M A R S H A L L

M A T H E R S

E M I N E M

S L I M

S H A D Y
 Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, Born in Detroit, Michigan, Marshall had a tough

1972), commonly known as Eminem or Slim childhood being abandoned by his dad when he

Shady, is an american rapper who rose to fame was eighteen months old, and his relationship

after the Slim Shady EP, released in 1997, that with his mom was turbulent for more than four

caught the attention of rapper and producer Dr. decades. Eminem has three daughters: Hailie,

Dre, who signed him shortly afterwards, Eminem Alaina and Whitney. Mathers met his lifelong

is famous for his controversial lyrics and he best friend Proof (who was killed in 2006) in
M A R S H A L L covered a wide range of subjects in his songs, high school, and, along Kon Artis, they created

like his mom, wife, beefs, politics and his own the group D12. Eminem is regarded as one of
M A T H E R S
struggles regarding an addiction to sleeping the best rappers alive, releasing eight albums to

pills that gave him an overdose in 2007. date, six of them being awarded with a grammy.
E M I N E M

S L I M
inde x
S H A D Y
I NFI NI TE .............................................. 5

SLI M SHADY EP ...................................... 7

THE SLI M SHADY LP ................................ 11

THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP ...................... 15

THE EMI NEM SHOW .................................. 19

ENCORE ............................................... 2 3

CURTAI N CALL: THE HI TS .......................... 2 7

REL APSE .............................................. 31

RECOVE RY ............................................ 3 5

THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2 ..................... 3 9

SHADYX V .............................................. 43
 i n f i n i t e

t h e b eginning
b e f o r e b e i n g s l i m s h a d y

Eminem initially started his rap carreer in 1988, Subjects covered in Infinite included his and his

affiliated to the Bassmint Productions, a hybrid grandmas struggles with raising his newborn

of members of two separate hip-hop groups daughter, Hailie, while on limited funds, and his

that existed simultaneously. Eminem was part strong desire to get rich. The album received

of New Jacks, fronted by himself (Double M at mixed reviews from critics, criticizing that he

the time) and DJ Butter Fingers. They went to sounded too much like Nas, saying that Eminem

INFINITE release an EP called Still in the Bassmint, under needed to develop his own style. Infinite was
W E B E N T E R TA I N M E N T

the moniker Soul Intent, in 1992, which was ignored by Detroit disc jockeys, and the feedback

1996 never commercially released. Three years later,

another EP released, called Sould Intent.

he did received led him to craft angrier, moodier

tracks. After the release of Infinite, Eminems

A year later, Eminem released Infinite, which was personal struggles and abuse of drugs and

recorded at the Bassmint, it was released under alcohol culminated in an unsuccessful suicide
Infinite is the first studio album by Eminem,
their independent label, Web Entertainment. attempt. No songs featured in Infinite were
released November 12, 1996, through Web
Eminem was encouraged by others, who noted reused later in his carreer. The only reference
Entertainment. The album was recorded at the

Bass Brothers studio, known as the Bassmint he sounded similar to rapper AZ. Mr. Porter, also of Infinite found in his later albums was made

and produced by Mr. Porter, also known as Kon known as Kon Artis, produced the entire album, on Not Afraid: From Infinite down to the last
Artis, member of D12, and Eminems longtime
while Deshaun Proof programmed the drums. Relapse album hes still shitting.
friend, Deshaun Proof Holton. The album sold
Marshall purposely made Infinites songs more Mathers once said that he personally thinks that
only about 1,000 copies, and is not available on

any online music stores. Infinite received mixed radio-friendly in hopes of getting on the air on the title track, Infinite, was the best song that

reviews from critics, who generally praised Detroit radio stations. he did on the album.

its lyrical content while criticizing the music

production.

i n f i n i t e 5
 T H E S L I M S H A D Y E P

A mons t e r is b orn
g a m e s o n

The disappointment of Infinite inspired Eminem But before that. during the SSEP times, Eminem

to create the alter ego Slim Shady, in his own and his wife, Kim Scott, lived in a high-crime

words: Boom, the name hit me, and right away neighborhood with their daughter Hailie, where

I thought of all these words to rhyme with it. At their house was burglarized numerous times.

