Reviews (page 8 of 14)
3 because of the subliminal and in your face messaging about violence against women, but a good album if you don’t listen to that ?
If Nick Cave or Tom Waits sung about miscreants and misogyny like this nobody would confuse them for being genuine. This is basically an essay on the importance of media literacy.
Whether I hate it or love it, it doesn't matter. This album marked the beginning of Marshall Mather's success. The least played song (besides the intro, skits, and interludes) is "Amityville" with 39 million plays. That's more than the majority of any of the albums on this list. This album is notorious, controversial, and beloved by fans of Eminem. Personally, I could take it or leave it. I don't listen to Eminem for the content of his music; I listen for his flow and his rage. This is great gym music and I've had many good exercises with this album playing in my earbuds. Not for the faint of heart 6/10
Highs and lows combine with a runtime that drags to make an album with a few really good songs that I'll never revisit.
Honestly, this is not a pleasant album to listen to. In fact, it's quite disturbing at times. I'm not against it for that, but it really isn't a fun time, nor is it supposed to be. I think Eminem achieves his goal of shock and anger with this album and pushes the bar on rap music and storytelling. That said, I won't be revisiting anytime soon.
This is the first record that I don't feel like I need to revisit, so I won't… I owned it as a teenager and listened to it plenty. It was a seminal record for me, so I think I agree with it being on this list. My recollection is that it’s pretty dark and I don’t need that today.
Not his best tbh. Some good tracks but a lot of filler. Amazing bars though
This album didn't age as well. Good debut but after listening to it a few times, it doesn't hold up as well as some of his others.
I know that he is playing a character and it is all tongue in cheek, but it is hard to get past the misogynistic lyrics and blatant homophobia even if it is shocking for shocks sake. Shame as the songs are really good in places. Stan in particular is a classic. Probably a 4 musically but docked marks for being a homophonic asshole!
if you’re the real slim shady please stand up
Åldrats helt ok
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.
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.
Escuela de rap
Good
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?
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
gay slave hypnosis
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
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.
¡¡¡¡¡Breaking news: White guys likes eminem!!!!!
Zou het miss wel een 3,5 geven
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.
Is Eminem ground zero for white boys doing the 'wikki-wikki' DJ sound? He must be held accountable for his crimes. Still fun though.
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.
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.
...
its eminem
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
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.
Not really my deal
Näpsäkkää puheilua, taustat ihan kivoja. Osa biiseistä kyllä tosi shittiä
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.
Good and important in hip hop but kinda awful in content
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.
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
Amityville
Eh...
White man problems
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
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 appreciate Eminem, but I don't care to listen to a whole album
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
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
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.
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.
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.
wiggerslop
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.
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.
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.
Pretty good record.
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
almost heard all The skits are funny I think the first songs are better but the last ones are more interesting/meaningful
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
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
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. ⭐⭐⭐
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.
Not for me, don't really care about it. Tom Green mentioned. 8 Mile was a film.
The only Eminem album to iwn
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
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
I love only BP part 2 I guess that one song is good enough for a 3?
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.
Not bad. You can see why it’s popular. I don’t mind some hip hop but it’s too brash and annoying for me.
3/5 God I fucking love m&m's
Favorite track(s): Stan, The Way I Am, The Real Slim Shady
I try not to apply a 2025 lens when listening to an album, but man, that was hard to listen to at times.
I don’t know if it’s nostalgia listening to this growing up because I don’t think I’d like it now but I liked listening to this.
Liked it more now than I did at the time, the lens of nostalgia helps and now I appreciate the production value and lyrical phrasing. Like many rap albums it has too many tracks and not a fan of skits but overall can see what its a classic for a generation of hip hop fans. 3.4
Enjoyed it
I grew up in a white mostly lower middle class area and this record was owned by every angsty kid. 20 plus years later it feels kinda try hard.
Enjoyed the singles but a lot now feels dated and very 'ooh look how shocking I am"
I'm back was best een banger. 3 sterren
Eminem is entry level hiphop, the rapper you first get into as an early teen before you discover there are so much better hiphop out there. Sure he's a great rapper, but the music? As of 2026, he's got more shit than good albums. Some good songs here, Stan obviously, The Real Slim Shady, Bitch Please II but overall it's a bit mid despite good production. Kill You and Kim for example are absolute shit songs.
Stars off for the rape
This stuff is really strong - the fluid way he raps is pretty amazing. I definitely can see why it's such a well-regarded album. Would I ever go back and listen to it again, though? No, I really struggled to continue with it - a lot of the lyrics were a bit much for me. I'd probably give it a 4 if I didn't speak English. 3/5
Yeah so this is several minutes too long and the shock value content gets tiresome, but goddamn if it isn't catchy at times too. The Real Slim Shady and Stan are all-timers.
This guy has issues.
Her var det mye greier, sliter litt med å plassere ratingen. Noen bangers, men kunne definitivt kuttet en god del her, litt vel langt for min del. Legger det på en 3/5
Bom mas seilá
Nobody tryna cancel u brochado💔 Stan 10/10 incredible The blowjob was unnecessary Catchy beats, sometimes corny lyrics Half the shit bro be saying is just "they hate me cause I'm white/grab my crotch too much/say I wanna rape women/say I wanna shoot people/say slurs Amiryville 1:20 ts was not needed🙏
Where I thought the Slim Shady LP was a great balance of funny and edgy, the Marshall Mathers LP is more like funny and whiny. I still like it, but it’s hard to listen to a decamillionaire complain about how hard fame and fortune are
Coulda been a 4 but then went way overboard with homophobic edge lording at the end
There’s violently misogynistic and homophobic lyrics, there’s some tracks I didn’t care for all, and then there’s Stan, one of the best tracks in Hip Hop history.
He’s an angry Elf!
I am a fan of album's that flow seamlessly and I feel like the insert of skits really adds an extra layer to the project to make it feel more visual. overall, pretty vibey and melodic. i think the beats are smooth and flow really well from one song to the next. eminem's lyricism is also so strong and clever.
The features on the album were so good Fav songs: Asshole, The Monster, So Much Better
I’ve listened to this album many times since it was released. Strangely, it gets more shocking the older I get. Maybe it’s the slowly changing social environment. Despite that, Eminem is in peak form on this album. 3.6/5.0
Kill you-4.5/10 Stan-5/10 Who knew-4/10 The way I am-4/10 The real slim shady-8/10 generational Remember me-3,5/10 I’m back-6.5/10 Marshal Mather’s-4.5/10 Drug ballad-4.5/10 Amityville-2/10 Bitch please 2-5.5/10 Kim-3/10 Under the influence-5.5/10 Criminal-4.5/10
Like Tropic Thunder, it's a classic, but you couldn't get away with this shit today.
