Rap classic, dark, foreboding
i don't like this music..
I was mixed in it, some of the hits/classic tunes are great, so incredibly catchy, lots of wit/humour. But found the album to be a bummer listening all the way through, lots of hatred and anger and it was too long. Still some amazing tracks though.
I had this CD had heavy rotation in 2001. A lot of great songs here, but there are a few that are hard to stomach. I have to skip Kim everytime it comes on and the skits are sophomoric for the most part. This is a great example of Em's lyrical strength and how much his attitude helps to sell CD's. He calls out a lot of folks and most of them deserve it.
Was in-between either a 3 or a 4 for me, but considering how low of a bar the list sets for half the albums, I think this has to get bumped to a 4. Very influential & oozing with Eminem's dark, yet comedic, style.
Nice album, found at least 3 great songs but Stan is the greatest
Memememe. Long and exhausting.
From one rap/hip hop album (Cypress Hill) to another. But there is a link between the two that runs through the beastie boys for me. I like early Beastie Boys like Licensed to Ill becUse thwre is a ridiculousness anout it and humour in the ridiculousness. I listened to thisalbum back in the day in the same way. Its way over the top amd i always assumed its a parody album but lots of people dont view it as a parody so maybe i’m wrong bit thats how i see it. Fucking hilarious. But a bit subtle and beyond a pure out and out parody, it stands alone. Much like BB did. They werent a parody band but L 2 Ill and Paul’s Boutique iant the serious mature beasties of Ill Communication, etc.
- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 3 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM
It's quite abrasive and off putting. One of the songs mentions acid and it got me thinking that I can only imagine this album inducing a bad trip. Artistically I think it works, although the shock value I could see being cheapened by the repeated woman in the car trunk thing.
Ugly misogynistic music could not finish this one
The one emotion I'm feeling after my listen of this record is outraged -- but thats obviously the intent, so I guess the album succeeded. It'll take more listens for me to decide if I'm transfixed or offended, but im definitely awestruck. This thing feels momentual even a quarter-century later
There’s a level of introspection on this album that from his debut that is interesting But Eminem continues to be homophobic and misogynistic in a way that is just uncomfortable.
It’s interesting to see how the ratings over time for this album are in steady decline. I’m sure it’s to do with the spotlight placed on narcissism and the deplorable behaviour of a certain bunch of male celebrities. This album is full of domestic violence, homophobia and a general objectification of women. these things conflict with my own values to the point that it’s a struggle to get through some of the tracks. I fucking love this album. OK I'm back to bump this up to 5.
I find Eminem's albums so hard to rate, I hate the messages, but (somewhat guiltily) like the style of his music. This album, much like the last we had, is so grim, dark and frankly pretty fucked up. Who else but Eminem could make such hateful things sound so catchy? Its a tough listen now on many fronts, but I remember how huge both Stan and The Real Slim Shady were when they came out and what a huge impact they had. So I'm giving it a slightly uncomfortable 3.
Tomuto som nikdy neprišiel na chuť.
Not an album I can be objective about, since I used to listen to this all the time in uni. Still, I can try: the mix of absurdist dark humor yet at the same time chillingly personal lyrics, so many catchy hooks, and beats that fit it all seemingly - this is obviously a classic. Faves: Kill You, Stan, The Way I Am, The Real Slim Shady, Remember Me?, Marshall Mathers, Criminal
Ja bangers he. De 2de helft is iets minder goed en klinkt wat minder afgewerkt, maar over het algemeen zeker een sterk album
Whole album seems to revolve around what a prick he is. Deeply unpleasant listen. And such a whiny rap voice. Amazed people like this
A classic! Incredible story telling over amazing beats. This one is up there in my hip hop favorites.
