The Marshall Mathers LP

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.

This was so big back in the day but I'm not sure I ever listened to the album, despite the definite crossover of Eminem that meant a lot of people listening to rock and punk would have definitely been into him. It is very silly but undeniably clever, very much marketed at male teenagers. Mad that in an album with so much violence and misogyny that the homophobia sticks out like a sore thumb but it really does, the other themes still pass today in a lot of spheres I think but that really dates it. Laughed a few times at some very other the top lines but can't think why I'd ever want it to hear it again. The singles are very nostalgic though. 2.5.

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,

This is the Eminem album I feel the most positive about but I still find it really corny. He's obviously very talented but his lyrics are so cringe to me. Anyone who thinks Eminem is a top 10 rapper is either 14 years old or racist white guy who "usually doesn't like rap music" Favorite track: Stan (Em's masterpiece in my opinion)

Eminem, you know what it is. Fast, high quality rhymes. Commentaries on fame, causes of violence in children, accusations of stealing black music, other traditional rap topics. Mummy/women issues. Best track (other than Stan/ Real Slim Shady) - Amityville or Criminal?

"The real slim shady" and "stan" are incredible tracks that earn the album an extra star. Unfortunately that start gets taken away due to the blatant homophobia and 14 year old level angst. He was 28 years old when he made this album, grow up. I love eminem but you can tell he was going through some shit because this album just feels like a pretentious therapy session.

I usually award threes as a result of distance from/apathy for the work, but this is an involved rating for me. I love the flow. I love the narrative arc, the persona, the feelings he’s tapping into. But I can’t help feeling like some of the music itself is just bad—scraping at my ears or something. I wish the star system better reflected how invested I am in the ratings I give.

Eminem is a grandfather now. We have all been alive too long.

Eminem is clearly talented and rhymes like no other. Not the biggest fan because I can't get past the homophobia, misogyny and violence.

Complete

this guy can rap really well i just really wish he wasn’t rapping about you know. all of this stuff lol

Emimem

Eminem is an immensely talented rapper, but I'm just not into it.

I enjoyed it definitely some bangers but got a little boring after a while and a bit repetitive but overall a good album :)

good when youre in the mood

Oh Eminem, couple of bangers on this one.

A solid rap album! I finished most of this album. For me it feels like something I have to be in the mood for but that’s just me. ‘The Real Slim Shady’ will always be a bop but some other tracks that stood out for me were ‘Bitch Please II’ and ‘Under the Influence.’ I would listen to this again if I was in the mood for it and recommend it to others!

Horror-core HipHop. Again with Slim Shady. First time around this had a kind of freshness to it.

Typical Slim Shady. The flow is still incredible and kicks ass. Would have been better with fewer songs though.

Em is vexing. He's very good, and very bad, and I think he thinks the bad elevates the good, and I don't agree.

I once watched The Exorcist in a student halls common room. When the spinny head shenegans started, someone laughed and the whole room disolved into giggles. The film became the best comedy I'd seen all year. This album is a bit like that. It's so violent and shocking that it's comedic. Like Tom and Jerry the sound effects and lyrics become meaningless and funny. There is some great wordplay on here too and the tunes are listenable. The only problem with albums like this (and films and games) is that some non-level headed people can't handle them and take them too seriously (a fact that is aluded to in some of the lyrics). That's when it gets a bit dangerous (like the nut job Stan). So a wider social question is should this/that sort of stuff be banned? Anyway, that's getting too deep. I quite liked it - but then (I think) I'm normal.

I’ll start with the positives, which include masterful beats by Dr. Dre and an unrivaled command of the English language in rap by Eminem. Those elements nearly redeem this album from its sexism, homophobia and violence that have aged like milk. Teenage edgelords may still unite around this juvenile irreverence, but I find it grating.

3 - An improvement for me, but why is there always dick sucking in these albums. Also some very intrusive thoughts that probably shouldn't be voiced

Aged so poorly. Catchy as hell, but damn is it homophobic and violent.

Every song is packed with great lyrics Some good stories and themes. Started to feel tiresome by the last third. Will probably relisten to a handful of songs

As depraved as possible and for that it succeeds. No one really rhymes like Eminem, in both a good and terrible way. Standout track is “Stan”, a song that eternally defines the relationship between art and consumer. I wish the album had more Dido.