SLIM this point in his life, Eminem had realized that his

musical ambitions were the only way to escape

After being evicted from his home, Eminem

traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the

S H A DY E P his unhappy life. He starts Slim Shady EP with Rap Olympics, an annual nationwide rap battle
W E B E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Intro (Slim Shady) in a strange fashion, where competition. He placed second, and the staff

1997 he is reluctantly fighting against himself, or

more precisely, Slim Shady. But Slim Shady was

at Interscope Records who attended the Rap

Olympics sent a copy of the Slim Shady EP to

never introduced to anyone, so at first listen it the company CEO, Jimmy Iovine. Iovine played

may be a very strange and dark song. Eminem the tape for record producer Dr. Dre, founder of
Slim Shady EP was Eminems first EP under
would revisit the events occured in this intro Aftermath Entertainment. Dr. Dre recalled: In
the Eminem moniker, released one year after
only twelve years later in the track My Darling, my entire career in the music industry, I have
his debut studio album, Infinite. Eminem first

introduced his Slim Shady persona on this EP, featured in Relapse. Then the song merges with never found anything from a demo tape or a CD.

and his lyrics are a marked departure from those Low Down, Dirty, which serves as a musical When Jimmy played this, I said: Find him. Now.
found on Infinite, featuring constant references
introduction to his Slim Shady character. Eminem and Dr. Dre subsequently, in the same
to drug use, sexual acts, mental instability,
It also features If I Had, Just Dont Give A Fuck year, began to work on his major label debut
and over-the-top violence. Though this specific

album is extraordinarily rare, there may be some and Just the Two Of Us, three songs that would album, The Slim Shady LP, the first one of many

copies of this album out there somewhere near feature on SSLP, released two years later when successful records that Eminem would release

the Detroit-313 area, that collectors would give

he was already signed by Dres label, Aftermath. on the ongoing years.
a great deal of money for.

T H E S L I M S H A D Y E P 7
 Just The Two Of Us is called 97 Bonnie & Clyde

on SSLP and it tells a sick and well made story, and

it is a homage to 2Pacs 96 Bonnie and Clyde.

He wont go to heaven. And prison and jail

are not the same (so it actually is possible to go

S e e h o n e y: t h e r e s a p l a c e to both). Jail is usually local and reserved for

people with misdemeanors while prison can be

c a l l e d h e av e n a n d a p l a c e
local or state, and is reserved for more serious

called hell , A pl ace called criminals serving hard time. Criminals usually

wait for their sentencing in jail, then go to

prison and a pl ace called prison when they get convicted, so Em could be

j a i l A n d d a - d a s p r o b a b ly spending time in both places if he gets caught.

o n h i s way t o a l l o f e m e x c e p t o n e
Eminem released an even sicker prequel to the
J u s t t h e t w o o f u s , T R A C K 6 i N s l i m s h a dy e p
events depicted here called Kim, that would

be released three years later on The Marshall

Mathers LP. Kim would be left out of the clean

version of the album due to its heavy content.

 T H E S L I M S H A D Y L P

MY NAM E IS
C H K A - C H K A S L I M S H A D Y

The Slim Shady LP has three tracks from Slim Although many of the lyrics on the album are

Shady EP that were re-recorded: If I Had, Just intended to be humorous, several songs depict

THE Dont Give A Fuck and Just the Two of Us, which

was renamed to 97 Bonnie & Clyde. The album

Eminems frustrations with living in poverty,

like Rock Bottom, a sincere song that deals

A F T E R M AT H / I N T E R S C O P E / W E B E N T E R TA I N M E N T

SLIM begins with Public Service Announcement and

after that were introduced to one of Eminems

with the stress and anger brought about by

poverty and the struggles of raising a little girl

S H A DY L P most famous songs, My Name Is, which featured

the iconic hook: Hi, my name is, what? My name

under those conditions. It was written during a

depressed point in his life and Eminem actually

1999 is, who? My name is, chka-chka Slim Shady. And

that is what this album is all about, a continuation

overdosed on pills while recording this song

in Autumn of 1997. Later theres a great track

of who the Slim Shady is. Additionally, My Name featuring Detroit based fellow rapper, Royce

Is featured a line, 99% of my life I was lied to, da 59, called Bad Meets Evil. The song would
The Slim Shady LP was released in 1999,
I just found out my mom does more dope than inspire Em and Royce to start a hip-hop duo
two years after Slim Shady EP, the record
I do that made his mom sue him. Then starts named after the aforementioned song, in 1999.
that achieved sucess enough to get Dr. Dres

attention, who signed him in 1997. The album was Guilty Conscience, one of Marshalls most They would split in 2003 after releasing only

met with both critical and commercial success; funniest and controversial songs. In it, Eminem two non-album singles. Eight years later they
critics praised Eminem for his unique lyrical
and Dr. Dre play the Evil and Good conscience, released an EP, Hell: The Sequel, under that
style, and it went on to be certified quadruple-
respectively, of three separate people who are moniker. Eminem became a highly controversial
platinum by the Recording Industry Association

of America (RIAA). The record won a Grammy about to commit violent or sexual crimes. Guilty figure due to SSLP lyrical content, which some

Award for Best Rap Album. The Slim Shady LP Conscience would be later mentioned in The perceived to be misogynistic and a negative

turned Eminem from an unknown rapper into a

Way I Am regarding the songs reviews. influence on american youth.
high-profile celebrity.

