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Marshall Bruce Mathers III famous by his stage name Eminem, born on 17th October 1972, is an American songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He is typically the best-selling music artist of all time with over 220 million records sold. He is acclaimed as the best rapper of all time and credited for popularizing rap and hip-hop in general in Middle America. Eminem had a tough childhood marked by poverty and sexual abuse. At 14 years he began rapping in clubs in Michigan and his unexcused absence from school kept him in 9th grade for three years. Eminem quit school to pursue hip-hop music.
After his debut album Infinite and the extended play Slim Shady EP, Marshall signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment in 1997. He became popular in 1999. His albums The Marshall Mathers Lp and The Eminem Show were the catalyst to his fame and success. They were nominated for the Grammy Awards. From then Eminem hit the milestone in his music career and became a legend and king of hip-hop. Below are his top ten songs.
# 10 – Beautiful
“Beautiful” is a popular track by Eminem. A song he wrote while he was still addicted to prescription drugs was sorrowfully confronting his period with depression. The song includes a verse from “Reaching Out” by Queen and Paul Rodgers. Eminem balances his abhorrence towards society with his loving lyrical warmth to show how disappointed he was about his previous behaviors. When people thought that his track was goodbye to Eminem’s music career, it is typically his true comeback. Eminem said in an interview that he started writing the first and half of the second verse when he was going through detox. The track reminds him of what he had gone through and what he will never go back to.
“Beautiful,” is the fourth and also the final single from his sixth studio album Relapse. It was released on 11th August 2009. The hit peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 35 on the US Billboard Pop Songs.
# 9 – Infinite
“Infinite” was the opening track of this iconic artist’s 1996 indie-label debut. This song is very lively and interesting and you wouldn’t think it was recorded over 20 years ago. The opening verse will draw your attention. The tone and the musical beats are perfect.
Eminem is one guy who has amazing content and every word in his lyrics counts. When you listen to his songs 20 years ago, it is the same Eminem today and that’s something unique with him.
# 8 – Mockingbird
Eminem delivers this song in the best way possible and for that reason, it peaks at number eight on our list. This is the fifth single from his fifth studio album Encore. The track was released in April 2005 and peaked at number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and position four in the United Kingdom.
In this track, Eminem talks about his two daughters Alaina Mathers and Hailie and speaks about the tough times in their family life. This is considered one of the most emotional songs by Eminem. In this hit, it is evident that Eminem had a rough upbringing as a kid and this went on to his family as well. Eminem describes how his wife was “distant” from the family and Eminem consoles his daughters by being a nice dad.
# 7 – Love the Way You Lie
The collaboration between Eminem and the Barbadian singer Rihanna is one of its kind. Skylar Grey wrote and recorded part of the hit together with producer Alex da kid when it turned out that she was in an abusive-romantic relationship with music or rather the music industry.
With this background, Eminem took the track and wrote the verses for his Recovery album. He felt that only RiRi could bring the needed emotions and the hit became more explicitly about violence between two lovers. Eminem drew the experiences from his ex-wife while Rihanna drew memories from her then violent boyfriend Chris Brown. Eminem verse shows a troubled relationship but Rihanna’s chorus is the standout.
The song was a major hit and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. It peaked at number seven for the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. This is an emotional song about love that you should listen to.
# 6 – Rap God
You will find few songs in modern history, defining an artist’s career as well as their legacy. This hit describes Eminem’s technical lyrical and vocal prowess of the track. To confirm this, the track entered the Guinness World Records for the single track with the most number of words, 1560 words precisely.
The song received positive reviews from music critics receiving much praise for his rapping ability. The track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
# 5 – Kim
Choosing the final top five songs by Eminem was quite a challenge, but “Kim” deserves it. Eminem is undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of all time with an estimation of over 200 million album sales worldwide. Therefore, the track Kim peaking at number five on our list is a real gem.
Eminem, AKA the real “Slim Shady” is a good storyteller and he raps about his wife Kimberly- the mother of his daughter Hailie. The couple had a volatile relationship that ended in divorce in 2001 before reconciling again in 2006. After a short time, they split again. The point here is about true self (Marshall Mathers) and the dark or rather the volatile Shady who cannot control himself.
Eminem is very quick in his delivery and he does this flawlessly. However, in this song, his vocal performance is extremely aggressive shouting throughout. Although, I do not see this being bad since Shady is full of emotions due to issues with his wife. This track was ranked at number 21 on the list of 25 most violent rap music songs of all time.
# 4 – Cleanin Out My Closet
This track ” Cleanin Out My Closet” is remarkable. The song is the second single released from the album The Eminem Show in 2002 after the release of “Without Me” from the same album. This song by Slim Shady is very serious and inspired by Eminem’s childhood events and his relationships.
Eminem’s relationships including her mother have been worse. The song’s tone lowers when he raps “I’m sorry, mama” in the chorus. Finally, there is the climax betrayal when his mom according to shady tells him, “Remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me?
Therefore, “Cleaning Out My Closet” is about Eminem’s tale of being sexually abused as a child. The song peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 US Hot Rap Songs
# 3 – Lose Yourself
This song had great lyrics and a stunning performance from Slim Shady that overshadowed all other rappers. This song was the biggest and one of the best hits of Eminem’s career. The track was the first rap hit to win the Academy Awards for the Best Original Song.
The song sums up the Eminem character in the 8-mile movie with the first lines describing the major parts of the movie. The song features various themes majoring with the struggles experienced by B-Rabbit and how he overcame them to gain a reputation from other rappers.
This track was a great success and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 singles consecutively for twelve weeks. The track topped other charts in nineteen countries and according to various music critics, the song is Eminem’s best to date.
# 2 – The Real Slim Shady
Wow! I guarantee you that you will fall in love with this track from the first line. This song is unique and clearly shows what a legend Eminem is. The track is the lead single from his third studio album The Marshall Mathers LP released in 2000.
The hit was Shady’s first track to top in the United Kingdom. It also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. On top of that, the song was the 14th best-selling in the United Kingdom in 2000. The track won multiple awards including Best Male Video, and Best Video; MTV Video Music Awards. It also won a Grammy Award for the Best Rap Solo Performance.
The music video features Slim Shady performing in a psychiatric ward, a fast food joint, and in a factory where numerous clones of him are produced.
# 1 – Stan
At the top of our Eminem songs list is this incredible hit by Eminem featuring vocals from Dido- a British singer. The hit was released as the third single from his third studio album Marshall Mathers. The song reached number one in various European countries including Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, and even Australia.
In the track, Eminem narrates the story of “Stan” a disturbed fan who religiously follows Eminem and later feels abandoned by him due to his unhinged ego. Later Eminem shows up to reply to the fan but it’s too late, he is already dead after a nasty accident. When Slim was interviewed about the track, he said it was a message to his fans not to take everything that he says literally, only most of the things. The song is really emotional and you should listen to it.
Conclusion
Eminem AKA Slim Shady is a legend when it comes to hip-hop music. Eminem’s great success is believed to have broken barriers for the inclusion or rather acceptance of white rappers in popular music. When listening to his music, you see the pure talent and the reason he started rapping in clubs from as young as 14 years. The above songs by Eminem will brighten your day.
This article was updated on February 10, 2022
Top 10 Eminem Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