2000 I was 11 and had just got my first phone, a Nokia 3210. For a couple of pounds – still then a significant enough amount to warrant the request of special permission from mum – you could have a monophonic ringtone sent over and installed. My pick was “Stan”, which I proudly touted around the neighbourhood of a symbol of my maturity (a phone and a ringtone from a sweary song by that sweary man). I think the aura lasted about a week. By then Dido had released “Thank you” as a single and, yeah, I had a Dido ringtone. £2 was nothing to be sniffed at, so the ringtone stayed. (Eminem first heard “Thank You” on the Sliding Doors soundtrack; perhaps not a coincide that “Stan”’s cleverness hinges, then, on a sense of “what could have been”.) It’s strange, given how complicated the contents of this record are, that the memories it conjures are totally uncomplicated ones; memories and feelings common, I’d assume, to 12 year old boys in 2000. Things like the Gadget Shop in Meadowhall, full of plasma globes, 3D pin art boards and robotic dogs doing backflips; excitement over the UEFA Champions League, where impossibly cool concepts like “Marcelo Salas” and “Inter Milan” dominated (if I could bottle the feeling that would sweep over me as the Anthem played before a game… ); holidays in the Canary Islands where I’d karaoke Eminem while my sister covered the Dido parts; McDonalds in the town centre with mates on the weekend. I have to be honest. Listening to Eminem say straight-forwardly reprehensible things stirs in me an awkwardly comforting nostalgia. It isn’t the monophonic ringtone pulled from a song about obsession and matricide I’m nostalgic for, though, it’s the monoculture from where it came. And not that particular monoculture, not at all. Just the general sense of shared experience. Eminem was outrageous. He dominated the discourse with an artistic vision so well honed, rehearsed and genuinely compelling that it’s difficult to imagine a 21st century without his influence. Equally, it’s impossible to listen to the 20th century from where he was speaking and not feel some severe cultural cringe. That tension cannot be ignored when listening to an album like this; it shouldn’t be apologised for or excused. Across this record, Eminem’s sometimes ironic, sometimes convenient appropriation of the “reluctant superstar” trope (ciao, Cobain) combines charismatically with his ear for excellent production (either his own, or his collaborators’). And while the lyrical themes may more than justify their parental advisory sticker – you have to say he’s consistent. This is a tone poem of a total breakdown that doesn’t care who it takes down with it (but in fact takes everyone involved in to the very top, critically and commercially). Eminem shocked the world. It’s a shame really that the only people who can command that sort of attention today are committing atrocities. Who knows, maybe the monoculture had its uses. Or maybe I just want a time machine. Damn.

I wanted to hate this album more than I ended up doing. Some of his lyrics are still super misogynistic and homophobic though. Stan is a good song. The skits and jokes are stupid. I'm confused. Kim is one of the songs I'm the most on the edge about. It's either a masterpiece or the most horrible, wife-abusing piece of shit I've ever heard. I guess I'll go with my system as usual: -1 star for innovation. -Half star for lyrics. Some stuff is great and some stuff is just plain awful. -1 star for instrumental/voice quality. His flow is nice. -0.5 stars for a good album mix. I don't care about the stupid skits. -1 full star for catchiness. Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Overall: 3.5 stars .

Not my cup of tea but still love Eminem!

Rap music is not really something that I listen to. It was interesting to hear about a man who was uncomfortable and struggling with fame. Just not really my type of music.

eh. Eminem is truly talented and has impeccable flow but he's just not my thing

The music and beats are great. The delivery is among the best in the business. But this is one situation where I can't avoid paying attention to the lyrics and it's just too vulgar for me to really enjoy.

Man, some of these songs are seriously amazing - catchy, clever, blisteringly honest - and they're utterly taken down by the not funny nor truly sarcastic misogyny and homophobia. Never heard an album I enjoyed so much yet never want to listen to again.

“Hee hee my mom would be so angry if she knew I was listening to this! I’m so edgy!” Stan is pretty good though, but mostly because of Dido

Stereotypical post massive fame album though young boy has got a little more insight than most into his situation and the world that made it possible. Anyway mostly more of the same from the other one on the list but some nice production, variety, and he is undeniably at the top of his powers. Brings his friends along too. Would that he could properly turn his tongue on the world, but latest releases are undeniably not at this top of his powers.

The good stuff is excellent. The slop is really sloppy. I never really got into Eminem, even though I am probably the ideal age and perfect demographic for him- light skinned guy from the suburbs. Public Service Announcement 2000 Kill You Stan- yuuuup- great cut from Dido, great story, great passion- he is at his best when he is looking at the world differently Paul Who Knew- Eminem makes interesting points about people being hypocrites, but a lot of times it just feels like he is excusing his own behavior Steve Berman The Way I Am- what made this a single? The Real Slim Shady- if Eminem had more songs like this, he could be in the conversation for greatest rapper ever. But he doesn't. Remember Me I'm Back Marshall Mathers Ken Kaniff Drug Ballad Amityville- whatever Bitch Please 2- Dr. Dre was never a great rapper, and he got worse over the years- still probably the best ear for beats and sound ever. Nate Dogg may be the voice in hip hop ever. Kim Under the Influence Criminal- wait, another song about how his music shouldn't bemisinterpreted? How many of these will there be? The Kids

Another hard one for me. Musically, this is good, and Eminem has impeccable rhythm, lyrics etc... one can't deny he's an amazing rapper. I also like the music with a simple yet effective rhythm section. What I like less... even though some of the lyrics are good/autobiographical, why do there need to be the homophobic phrases - I have not been convinced they are "in character". Even without this, why do we need all this a$$holes, d!ck sucking etc... OK maybe this was cool and daring in the 1980s but come on, be a bity more creative. Could be a 4 or a 5 purely for the musicality and influence - but alas.

