I think Eminem is the greatest writer of all time

[EminemBase]

I have a hard time believing Em is one of the best of all time. I don't usually think of rappers among the likes of Shakespeare. Yea if I had to pick some, the only 2 I would pick is Em and Pac but still the greatest writer of all time?

From the guy who brought us:

"I'm the butt police and I'm staring at your rear rear rear."

You're also forgetting that the same man brought us The Marshall Mathers LP, one of, if not, the greatest hip-hop album(s) of all time.

You really can't nitpick the lines of a 40-year-old rapper whose peak was 13 years ago. Especially after all he's done for the genre? Absolutely no way you can expect more from the man.

Plus that's a ridiculous line that's intended to be ridiculous...

I don't understand when people point out lines like that as if he FAILED. Was he trying to come across as poetic and profound? no, he was saying an intentionally ridiculous line for the sake of a really silly pun and moment, and that's what it comes across as: silly. As intended.

So I don't see how you can take that line and intention as like, a point against him being a great writer lmao. Great writing doesn't mean a specific kind of writing, or only serious or only introspective writing. A great writer achieves what they intend to do, one way or another; did he not achieve the aim of being ridiculous there... I think he did.

Plus it's a personality on the mic, to take a moment of silliness is like... imagine showing that picture of Einstein with his tongue out, that famous one (look it up), and saying "THIS is a genius? is it!?" lmao, as if him pulling a stupid face invalidates his genius.

[MistaVijilantee]

I'm a huge Pac fan and his music has benefited my life, he so easy too relate to.
And you can't deny that he could be lyrical, yes All Eyez On Me had quite a bit of filler, but it's a gangsta party album, it isn't supposed to be particularly intelligent, and that's an argument people put forth when dismantling his body of work, he isn't some impeccable lyricist.
Now, Me Against The World is extremely poetic, if you deny that you obviously haven't analyzed some of the content properly.

Eminem is similar, although he is arguably a better lyricist but I hold MMLP in the same regard as MATW.
There is plenty of MC's who I would put lyrically before them if I was to make a comparison too Shakespeare, plus Shakespeare is a whole 'nother ball part.
Yes, some MC's are just as good writers, but it's too hard to really put them up against each other.

[EminemInsider]

Did Shakespeare ever wipe his brain out with pills?

People have got to learn to disassociate Pre-Pills Eminem from Ambienem and Post-Pills Eminem. Post-Pills Eminem is still capable of brilliance, but he forgot who he was and is relying on pure instincts and recordings to try to recapture the old him. Anything Post-Pills Eminem says has a propensity for being forced/corny.

Ambienem was nothing. He was the Pillsbury Doughboy Zombie of rap. Anything Ambienem said should be ignored altogether.

[Squiggles123]

I think Eminem along with Tupac and Shakespeare are the best of all time.

Shakespeare is a lot better than Tupac and Eminem lol

Tupac is pretty much the modern day Shakespeare and has already been compared to him numerous times...but Pac is not as classic or prolific.

What ever happened to that other posthumous album that was meant to come out called "Shakurspeare". It was like "Detox" to me a few years ago.

I love Pac, him and Em are my favourite rappers. Then I have my favourite aussie rappers. You definately cannot compare the two though and my knowledge on Shakespeare is very limited but it's a whole different playing field.

This may be a pointless thing to say but I don't think Em would have been as good as he is/was (depends who you ask) if it wasn't for Pac. No one before Pac had put there "heart on there sleeve" like he did in his music and Em took it a step further. I believe he was a HUGE influence on Em's multi personalities in his music.

Can anyone else name another rapper that they know the name of there Ex-Wife/Daughters and Mum off of the top of there heads?

I know i'm rambling but Pac changed the game in a massive way, showing you can be a tough guy and a softie. That's why to me he is pretty much the G.O.A.T...........along with Em....

[Kukahara]

Eminem is, in my opinion, the best and most entertaining writer out there.

[Kill You]

But really I would have to agree with Blu...it's just the way he words his lyrics, it's something that only Eminem can do. Even these days with this wit lacking he still writes lyrics like no other. Word choice is key and Em has a knack for it.

