Rank Eminem's albums

[Eedee]

I CARE WHAT YOU THINK LOOKIN' BOI

[mdemaz]

His flow on Infinite is actually pretty impressive.

I'm bumping Never 2 Far.

[VINTAGƎ]

1. Eminem Show 10/10
2. Marshall Mathers 10/10
3. Slim Shady 10/10
4. Recovery 9/10
5. Relapse 7/10
6. Infinite 6/10
7. Encore 4/10

I think, like most people, his first three are untouchable and rank in some sort of top 3 order.

Lurking on here for a while before joining, I noticed Recovery getting a lot of hate. I don't think I know anyone in real life who prefers Relapse to Recovery.

Relapse was lyrically, fantastic. His best work in terms of technical skill, but the accents and the themes killed it for me. I've been listening to Em since I was 11. I'm 25 now. The serial killer shock rap stuff was cool and edgy when I was younger, but it felt forced on Relapse.

Recovery had more diverse subject matter. Introspective songs like Talkin 2 Myself and Going Through Changes, motivational songs like Not Afraid and Cinderella Man. Funny songs like WTP. Twisted relationship songs like Spacebound and Love The Way You Lie, and songs where he's just going off like Cold Wind Blows, On Fire, Untitled, Almost Famous.

I know some people would argue the beats made it inconsistent and it didn't flow smoothly, but personally it felt like, a breath of fresh air. Relapse 2 would have buried his career commercially. Only the super hardcore Shady fans would appreciate a Relapse 2. Let's be honest, this man is doing whatever he can to cement his legacy as one of the most respected emcees of all time and a lot of hip hop heads were not into Relapse. Putting out part 2 would have put him deeper in the hole.

Encore was terrible. The only album of his with no redeeming qualities for me. Not his verses, not the production, not the hooks, the subject matter, the humor. It's the only black eye on his resume to me.

Everything else is solid to classic.

Versatility is one of Em's greatest weapons. There's a little something for everyone. I prefer the Eminem Show/8 Mile era and any songs where he's going off sans accent and is just spitting clever rhymes nonstop.

[CiNDeReLLa_MaN]

The Eminem Show
Encore (first album I got, only song I dislike is Big Weenie)
The Marshall Mathers LP
Relapse/Recovery (I like more songs on Relapse, but I need to be in the mood for those accents)
The Slim Shady LP
Infinite

[COLORADO]

MMLP / TES
SSLP
Recovery
Relapse
Encore
Infinite

[Corpse_Welder]

Slim Shady LP- This album may be a bit too underground compared to modern Eminem, but when My Name Is dropped in '99 we all took notice and said WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?! Then of course it's full of classic Slim Shady goodness like Cum on Everybody. The reason this album can never be topped for me is this is 100% as real as it could ever get. You have a man fighting to get by and the songs show that. By MMLP he was already the subject of controversy and also getting paid handsomely. SSLP is the purest form of Eminem, imo.

Marshall Mathers LP- Maybe more than any other album, this album is full of near perfect songs. The Real Slim Shady is like a historical piece of the '00-'01 era (completely badass years). My one complaint is Under the Influence because of me not being a D12 fan.

The Eminem Show- While this album has some ridiculous highs, the lower end is starting to show by this point. Again with the D12 appearance, and Say What You Say being a bit redundant lyrically. My main complaint with this album is the subject matter becomes a little less authentic...moving away from people being able to relate to being poor or having a horrible family. Still, this is a 95+/100 album

Relapse- Just fucking fun. Haters can go listen to Recovery instead, but this album was all for the fans who missed Slim

Recovery- Steep drop off from Relapse here, and really a 1/2 and 1/2 album for me where I only listen to about half of it regularly. When it first dropped I was ecstatic and loved it all then the newness wore off and I usually skip tracks 2-5, not afraid, cinderella man, etc. I can't say I blame him though because his image was in the toilet pretty much. All I can say is you can tell who this album was pandered towards

Infinite- I first heard Infinite years and years ago when file sharing was really hot and I loved it. I'm a big sucker for underground anyway but this is REAL, just a bit generic. I still listen to it, but I listen to Slim Shady EP a shitload more

Encore- Oh Encore....at least I doubt Em could ever disappoint this badly again. I usually skip all but 2 songs from this, Mockingbird and LbTS. I think by this point, rap was no longer a challenge and the pills and fame really twisted his reality. But no love lost, Em, every great artist has one shitter

[kpprasa]

TES- This in my mind is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, rap album of all time. Jesus Christ, this album edges out MMLP because even though it is slightly less consistent, it has some of his best songs and really touches on several areas from his personal life, to the culture of America and the world, to some random spewing shit.