I wanna say this is overrated. That could just be bc it was so insanely huge & played a zillion times tho. There’s no denying the popularity, significance, or impact in its time. Listening now brings a similar sense of mild cringing embarrassment as thinking about my own early adulthood. And I don’t think that’s *only* bc they overlap. It was cool AF at the time, but now probably best left to memories—be they fond or cringe. I cannot stress enough just how 5stars this album was in the early aughts. In damn-near-2026 I’mma dial that back to about 3. Plus a 1/2 star bc 3 seems low for an album of such significance. But then we’re gonna round back down bc I think I may prefer the SSLP
Like the last Eminem album I had parts of this were really rough. There are some pretty solid songs on here (Stan, Who Knew, The Real Slim Shady), but there are also plenty of songs that are almost painful to listen to. Despite that, Eminem is somehow always a better rapper and lyricist than I expect him to be. I've yet to hear a rap album where I consistently enjoy the sketch tracks, and this was no exception. Suffering through Ken Kaniff did prompt me to look up the history of sketch tracks in rap and hip hop albums though, so that was fun. 2.5, rounding up.
Listening to this album makes me feel bad for Eminem (or at least the Eminem of 2000). This is music written by an troubled guy. It's also really hard to listen to because of how edgy and heavy it is. The constant f-slurs don't help either. I had to take a few breaks while listening. Eminem is a technically gifted rapper and Dre's production is clean, but I won't be returning to it anytime soon.
Clever lyrics, didn’t love the beats, some repetitive themes about struggling with fame, wildly homophobic
Very nostalgic feels like high school - the horror rap elements are simply not for me nor the deeply dated worldviews but there are hits
I originally listened to this when it came out. Enjoyed the same tracks now as I did then and was happy to have the chance to re-listen to this. Had forgotten just how much there was to Eminem’s lyrics.
The Generator linked to the clean version on Amazon Music by default, which was very confusing given that it dealt with the opening Public Service Announcement by just completely skipping it. I nearly carried on playing the clean version out of pure curiosity - I assume it's 75% silence - but searched and found the original instead. I loved this record when it was released. I still see why I would have done to be honest. Songs like Kill You and I'm Back are catchy as hell. But when the Generator gave me the Slim Shady LP, I mentioned that I felt very differently about that as a middle aged woman than I did in my late teens/early 20s. I wasn't sure if the same would be true for this record. It's probably not the popular opinion, but for all their shock value, I think Eminem has always thought carefully about his lyrics. However the subject matter in this album is where he started a bit more self reflection, in places at least. The writing is far better for it, despite often being as hate filled as on previous releases. Stan is a really powerful song and I entirely understand why it was such a massive hit. It changed the world's vocabulary. I genuinely find it fascinating there are people who use "stan" in context and have no idea where it came from. The Real Slim Shady basically defined an era. I can entirely play the MTV VMAs 2000 performance of this song in my brain while listening. It's still great. To me, this is a much better album than The Slim Shady LP. I still enjoy this (with reservations) while my memories of that album were so much better than the reality of listening to it in 2025. There is still an absolute ton of misogyny, homophobia and violence on this album, but there feels like (a little) more commentary on where that came from and (a little) more thought about the impacts. Though, you know, he still wrote tracks like Kim, which urgh. I hate skits and I had completely forgotten this album has the Ken Kaniff skit on it, which is probably the worse skit in the history of skits (bet that didn't make the clean version of the album). This was probably a 3.5 for me, but I can't justify a 4. 3/5 [After listening to the record, I read the Wiki entry. I particularly enjoyed: "In his book Edited Clean Version: Technology and the Culture of Control, author Raiford Guins writes that the clean version of The Marshall Mathers LP "resembles a cross between a cell phone chat with terrible reception...and a noted hip-hop lyricist suffering from an incurable case of hiccups".]
took me back to being 12 and playing hypixel
What a talent, he can literally make anything rhyme with "suck my c*ck", as he demonstrates quite often! I didn't feel this one had aged so well though or maybe it's me that hasn't aha
fine. most songs were good but a few i really didnt like
good but not my speed for the entirety of an album
Hay algún disco de rap/hip-hop que no se pase de los 40/50 minutos? es que aún no encuentro un disco en esta lista que no exagere con los minutos dedicados. Eminem dedica 72 minutos a sus problemas con el resto del mundo, pero agota.
Conflicted on this one. Has some brilliant moments but also some stuff that maybe hasn't aged so well. No doubt it's an important and influential album for it's time.
Let down by a very mediocre second half.
I've never seriously listened to Eminem before this and expected to hate it but I'm honestly impressed. The ridiculousness of a lot of the lyrics is annoying but hilarious. I honestly don't know how seriously I should take this and that makes it even more entertaining. Would give it above a 3 if it didn't start to wear on me by the last quarter.
klasyczek
I’m half half
My feelings about Eminem and his lyrics are too complicated for this review
Most interesting when he's considering the parasocial-ness and institutional hypocrisy surrounding him, uninteresting when he's relentlessly misogynistic and gross just for the sake of it
This album had such a big impact on me as a kid I think I gotta give it a 3
Had some great songs, but not an album I feel very comfortable listening to
This is supposed to be Eminem's magnum opus, but I think 'The Slim Shady LP' is better. The main difference between this project and the previous one is Eminem focusing way more in the shock value. In this album his sounds way more aggressive and the lyrics are more menacing and vulgar, but I think a lot of the bizarre scenes portrayed through his lyrics are not as appealing or interesting as in his prior record; and I'm talking in general. Obviously 'Stan' and 'Kim' construct some really interesting narratives. 'Stan' narrates the history of an obsessive fan that ends up killing himself and his girlfriend over him not getting a response for the artist. It also works very well as a critic against obsessive fans, even to this day. 'Kim' is another great example and a genuinely disturbing song about a very heated fight between Eminem and his ex-wife Kim that concludes in him murdering her. What 'The Slim Shady LP' and 'The Marshal Mathers LP' have in common are two things: weak choruses and weak beats. Apart from 'Stan', 'The Way I am' and 'The Real Slim Shady', Eminem still doesn't know how to write a memorable or decent chorus. For a rap album it shouldn't matter, but the fact that every song has one chorus, it is impossible to ignore them. Maybe in this project he improved a little bit, but is not that noticeable. When it comes to the beats, I think in the most part they only work as a companion for Eminem's great flows and deliveries without adding much more. Some exceptions would be 'Stan' in which the beats create a very moody atmosphere; 'Marshall Mathers' with the exact same reasons as the previous one; 'The Way I am' has a very dark piano and bells; 'The Real Slim Shady' and 'Kim' because the very distorted beat adds a lot to the unsettling theme. In addition, I think at this point I can firmly say that I'm not a fan of the West Hip-Hop sound. I do still like it, but I do prefer a lot more what they were doing in the East. There are also some aspects about this record I want to mention like the fact that its is one hour and twelve minutes with very forgettable songs, the terrible feature of Bizarre in the song 'Amityville', the super unnecessary skits and the overall homophobia in this record. I'm aware that the latter is meant to add to the 'shock value', but I honestly think it should, at least, be toned way down and I would prefer if there wasn't any. In the end, quite a disappointing album when taking account the status of this album.