[LEVITIKUZ]

Let me explain why I don't think Em is the greatest writer of all time. My problem is you guys are just looking at Em's work and you guys are forgetting that there are so many other categories and people that could be the greatest writer of all time. Let me explain if you may:

Let's Talk Comics For A Second

Could we put Stan Lee in the debate of the greatest writer of all time? Let me explain why he could. Stan Lee was the one who wrote for and created the following superheroes: Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Daredevil, Hawkeye, The Avengers, Thor and many many more. He created all those heroes and most of those heroes rogue galleries. Should he be considered one of the greatest writers of all time? I don't see why not.

Could we put Frank Miller in the debate? Don't see why not. While he's lastest work has sucked, he is still among the greats. Frank wrote the greatest graphic novel of all time in The Dark Knight Returns. it has been praised everywhere. The book is genius. Frank Miller also wrote many other great graphic novels like Batman: Year One, 300, Sin City, Daredevil: Born Again, and Wolverine: The Japan Saga. Can we put his name in the debate? I think so.

Let's Talk Comedy For A Second

Comedy is a form of writing. You have to think up all your material. Why can we add Bill Cosby? Dude is a genius. He's album To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With is amazing and one of the best comedy albums of all time.What about other comedians like Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Redd Foxx, Louis C.K, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, and many other great stand up acts? They should be counted in the debate.

Let's Talk Movies For A Second

Ok now I'm not a film buff. I know that there are probably a lot more and better choices than I'm going to list but still. Why can't we include Quentin Tarantino? Tarantino is a genius. Dude wrote and directed one of the best films of all time in Pulp Fiction. Let's not forget many other of his classics like Reservoir Dogs, Django Unchained, Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, Inglourious Basterds and others. Tarantino has so many underlining irony and themes to his movies. For example:

Christopher Waltz character was what in Django Unchained?

A dentist.

What was the name of Leo's character and what was the name of his land?

Calvin J. Candie & Candieland.

Irony. Why can't we include Tarantino?

Why Can't We Include Paul Dini

For those of you who don't know, Paul Dini is one of the best comic book writers of all time but he does so much more. Paul DIni wrote in animation for the following series: Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, & Justice League: Unlimited. The Batman: The Animated Series episode "Heart of Ice" won an Emmy and that episode was genius. Batman: The Animated Series has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest animated series ever made.

Paul Dini has wrote the featured film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm which has been praised saying that the film was at the same level, if not slightly higher, than the Christopher Nolan directed Dark Knight Trilogy.

Paul Dini also wrote both video games with Batman: Arkham Asylum & Batman: Arkham City. Both video games have won numerous Game of the Year awards and have been praised as 2 of the best video games of all time.

Paul Dini also wrote the graphic novel Mad Love, which talks about Harley Quinn's origins, and that book has been praised as one of the greatest Batman books of all time. Dini won awards for the book. Back when the book came out in 94, Frank Miller called the book "One of the best Batman books in a decade."

Paul Dini also wrote for the hit TV show Lost.

In a whole, Dini has found succes and praise in TV animation, live action TV, animated movies, comics, and video games. Is his name not in the conversion? Don't see why not.

Now Let's Talk Music

Overall in terms of "greatest writer of all time", only one genre of music can be in that debate and thats: Hip-Hop. In pop, country, rock and all other types all people care about is the hook. Also most of that music, your have a songwriting team with you. In Hip-Hop you have to put in work with your verses. You have too. In other types, that's not required but in Hip-Hop it is. Also in Hip-Hop, only you can write your own music. Yes there are ghostwriters but you don't get a ghostwriter until you've earned it.

The only 3 MCs I could consider for candidates of "greatest writer of all time" would be Eminem, Nas, and Tupac.

Now my whole problem with you calling Em has the greatest writer of all time is you only listen to his songs and based it off that. There are so many more genres and categories and candidates in the "greatest writer of all time" debate that some of you oversee.

Do you guys see my point? I don't know who is or should be the greatest writer of all time but if you debate if you have to include so many factors into it.

[Fury]

Pac is like Ernest Hemingway, not Shakespeare.

[Blu]

Now my whole problem with you calling Em has the greatest writer of all time is you only listen to his songs and based it off that. There are so many more genres and categories and candidates in the "greatest writer of all time" debate that some of you oversee.

I've listened to countless artists, not just from the hip-hop genre. The reason why I believe Eminem is the best writer of all time is because he is smart. He put on this facade of him being a typical loud angry white kid, but you can tell in his music - the words he chooses and just exactly how he phrases his words - that he was ahead of his time. We will probably never see another rapper like Eminem. At least, not in our lifetime.