This was fun

3 stars

To my ears the most accessible of his releases (from the 1001 assignment)

First, I got this on Valentine's Day. Christ! OK, again, as a kid of the 90's - 2000's, OF COURSE I bumped Eminem. What white boy didn't? Even had the 2x12" subs in the truck rattling my car apart. 😂 His third album, but much anticipated after his success of The Slim Shady LP, this is brutally dark and raw, and too much at times. The writing is sharp, but the anger can be exhausting. Not bad, but not always enjoyable. Playlist Additions: - Stan - The Real Slim Shady - Bitch Please II

Listened: 12/02/2025 Album no: 19 % rating: 69% Fave Song: Stan A banger album I listened to LOADS in my youth. Some of this obviously hasn’t aged well but absolutely no one would be surprised at that, some of it has aged well however and sonically it is sounds great. Stan is still such a banger all these years later. Great to return to this one!

This was good! But less good than I thought it would be. Will only listen to 2-3 tracks again.

72 minutes. 72 fucking minutes of a successful famous man whining about the problems of success and fame. Still, it’s well delivered, and the production is clean as - I’m tempted to knock a star off for popularising Dido but that would be churlish. I’m very unlikely to listen to it again, but it wasn’t total shite.

The singles of this album were part of my childhood and early teens (TRL/MTV era) got into the album, knowing pretty well that this project had more than questionable lyrics, but that 1-2 punch of Kill You and Stan is so great that it is almost forgivable. If only the second half of the album didn't feel so damn dragging. Ken Kaniff is one skit too much on a 70+ minute album. Kinda wished that this album came after License to Ill instead of Sinatra in between them. 7/10 Whoever told Em to write The Way I Am and Real Slim Shady after delivering the first draft of the album was the MVP of the project https://youtu.be/eOAiwE48g10

I dunno man, there's flecks of gold in there but it's really hard to listen to in 2025.

Imagine if you will: A white boy in michigan who loves violence. P good production and beats! Stan is very good! Kim is the worst song i've heard on this list by far though! !so women

A difficult one to rate. Put gently idk if I can relate to all the imagery? But it’s told in such an intuitive way esp in the more narrative based songs. And honestly it feels endearingly emotionally authentic? This album feels like when you have a DMC with a proper wrongun’ at the end of the night and you’re glad you have a story but never want to see them again

Forgot how much weird shit is on this one. Couple bangers though

Didn't listen to this for a long long time, forgot how violent the album is. Technically the rapping is great, it's fast and well articulated. There is no doubt about the theme of this, it's fuck everybody, I don't care about anything. Dr. Dre did his part regardign beats, the album is pretty tight in that regard, perhaps just a bit repetitive. There are some great songs on this, and there are also some really bad ones. Makes you wonder what could have been if the themes on the album were just a bit less aggressive and hostile towards pretty much everybody (women, homosexuals, other musicians etc.). But then again, maybe that's the reason the album got so famous in the first place. Having said all that, the album is still a classic and for sure worth checking out, both for the music and the context in which it came to be.

I obviously know Eminem and his many hits, but I don’t think I ever listened to a full album of his so this would be interesting. This is vintage Eminem, using his classic sound of fast rapping of comically violent and outrageous lyrics. Beats are mostly straightforward, and the melody lines are simple and effective. This got a couple of Eminem’s career defining hits - Stan and The Way I Am. The other songs in the album are also good. I personally found it got a bit tedious about midway (I’m Back) but I’m sure that fans of Eminem’s style can enjoy this front to back. This album definitely merits inclusion in this list, being the mainstream breakout of the best selling musician ever. I can’t say that this has become my favorite album or anything. Three stars.

"The Real Slim Shady" and "Stan" - definitely great hit songs of 00s, but that's is all for me. Not a fan of Eminem rap style

Well I still remember a hell of a lot of these lyrics despite not having listened to it in probably 20 years. I listened to this all the time on the bus in high school after it first came out. I can’t say it aged well, but as a piece of morbid entertainment, it’s entertaining. Helps that enough time has passed to know he is likely not a murderer. I’m not sure he deserves as many Grammies as he has won, but he does have a way with words.

да неинтересно, ну записано норм

Some might say this is peak Eminem. There are a couple of bangers here, but the rest is mid Slim.