I feel like I may have summoned this album by listening to Tyler, the Creator's Goblin this weekend. Same edge, and even the same fondness for cartoons (Eminem: South Park, Tyler: Adventure Time). Review: Basically what Brandon said. The highs are highs (Stan, Real Slim Shady, Criminal) but the album is way too long. I never knew Em has beef with ICP, and now I had to listen to a Juggajob skit with allusions to NWA's "Just Don't Bite It."
In all honesty, I have never been the biggest fan of Eminem. My opinion suffered via the simple fact that, as a young lad, the most annoying people I had ever met up until that point were massive Eminem fans. They listened to his music and had that same kind of crude sense of humor, but never really said it was a joke or dropped the persona. Naturally, I did not want to be around these individuals or share any of their interests, so I wrote Eminem’s music off (excluding his huge hits and singles ofc). With that bias in mind, I did enjoy parts of this album, but the PTSD flashbacks from those mouth-breathers were definitely unpleasant. My first thought was that it just hasn’t aged well, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever been edgy enough for this kind of thing to be that appealing.
Da sind schon top Songs dabei, auf Album-Länge aber auch teilweise Filler. Und es fällt auf, dass das Album nicht nur bzgl. Lyrics, aber auch stilistisch nicht so super gealtert ist. Reicht daher nicht mehr für 4 Sterne.
Alors comme ça, on écrit une chanson qui parle de tuer sa femme ? Mauvaise stratégie, ça fait plus edgy qu’autre chose. Si on omet ça, c’est dans l’ensemble un album plutôt cool et la chanson Stan est très bien écrite. Pas un album sur lequel je reviendrais, mais si on omet Kim (grosse omission, je sais), c’est vraiment pas mal et y’a beaucoup de moments mémorables.
An album that is brilliant, but I can barely stomach listening to. I wouldn't dare say Eminem can't rap about murdering women and use homophobic slurs (among other topics). And the album was hailed by critics, and he got lots of defense from other artist. The guy really spoke to many young men. But it's not for me. At least nine of the songs have some reference to violence against women in some way. Is it great art? Most definitely. Is it distasteful? To me, yes.
Thoughts before listening: I used to own this CD, and this album came out during my college years. It's good and I'm going to enjoy listening to it, but man Eminem's lyrics are hard to stomach now as a mid-40s guy. Review: This is causing major flashbacks for me. Eminem is definitely good. Its hard to argue that he isn't one of the most innovative and interesting rappers of all time. Great beats and potentially the most recognizable delivery of any rapper ever. Nobody else sounds like Eminem. That being said, my original assessment that I can't take these lyrics still remains. I'll give this 3-stars.
So I’m finding it hard to reconcile why I struggled with this so much when I find Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads - a similarly transgressive album - to be so brilliant I think it lies in the fact that Cave’s work is more firmly in character whereas this feels like it is inspiring/inspired by your 15 year old shit head cousin and nothing more Stan gets it to 3 by itself but I’m not sure there’s much else to this
I haven't looked too deep into the lyrics, but the whole album seems to be about Eminem beefing with his critics, fantasizing about killing his girlfriend due to jealousy or something, and telling faggots to suck his dick. Kinda funny.
My best friend in high school refused to listen to anything else other than this album for a year after it came out. Needless to say (and much like the tuna sandwiches I had for lunch every single day in grade school) I'm okay if I never experience it again, even all these years later. Still, based on memory its a pretty good album. I liked the first one better.
I really don’t know how to rate this, because there’s no one else like him and when this came out it was SUCH a moment - that sounds wanky but it’s TRUE, I was there 👵🏻 - but also there are basically no occasions in life or moods I might be in where I’d actually want to listen to this. I’m listening to Kim as I write this. Is this music, or is it something else? I think for me, this is something to spend time with once and never again.
(3)
It has some really strong songs but other so not stand my test of time.
Yesterday was Kanye and today is Eminem. Entering the 200's has been quite an experience so far. I've never listened to this before. I was working in a behavioral health clinic back when Eminem came to prominence, and many of the kids I worked with would quote his lyrics. I was appalled at the time, and just refused to even listen to any of his songs. This turned out to be both a surprise to me, as well as exactly what I thought it would be. Musically I thought it was great throughout, and some songs like Stan and Kim were amazing lyrically as well as with the emotional response to both. However there were too many songs where violence towards women and homophobia were ever present, and it was just too much. Like with the Kanye album from yesterday, I'm not exactly sure how I'll rate this. I'm leaning toward a three, but truthfully I understand both the fives and ones.
This isn't bad at all, better than I expected, but it gets to a fucking point man where I'm like "I get it"
There are so many problems with the lyrics, but the musicianship and wording is pretty amazing. Hate to support the guy, but it is an interesting album.
Undoubtedly, Shady is a great artist. Equally talented and honest, a proven lyricist and rapper. Because it is so well done and familiar to me, I do not dislike this album. However, I cannot relate to the themes as much as I did in my youth. He portrays a lot of anger and violence in this album, which may at one time during my angsty youth phase. I still enjoyed the listen, but it gave me feelings that I didn't care to feel any more.
Way too long to be a classic, he has about 8 fillers that could be dropped to make it a very good album.
Aw man huge huge step up from the last one - a lot more conscious and emotionally sensitive than we had come to expect from Eminem. The blatant homophobia and misogyny is rough here - unfortunately part of the 90s rap scene but it is a bit jarring now. Stops this from being as good as it could be. Key pieces to the puzzle here are Stan and Kim. Where before there is an aloof nature to Eminem's antics now there is genuine emotion and it makes you uncomfortable in a different (better - think a good horror movie) way.
thank you for bravely fighting this necessary and specific war against the insane clown posse, marshall.