T H E S L I M S H A D Y L P 1 1
 Brain Damage is about Eminem awful time at

school, he got bullied a lot during his messed-up

childhood. DAngelo Bailey was one of the bullies

that made his life miserable.

Along with a group of kids at Dort Elementary

School, Bailey used to terrorize the young

Eminem. The eighth grader detail may be a

little off, possibly just to better fit the rhyme

scheme, since Eminem later revelead that he

I wa s h a r a s s e d d a i ly b y t h i s fat k i d was in fourth grade and Bailey was in sixth.

named D A n g e l o B a i l e y, An eighth

g r ader who ac ted ob noxious , caus e

DAngelo Bailey actually tried to sue Eminem for

h i s fat h e r b o x e s , S o e v e ry d ay h e d defamation after The Slim Shady LP was released.

But nothing came out of it.

s hove me in the lockers Regarding the tough times that Eminem endured,

his mother actually sued the local school board for

b r a i n d a m a g e , T R A C K 4 i N T H E s l i m s h a dy L p
failing to sufficiently protect her child, in 1982.
 t h e m a r s h a l l m a t h e r s l p

T H E RE AL S LIM S HADY
M M L P S O L D A N D S O L D W E L L

After the tremendous success that SSLP Marshall Mathers is a good example regarding

achieved, a lot of hype were gathered around it, being a direct reaction to the turmoil his

THE the new Ems record, and this hype would prove

to be right.
life went in to after the release and runaway

success of SSLP, most notably the lawsuit his

MARSHALL A lot of pressure from the label emerged towards mother Debbie Mathers brought against him for
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

Eminem so that he could release a single so defamation due to the way she was portrayed

M AT H E R S L P sucessful as the lead single from SSLP, My

Name Is. This is cited in The Way I Am: lets

on that earlier record. Probably

controversial song of his carrer, Kim depicts

the most

2000 stop with the fables, Im not gonna be able to top

on My Name Is, which ironically would prove to

a scenario that happened before the events of

97 Bonnie & Clyde, where Eminem chokes his

happen since The Real Slim Shady, featured in wife to death after discovering that she has

MMLP, got even more success than My Name Is. cheated on him. Stan becase so famous that
The Marshall Mathers LP was released in 2000
The record features more introspective lyricism the word stan was turned in an adjective to refer
and its the follow-up to Slim Shady LP, released
including the rappers response to his sudden to Eminems crazy fans.
one year before. MMLP features an even more

aggressive Eminem with memorable songs like rise to fame and controversy surrounding his The Marshall Mathers LP sold more than 1.76

Stan, The Real Slim Shady and The Way I lyrics. This is visible in The Way I Am, the second million copies in the US in the first week alone,
Am. It also featured a heavy prequel to the
single from the album, which was one of the few becoming one of the fastest-selling studio
famous 97 Bonnie & Clyde, released on SSLP.
songs from MMLP that were completely produced albums by any solo artist in american music
MMLP received generally positive reviews from

critics, and, in 2001, the album won the Grammy by Eminem since most of the production work history and it was certified diamond by the RIAA

Award for Best Rap Album. It is always cited as was made by Dr. Dre. Marshall delivered in many in mach 2011. The album also sold more than 32

one of the best rap albums to date.

songs his aggressiveness towards his relatives. million copies worldwide.

t h e m a r s h a l l m a t h e r s l p 1 5
 A rhyme scheme that is a homage to one of his

idols, the rapper Rakim, who rapped on My Melody:

I take 7 emcees put em in a line, and add 7

more brothers who think they can rhyme. Well,

itll take 7 more before I go for mine, now thats

21 emcees ate up at the same time

This line is Eminems commentary on the famous

Columbine High School Massacre, a school

I ta k e s e v e n k i d s f r o m shooting that occurred on april 20, 1999, which

culminated in the murder of 12 students and one

C o l u m b i n e , s ta n d e m a l l i n l i n e , teacher. Eminem was often bullied growing up,

so part of him understands the desire to lash

A d d a n A K- 4 7, a r e v o lv e r , a n i n e ,
out at your entire school that the Columbine

A M A C - 1 1 , a n d i t o u g h ta s o lv e shooters felt. None of the guns that Eminem

mentions were actually used by the two Columbine

the problem of minE shooters: they used a TEC-9, a carbine rifle and

two shotguns. This album dropped a year after

i m b a c k , t r a c k 1 0 i n m a r s h a l l m at h e r s l p

the shooting, so Columbine and gun control were

still very controversial topics in America. So, even

in the explicit version of the album, the words

Columbine and kids had to be censored.

 t h e e m i n e m s h o w

fan tas t i c
t h e e m i n e m s h o w d e l i v e r e d

You bout to witness hip-hop in its most purest, This album is like his own show. Listening to it is

more rawest form, flow almost flawless... this like watching a TV of his life. You see his dealing

THE is the starting line of Business, the third track,

and that is exactly what can be heard through

with fame; Say Goodbye Hollywood. You see

his antics of cheating and on his wife (and vise

eminem this entire album. It was released two years versa); Drips. You see his love for his daughter;
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

after the successful MMLP and expectations Hailies Song. You see his relationship with

show were higher than never. And the expectations

were again right. The Eminem Show features

his mom; Cleanin Out My Closet. You see how

fame has affected his dating life; Superman.