Still know most lyrics 💀

I will not be taking any questions but i do like it .. i just think it lags and there a lot of skippable songs ... funny enough one of the things i appreciate about this music is that it is so incredibly emotional, not really like positive or good emotions but very emotional in a way you kinda don't expect from rap music of the era ...

decent and wild and nasty and predictable and outrageous

Why is he so angry!!!! kind of insane how many hits are on this though. I knew i had an eminem phase as a teen but didn’t realize how deep i was in it because i knew most of these songs lol Again though… why is he soooo angry… calm down girl DIDO ON THE TRACK BABY!!! Stan is soooo good…. it really is just sooo hateful though. like it’s hard to ignore all of the lines about raping and killing women.. i just.. you can’t really find an excuse for it and it’s really disturbing that every song has a mention of some kind of intense violence against women?? Kim is a disgrace of a song like it’s truly so upsetting and more upsetting thinking about how much i loved that song as like a 13 year old girl!!!? just gross alright it’s starting to get longgggg i am losing steam Overall it’s very of its time and its so good for so many reasons but also just makes me so uncomfortable at the same time.. and i guess thats not a bad thing but at the same time its just.. deeply misogynistic and idk how much i can vibe with that!!

Ok. C'est vraiment très dur de mettre une note à cet album. D'un côté, c'est un classique. Y'a des chansons qui sont devenues légendaires (Stan, The Real Slim Shady), et d'une manière générale la plupart de l'album est très agréable à écouter si on arrive à prendre du recul par rapport aux paroles. Après tout, c'est Eminem, il pense rien de ce qu'il dit, et ça ajoute au côté comique de la chose. Et puis y'a Kim. Là ça a été vraiment dur à écouter. Vu le scandale qu'à causé Orelsan en France avec Sale P*te (aucune idée de ce qui est censuré ici ou pas), j'ose même pas imaginer ce que ça a été pour lui. Heureusement que le début du morceau d'après permet de décompresser un peu, ça a transformé Kim en un moment de "... ... ... C'était quoi ça ?" au lieu de me dégouter jusqu'à la fin de l'album. Du coup l'album est très réussi. Même avec ça je pense que Kim a eu parfaitement l'effet voulu sur moi, et ça c'est vraiment très fort. Mais ça a aussi approché voire dépassé mes limites en termes de ce que je suis capable d'écouter.

3.5 Ya know, if anything, this project has made me respect Eminem more, at least the earlier stuff. I like horrorcore a lot and his early work fits pretty comfortably in that genre. I say I’m impressed, while simultaneously maybe agreeing it’s WILD that this dude was so popular, especially with kids in the 90s. Kids should not have been hearing this!!! I found the content difficult to get through at some points, and I’m an adult who LIKES horrorcore! “Kim” is one of the most harrowing songs I’ve listened to in this journey. I was physically uncomfortable while it played.

I rolled my eyes at having to listen to this in full (again — it was once my college homework to do so), and my coworkers said I might be surprised by how much I enjoyed it. And they were right….it definitely had its moments. He is a pretty good storyteller (even if I don’t always care for the way he talks about women in the stories he’s telling, but obviously I knew to expect that going in). “Stan” is still really insane and I do think that’s a kind of timeless song, especially as the conversation about parasocial fan-celeb relationships rages on. I still find him really irritating in his delivery and vocal style but admittedly he is good and some of these beats are catchy. The main barrier to getting fully into his music even from his peak, is that he just sounds like a loser to me. Idk I just don’t find him cool or compelling as a person in basically any regard. And that is a major obstacle for me when listening to rap considering they are literally talking to you. And maybe I’m discriminating against #loserrights and that makes me small minded about the genre but whatever. The moments I liked were all *despite* his voice, delivery, and personality — basically all the things that draw other people to his work — so I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to consider myself a fan. *Fav tracks: Stan (feat. Dido), The Way I Am*

One of the earliest albums I remember from my childhood. Like many Eminem albums, it's a mixed bag of highly serious with highly immature. There's no denying the impact this album had, but there are some painful tracks to get through that do not hold up to the quality of other songs. So my faults for this are not "this did not age well", but rather song to song the album suffers quality consistency when it released and as it stands today. As an album in Eminem's greater catalog, musically this one is a bit overrated, and think he came through a lot more consistency overall with the follow-up, The Eminem Show. I still appreciate a few lesser known gems on this one though like Amityville and Bitch Please II.

Deb : 2 - it's better than 1, I didn't switch it off Sian : 4 - fabulous album with witty, clever lyrics Overall score 3

Not my thing

Like a lot of old hip hop, the lyrics are all bit dated on some songs. Too much lyrics about how cool the artist. Still can’t deny how good the album sounds though.

Good when I was a teen. Find Em punishing to listen to these days. Hilarious that the top review guy seems to think Eminem is a band.

It's good. Not great. Extra points for honesty.

This has got some bangers without a doubt. But that overall vibe is just not for me.

Whoa. I never listened to this. I avoided all the hype and now I see what it was all about... and all the bad stuff too. I can't say that I enjoyed this, especially the first track. Damn!