This - https://youtu.be/1gC7M6DRwuE?si=cD7ZNDoB1q9_Vcc3
ambitious, hard to listen to, and so so angry. its pretty incredible that it did so well, to be frank. It's not my lane of hip hop but I appreciate his game.
He sounds like everyone I went to high school with. A few great bangers though.
Unfortunately very groovy with cutting lyrics. Coming a week after I listened to a Kendrick album, you don't have to look up the lyrics to hear what Eminem says or understand what he means. He is funny, horrifying and to the point.
There's...so much to unpack here, it's actually ridiculous. And unfortunately I don't really have the time or patience to get to all of it. There's no denying Eminem is a master of the form. He touches on so many interesting questions on this LP, about his place in the industry as a white guy, about the power words hold (or not), and within all of it is a ton of genuinely funny satire. For me, the actual sound of the music is pretty trash, so that drops it a lot. I also feel like at times, it's genius, and at times, it's perhaps too on the nose. What do I know. I'm giving it a three. Fave tracks: - Who Knew - The Way I Am - The Real Slim Shady - Marshall Mathers - Kim
Harder to listen to now because of the homophobia, but at the time of its release, one of the most important hip hop albums of all time.
Eminem is at the peak of his powers in this period. His lyrical genius and flow never cease to impress me. Just downright silly at times. This album would absolutely get him cancelled by today’s standards but barring some pretty outrageous songs, it’s a classic for a reason. Definitely deserving of being included in the 1,001 but there are other Eminem albums I enjoy more from start to finish.
It gets bloated at over an hour long - what could've been a strong 4-star gets diluted. For instance 'Kim' feels a less sophisticated retread of Stan, and basically reveals something if a narcissistic personality and becomes very grating. 'Under the Influence' is a pale 'Real Slim Shady' imitation with nothing new to say. He is also strangely preoccupied with dissing gays and ejaculating in bottoms. It's puerile, and unforgivably it's not funny. I'm sure Dr Freud would resolve.this preoccuparion in a matter of moments. Yet amongst all that are some all out bangers that have genuine crossover appeal - 'Stan', 'The Way I Am', 'Criminal', 'Real Slim Shady', 'Drug Ballad'. It's a shame. It's a three.
Great beats, great sound, many songs surprisingly musical. The lyrics, however, while undeniably clever at times, are frequently misogynistic, egotistical, often clumsy and way too in my face in the production. Ya I know. It’s rap. I’m trying. 3.5
3.0
Ughhh i'm so conflicted. Some songs are obvsious bangers like Kill You, Stan, The Real Slim Shady or The Way I am. At the same time the lyrics are really hard to listen to. Super homophobic and misogonystic. man i don't know. It is a classic tho and Dre's production def shines.
I listen to a fair bit of hip hop, but don’t think I’ve ever got through an Eminem album. Not sure why. His rapping is distinctive but there something about it I don’t like (too nasal?). Kill You is a bit unpleasant lyrically. I find the flow on The Way I Am as just too aggressive and hard to listen to. Remember me a bit rubbish. Skits also rubbish. Like the hits (other than TWIA) and a few of the other tracks though and some lyrics made me smile. 2.8
Very adept and adroit lyrically although probably a little too horrorcore adjacent for me to really get into.
Not my thing - but Eminem walked so Iggy Azalea could strut. I appreciate that.
Sophomore albums are always an interesting thing to dissect but lets go. Production wise, I really like this. The minimalism early in the album to focus on the actual rapping is great and illustrates Eminem's talent. By the half way point of this album, I had stopped really caring though. It's very dark and crude at points (which is fine) but super sincere at others. That juxtaposition is a little hard to digest sometimes but I understand why it's the way it is. I enjoyed the callbacks to earlier in the album too which is pretty nice and big Leo DiCaprio pointing vibes. Can't say I'll listen to it again but hey. Kill You Contextually, I know nothing. But now I fear that "Shady will fucking kill you". Stan (featuring Dido) One of the first Eminem songs I remember enjoying. The bassline is such a focal point, anchors everything and is a major standout. Lyrically, I think this excels in so many ways. The dangers of parasocial relationships are real, yo. Who Knew The production on this album is fucking tops. The Way I Am Oh man, I like this. "I don't mean to be me but that's what I am." Big struggling with popularity vibez. The Real Slim Shady Iconic. Remember Me? (featuring RBX and Sticky Fingaz) Meh. I’m Back Less meh but still meh Marshall Mathers I like this. Drug Ballad Got bored and skipped Amityville (featuring Bizarre from D12) This is okay Bitch Please II (featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Nate Dogg) No, bitch. Kim A hard listen but it's very raw and real. Really like the music behind this. Under the Influence (featuring D12) This is fun but I don't care about drugs so yaaaa Criminal Aforementioned drugs do make you a criminal, Slim. Good narrative kind of explaining that lyrics are lyrics and not real things that he's gonna do.
Some iconic tracks, but to me, there is too much false anger of the Slim Shady persona.
Wow! It's been a long while since I heard this album. It hasn't really aged well. I mean Eminem's wrapping style is still fun, the popular tracks from this were definitely filled with a certain nostalgia, and the beats were pretty damn good for the most part. But wow! I think another reviewer called it sophomoric. I'd have to agree the misogyny, homophobia, and violence are over the top even for just shock value.
Started as a 4 with good story telling like in ‘Stan’ but then as album went on I lost the plot, it became more edge-lord than Eminem. I can still appreciate the talent but it’s long and there’s that sloppy skit which made me want to stop listening all together.
It jumps between being really raunchy and very aggressive. It's very jarring but it definitely puts in perspective eminems emotional state at the time. "Kim" especially is honestly horrific to listen to, very good, but I hope I never have to listen to it again.
Overall: 6/10 Eminem was huge with me and my friends in middle school, when we were all just getting into rap music. I remember finding his lyrical style hilarious and really liking his voice and flow. Maybe it's because I've been hearing these songs for my entire life, but they don't have the impact on me in my late 20s that they did in my early teens. I still find Shady to be a very talented lyricist, but he surprisingly doesn't have a lot of range. I'm still going to give this a decent rating because of nostalgia. These songs have been important to me my entire life and I don't want to punish the album for being overplayed. I will quickly talk about Stan though, which I think is Marshall's magnum opus. The concept of a crazy fan sending him letters that get increasingly unhinged is such a creative idea and I think he nailed it. I wish more of the album was like that song. Fav Song: Stan
It's a decent album, with Stan being the standout track. I know The Real Slim Shady is very popular, but I don't find it very interesting. I feel that the track featuring Snoop and Dre is one of the best on the album other than Stan. Many of the other tracks really aren't anything special to me.