This is rapping at its absolute best, one of my favourite records during my early teens. I remember my brother got me into Eminem, at probably an age way too young, I have been a big fan ever since. The boundaries pushed on what you can get away with saying and still being commercially successful is astonishing. I love how dark the themes of this record are, yet it had two massive hits. Obviously Dre producing the album means it’s gonna have a bullet proof selection of track quality, pairing it with and MC such as Slim ensures it’s going to be a 10/10 listening experience. Slims got everything on this record, he’s got flow, he’s got story telling, he’s got humour, he’s got metaphors, he’s got complex rhyming schemes and most importantly he’s got something people actually want to listen too. One of my favourite facts about this album is that after releasing ‘Stan’, Slim has had two people break into his house. Both of them named ‘Stan’. Kind of hilarious kind of frightening. I even like the skits on this album. That says a lot. I genuinely think ‘Drug Ballad’ is one of the best Eminem tunes ever released, the rhyme scheme is legendary and way over looked. Favourite tracks are: ‘Kill You’, ‘Stan’, ‘Who Knew’, ‘The Real Slim Shady’, ‘The Way I Am’, ‘Remember Me?’, ‘I’m Back’, ‘Marshall Mathers’, ‘Drug Ballad’, ‘Bitch Please II’, ‘Under The Influence’, and ‘Criminal’.
Pretty good record.
looking between the sexism, homophobia and violence this album is quite good. A most fantastic writer!!! Do think he may have killed someone or is gay and dealing with a lot of internal homophobia. Beyond that there were interesting beats and the sound effects were a fun touch that kept me in songs when they got too wordy.
First time listening to this all the way through. I knew the popular songs, but now I really understand how he got SO SO popular. Very good album.
Likes: so many classic tracks; Slim Shady at the height of his audacity and insanity; incisive social critiques that still hold up today Dislikes: some of the non-singles slow things down a bit and take away from the vibe; “Kim” is a track I really can’t stand behind anymore, with some age and real world experience in my perspective Overall, a great record - it’s what cemented Eminem as an industry staple rather than just a force to be reckoned with. I genuinely didn’t realize how much of this record was already burned into my brain
Ha. A white man? Doing hip-hop with credibility? (SIT DOWN Robert Van Winkle). Whatever next. Even if it's not "your genre" there's no denying the skill on display here. Could it have done with being tighter? Sure - very much a victim of the CD capacity era but did it change the face of music at the turn of the millenium. Yep. That too.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this album. It seeped into my life early, either blaring from my older brother’s bedroom, echoing through high school speakers as lunch period wound down. What continues to surprise me, even now, is how playful the record feels despite the ferocity of Eminem’s delivery. The aggression is real, but it’s laced with mischief. The beats are inventive, the skits grotesque and confrontational, and Slim Shady delights in provocation, taking aim at anyone and everyone without discrimination. The guest list is familiar and expected (Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, D12) figures who anchor Eminem within his established orbit. Yet The Marshall Mathers LP is not merely an exercise in shock or bravado. Running beneath the album’s outrageous humor is a persistent gravity. Eminem writes through the lens of childhood neglect, poverty, fractured faith, and the suffocating consequences of fame. These themes are the emotional engine of the record, giving weight to even its most cartoonish moments. What ultimately emerges is a deeply tragic album masquerading as spectacle. The violence, satire, and outrage function less as ends in themselves than as coping mechanisms, ways of processing trauma in public, often at the listener’s expense. That tension between playfulness and pain is what gives the album its staying power. Decades later, it hasn’t dulled or calcified.
