It's really hard to decide. Because I know most fans will think original psycho Shady 97-99 due to the beautiful wit and metaphors... And great rhyming.
But I dunno, because then you fast forward to 00/01 and you get stuff like "The Way I Am" or "Drug Ballad". But then you go to 02/03 and get stuff like "Square Dance" and "Till I Collapse". And "8 Mile Road". And immortal verses left right and center like on "Rap Game" and "Patiently Waiting". With an equally immortal set of flows.
I can definitely say my least favourite was 04/05 although he did come out with some great material then too such as "Mosh", "Ricky Ticky Toc" and "We As Americans". I could probably say it's not been the new era (09) so far but then again... He's more lyrical than ever. Like that Westwood freestyle? Insane.
I think if I was forced to pick it'd be 02/03 era. He had everything; Poetry, powerful flows, hardcore rhyming, great imagery and metaphors, wit (although not as sharp as earlier wit) and his actual songwriting abilities in terms of versing and hooks was majorly stepped up.
I'm just listening to some more old Em shit though like, old Em freestyles... 97-99.
One line he said is just so fucking good and hilarious. He's been failing to make me genuinely laugh over wit for a long time. He's never failed to impress me, surprise me and / or addict me but I miss lines like:
"At birth I was born with the biggest middle finger on Earth, the first time I went to stick it up the shit hurt"
and
"don't give em' a demo, kidnap em' and make em' come to ya basement and listen"
It was just like... Twisted but cocky and ironic and just perfect wit lol. I want that back. Mr. Porter said one track they did on the album was just Em shooting non-stop punchlines in his normal voice and it was like back in the old days though.
So I'm holding out hope for the return of Shady's wit on R2.