2002 Eminem at his peak, with dynamic lyrics and

a good range of subjects: beefs, his mother,

You see his responses going on with beefs in

Hip-Hop; Say What You Say. And you see his

his wife, his daughter, cheating and politics, a introspective on his controversy; Sing for the

subject that can be heard in the excellent second Moment and White America.
The Eminem Show was released two years after
track, White America. It features Obie Trice on Drips, Dr. Dre on
the incredible The Marshall Mathers LP and
The Eminem Show produced some songs that Business and Say What You Say, and Nate
featured the commercially sucessful singles

Without Me, Cleanin Out My Closet, and would be Eminems signature tracks like Cleanin Dogg on Till I Collapse. It also features D12 on

Sing for the Moment. It became Eminems third Out My Closet (which would later be excluded When The Music Stops, a great track where all
record in four years to win the award for Best
from his performances setlists because of the D12 members spits clever and intense verses.
Rap Album. On 2011, the album was certified
heavy lyrics towards his mother) and Without The Eminem Show is clearly one of Eminems
ten-times-platinum by the Recording Industry

Association of America, making it Eminems Me, which received MTV Video Music Awards best albums, featured in many Best Albums of

second album to receive a Diamond certification for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap the Decade lists and remembered by Marshall

in the United States.

Video, and Best Direction. himself as fantastic.

t h e e m i n e m s h o w 1 9
 Marshall makes a beat for himself and proceeds

to tear it to shreds. The drums are taken almost

directly from Queens anthem We Will Rock You

Just like in any other profession, when people

are showing interest in your abilities, it makes

you feel good and confident regarding it.

The feeling motivates you to keep getting better

M us ic is like mag ic, and thats the whole thing about Eminem, the

hunger to get better and to deliver songs that

t h e r e s a c e r ta i n f e e l i n g means something to someone. This feeling is

yo u g e t W h e n yo u r e a l also described on Stan, featured in MMLP, on the

second verse where he says I can relate to what

a n d yo u s p i t a n d p e o p l e youre saying in your songs, so when I have a

shitty day, I drift away and put em on.

a r e f e e l i n g yo u r s h i t

t i l l i c o l l ap s e , t r ac k 1 8 i n t h e e m i n e m s h ow
Very interestingly enough, the third verse of this

song is the only one on the album which contains

no profanity. Till I Collapse is regarded by many

as Eminems most famous non-single song.

 E N C O R E

on dru gs
N O T E A S Y T O K E E P U P

Three super successful albums, millions of video parodies Michael Jackson, who was being

records sold, a huge list of awards, including an accused of child molestation at the time. It also

Academy Award for Lose Yourself, the iconic has a memorable, and at the same time awful,

song featured in the 2002s semi-biographical hook, using Pee-wee Herman signature shouts
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E / G O L I AT H

film 8 Mile, starring Eminem himself. throughout the song.

It would not be easy to release a new album that But Eminem went serious on Like Toy Soldiers,

ENCORE could match the caliber of his recent offers.

This album is considered by most critics, fans

regarding beefs, a major subject at the time

because of his problems with The Source

2004 and even Eminem himself to be a big step down

from his normal level, But the album featured

magazine editor, Ray Benzino, and also the Ja

Rule vs. 50 Cent beef. The song tried to calm

some excellent tracks, like Never Enough, things down since some rappers died because of

which features a perfect verse from Eminem it. Puke, Big Weenie and Ass Like That are
Released two years after The Eminem Show,
and a great hook by Nate Dogg, Evil Deeds and songs that were far from the lyricism level found
Encore was set to be released in November
Mockingbird are also great tracks, the latter on his previous albums. Marshall later revealed
16, 2004, but was moved up to November 12

(coincidentally, exactly eight years to the day made a huge success and features touching how on drugs he was during the recording of

his debut album, Infinite, was released) after lyrics directed to his daughters. Mosh also this album, and how much it affected the final
the album was leaked on the internet. Encore
made a lot of impact, it is a direct stab at George product. Eminem kills Slim Shady at the end of
achieved success, selling over 1.5 million copies
W. Bush, the U.S. president at the time. Encore, something that is hinted at the CD label
in its first two weeks of release in the United

States, but from SSLP to MMLP2, Encore is Just Lose It is probably the first song that art, a suicide note, giving a sign that Marshall

his only album to date that doesnt won him comes to mind when Encore is on the table, it wanted to end his carreer or maybe even his life.

a Grammy, even though it managed to get

caused controversy since its lyrics and music Or maybe it was only marketing.
nominated in four categories.