A bit of a story with some actual musical elements. It wasn’t totally offensive and completely unexpected.
Tracks 1-8 really hit; masterfully produced, akin to old folk murder ballads the story-telling is shocking and raw, but similar to Greek tragedy; satirical and relatable. Slim’s hamartia is on full display. Track 9 feels like a forced cameo and 10 is a path back from the detour. On track 11 we, the demos, once again delve back into the beautifully violent and shocking catharsis of Mathers. 12-15 present more detours and cameos… and then we are faced with the deus ex machina; the full force of Mather’s violent psychosis on track 16. The emotion is palpable. Tracks 17 and 18 are similar to a choral ode.
Honestly the beats, background music, and production are what makes this hold at a 3 star. The lyrics are just terrible even if they are clever and fast.
Can’t imagine the rampant homophobia on this album aged all that well. “It was a different time” sure grandma, let’s get you to bed. Like most rap albums I’ve encountered it’s too fucking long. I hope Eminem has seen someone about his anger issues and is in a better place now.
Great production very charismatic can see why its popular. Some make feel cool some sad some disgusted what a roller-coaster. Not all what im looking for in music but can appreciate the production
Dazzled by the brilliance, put off by the cringe
He didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?
Three cool tracks and severely diminishing returns. Loved his lyrical gymnastics to start with, but Jesus is he obnoxious. “Kim” is a fucking disgrace.
Tricky, some great bits, a lot of silly bits. 3.5
Good when just listening horrible for multi-tasking
The violence towards women is a lot but there is so much genius. How do I vote if I don’t want to listen to most of it again but want to give it its due? Ps he knew: “little groupie bitch get off me go fuck puffy” -marshal mathers
the back half feels like drinking sour milk stan still rips though
There is some good stuff in here, some of the well known hits are very enjoyable. However there is a lot in this album that doesn't age well (most notably the lyrics). Rap music has progressed from this. None the less, the nostalgia element of some of the songs retains a 3 star.
I don't think I've ever actually listened to an Eminem album. There are some enjoyable songs, but its hard to ignore the rampant homophobia and needless violence throughout. I have no idea how much of this is supposed to be taken literally, what is and isn't in character as Marshall Matters, or if this is supposed to be some sort of meta-commentary, but it definitely hampered my enjoyment of the album. When did i become a woke snowflake?
What a fun album. It was nice to listen to an album where I had a knowledge of some tracks but discovered new ones.
classic
Rampant misogyny and homophobia abound. But at least unlike a lot on this list Eminem is clearly aware of his surroundings and can be genuinely funny and catchy on some of this. The self awareness still grates when it makes no difference to his approach. And I don't need a 6 minute song about him basically trying to murder his wife when he spent tut second track criticising this on Stan.
My inner 13-year-old kid liked this record. My current 29-year-old, not that much. Three stars seem like a fair rating. It is full of unnecessary skits and overflowing misogyny, but it also gave us "Stan".
When I think of Eminem all I think about is that millennials are so offended when someone doesn't think of him as like the king of rap lmao. He's like alright, his vocals are better then the beats he's rapping over, it's kinda sad how lamish the beats are at times... though it's def a good album, def a bit too long for just hearing Eminem's voice but it had The Real Slim Shady on it so really does my opinion matter?
Listening to this album reminds me of the fact that there are 13 and 14-year-old boys who listen to his music and take what he says seriously. Like all of the blatant misogyny, homophobia and just low-life stuff he raps with constantly. Some of the backing tracks are golden, and the hits are hits for a reason. If you relate to this guy, grow up, and maybe then you'll be able to talk to women.
This is not the Eminem album I wanted to listen to. Feels too late in his career and full of self referential stuff. Not a fan of the genre but you have to respect his wordsmith skills.
Do not play whilst driving. Great album back in the day. A bit grating listening to it many years after.
Best Song: Stan. A phenomenal example of storytelling in a song. Went on to have huge culture impact. Worst Song: Kim. No one wants to listen to a domestic violence skit with a terribly sung chorus. Overall: A weird album that shows Eminem's immense talent and quirkiness, but then also his immaturity on other tracks. There's a sort of irony in an album containing a song like "Stan", which expertly points out the problems with fan culture and the way that his fans in particular are prone to misunderstanding his lyrics, and then on that same album having "Kim", which never contains even a wink or nod to acknowledge that the song might be about anything other than the legitimacy of violent misogyny. Hard to blame fans for missing satire and subtext when the actual text is so loud and clear.
Good albums, the skits are also good, not annoying unlike in some albums. 3
Angry. Not my type of music but I enjoyed a lot of it, hated a lot of the rest of it.
Rouuuuuggghhh
Pretty good! Every lyric is so clearly articulated, all the swear words really pop. Eminem was popular growing up and some college friends were obsessed with him. I noticed that I paid attention more to this album than previous ones, and it felt like he had some kind of message about life’s hardships to share. Fine but wouldn’t reach for it myself.
Helt ok
Angry. but you definitely listen to it!
Harder to listen to than I would have expected. Undoubtedly a talent, overall worthwhile addition to this list
Insanely talented but seems like a weird, broken man
Jeg vet ikke om jeg klarer helt å komme meg inn i greia til Em. Stan og Real Slim Shady er knallgode, og de fleste gjestene er et velkomment avbrekk fra Eminems litt slitsomme stil. Tekstene gjør meg flau, men beatsa er førsteklasses. Så er albumet CD-alder langt, og det kan være at det er skjermhjerne jeg sliter med, men så er jo en del av skitsa og låtene rene fillers
Too much cussing.
Classic era Eminem.
Strong 3 / Weak 4 I understand the (maybe) satire and use of persona(s) on the album, but still, some of these lines are pretty… intense 😬. It does sonically sound pretty decent.
The thing about Eminem is that he was that generations panic music. I was not a fan of the music but I did enjoy the fuck you attitude. Just like most moral panics it subsided and the world continued to turn and those who claim to love free speech will continue to try to use the power of the state to squash free speech.
The production is damn good and his flow, wordplay, rhyming and delivery are brilliant and totally distinctive. An incredibly talented rapper with nothing to say, but a million ways to say it, Eminem give us a window into the ugly feelings, vile prejudices and idiot ideas of 90s dirtbag masculinity, even in the way his focus shifts to reacting to his own fame. There WERE a million guys just like him, grown men with the personality of Cartman.
