Eminem is already cemented as one of the greatest rappers of all time. But the big question remains: does his catalog truly measure up against the all-time greats? Below, I break down my five favorite albums from him and explain why I think his body of work holds up impressively well.
5. Recovery (2010)
One can argue this is Eminem’s last good album…
Number five on lists like this is always a tough call, but I actually ranked Relapse above Recovery, which is something no trained professional will tell you to do. On this album, Eminem ditches the silly accents and takes a more serious approach, openly addressing the struggles he faced during a difficult period—likely influenced by past substance use. He fires back at critics, sharpens his pen with complex punchlines and impressive flows, delivers crossover hits like “Love The Way You Lie,” and even goes toe-to-toe with Lil Wayne on “No Love,” which feels like a competitive showdown between two titans. While his villainous voice is cranked up a bit too much, the hooks aren’t always pleasant, and some instrumentals feel overly ambitious, the album still stands out as one of his stronger efforts.
Favorite Tracks: “No Love,” “Not Afraid,” & “Love The Way You Lie.”
4. Eminem – Relapse (2010)
Eminem was loopy throughout this album.
We all know Relapse doesn’t sound like Eminem’s other classic albums, but judged on its own, it’s actually not bad at all! Goofy accents, serial killer moments, and weird skits aside, the album is genuinely entertaining. For starters, the beats—produced by Dr. Dre and Eminem—are strong, the ID channel-inspired themes are interesting, and the flows are delightfully zany.
Sure, Em’s goofiness is cranked up a bit too high at times (we hear his real accent only twice on the album), but there are serious, slept-on moments worth noting. Tracks like “Deja Vu” offer a raw look into Em’s battle with addiction, while “Beautiful” is genuinely heartfelt and showcases his introspective side.
The album also features solid collaborations, bringing together Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent in ways that feel natural and nostalgic.
All in all, while Relapse may not fit neatly alongside The Marshall Mathers LP or The Eminem Show, it delivers plenty of moments that are worth revisiting—and shows a side of Eminem that’s both experimental and entertaining.
Favorite Tracks: “Deja Vu,” “Crack A Bottle” & “Beautiful.”
3. The Slim Shady LP (1999)
This was my introduction to Eminem.
Do you know what always trips me out? The Slim Shady LP dropped just two years after The Notorious B.I.G. released Life After Death. I bring that up because Eminem introduced a whole wave of new listeners to a version of hip-hop we had practically never seen before. Here was a white rapper, backed by arguably the greatest hip-hop producer in the world, delivering a project full of comical, borderline demented tracks. On songs like “Cum On Everybody” and “Just Don’t Give a Fuck,” he unapologetically talked about doing every wild thing imaginable, completely rejecting the flashy, champagne-soaked era that Diddy had ushered in.
Yes, Em could rap his ass off, but his main mission was clear: wreck every conventional notion of what hip-hop was supposed to sound like. The beats were wacky, the lyrics were outrageous, and the energy was unfiltered chaos. Listening back now, it’s fascinating to hear how deliberately disruptive he was at this stage in his career.
Favorite Tracks: “Just Don’t Give A Fuck,” “My Name Is,” and “Guilty Conscience.”
2. The Eminem Show (2002)
By the time Eminem released The Eminem Show, he was arguably the biggest rapper on the planet.
The success seemed to push him into darker, more introspective territory. While the album still had goofy records like “Without Me,” it also featured raw political commentary (“White America”), personal reflections on his childhood (“Cleaning Out My Closet”), and meditations on the cost of fame (“Sing for the Moment”). As for “Hailie’s Song,” it stands as one of the most heartfelt dedication tracks in hip-hop. Overall, the project feels like a stripped-down Slim Shady, less concerned with pop-star feuds and shock humor, and more intent on telling us who he is and what he stands for. Eminem also experiments with singing more often here, while slightly dialing back the technical complexity of his raps. The result is an intriguing listen that still holds up.
Favorite Tracks: “Cleaning Out My Closet,” “Sing For The Moment,” and “Hailie’s Song.”
1. The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
This is undoubtedly one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.
Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP stands as one of hip-hop’s boldest and most important records—not just for its shock value, but for its unflinching commentary on America’s social climate and its meticulously crafted storytelling. Backed by Dr. Dre’s cinematic production, Em mixes villainous energy, raw vulnerability, and unapologetic defiance to explore themes of trauma, violence, fame, and media obsession. What once felt purely dark or outrageous now reads as a gripping narrative of a broken individual shaped by poverty, rage, and neglect—a reflection of realities closer to home than we’d like to admit. Several years later, the album’s impact feels sharper than ever, with its cultural weight matched only by the sheer number of timeless hits it produced.
Favorite Tracks: “Stan,” “The Way I Am,” and “The Real Slim Shady.”
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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