MMLP- His most consistent album and it has gems like Criminal, Stan, Who Knew, The Way I Am, etc. He gets real personal, but it doesn't have that change the world shit on there like Sing for the Moment (in my mind undoubtedly one of his top 3 songs) or White America.

SSLP- He's definitely Slim on here, but it lacks the personal aspect of his next two. However, he never again has made songs that are quite like his vintage slim shit like As the World Turns or Brain Damage or JDGAF or SDGAF. Damn I miss those songs...

Relapse/ Recovery- Depends on my mood. There's a massive gap between SSLP and these. Those previous three are top ten all time rap albums with the top two being top 5, these aren't in top 25. His wordplay on some songs on Relapse is unreal like SWA or 3 am. Some Recovery songs are pretty good. Solid albums overall.

Infinite- good wordplay. generic and boring.

Encore- IMO Em's only bad album. This album has a total of 3 good songs and some absolute horseshit like my first single, ass like that, puke, etc. He had really gotten heavy into drugs at this point.

[Stevencc]

Well I have listened to the new album in it's entirety twice now. I've rated all the tracks minus skits and come up with the average score out of 5. The best tracks are just the highest rated tracks on the albums, they don't all share the same ratings. For example SSLP has two 5 star tracks for me whereas TES has none, but it hs 4 4.5 rated tracks.

1. MMLP - 4.3/5 (Best track/s - Stan, The Way I am, I'm Back, Drug Ballad)
2. SSLP - 3.92/5 (Best track/s - If I Had, Rock Bottom)
3. TES - 3.73/5 (Best track/s - White America, Say Goodbye to Hollywood, Sing for the Moment, Til I Collapse)
4. Encore - 3.71/5 (Best track/s - Spend Some Time, Mockingbird)
5. Recovery - 3.70/5 (Best track/s - Love the Way you Lie)
6. Infinite - 3.45/5 (Best track/s - Infinite)
7. MMLP2 - 3.23/5 (Best track/s - Legacy)
8. Relapse - 2.96/5 (Best track/s - Beautiful)

I don't expect many people to agree with me here and I expect to get some shit for this but it's my opinion.

I enjoy them all.

[UofLCard]

Now with MMLP2:

1. MMLP
2. SSLP
3. Eminem Show
4. MMLP 2
5. Recovery
6. Relapse
7. Encore

[Jimmy Conway]

1.MMLP
2.Eminem Show
3.SSLP
4.Relapse
5.MMLP2
6.Recovery
7.Infinite
8.Encore

[Stevencc]

Ignore my previous post, the bit about MMLP2 anyway.

I found a higher quality download, listened to it twice through while reading the lyrics and I realised I was too quick to judge it. It is much better than I thought after my first listening.

[Notalius]

MMLP
TES
MMLP2
SSLP
Relapse
Recovery
Encore

[kpprasa]

TES
MMLP2/MMLP
SSLP
Relapse
Recovery






Encore

[Jens14]

#1. TES.
#2. MMLP.
#3. SSLP.
#4. MMLP 2.
#5. Recovery.
#6. Encore.
#7. Relapse.
#8. Infinite.

[speckzo]

I'm aware that Recovery and Encore are lower as best albums go but these are my personal favorite as how much I personally enjoy.

1. MMLP
2. MMLP2 = TES
3. Recovery
4. Relapse
5. Encore
6. SSLP
7. Infinite

The best albums in factual order

1. MMLP
2. TES =MMLP2
3. SSLP
4. Relapse
5. Infinite
6. Recovery
7. Encore