Luigi’s Mansion sounding ass album
PSA 2000 - stupid, childish Kill You - stupid, wildly misogynist even by Eminem standards, might appeal more to a particularly shitty 13 year old kid Stan - probably the most interesting thing Eminem has ever put out. I like it but I don't know if it'll be enough to redeem the rest of the album. Paul - why bother including this? Who Knew - more edgy bullshit, more stupid hooks Steve Berman - bad acting, stupid script The Way I Am - at least this one has a good hook. The version of Eminem that's at war with mainstream media is a lot more interesting than the obnoxious Slim Shady bullshit where he just shouts the most offensive thing he can think of to get attention. The Real Slim Shady - the overplayed anthem of the worst people I knew in middle school. I almost like it now that I've got a little more distance from it. Remember Me? - mid gangsta rap I'm Back - forgettable. It's been like 2 tracks since you said something weird about your mom, better fix that. Marshall Mathers - oh no it's so hard being famous. Time to shout slurs and talk about your mom again. Cool bass line, bad singing, stupid lyrics. Ken Kaniff - The only thing more embarrassing than beefing with ICP is that the most creative thing he can come up with is calling them gay. Drug Ballad - forgettable Amityville - more of the same schtick. Bad hook. Bitch Please II - it's a pretty decent Snoop song until Eminem shows up Kim - man fuck off Under the Influence - the worst hook yet Criminal - okay
Portrait of an angry young man devoid of depth and interiority his flow is so good, the beats are great, and there is no substance. absolute waste of talent. there's a reason this album was an immediate red flag back when it came out. the only kind of person who could see themselves in this were either just as vacuous or genuinely found the violence and bigotry aspirational. either way you didn't want to be around them. the casual, extreme misogyny and homophobia might give you the mistaken impression there's some kind of transgression here, something interesting even if it's vile, but no actually. other artists have explored that ugliness in interesting ways or with a critical eye but you aren't getting that here. I don't just hate this, I think it's an active waste of time and talent. Fuck me I'd rather be listening to my bottom ten all in a row than spend another second with this.
The Real Slim Shady
As one part of British rap icons Houmous & Chutney I can really understand the struggles Eminem has faced to be taken seriously in this industry. 3.9 3/18 Stan
I love The Real Slim Shady. I think it's a genuinely great song, despite some objectionable lyrics. Otherwise, Eminem just kind of disappoints me. Great music, great delivery...but just so many lyrics that are just stupid, or downright misogynist. He may be great but I'm over it. 3
found myself laughing at some of the simplicity/absurdity of some of the lyrics. "kim" is crazy thou
Bumpin
It's the first time I listened to this album cover to cover. Almost all songs are about how influential he is, how talented he is, how he didn't want the fame but it found him etc. It has a couple of classics though
Meh
NIet het hele album vindt ik genieten maar grotendeels wel bangers.
almost heard all The skits are funny I think the first songs are better but the last ones are more interesting/meaningful
A few good songs here. Classics even. But the rest? Sophomoric but I don't think my 14 y/o self would even like this.
Like a lot of hip hop albums of the era, too long and full of skits and filler and a lot of the shock stuff is much harder to be entertained by now. Conservatives hated this at the time, liberals would hate it if it came out now! But there's no denying the skill, the innovation, the impact. The classic high points still slap. "Stan" hasn't lost an ounce of its power. As the deep cuts go, I really like "Drug Ballad."
Courtney: an old favorite of mine. Didn’t age that well but still nostalgic for me Craig: Didn’t like it as much as I thought I would
This is incredible story telling
For sure unapologetically homophobic and hadn't aged well but does have some tunes that I thought were very cool when I was a teenager
Oof. Despite being much more sonically polished, this aged even worse than the slim shady LP. Too many winces and cringes and foreshadowing of the even worse version of Em. His discography may be the most poorly aged in the rap canon.
Kai tää oli aikoinaan kova jollekk7n
Vähän räpistä ymmärrän mutta tämä kaveri on kova ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eminemin riimit on kyllä parasta kekseliäisyyttä mitä räpmusiikki on kokenut. Silti tällä levyllä ne on puettu vähän liian väkivaltaiseen muottiin jotta meikäläinen saisi siitä täyttä nautintoa irti. ⭐⭐⭐
[Verse 1] I don't do Black music, I don't do white music (Nope) I make fight music for high school kids Muy real, son canciones tristes para un highschooler depresivo o un niño que se siente tuff. Bro, tu opp es la hora de dormir y tu mayor preocupación es hacer la tarea. El álbum no esta mal pero entiendo que puede ser más profundo para personas mayores. Para alguien como yo que aun no nacía, simplemente no lo es. Solo es el personaje de slim shady siendo edgy.
Too much of it has aged badly to go 5, but the best stuff here is some of the best music ever created.
Super
God, this is difficult. As a pre teen, I was solely devoted to 90s alternative rock and had sworn off hip hop. This album was amongst 3 that opened my eyes to how good hip hop could be. Since then, I haven’t revisited the record much. I suppose it’s the severe downfall Eminem had in the late 2010s. It’s a slightly dated album, but it has its merit. It’s stacked with classic hip hop songs, but Eminem’s delivery is off putting most of the time. Regardless, it’s not something I will listen to with full enjoyment.