I love some of these songs, but I can't stand the spooky scary skeletons vibe and the degenerate lyrics. Stan, Kim and Real Slim Shady are great pieces of art though

I really thought I would love this album but once I listened to it I realized much of it was filler. And the 2 main subjects were killing and dick sucking. There were a few songs I did like...

Gross and uncomfortable lyrics and subject matter (1 star), but outside that everything else is quite good (4-5 stars). Kind of a familiar refrain for me with these hardcore hip hop albums, but I like this one more than any of the others I've encountered here. Decided to split the difference on it and land in the middle on 3 stars. But worst skits of any album so far, I think.

I really wanted to give it a four but the last song just really turned me off with the violence towards his ex.

Good to hear the hits again, which really are exceptional songs (Stan, The way I am, The Real slim Shady). But others are mid to bad, like Remember Me, which I skipped.

it’s probably up there with Slim Shady which surprisingly I liked. Having said that it’s pretty much the same, and this is the problem I have with hip hop and rap, everything is quite samey. I’m sure that other genres can be accused of being the same, I’m just not a big fan of this genre. It’s all a bit too produced for my liking and seems to have a cast of thousands, who helped put it together + plenty of guest artists. In the final equation I don’t totally dislike it but it just seems to be more of the same

While there is some nostalgia factor weighing my ranking more heavily, I have a similar thought about this album as I did when I was a kid hearing Eminem for the first time - “I’m not supposed to be listening to this.” The shock for the sake of shock factor didn’t really age well, and as raunchy as the homophobia and woman-bashing was then it feels even worse now. I guess to a certain extent, that’s the point? But it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to listen to songs like “Kim”. All of that said, there are two absolute Eminem classics on this album that elevate the ranking of this album, “Stan” and “The Real Slim Shady”. With just one of these the album might be a 2, but both definitely help justify a higher ranking even amidst all schlock.

Regular advisory: rap isn't my favorite. In as far as the 'art of rap', this is well done. Insults to competitors, ✅. Insults to minority groups, ✅. Actually getting a story told, double ✅

The flow holds up. The misogyny and homophobia don't.

I meean preety good but grown out of it

Peak Eminem.

Jesus these lyrics do not age well at all lol

Didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Still 3 stars for the big hits.

vind ik curtain call chiller, vroeger vond ik dit fantastisch maar nu, eh, vind de 'gevoellige' eminem het chillst

Listening now..I can already say that I hold Eminem in high esteem for his immense talent, but he always sounds angry and they lyrics are often too nasty for me, so I have never enjoyed listening to him for long - a couple of tracks here and there but that's it so I'm giving him a 3

He has so much talent and carved out an ample space in a genre and industry that initially rejected him. That being said, working through his deep-rooted trauma may feel cathartic for some, but it always comes at the expense of women. Rap has a long history of treating women poorly, and he's just another example of that. I'm sorry he is dealing with unresolved issues with your mother - sucks - but I much prefer when he sings about your daughter. It's hard to listen to and a full album...ugh. That said...If you don't listen to the words - it's delightful.

Two things are certain. 1) Eminem is an unbelievably skilled rapper and by a certain metric pretty much changed the game - like Dylan - what you could sing about, how you could sing about it. And the phrasing - the otherworldly phrasing. Theres before Eminem and after Eminem. 2) I'm not sure it was worth it. I respect it but it's just so dark. So much bile. I'm all for a diss track but it fells like nothing but. It's cut with humor and again - the skill. But an hour of it is not for me. I'm just young enough to have heard the first three albums but old enough that they were more of a curiosity than sacred scrolls. Time hasn't changed that - for me.

A few really good songs, but most just didn't hit as much for me. Standout tracks: Stan, The Real Slim Shady

3/5 An interesting listen. Production is well executed. Overall the album is well-executed. Culturally significant - you can see the impact this had on middle america and scruffy white dudes all over. Imbodiment of fuck you and finding success against the corporate influences in music of the time. Can see the dynamic of the voilent/outraguous/controversial artist mirrored in artists like Tyler the Creator. Singles are plain fun to listen to. But it's not to my taste - I find a lot of it cringe, similar I imagine to how people hate seinfeld due to its influence on subsequent sitcoms - hence the rating.

Some of this has aged well (stan, way I am & the real slim shady) but some of this hasn’t (Kim especially!). This was on everywhere back in the day so it was nice to refresh with it.

Wow. I was gonna rate this higher because he is talented as hell and I think gets a lot of hate for being corny as an older guy… but Kim made me really uncomfortable so… 3 stars!

Probably would have been 4/5 if I'd stopped half way but the album trails off towards the last third. Still some bangers on here but didn't care for the skits.