E N C O R E 2 3
 Possibly the least offensive Eminem song ever,

Mockingbird is an open letter to his daughters.

I rememb er back one year Marshall acknowledges that growing up with his

media image and Kims drug problem made for a

w h e n d a d dy h a d n o m o n e y, difficult upbringing, not to mention their poverty

stricken beginnings.
Mommy wrapped the Christmas

presents up and stuck em

This presumably refers to Christmas of 1996.

under the tree And said some Eminem was unemployed by the time, he got

fired from his cooking job at Gilberts Lodge and

o f e m w e r e f r o m m e , c a u s e d a d dy
had no money to buy any presents to Hailie, a

couldn t buy em, Ill never forget common frustration in poor families. This whole

verse shows how difficult those times were and

t h at C h r i s t m a s I s at u p t h e everything was starting to fall apart.

w h o l e n i g h t c ry i n
The aforementioned lines are also unique where
m o c k i n g b i r d, t r a c k 1 6 i n e n c o r e

Marshall seems to be praising Kim, often the

target of some of his most hateful lyrics.

 C U R T A I N C A L L : T H E H I T S

gRE AT ES T HITS
A N D A P A U S E

It was not a tough task to select Eminems best But the real spotlight from this compilation

songs to put in a greatest hits album, since there is When Im Gone where Eminem shares a

are tons of succesful singles, all released in a personal story abut his relationship with his

span of 5 years, from SSLP to Encore. daughter Hailie. How he was always busy writing

C U R TA I N C A L L Ironically enough, just after the first track, Intro songs and travelling to concerts and ultimately
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

(Curtain Call), the listener is introduced to a not being present when Hailie needed. When Im

THE HITS previous unreleased song, called Fack, viewed

by Eminems fans as one of his worst. He does

Gone is a direct reference to the hiatus planned

by Eminem after the release of Curtain Call.

2005 acknowledge this criticism, and goes so far as to

joke about it in his song Shady XV, featured on

He intended to take a break from recording his

own music to become a hip hop producer for

the Shady XV compilation album, released some other rap acts, especially for the artists signed

ten years later: Yo, I put that shit on a greatest on his own label Shady Records, funded in 1999,
Released on December of 2005, Curtain Call:
hits album, now that was awesome, It takes But his drug addiction would make him to try
The Hits features Eminems most popular
some massive balls to do some shit like that. rehab in 2005, then he fell into an even deeper
singles, as well as four new songs: a live version

of Stan, featuring Elton John, the infamous It eventually gained a cult following status and tailspin the next year, following the shooting

Fack, touching When Im Gone and Shake Eminem even performs its chorus sometimes in death of his best friend and D12 member,
That featuring Nate Dogg. which was Ems last
his concerts. Another unreleased track from this DeShaun Proof Holton. It wasnt until he nearly
hit before his drug-related hiatus, and it was
album is Shake That, featuring Nate Dogg, who died from an accidental methadone overdose
Nates last big hit prior to his strokes, retirement

and untimely death. On the day this album was raps in it for a change, and the song achieved at the end of 2007 that Eminem finally decided

released, Eminem made an announcement that heavy airplay, being nominated for the 49th to get clean, a process that would be the main

we would make a hiatus from music, which would

Annual Grammy Awards. subject of his next album, Relapse.
last until he released Relapse in 2009.

C U R T A I N C A L L : T H E H I T S 2 7
 Eminem shares a personal story abut his

relationship with his daughter Hailie.

Eminem is speaking directly to his daughter, and

telling her to not cry when he dies/cant find

the time to be there for her, and instead just be

happy when she hears his music. It also connects

to he:

- Talking to his fans: Dont be sad when Im gone

from the music business

- Metaphorically: Dont be sad when Im dead

A n d w h e n I m g o n e , j u s t c a r ry o n ,

d o n t m o u r n , R e j o i c e e v e ry t i m e yo u Naming this compilation Curtain Call and putting

a song like When Im Gone was Eminems way of

hear the sound of my voice
telling that his carreer was coming to an end.

W H E N I M G O N E , t r a c k 1 6 i n C U R TA I N C A L L : T H E H I T S Or at least the Slim Shady/Eminem/Marshall era.