I’m pretty sure I owned this at the time, it might have impressed a teenage me but it’s just a bit cringeworthy in places, I know a lot is in character, but it wouldn’t really wash today. It’s overlong, with the usual skits and to be honest, too much filler. It has some good tracks on it, I’ve always felt Stan was well written but on the whole, he just doesn’t interest me these days.
There is 1 genuinely great song "the real slim shady". The rest is cartoonish and not that funny when compared to redman or wu tang clan of the time. It veers from mock threatening to silly and there isn't much nuance. Always thought that Eminems greatest hits album would be excellent as his choice of singles are but this album is a bit of a chore.
This record was quite long in the sense that the track list was expansive, but that isn't a bad thing. I enjoyed this instrumentation and lyrics. Favourite Track(s): #1 Hot Song, Two Beads at the End, Maybe Partying Will Help Least Favourite Track(s): Take 5, D, The World According to Nouns
Some great songs followed by some songs I felt less strongly about.
The Real Slim Shady is a classic and Stan to a lesser extent, but like The Slim Shady LP, this one just seemed to disappoint. I get that his first two LPs propelled him into pop culture stardom. But, in my opinion, The Eminem Show is his best album and it's surprising that it isn't on this list.
What an album. I can't claim to like his depictions of horror and violence, but you can't escape that's it's just brilliant. The guy is a force of nature.
2000s hip hop. Horror core, hardcore hip hop, theatrical and whacky. Regarded his best album. Stan is a great song. Fun album.
Absolutely not. Fuck that.
Classics. Not going to listen to this on my own again. 4/5
Although there are some "classics" on here (Stan has always been wildly overrated to me), this is mostly just edgy lyrics for the sake of being edgy over some lackluster Dr. Dre beats.
already listened
Not for me, don't really care about it. Tom Green mentioned. 8 Mile was a film.
Altså er jo sykt bra, men et helt album med eminem ble for mye for meg
Marshall Mathers LP was a great album, I remember listening to it with my brother when I was a kid. Some of it didn’t age well at all but overall it has some of Eminem’s biggest hits. Eminem has a very unique style of rap and the album is very much a sign of the times but it was a nice listen.
Where do I even begin. I had to private my listening status on both Spotify and Airbuds to listen to this. From the start, the first 25 seconds you could tell this was about to be a loooooong album. I say that a lot but this one really outworks the rest. He "raps" like he's a 7th grader who just learned how to cuss. This is more like trashy slam poetry than music. The songs were absolutely terrible. The only reason why some songs got some points was because there was someone else singing. I can't tell you enough how much of a relief it was to hear anyone else speak. He says "if you don't like my music suck my dick" in TWO of the songs and in an interlude literally gets his dick sucked, probably because he knows his music is trash. In another song he talks about how he wouldn't mind having sex with his mom? Seriously dude, there is a fine line between rap and blabbering. Not to mention, how the absolute worst of the worst in this album is a staggering 6 minutes long. If you decide to make a song that long in that generation you better hope at least one of the lyrics are listenable, maybe even a head nod. NO absolutely unbearable trash. I hope rappers look at this album and say "I want to be nothing like that guy". Is this why this album is part of 1001 albums? To show how NOT to make music. A good year was subtracted from my lifespan listening to this crap. If anyone catches me listening to this again shoot me in the head and fuck me in the bullet hole.
2.1/5 I had a mate who used to listen to Eminem all the time so Ive heard alot of these songs many times. A few good songs but so many skits that unfortunately bring this down because I have to skip them. Also the team ups with like D12 etc bored me.