There are some classics on this album but they hard carried this album to the 3 stars. In reality, it’s a 2 star and I will not be explaining myself further. Please stop saying this is better than the Slim Shady LP because it’s not.
Raw and no bars held for any disgusting theme. R*pe, incest, murder, domestic violence.. were we ok? Poor Marshall Mathers.
It is a very recognizable album with corrosive thoughts (real but angry) all over it. While its causes thought and is clever I really don't enjoy listening to this album.
I had this on repeat when I was younger. I'd say the same as all of you, but this hasn't aged well and now I feel ancient. Cheers, Album Generator :( Stan and The Way I Am still slap so I'm meeting my review halfway with 12 year old Darren.
Not my fave tbh, but nostalgic.
funny and entertaining i suppose. but on the same note also the most obnoxious shit ever. don’t study and listen to this at the same time
Surprisingly (to me) arresting. Can be pretty self-aware. I love the stripped down directness. Fuck off his disgusting homophobia. Rhymes rule.
I’m a little conflicted because usually I hate hip-hop. But Eminem, with his beats and choice of melodies and samples, slightly won me over. I can even appreciate that he’s speaking as a character in a character sometimes but the themes really worry me. And he may have mellowed over the years, but this still feels quite anrrogant and in your face. And I really don’t like those little inserts.
I just couldn't stomach this right now. I made it to Slim Shady.
Lekkere rap
kiintoisa katsaus
Strong memories of driving down to Wales as a 13-year-old and listening to this cassette on my walkman in the back seat while my dad listened to Radio 2 on the car stereo. Bleak holiday times. Some very skilled rapping. And probably the very first hip hop album I truly go into. Hard listen now though. Can't really justify such intense homophobia and violence against women, even it's it all in this purposefully offensive persona. Very first couple of seasons of South Park.
Man he’s such an asshole but I really relate to how much he hates people. It's a troubling and intense ride. I can't really rate it higher but I do think it's an important and exemplary piece of art.
I'm a total hypocrite. Normally disgusting lyrics are a non-starter for me. But the thing is, the first like eight songs here are complete bangers. And I also like Eminem, like, as a person and an artist. A lot of the lyrics are definitely rough, but the rhythms are good, the melodies are good, and it's a perfect time capsule of the millennium. A high 3, if I'm being completely honest.
Some bangers but overall just too dark and angry for me
I've listened to this before. It's very angry.
I never listened to this when it came out because it was not my thing and i was preoccupied with life, so it was quite interesting listening to it now 25 years later. I was pleasantly surprised and it started off really well. All songs up to Slim shady were pretty solid and i really enjoyed it. then a few average songs and Marshall Mathers was ok. Then I had to endure the sound of a dick being sucked. Whats the deal with sounds of someone getting their dick sucked. This is the second rap album on this list where i have had to endure that. that put me off a lot. i feel like the first half was very good and the second half was average. It was a definite 4 stars and ended up a 3.5
Again problematic lyrics but his rapping is top notch and stan an all time great
A bit too angsty for me but there are some good hits like Stan
I’m way out of the demographic for this but I quite liked it
It's inclusion on this list of justified surely but I feel it's does meander a bit in places 3.5*
I completely understand and recognize Eminem’s genius, and also i am not at all the target audience for this album. 6/10
Gen z is cancelling eminem
Listening to this album today it still sounds innovative and just different, in a good way. There is some good music on here. However, parts of it have not aged well. The misogyny and homophobia were probably excessive even for 2000. I'll give him a little credit that some of it is his brand of social commentary and criticism, but still. It definitely drags the album down. If you ignore those parts, this is still a good album by an undeniably talented artist.
Of the Eminem albums this is one of the better ones metareflections on his own fame and the oroboros of identities that are hard to disentangle. Its over the top anger and violence speaking to a very spesfic machismo cruelty that he is very entangled with. With all that said I do not really like Eminem as a rapper. His flow even here is very weak, the special thing about him and why he became popular has much more to do with his whitness than it does with his strength as an artist. Dre's production often is good but it does not take front seat putting the MCs more in focus. A mixed album for me. Stand out tracks Stan and The Way I Am.
Fine album.
Not a fan of rap or Eminem.
Honestly still pretty good, but the content is pretty hard to get past
This is camp and silly, but not unenjoyable. Very capable pop rap with some silly stories sprinkled through it. Not one I would revisit, but not terrible.
This album came out when I was a Senior and for some reason one of the only songs I remember them playing at my Senior Ball is The Real Slim Shady. 🤣 when this album came out, I liked it enough to buy the album. ALL that to say, if this was the first time I was hearing this I would hate it, since I’m not really into rap these days. However, I sat and listened to this entire album! Before listening this time, I only remembered hearing Kill You, Stan, and The Real Slim Shady, The Way I Am Favorite songs : The Real Slim Shady , Stan , The Way I Am, Bitch Please. Even though I had this album, I don’t know that I ever listened to the entire thing. I did now. I’m glad it’s done! Rating: 3/5
Solid. Not my favorite Eminem album.
Eminem is a tremendous storyteller, but the gore in this album really rubbed me the wrong way. Good but intense
Tycker det inte är eminens bästa skiva men några bra låtar
Honestly appreciate the stuff it did for the genre but not my taste
78% Best: Stan; Who Knew; The Real Slim Shady; Bitch Please II Must-Hear? Not quite
A really good hip hop record. I thought I HATED Eminem. But I was WRONG
Gunna get my baggy jeans and blonde tips in and trip back to 2000 - 2001 when this album was PEAKING! Razor sharp wit, combined with legitimate chops and Dre's beats. Not sure what more you could want? Maybe it sounds too polished? Nah. The hits are massive (real Slim Shady, Stan, The Way I Am, Kill you). Funny how natural it sounded back then... Probably wouldn't like my kid listening to it tho :D
Does he really need to swear as much? Not sure what quality it brings to the music - also difficult to play in an office environment. Actually kind of enjoy his music.
Listened April 2021. I have a complicated relationship with this one. It has a couple of all time classics, and I think Stan really is one of the best rap songs of all time. But there's a teenage edgelord streak that runs through most of Eminem's work, and a song like Kim is just so genuinely repellent that it stops being pleasant to listen to. Clearly a phenomenon in the early 2000s, but it's not an album I ever choose to re-listen to.
I’m from an era and unfortunately that included listening to this album many times. I mean, his skits were certainly to the next level, but it’s hard to take this as a cohesive album as a result. It certainly was boundary pushing though.