At first I was not into listening to this. Just wasn't vibing with the rap thing. But I did listen. And honestly I liked it. It was way braver and deeper and more honest, even awkward at times, than I had ever envisioned. Now, with that said, it also kept going. Violent, confronting mental health, homophobia, capitalism, suicide, hate... And... it kept going. And going. Like as in "fuck man, this is super depressing" level. It is like one of those movies you watch once and realize you can never watch it again, even if it was pretty great. I often speak of "tonal value" when I review films. The tone here is dark dark dark! The humor is extremely sarcastic, the stories do not have happy endings. I don't think I will revisit this anytime soon, as good as it is.

This was a difficult album to listen to. The music was good in places, but very dark. There was a lot of extremely violent and angry lyrics, particularly directed against his wife / partner. But they, for the most part, didn't feel like glorification. The album tails off towards the end and after the intense first half, that did mean it dragged on a little.

An album I loved at the time, and obviously one that had a huge influence. It doesn't really hold up outside of a few tracks, but still a nice nostalgia trip. 3/5

Listened to this as a teenager. I remember that even back then I did not like some of the songs and did not like the skits. Still do not like the skits and the lyrics are... Well, typcial for the genre but questionable. I'll give it 3/5 because of the classic The Real Slim Shady, Stan and The Way I am.

There's no doubt of his skill in the craft, and it is an interesting social commentary on the state of influence and stature that popular figures and music can have on people, but some of the content here was awfully challenging to listen through. I know the world can be cruel. I know that exaggeration as satire is part of Eminem's intent, but I'd usually prefer music to not leave me feeling like I need a shower afterwards. 3 or 4 for the music, but in terms of how it speaks to me and how likely I am to play the whole album again, it really pulls the rating down for me. Stan is brilliant though.

I am capable of truly respecting Eminem's skills. But I seeming am not capable of wanting to listen to this record. 5/5 skill, 1/5 listenability = 3/5

I've never really been a fan of album skits—they often feel like filler and this album was no exception past the the first few listens they always got skipped. Back in the 2000s, it was on heavy rotation on the stereo at Woo Towers. Despite my general dislike for skits, the rest of the album had something compelling that kept me coming back to it. As for standout tracks, rather predictably"Stan" is my favorite. It’s one of those songs that stays with you long after it's over. That said, I can't ignore the album's more problematic aspects. Lyrically, it’s undeniably filled with homophobic and misogynistic content, which makes it a bit difficult to listen to through a modern lens. But there’s no denying the rapper's skill—his flow and rhyme are impressive, and he knows how to command attention. It's a complicated mix of admiration and discomfort with this album, but it holds a place in my musical history regardless.

2.5/5

I’ve never heard a Eminem album so this should be interesting. It definitely feels pretty edgelord, but that cultural movement was probably inspired by this album in part. There’s a weird amount of lyrics about school shootings. I guess maybe because it was new thing back then. First half has a few great songs, production is very good all around. Most songs are dense with little details. Definitely new things to notice on relisten. Ken Kaniff is probably the worst skit ever. The second runs a little long and can be annoying. Kim is a pretty wild song. Definitely a highlight. Good album overall. Fav song: The Way I Am Least Fav song: I’m Back

Funky

Reminds me of middle school

Again, I really like the music and the flow of this. Lyrics are pretty crazy though.

Another I've heard before, but it has been years since I've given it a complete listen. Stan is a truly great song, and one of the best of Em's career. The rest is... a bit of a mixed bag. He's an edgelord with multiple grudges, and it can be mean, insulting, bigoted, and dorky. But it also feels true to the person making it. He's also, as always, a solid wordsmith, making a good line out of even the worst parts of it. It doesn't have the introspection required to elevate the whole album, like, say, My Beautiful dark Twisted Fantasy, or even later Eminem albums, but it gives a glimpse into a real person and shows how he became this way. Purely on its own, it's a fine album, with some great singles and a some unfulfilling filler tracks, but the arc of Eminem's career as a whole is very interesting, and this gives a ton of insight into a great writer as he evolves. Also, skits in rap albums. Have they ever been good? Were they fun at the time? All I can say, in retrospect, is that they almost always take me out of the flow of the album, are usually, at best, cheesy and dumb, and absolutely ruin my shuffle whenever I buy a rap album.

This is a really hard one to rate. It's so offensive and uncomfortable to listen to while also slapping relentlessly hard. I certainly can't forgive its content even though it's supposedly satirical but it certainly made me feel strongly which is what good art's supposed to do, right? I think I'm going to split the difference. I might listen to this again but certainly not in a hurry.

A few good tracks but the shock in his lyrics which gained him popularity are just trashy now

Album 566 of 1001 Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Not my favorite genre. Even worse is when it is full of simple, sophomoric crap. I look at this in a more comical light than anything else. He has taken much flack for his constant uses of a particular slur but knowing more about what is going on in that world, I now wonder who those comments were really directed at. It has a couple of moments.