 R E L A P S E

HE S BACK
A D D I C T E D T O T H E G A M E

Relapse begins with an amazing intro. Dr. West. Something that is recurrent on Relapse is the

It is a conversation between Eminem and his usage of accents (Jamaican, Middle Eastern)

doctor at the rehab hospital that Em stayed for on a lot of the tracks, instead of his normal

some weeks after overdosing. The doctor acts voice. It is said that these accents are useful so

strangely and later it is revealed that he actually that Eminem could bend the words to acquire
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

is Slim Shady, his persona that is still alive. even more syllable rhymes. Dj Vu is the

REL APSE Marshall suffered a sleeping pills addiction and

had a methadone overdose in late december of

starting point where Eminem stops to use the

aforementioned accents and it is a explanation

2009 2007. This situation is detailed on the excellent

Dj Vu. This is the main subject of many songs

about his routine in the last years and how he

was getting so addicted to sleeping pills that

featured in Relapse, released in 2009. Other he would not even think that they would do any

subjects are the horror-core stuff that was harm, like he said: couple of weeks go by it aint
Released five years after his last studio album,
prevalent in his SSLP era. Eminem talks about even like Im gettin high.
Encore, Relapse would be released after a four-
felching, chopping the legs of a lesbian girl, Relapse is a record that clarifies the process of
year hiatus from recording due to his writers

block and an addiction to prescription sleeping kidnapping and raping random women. flushing the drugs out, but some verses were

medication. Conceptually, Relapse concerns the On the other hand there is a touching and famous written when he was still addicted.
ending of his drug rehabilitation, rapping after
song too in this record, Beautiful, considered Relapse was met with mixed reviews but it went
a non-fictional relapse, and the return of his
by both fans and critics as the strongest song to receive a Grammy Award for best album and
Slim Shady persona. Seven monthis after its

release, Relapse: Refill was released, featuring on Relapse, Beautiful is the only song on the it has been certified double platinum by the

six unreleased tracks and Forever, a track album recorded prior to getting clean, written RIAA. Eminem himself dislikes this album, as he

featuring Drake, Kanye West and Lil Wayne,

sometime in 2006. mentions it in Not Afraid.
originally on More Than a Game soundtrack.

R E L A P S E 3 1
 On the excellent My Darling, Eminem deals with

the resurgence of his persona, Slim Shady, that

was killed at the end of Encore/Curtains Down.

This verse is a conversation between Marshall

and Slim Shady and enlightens the fact that if

Eminem would get signed by Dre back in 1997, he

would pay by giving his soul to Slim Shady.

This is a reference to the opening track of the Slim

H a h a , yo u s o l d yo u r s o u l t o m e ,
Shady EP, Intro (Slim Shady), where Eminem

n e e d I r e m i n d yo u ? Yo u r e m e m b e r deals with Slim Shady in the same way that he

deals in My Darling, in a way that the events

t h at n i g h t yo u p r ay e d t o G o d occured in this song are indeed a direct sequel

Yo u d g i v e a n y t h i n g t o g e t a of the events happened on the aforementioned

intro from SSEP.

r e c o r d d e a l , w e l l D r e s i g n e d yo u

M Y DAR L I N G , t r ac k 2 1 i n R E L AP S E Eminem was reluctant regarding this Slim Shady

approach, but at the end of the verse, he and Slim

Shady start rapping together, indicating that Slim

Shady has become one with Marshall again.

 R E C O V E R Y

s ob e r for a change
s l i m s h a d y o n v a c a t i o n

Looking at Recoverys cover art we see the now On Talkin 2 Myself Eminem reveals that he

clean rapper walking the long road to redemption almost made a diss to both Lil Wayne and

and we notice how he is walking on a straight line Kanye Wost, two of the most hyped hip-hop acts

which symbolizes being sober. Even the title says at the time, but he didnt do it since Ida had

it. Thats a simple review regarding Recovery. my ass handed to me, and I knew it. Recovery
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

On this album the crazy Eminem from Relapse also features a song with Lil Wayne, No Love.

R EC OVE RY vanishes. Here is found a more well intentioned

Marshall, delivering lyrics that regards self-

Interesting enough, Seduction and 25 to Life

has some lines that may indicate that Eminem is

2010 esteem, like Wont Back Down and the famous

single Not Afraid, an inspirational and brutally

really subliminally dissing Lil Wayne.

Eminem didnt included a homage song in Relapse

honest anthem for Eminems fans addressing that to his childhood friend and fellow D12 member,

of his struggles and triumphs, and encouraging Proof, that were worthy of a good tribute. On
Recovery was released on June 18, 2010, only
his fans to reach their triumphs as well. In Not Recovery, Eminem would make a song dedicated
a year after Relapse and seven months after
Afraid its also found a diss to his own last album, to him, Youre Never Over. Unfortunately the
Relapse: Refill. This album was originally planned

to be released as Relapse 2, but it was renamed as he says: Lets be honest, that last Relapse CD song features a horrendous hook and it ends up

to Recovery when Eminem found the music of was ehhhh. In Talkin 2 Myself Eminem went far hiding the well made verses. Love The Way You
the new album different from its predecessor.
to say that them last two albums didnt count, Lie, which features Rihanna, is Eminems music
Recovery featured more introspective and
which means that both Encore and Relapse have video with most views to date, surpassing one
emotional content than Relapse and the

themes of the album was mainly around his distate from Marshall. billion views. On the other hand, some criticism

positive changes, anxiety, and emotional drives. Recovery is the only album to date to not feature about Recovery is that some songs in it are

It became the best selling album of 2010 in the

a skit, used as a joke or an intro to other song. easily forgettable.
U.S. and worldwide.