Not my favorite rapper
3 Sterne
A perfect album for our day and age. Yes it’s offensive, rough, misogynistic and homophobic and all of that. But it also teaches an important lesson - sometimes we’re gonna get offended by something and that’s ok. Doesn’t mean it’s evil, doesn’t mean it’s going to harm us or harm our children, or harm our church. If you’re offended by it, you give it a 1, call it bad and move on no worse for wear (other then the time it spent to engage with it - which you may decide to never do again). It doesn’t need to be banned or silenced or otherwise taken action against. You call it bad if that’s how you feel, and move on with your life. There are people who disagree with you, and that’s ok too. I guess what I’m saying is it’s great we all get to have our own opinions here. And the world needs to learn something from it and chill the hell out. Also Em has got it, but i can’t handle some of these skits.
I was really looking forward to listening to this when it showed up as my next album, but I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. Let me start with the good. Eminem has a great rapping style. I like how bounces around his rhythm a bit, but it always feels right for the song. Beyond this, he tends to have a good song construction behind his raps, even if they are simple at times. It all just fits together really well. Meanwhile, the song Stan has always been a favorite of mine. A great, great tune. What I didn't like was a few things. Let’s start with the swearing. This doesn't bother me at all, except that because it was nonstop, it made it seem like he lacked for other ideas (incredibly) or that he was trying to sound tougher / harder than he really is. Also, the song Kim is terrible. Just hideous. Finally, it’s fair to knock him down a bit for the homophobia and misogyny. Just too much of it for me. Right now I am sitting between a 3 and a 4 and, in truth, if I could give this 3.5 I would. But I am moving to a 3 because, by the end of this album, I was tired of listening to it.
“We’re back in the shit factory, boys!” Je savais que le streak ne pouvait pas durer aussi longtemps, et honnêtement, on aurait pu tomber sur pire. J’aime bien les gros hits d’Eminem, mais ses albums sont un peu comme un sable mouvant: le plus que tu l’écoute activement, le plus tu t’enfonces.
This is one of like two albums that Eminem is actually known for. Whenever anyone's talking about how good of a rapper he is, they're usually just gonna bring up examples from this album. There's good reason for that, too. Stan and The Real Slim Shady are some of his biggest songs for a reason. I'd especially call Stan one of the best songs in rap. As for the album as a whole, it's definitely better than I expected, but even then it sometimes got pretty grating and 72 minutes is unnecessarily long. It's the Marshall Mathers LP, not the Marshall Mathers Double LP. Also I'm definitely not the first to say it but I'll say it anyways, the skits were pretty bad. That one of the guy getting head genuinely made me gag.
as a kid growing up with MTV I saw a lot of Eminem's music videos. back then they seemed entertaining and fun but I never really liked rap music and I've never listened to a full Eminem album. yesterday I listened to half of this album before getting interrupted, and after that I just didn' feel like continuing bc I didn't hear anything new, everything felt predictable and uninteresting. huge issue I have with most rap records including this album is the lyrics that go "I am this" "I am that" "I am cooler than those bitches" and it goes on and on and on and I just don't get how adult people can write these kinds of lines without cringing while saying them out loud. 3 stars for Stan and that MTV nostalgia mood.
Sympa mais pas aimé la fin
Eminem is def good just never been my fav, I did like the way I am
It was ok. Parts were enjoyable. Parts were difficult to listen to.
It’s OK
Легенда, конечно, и альбом в целом ничего. Но только ничего. Такой лежит у меня на родине, подаренный на день рождения, отчего очень тепло. Лучшая песня - Stan.
I understand it’s kind of the point, but the misogyny and sexism really doesn’t stop
3/5
A lot of the lyrics are problematic in today's society, but overall I didn't dislike this.
You can feel the anguish in the sound
Credit where credit is due. He knew what he was doing.
cool
A good album as a whole, with some good songs but lots crap too. I started this in the car with my Dad and very quickly turned it off
I really like the production on this album. A light touch that leaves room for Eminem to dominate each track. Despite leaving room for Em, the beats still have an impact. The lyrics have ages the most poorly. Misogyny and homophobia aren't the poignant social statement that uses to be I guess (eye roll).
This is comedy gold... on the comedy scale.. five stars... musically... i give it three stars... for the chutzpa it took...
I really only like one song in this album, but it is EM in his true form.
Well written. Good listen.
The more serious stuff is good but the attempts at comedy are awful. Stan brings it up to a 3
Great rapper and some good songs, I didn’t love the content of some of the stuff and it did feel dated at points. Working on the “shock” value of songs rather than more serious topics. There are some exceptions to this but I prefer my hip hop a bit more “grown up”
Pretty much as I remember it but which the benefit of being twenty something years older I can see how juvenile the whole thing is. Well put together but ultimately nothing to say
This album did not hold up well at all. Plus I hate skits on albums and this one has really shitty skits.
Middle school me would have rated this a five. It's misogynistic, homophobic, over the top violent, and regardless, still pretty good. Would be a four, but Kim is almost too fucked up in retrospect.
Few records are so simultaneously terrific and terrible. Rounding down because one can't fully endorse the content, as excellent as some of the beats and flows are.
De normal suelo escuchar otras cosas pero he de decir que este álbum no me ha defraudado. Clásico de rap (imagino) con canciones muy chulas como Stan. Chuli 👍👍
I liked it, but I most enjoy the songs I always listen to and I don't think I'd add any others to my usual playlists. I'm trying not to look at the album from a 2025 perspective, because it would be 1 star at most
Challenging album. Is that good? Is that bad? Maybe both? I want to like it more than I did.
Again, this is not my usual type of music. He seems to be obsessed with gay men. However, I can’t help but admit that there are some real classic bangers on here. Stand out songs: Kill You Stan The Real Slim Shady
It’s a 1/5 if you take it at face value. As a personal and social commentary it’s pretty good. But how can you differentiate…Stan is one of the best rap songs ever recorded. Gonna go down the middle
I was really looking forward to this and it does undoubtedly has some iconic songs. But it just didn’t hold up as well as I thought it would. Dragged in places and feel there’s much better from same period. Sorry Slim
I of course hated some of the lyrics but thats kind of the point i guess? It's leaning closer to the 2000s hiphop sound, which I don't really like. Some songs are amazing, I'd say 4-5 of the 18. I get it, he's a storyteller and there are a bunch of characters, and all... Not really my thing. Some dre beats are of course really good, but this didn't make me like the guy more. Maybe a higher 3 because of the bangers, but I have no motivator to listen to the whole thing in full ever again
Pretty good
Great beat. Explicit lyrics.
nie lubie
A couple okay songs, a couple bad ones. I feel about this album now the way I did when it came out.