The only Eminem album to iwn
I feel very white giving this a 4 but it's just good
I hadn’t listened to this in years. I wasn’t sure how it would have dated. The answer is mixed. There’s plenty of content that I find uncomfortable listening, but to be fair I always found it problematic, I guess I was just more willing to overlook it when I was younger. I am able also to separate art from reality but certain elements of material here are needlessly unpleasant. With that said, to my ears, the beats and flow have not diminished over time. Eminem is undoubtedly a talented wordsmith and while I might prefer Dre to be in charge of production duties more widely across the album, musically the album stands strong a quarter of a century on. Strangely I’m not too bothered by the skits, but the album is still too long. This used to be an 8/10 for me, and it’s probably 7 now, but with a full star only system, I’m not gonna knock it down to 3.
Not a fan … or a Stan … but liked it more than I thought I would.
NICE
The highs (slim shady and Stan especially) are classics and they’re wonderful. The rest is fine. Goes on a bit long and is a little too angry. Impregnating your mother to have a father and a brother should not be accepted, even if she does look like JLo
I'm contractually obligated to like this album as a resident of Southeast Michigan
This man is angry. He's a talented lyricist, and I like the inclusion of sound effects. But it's a little abrasive, which is I guess is the point, and one note for me. I also believed Stan was real for a hot minute when I was a teenager, thanks Mike. Also, way more homophobia than I remember
Stan is great but the rest is just a load of homophobic wank
Album que je ne connaissais pas. Un joli flow. Une belle découverte car je ne connaissais pas vraiment Eminem
Like a deranged journey through the inferno of his mind. At times the personal and the political blend. Absolutely fantastic stuff.
Yeah, he’s good and all but the “I’m just playing” doesn’t really excuse some of the lyrics. He sounds kinda incel.
A lyrically incredible record from start to finish. Having grown up listening to Eminem and specifically Curtain Call on repeat, but having never listened to this album, I absolutely loved it. It includes some of his hits such as Stan, The Way I Am and The Real Slim Shady but I was equally as impressed with the lesser known tracks, especially Kill You. The lyrics are 'offensive', hilarious and extremely hard hitting, especially Kim, which was quite the uncomfortable 6 minute listen. This is an artist at the absolute peak of his powers, with a truly brilliant array of songs.
Я поважаю Емінема за його вклад в музику, але крім пари пісень не моду нічого слухати. Тексти занадто агресивні. Я не люблю реп і цей альбом не змінив думку
I love only BP part 2 I guess that one song is good enough for a 3?
Listened to on the flight from Graz and on Frankfurt at 6am 😴 Favourite song: Marshall Mathers
Listened doing the washing up and walking to work. Heard before, brother got it for Christmas from our auntie when he was 11/12
Harsh, funny, horror-inducing, light-hearted. This packs no less of a punch in 2026 and it’s a clever album. Just when you think it’s getting too dark or too silly, it yanks you the other way. I’ll be honest enough to say I was pretty late to this album, I probably started listening to Eminem mid to late 2000s as a teen with his later work that probably lost the plot a bit. But it has a really strong running order with some commercial hits (Stan, The Way I Am, Slim Shady), plenty of darker cuts and whimsy. It’s crass and shocking but that’s sort of the point, a definite moment in time and a great rap album.
This is an exceptional album in many ways in that it's off the charts a truth in a way. It's all the dark and human elements spewed into an album. Disgust of his record label, his broken relationships and ultimately him as a person as he came to be, including the deeply flawed self. I find it amusing in a way in that it can be a truth that would probably not be "allowed" today and ironically a kind of perspective on the industry of celebrity that rings true today. I don't care about the negative themes on this album or the politics of the subjects etc as that's not the point you don't have to love it. You just get to enjoy his expression, warts and all. This is where Eminem excels as it's not like he is lacking complexity or skill as a rapper, but he makes it easy to absorb. He can be dark and twisted, lunatic or angry; it doesn't matter. He brings the rage and just nails the delivery in a way that embeds you to the story. My problem with many rappers is the lack of use of melody or getting a musical flow. If you fail to do that enough, it stops becoming music and it's an art in its own right in a vacuum. I am naturally void of the ability to "see" the story in music especially if lyrics build that element. With Eminem that evaporates, and I feel like I can see it. Its unique and deep. OK, not everyone likes the vision of Marshall but it's gritty, funny, and classic.