R E C O V E R Y 3 5
 Anthemic Not Afraid is one of Eminems most

famous songs, and, along with some other songs

of Recovery, shows a distaste regarding Relapse.

Em shows vulnerability in acknowledging how

much he cares about the publics affection for

him. Interestingly, Eminem starts this verse by

saying he was Getting clean. And he never

swears in this verse, or says anything explicit.

I t wa s m y d e c i s i o n t o g e t c l e a n , I
The you he mentions here and later on in this

d i d i t f o r m e , A d m i t t e d ly I p r o b a b ly verse is not just his fans, but specifically his

daughters Hailie, Whitney and Alaina.

d i d i t s u b l i m i n a l ly f o r yo u ,

So I cou ld come back a b r and new

Eminem rarely spits a verse without cursing like he

m e , yo u h e l p e d s e e m e t h r o u g h did here. This notably happens on the final verse

of Till I Collapse, from The Eminem Show.

N O T A F R A I D, t r a c k 7 i n R E C O V E R Y
 m a r s h a l l m a t h e r s l p 2

he s d e f i n i t e ly back
b l o n d a g a i n

Making a proclaimed sequel to a critically But there are bright spots in it, like the famous

acclaimed album is a tough task, so Eminem dyed Rap God, six minutes of several references

THE his hair blond and went back to studio. Thirteen

years after MMLP, the sequel brings old friends

and intense super fast verses earning Eminem

a place on the Guinness World Records as the

MARSHALL from early days, like in the first track, Bad Guy, hit single which contains the most words (1560).
A F T E R M AT H / S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

a story about Stans little brother, Matthew, who The funniest spot of MMLP2 is when Eminem

M AT H E R S L P 2 loved his brother more than anything. Matthew

Mitchell is all grown-up now, and is seeking

raps mimicking a blowjob in Love Game.

Nearly the end of MMLP2, as he did on the last

2013 revenge for Stans death. Next on Parking Lot

(skit) it is revealed what happens on the bank

three albums, Eminem went serious again, this

time with Headlights, featuring Nate Reuss.

rob occured in Criminal back in MMLP. Another The song is about his mom, Debbie Mathers,

reference from MMLP is found on the iconic Rap saying how sorry he was about Cleanin Out My
Released three years after Eminems last effort,
God where Eminem says: When I tried to say Ill Closet (which he states that he does not plays it
Recovery, The Marshall Mathers LP2 is a sequel
take seven kids from Columbine, put em all in a on his concerts anymore) and other heavy lyrics
to 2000s The Marshall Mathers LP. The album

came in a critical time after his previous three line, add an AK-47, a revolver and a nine See if I spit earlier on his carreer, like in My Name Is,

albums: Recovery, Relapse and Encore got mixed get away with it now that I aint as big as I was Mom and several other songs. It is an apologize
reviews by critics. MMLP2 was well received and
where is indeed a truth. Eminem delivers some message to show that he indeed loves his mom
was named on multiple Albums of the Year
rock filled choruses throughout the album, like on and wants her to be closer to his daughters.
year-end lists. It had the second highest album

sales of 2013, and Eminem won another Grammy Survival, Asshole, and Wicked Ways. These MMLP2 is a great addiction to Ems discography

award for best rap album. songs and some others fills the easy forgettable and revamped his carreer showing that he could

tag mentioned by critics about Recovery. compete with the younger rappers in the game.

m a r s h a l l m a t h e r s l p 2 3 9
 Slim Shady or Eminem? This song is dedicated to

each and is one of Eminems most complex, subtle,

and underrated songs.

Eminem says hes one of the top 4 rappers of

all time. That includes The Notorious B.I.G. and

2Pac. Add he and his evil twin (Slim Shady) on

the podium. Its ambigous whether hes talking

about him being 1st and 2nd or 3rd and 4th.