This album brings me back to 2000 at the Jersey Shore. I always have issues rating music by Eminem. He's talented but the lyrics... Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
J - 3/5 Best Track - "Stan" F - 4/5 Best Track - "The Real Slim Shady"
Definitely some all timers but some tracks do not hold up at all and are actively bad.
This is such a weird album because there are some genuinely amazing and artistic songs on here like Stan, I love Amityville, and while I can't say I "like" Kim, it's an effective song no doubt. But also a lot of the album is just Eminem saying he doesn't give a fuck about what anyone says about him. Which is why he dedicated like 10 songs to it. Like this is a long album, I don't know how many times I need to listen to him say it. It's fine overall? Probably his best album in total even if there is a lot of fat to trim. Like all old Slim it aged like milk but that's what you've come to expect with him. 7/10
It's a shame really because this is a superb work in places but it feels like Eminem doesn't know when the joke's gone too far. Nobody actually listens to this and then goes out and beats up their girlfriend or even considers it, but there's undeniably a subconscious impact when your heroes (and somehow for a LOT of young rap fans, Eminem became a genuine idol) talk about this so much it becomes normal and funny. I did enjoy listening through this - I'd heard basically all of it through my brother's bedroom walls 25 years ago anyway - and you can't help but laugh at his turn of phrase and nod along to the beats. But I didn't feel like I wanted this playing aloud in my house or car, for fear of strangers or worse, my daughters, to think in any way I would condone or sympathise with any of its messages, however tongue-in-cheek they may be. I also didn't want them to hear a 'skit' of people sucking each other off. I have been somewhat forgiving of the late 80s/early 90s hip-hop with all its flaws and lyrical faults but I feel there's a big difference between those guys doing this in a relatively underground scene at the time and Eminem doing it as possibly the biggest star in music at the turn of the century.
I’m personally not much a fan of homophobic slurs, probably the biggest critique I have of this album. Otherwise, this album really accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do: its pure shock factor is insane. The climax of Kim really puts this on full display. It’s unsettling, disturbing, violent, and terrifying. I don’t really have anything else to say about this album though. In terms of what it’s sets out to do and how well it does it, it’s 5 stars. In terms of how much I like it and want to listen to it it’s around a 2. So I’ll settle on a 3 ig.
I never really listened to Eminem until he mellowed out a bit from this era. I was a kid at the time of his early releases, so I think I was too young to be attracted to the anger and violence in his music. It was interesting to come into this one with minimal knowledge of the songs on it. I still can't say the angry barrage of energy he emits is something I enjoy, but I will appreciate that he is good at what he does. He can unleash a torrid stream of words in each rap, but is still able to insert meaning into every single syllable. None of the energy is wasted. Whether he actually literally means much of what he says is doubtful, given the extremes that his songs can go to. It seems more like he's highlighting problems that exist in society, but also showcasing that he's seen them in uncomfortably close proximity and experienced them himself in some form. I'd also guess they're more thought experiments, seeing where the thoughts and feelings he has might go if he let them run wild. Or that these are characters, and he's letting them endure the consequences instead of seeing himself carry them out. That's clear from Stan at least, written mostly from the perspective of the fan taking his obsession to the extreme. There were two tracks, Amityville and Bitch Please II, that I felt showed a good balance between the extreme feelings and songwriting. I felt they were actually better than the singles, which were probably my next favorite tracks. I also liked the cohesiveness of the album. Regardless of the topic of each track, it felt like they all worked together to make the whole. That was aided in part by skits added in to bridge a few tracks. Steve Berman is a good example, going from an exec criticizing his efforts into a string of songs about his identity and being himself. The central themes never were far, even if the current song seemed to be a tangent. This was a long album, running around 80 minutes. But it didn't feel too long or drawn out, and I never felt like it was running out of steam. This was likely due to his ability to channel his energy meaningfully as mentioned above. For the negative, the angry vibe just doesn't attract me as a listener. It felt at times like he was writing in a certain way to try to force a reaction from the listener rather than earn it. It's subjective, but I find that to kind of cheapen the experience. If the song itself can't do it, adding in language for that purpose is a lazy substitute. Some of it also felt ignorant or hateful considering the content (ex: there was a lot of graphic criticism of homosexuality). Given that this was released in 2000, it makes some sense; people's lifestyles were viewed without as much open-mindedness as they can be today. But it's also depicted very specifically at times, which is almost a double-edged attack, since those who are truly hatefully would probably be turned off those details. These critiques could be explained by saying they were tools to stir up his critics, especially given the identity songs mentioned above. I can respect that, but I still think it takes away from the music's intrinsic value. Aside from the above, I found most of the musical compositions to be bland. The rap is supposed to be the star, obviously, but I think I would've liked the songs more if the music in them was more memorable. In sum, I found this to be a solid album, and I can see why those who are bigger fans of the genre would hold it in high esteem. Eminem did a lot of things well to craft it, and his energy is undeniable. For me, though, it was hard to appreciate without focusing on the negative aspects. The album is OK, bordering on good, but doesn't go higher than that for me. Overall: 3.3/5
now this is an interesting one. controversial and transgressive but greatly aided in the mainstream due to racial politics. weird spot to be in. i'm white so i don't think i can really come up with a good appraisal of Eminem's role in the greater culture of hip hop, but at the very least he was important. pretty well loved first few albums too before he went Shyamalan and completely fell off. this is one of those good albums and it's not really that great to me, as Eminem has a very schoolboyish appeal that i've grown out of. not without merits though. Stan is great and chilling, with a great use of Dido's Thank You deserves to be one of the 1001? ugh. fine. i guess. this list needs more hip hop anyway
Can I say fun? It was. An enjoyable listen from the angry white kid. 3.5
Good beats but find eminem annoying
20 years on, Eminem still doesn't do it for me. Guy means a lot of things to a lot of people, and he's an incredibly talented artist who has done some amazing things for rap, but the songs just aren't for me.
I mean, it is fine. I preferred the Slim Shady LP, but only just. This album is sort of the tipping point - his raps on albums beyond this are hollow and ring false, given how successful he was. How many times can you address 'haters' whilst rolling in cash? Half the songs are decent, the other half are more of the daft ones that make up the majority of his later career. Stan and The Way I Am are the stand-outs. Skits are terrible. As a side note, Encore is a horrible album.
Bah weep, grah nah weep: ninnybong,