When you are eleven years old in the early noughties listening to music on the school bus through a shared pair of headphones on a Sony Walkman (CD player), this album is absolute gold. This is probably Eminem's best album. Offensive, dark, silly. Its filled with bangers infused with Eminem's unique and unrivalled rapping style. The first half of this album has me bopping along with a huge smile on my face. Beyond the great beats and the punk attitude, its the sense of humour running through the music that keeps me coming back to Eminem. I will say on a full relisten that the album is 20mins too long and could probably have been distilled by culling some of the tracks in the second half. That said, the extremely dark songs, e.g. 'Kim', showcase the emergence of a style of horror-rap that is culturally significant. This is a cultural commentary on an unsavoury side to America that rings true to many. If you don't get it, consider why people enjoy horror movies, not all art is supposed to make you feel good. Finally, for those who are easily offended, you know that's the point, right? Just be aware that when you are grasping your pearls, you are exactly the person that this music is supposed to offend and your reaction continues to be a key element driving Eminem's enduring popularity.
The Way I Am is probably my favourite Eminem song. Every song on this album is a banger.
This is a very conflicting album to review. I don’t normally do this, but I decided to read some of the other reviews before forming mine, and this is a great point raised by someone else. “while I realise all the bigotry and homophobia is part of the act, it is hard to digest at points, Kim being the biggest challenge.” It’s important to note that Slim Shady and Eminem are two different personas, but it’s easy to forget and also easy to just lane it as an excuse to say some pretty crazy things. There is a theme that whenever I listen to an Eminem album, there are parts that are so good. Like one of the best things I’ve ever heard. And then there are parts that are just can be both absurd and other parts that are just straight up terrible. Overall, I did enjoy the album. Maybe more than I’d be willing to admit, but there are definitely songs I’d skip.
So overly aggressive, a few standouts and a few new songs to me.
Groundbreaking...? Maybe. I'm not a big fan of rap music per se but there are some really good moments on this LP.
Look he's clearly a talented rapper and can write hits, and there's some brilliance on display here. But the whole being shitty to shock people schtick comes off as contrived and sure doesn't do it for me.
- bizarro - letras insanas - kim uma das músicas mais perturbadoras já feitas - álbum FODA
I very much dislike the misogynistic lyrics, but I can’t deny that the beats are very good.
It's got the Slim Shady song, but that's about all that's kinda good.
Eminem’s opus and a huge cultural juggernaut at the time. It’s also part of the reason why some of the songs here are not as enduring as other artists from the era. The pop culture references are too often cemented in its time and other aspects have aged poorly (but still better that the Shady LP). But there are songs here that are just as strong as ever. Stan and The Way I Am, for example, remain some of his best singles. While albums cuts like Criminal and Who Knew are standout album tracks. As always with rap albums from this time, the skits have little replay value. But the impact and quality of a lot of what’s here can’t be denied.
A disturbing peek into the troubled mind of a rap icon.
Hip-hop doesn't become music even when white criminals make it. I'll save myself the trouble of even listening to it. 1/5
1/5 Not for me. Kim is one of the craziest songs i’ve ever heard though
One the best rap albums ever. Launched him into top-level fame.
Undeniably talented. Truly one of the best. When this came out I was in Middle School and loved it, but then again, it has the humor of a middle school child. Doesn't quite hit the same on adult ears.
Some very good songs, but some very, very weak songs, making this album overall not enjoyable.
some good beats but overall YIKES
I imagine I'm probably not the only one who has mixed feelings about this album. On one hand, nostalgic slim shady classics like 'Stan' and 'The Real Slim Shady' are always fun. I enjoy, and regularly listen to hip hop, rap, and pop from the early 2000s, so the genre is my style. However, listening to this album all the way through was...tough. All of the lyrical misogyny (especially doing the song Kim...yikes) was hard to swallow. Idk if it was meant to be received as tongue-in-cheek or somehow subversive, but it just read as Good-Ole-Classic-Angry-White-Guy misogyny to me. And don't get me started on the anti-queer lyricism in 'Criminal'..! Lowkey, I feel like this is the album that Red Pill guys and incels listened to growing up lol. That said, ALL of the beats on this album are fire. 2/5.