Now, I understand there were rappers like Rakim out in the 90's that some would say matches Eminem in skill, but he doesn't come close to Em's wit, cleverness, intelligence. A lot of people have this idea that Eminem was all about poking fun at people but that's just a small part of his genius.

For some reason, you brought up Stan Lee and Frank Miller. Why? They're comic book artists. ANYONE could make a comic character. But, can anyone write a line like this:

If the shoe fits I wear it, but if it don't, then y'all are swallowing the truth grin and bear it.

[LEVITIKUZ]

Now my whole problem with you calling Em has the greatest writer of all time is you only listen to his songs and based it off that. There are so many more genres and categories and candidates in the "greatest writer of all time" debate that some of you oversee.

I've listened to countless artists, not just from the hip-hop genre. The reason why I believe Eminem is the best writer of all time is because he is smart. He put on this facade of him being a typical loud angry white kid, but you can tell in his music - the words he chooses and just exactly how he phrases his words - that he was ahead of his time. We will probably never see another rapper like Eminem. At least, not in our lifetime.

Now, I understand there were rappers like Rakim out in the 90's that some would say matches Eminem in skill, but he doesn't come close to Em's wit, cleverness, intelligence. A lot of people have this idea that Eminem was all about poking fun at people but that's just a small part of his genius.

For some reason, you brought up Stan Lee and Frank Miller. Why? They're comic book artists. ANYONE could make a comic character. But, can anyone write a line like this:

If the shoe fits I wear it, but if it don't, then y'all are swallowing the truth grin and bear it.

I choose comic book WRITERS as an example because I read a lot of comic. Now there are many many other forms of writing genres and writers that could be in the debate. Now if anyone could write a comic book, why haven't we seen a great comic book among the likes of The Dark Knight Returns? Why haven't we seen that many successful superheroes in the media since Spider-Man and the rest that Stan Lee created in the media? The fact remains that when discussing the "greatest writer of all time" there are so many other writers to consider. While most probably can't write a line like Em does, Em probably can't write as good of a story as they can.

It works both ways, that's why when discussing "greatest writer of all time" you take so many categories into consideration. You don't just say "Eminem is" a not think if someone like Stan Lee or Tarantino or Wes Craven or the female who wrote Harry Potter. Em is in his profession what many others are and we can't just say "can anyone of them write a line like Em" because most likely Em can write a book like them. There are so many factors you have to consider. Someone said here:

"Why can't a rapper be better than Shakespeare? That's a prejudiced view most likely passed on by snobby ivory tower intellectuals."

Well you seem to be hating on comic book writers so why can't comic book writers be in the mix?

[Fleka]

I think Blu is trolling his ass off now. He will just make a thread "You all hated me, but then I dickryded Eminem for a month and you all loved me!!! Idiots!!!".

[Blu]

I think Blu is trolling his ass off now. He will just make a thread "You all hated me, but then I dickryded Eminem for a month and you all loved me!!! Idiots!!!".

You're the only one on this entire forum that hates me.

[CanadaPure]

Blu was hilarious even when he wasn't praising Em.

#ProtectBlu

[CrashBand]

Levitikuz.....poor, poor Levitikuz.

You should try and join the list of potential GOATs and write a song with Alanis Morissette.

The dentist/candy connection you noticed isn't irony.

[Bananastyle]

Pac and Em are easily 1000x greater writers than Shakespeare. The list of better writers is incredibly long actually.

Shakespeare should be more renowned in Sociology than Literature but the fact is that up until about 100 years ago people's literary collection consisted of little more than The Bible and Shakespeare. That's why he he so referenced when it comes to great writers. People had nothing to compare him to and for that reason his name has become the knee jerk reaction to any question about the best.

He did have some groundbreaking realizations pertaining to humanity, but his writing is bland. It's the underlying internal/external conflicts that people are so fascinated with, not his prowess as a writer.

If you really scrutinize his storytelling it rarely makes sense. His writing is basically lectures hidden within secondhand and second rate storytelling.

He's great in the way the Grand Master Flash and Run DMC are great. They are pioneers. But I'll give credit where credit is due..."stand on the shoulder of giants" etc... that he opened up certain way to approach writing which let better writers use his blueprints. His foundation should definitely be studied as a prerequisite to a basic understanding of modern literature but his praise as the GOAT writer is blindly followed and borderline idiotic.