Tough really. Some massive tunes on here but not a great deal else in all honestly. His style grates song after song and some of the lyrics are deeply offensive.

so very grotesque at times it begs the question if it’s even creativity? can’t deny that some of the tunes are great

Against all my instincts I think this is a good album. I wasn’t an angry enough young white boy to be into Eminem when he was making his hits but he’s obviously a very talented and creative artist and this album has a lot to say

Eminem has got that unique sound. And he has got the hits "Stan" and "The Real Slim Shady" on this. Quite strong album for a hip-hop act, but way too long. And "Kim" is hard to stand for me! 2,5

It was very raw and introspective. Edgy and violent and rough. Glad I tried it, probs pass in future

He was really hitting back at the time but some of those lyrics have not aged well

Het is een beetje wisselend vind ik. De 'suck my dicks' enzo hoeven van mij niet zo, evenals de vrouwonvriendelijke dingen. Hij moet iets te vaak benadrukken dat het allemaal niks uitmaakt. We weten het na de eerste skit ook wel hoor, hoeft niet in de helft van de nummers ook nog benoemd te worden. Je zou haast denken dat hij het voor zichzelf goed moet praten, en dat het hem stiekem heel veel doet wat mensen vinden. Verder heb je wel weer kneitergoede nummers met Stan, The Real Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, The Way I Am. Dus ja, 3 of 4 sterren?

It’s not his best work in my opinion but there’s some great ones on here. Way better than his new stuff

This bloke hates his wife and/or girlfriend, also I don't think I've heard cunt in a song before.

Bitch Please II is great but Eminem is over-rated. The features are the best part of this album. Production is good. Edge-lord shit. 3.28

I think 10 years ago, I would've enjoyed this album a lot more than I am now. I don't find this album as lyrical or as entertaining as I once did.

The Good: MnM knows how to weave language The Bad: just weaving won't make a great suit The Ugly: out-dated on certain songs Still, MnM is able to start telling a story and keep you listening, and in the case of a song like "Stan" can keep you coming back for more and more... Of all the hip-hop, till now, my favorite album. 3*

The misogyny and homophobia is pretty tired sounding, even though it's all done with a "ha ha only kidding" attitude. The skits just break the flow (as they always do; why do rap albums so often contain skits?). But Eminem's rapping is fun, and often funny, and I particularly like the song that Dre and Snoop are on; the combo of voices is good.

This was huge back in its day, and it still is huge today. Not only is it huge, it is also long, and once you dig into it, the deeps cuts aren't anything that special. Overall, it is pretty fun and well-written and performed. Key tracks: Stan The Way I Am The Real Slim Shady

Certainly a time capsule for humor in the early 2000's. I feel like the thing that ages worse than the edginess is all the topical references. Still, there's some fun tracks here. Also Sticky Fingaz and Xzibit crushed their features.

I really shouldn’t like this because of many things, but mainly because of the continuous homophobia and misogyny. But, somehow I do. I can’t take him too seriously and I don’t actually think he takes himself too seriously either. There’s no denying that his vocals are superb. He has such variation of styles and the music is too catchy.

looooook no denying eminem's lyrical genius, it's absurd how long yet poetically brilliant he can be. BUT gotta say there's horrendous phrases and views..... lol interesting critique of celebrity, influence, the record industry, being a role model and parasocial fan relationships... ALSO is this really above Recovery???? Or dare I say the Eminem show... Dr. Dre producing is abundantly clear (watch the defiant ones on HBO if you want some BTS on Dr. Dre he's a musical savant). Conceptually as well this album is good but a lot of these songs just give me such bore, like yes the lyrics are dope but meh vibes

solid record

Meh

12 year old me got this album for Christmas from Santa, I then asked my unsuspecting parents if I could put it on, it was switched off very quickly and I was only allowed to listen to this album in my room and to make sure my 7 year old brother didn’t hear it. This is a good album, but far too over the top to enjoy these days

Listened to this enough when I was a kid, great album

This album is a mix of highs and lows for me. I don't love Eminems goofier rap style like in The Real Slim Shady but can't deny it's catchy af. Stan was a favorite of mine back in the early 2000s but I just think it feels a bit old and not as deep as it felt back then. That said, I do appreciate the darker style of The Way I Am and I'm Back (I'm a sucker for the bell soundeffect in The Way I Am, it flows so well). In total this is not an album I would put on and listen to in it's entirety, especially since the interludes really ruins the pace, but I can't deny it's a classic with some real bangers.

Kill You 2.8 Stan 4 Paul (skit) n/a Who Knew 2.5 Steve Berman (skit) n/a The Way I Am 3 The Real Slim Shady 4 Remember Me? 2.7 I'm Back 2.9 Marshall Matters 2.4 Ken Kaniff (skit) n/a Drug Ballad 2.8 Amityville 2.9 Bitch Please II 2.6 Kim 2.8 Under the Influence 2.5 Criminal 2.5 Score: 2.885714286

Aikamoista uhoomista :D Ihan jees mut liikaa samaa

Few songs explain the cultural development of America better than "Stan" and "The Real Slim Shady"

Bought it back in the day due to Stan. Rest of it is just too much for me. Not a fan. Can respect it, but not enjoy it.