Fuck top five, bitch, Im top four

A n d t h at i n c l u d e s B i g g i e a n d Pa c ,
Interestingly enough, in Til I Collapse, featured

whore, And I got an Evil Twin, in The Eminem Show, released eleven years before

MMLP2, he places himself at number nine: I got

S o w h o t h e f u c k d o yo u t h i n k t h at a list, heres the order of my list that its in: it

t h i r d a n d t h at f o u r t h s p o t s f o r ? goes Reggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac and Biggie, Andre from

OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas and then me.

e v i l t w i n , t r a c k 1 6 i n t h e m a r s h a l l m at h e r s l p 2
 s h a d y x v

FE E LS LIK E A CLO S E
I S C O M I N G T O

ShadyXV, a compilation disc of Shady Records The last new song is the amazing Guts Over

artists is divided in two discs, X and V. Disc X has Fear, featuring Sia. Eminem delivers some

new material from the aforementioned artists sincere stuff. He dwells on the feeling that he

and Disc V is a greatest hits album featuring hits has no emotion left and that he is singing the

from those artists, it is a great disc to remember same old song. He regrets the pain he has

songs like Lose Yourself by Eminem himself, caused others with his lyrics and he expresses

S H A DY X V Wanksta by 50 Cent and Purple Pills by D12. the feeling that his career is coming to a close.
S H A DY / I N T E R S C O P E

On the Disc X, six new tracks by Eminem are found, Eminem doesnt seem to know where to go: And

2014 along with a demo version of Lose Yourself.

The opening song is the hook-less ShadyXV,

Im frozen, cause theres no more emotion for me

to pull from, just a bunch of playful songs, that I

where Em raps fast but doesnt say much, it ends make for fun. Giving hint that he may be about

in a similar fashion to Bad Guy from MMLP2. to end his recording carreer and try to venture
ShadyXV is a hip-hop compilation album
Next is Die Alone, a love track with a powerful on other music fields, like producing, something
performed by various artists of Shady Records.
and well made hook from Kobe. Fine Line and that he is already experienced.
The double disc album was released on

November 24, 2014, by Shady Records and Right For Me are songs that sound like they A year later, in 2015, Eminem was the

Interscope Records. The album was released in ended up being left off of MMLP2 and now were executive producer of the soundtrack of the
honor of the labels 15th anniversary and as its
included in ShadyXV. Detroit vs. Everybody is a movie Southpaw, also releasing two singles,
15th project (excluding Eminems solo releases).
single that features other Detroit rappers: Royce Phenomenal and Kings Never Die, the latter
Featuring new material from Shady Records

artists such as Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil, da 59, Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf and featuring Gwen Stefani.

D12 and Yelawolf, as well as six new tracks from Trick-Trick. The hook, by Dej Loaf, was heavily Eminem is the bestselling hip-hop artist, with

the labels founder, Eminem.

panned. Royce da 59 delivers a great verse. sales of 45.1 mi albums and 42 mi digital tracks.

s h a d y x v 4 3
TRIVIA
Superman and Ass Like That were the only In Dr. West, the voice of the doctor that chats

singles (that featured a music video) left out of with Eminem was played by the actor Dominic

Curtain Call: The Hits compilation album. West, best known for portraying Detective

Jimmy McNulty in the drama series The Wire.

The Wire is Eminems favorite show.

Throughout his carreer, most notably from MMLP

to Relapse, Eminem disses the ex-Superman

Christopher Reeve numerous times just because Eminem is a huge comic book fan, making

his name rhymes with so many different words, several references throughout his carreer, and

geez as said on Medicine Ball. he reportedly owns one of the largest and most

impressive collections comics in the U.S.

Eminem made a tribute song to Proof named

Difficult, the song was never meant to be In Bad Guy Eminem says: Ive been driving
leaked as Eminem didnt planned to introduce in around your side of this town like nine frickin
any album. It was never officially released. hours and forty-five minutes now which

connects to the fact that 9 hours and 45 minutes

is the total length of Eminems discography

Eminem made a song in 2006 after Proof died,
except collaboration albums and deluxe tracks.
called Its Been Real where he says goodbye

to everybody, thanking D12, Dre, his friends and

family, saying that he would retire. The song was

The Ken Kaniff character, featured in many
leaked and never officially released.
skits throughout Ems carreer, was created

and originally played by fellow Detroit rapper

Rumors indicated that Eminem was about to Aristotle on the Slim Shady LP, where Kaniff

release an album called King Mathers in 2007. makes a prank call to Eminem. After he discussed

Several songs were leaked sometime in 2008-11, with Aristotle, Eminem would make the Ken

like G.O.A.T., The Apple and Wee Wee. Kaniffs voice himself.
2 01 6 m a d e by m a r i o ca r u s o

References:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem#References

genius.com/artists/Eminem
From Infinite to Southpaw Soundtrack, Eminem

never feared competition or ran from a challenge.

The rappers carreer completed twenty years in

2016, having released eight studio albums and

more than two hundred sogns. Still he shows

no sign of retirement, as he said earlier in his

carreer: cant leave rap alone, the game needs me.