Love his earlier albums, like listening more cause he’s a wordsmith than the music itself. 3.4

A pretty good album. Eminem is clearly trying to be a troll in these songs with some hits and a number of misses. The skits/flows were mostly good. Some of the songs were too long and became uninteresting. 3/5

I’m nervous to say this… But I don’t love Eminem. I find his music to be very aggressive, and I don’t love that. I will say, I know his cultural importance, and that people regard him as one of the best.

I like Em.

I don't enjoy rap that much but I liked Stan, The Real Slim Shady and I'm Back.

I am probably in the minority here, but outside of “The Real Slim Shady” there are about 2 other tracks on this album that I would not immediately punch out on if they just came up on a mix. Just too many B,D,F, and N bombs. Also, cussing out and lambasting your GF/Wife is not what I would consider creative lyrics. I get he was groundbreaking and innovative, and I love me some 8 Mile. For those reasons Ill round up to a 3, but I was so glad when this was over. 2.5/5

I can see the relevance of this one if I place myself in the year 2000 of its release. It hits like a wrecking ball. But nearly 25 years later, it doesn’t hold up near as well. I get it…angry much? Mr. Mathers is much better when he takes a less obvious or humorous approach to the lyrics as he does here and there. But the blatant misogynistic, homophonic and violent lyrics are tired and seem elementary nearly a quarter century later.

one of the greats for sure but one artist whos music dont age that good for my listening experience at least. The Huge Big Songs always gonna stay as a classic but the overall album experince was def better when i was younger. Still a big MC that i loove and fw

I feel the same way about this as I did with Straight Outta Compton. Eminem could probably have been considered the best in the game at one point. And at 42 years old, I’m not sure about how much of this I actually enjoy listening to.

I go back and forth on this one...he is talented, he talks of his experiences in a way that are somewhat deep and reflects on a culture of blaming media for everything instead of looking inside. With that said...he is so derogatory, sexist, homophobic and mean. I agree that the media is not to blame, but you are also not blameless using such angry rhetoric and not expecting others to connect with you and feel justified. Is he talented, yes...did I enjoy him when it first came out, yes...does it hit different today, most definitely

I know his lyrics can be ridic, but I’m an Eminem fan. He’s such a talented rapper and I love that he doesn’t give a fuck. I don’t like this album as much as The Eminem Show though. It doesn’t have the same lighthearted catchy vibes that kind of soften the problematic things he sings about. This one feels a lot darker.

Vulgar. Moments of genius.

I guess I never really understood his vibe before listening Troll but really weighty Couple bangers on here

Auto 4 just for Stan and The Way I Am. The rest is angrier than I remember. Unfortunately the album did not age as well as the hits did. You had to be alive at the time of recording to get most of the references. Because of those two things, it is getting a 3/5.

Man this was nostalgic

I really want to rate this higher. I totally get that the shock factor and offensive nature of Eminem is the point. But having this album generated the WEEK after I first listened to The Death of Slim Shady makes it feel… stale. This album was impressive, and raw, and unique when it came out, sure. But he’s still milking the same schtick damn near a quarter-century later. Plus, the dick sucking noises were super jarring to listen to at my 9-5 desk job.

Lots of cursing and bad-words. It was good, his voice is not annoying but not enjoyable either. Old album tone. Very well done. 7.0/10.

If I were a hip hop rap fan I’d probably really like this…so nope.

Gen Z is trying to cancel him! Some messed up lyrics, that's for sure. Gen Z is trying to cancel him!

I forgot what a hold this guy had on culture in the 2000s. Hearing him rap about the absolute hysteria around his lyrics reminded me of the moral panic this country went through when he first got big and I think that's how I understand this album too. On one hand he doesn't care what you think - he is going to be a crude and crass as he wants and in some respects he is a free speech warrior, but on the other hand I think he does it just to piss people off and his music suffers because of it too. I think he is one of the most talented rappers of a generation and he is maybe one of the best lyricists of the genre, but it songs like Kim that really turn me off of him. I think if he spent more time writing songs like Stan rather than songs just made to piss people off he would have had a much better album - but then again at the end of the day that's sort of the Eminem experience.

Takes me straight back to this era…

Like challenging art ... I remained conflicted ... Occupied by questions ... More impactful than an old masterpiece could ever muster

Iconic, but not going to be an everyday listen for me.

Nothing if not caustic, Marsh always throws down very danceable, listenable beats, at the same time as he tries to shock his audience with his crudeness and threats of violence. What’s most disingenuous is this notion that his listeners are put off by any of this, when has known perfectly well from day one that everyone will always flock to what he’s laying down. On the whole, despite being uneven, overly-long, and something I’m just simply often not in the mood for, it’s quite entertaining.

better than I thought. Very angry