There’s no question that Eminem is a lyrical genius. Since the late 1990’s he’s dominated hip-hop with his otherworldly rhyming ability. And unlike most artists, Eminem has managed to get better with time. That’s quite a feat in an industry where many artists can’t even draw enough of a crowd to warrant a second album. We’ve seen different versions of Marshall Mathers on every album. On the Slim Shady LP, a young Em showed the world he meant business with a barrage of shocking lyrics. The real shock, however, was that a white guy could actually rap. By that time, the white rapper had become the Big Foot of hip-hop so it was a big deal. Proving he was no one trick pony, Eminem dropped the Marshall Mathers LP, not only avoiding the sophomore jinx but producing arguably his best album to date which included the epic tale of a deranged fan in “Stan”. The album showed a marked improvement in Em’s flow, which is saying a lot given how nasty he already was. Next up was the Eminem Show in which Em was in rare form dropping some of his potent lyrics ever, some of which were directed at his own mom on “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”, which he also produced. Of course, nobody is perfect, and Em did have a couple of missteps with Encore and Relapse, which were definitely okay, but a little eh. Em, however, in true Eminem fashion came back with a vengeance with Recovery and especially with his latest release the Marshall Mathers LP 2, which is fitting. Combing through Em’s catalogue for his best verses is a daunting task but Men’s Mag Daily is up to the challenge. This article could have been Eminem’s 100 Best Verses but we wanted to truly showcase his lyricism so we present to you Eminem’s 10 Greatest Verses Ever.
1. Remember Me? Feat. RBX and Sticky Fingaz/ The Marshall Mathers LP
To actually see Eminem have a feature on a track was pretty surprising but this song was insane. Em just went bananas on this track produced by Dre and Mel-Man and bodied it something terrible. This was at the peak of him being considered highly controversial by the media and you can feel the angst in his lyrics. (Props to Sticky Fingaz for more than holding his own on this track)
When I go out, I’ma go out shootin’
I don’t mean when I die, I mean when I go out to the club stupid
I’m tryna clean up my fuckin’ image
So I promised the fuckin’ critics I wouldn’t say fuckin’ for six minutes
(Six minutes Slim Shady you’re on)
My baby’s mom, bitch made me an angry blonde
So I made me a song, killed her and put Hailie in
I may be wrong, I keep thinkin’ these crazy thoughts
In my cranium, but I’m stuck with a crazy mom
(Is she really on as much dope as you say she’s on?)
Came home and somebody musta broke in the back window
And stole two loaded machine guns and both of my trench coats
Sick, sick dreams of picnic scenes
Two kids sixteen with M-16’s and ten clips each
And them shits reach through six kids each
And Slim gets blamed in Bill Clint’s speech to fix these streets?
Fuck that! You faggots can vanish to volcanic ash
And reappear in hell with a can if gas and a match
Aftermath, Dre grab the gat, show ’em where it’s at
(Dr. Dre: What the fuck you strain’ at nigga?)
2. Hellbound feat. J-Black and Masta Ace
Not everybody knows about this track but those who do are just blown away. This is Slim Shady at his absolute nastiest. He’s rhyming syllables within syllables and rhyming those trademark dark lyrics. This is the kind of verse that would end a street corner battle in about 2 seconds flat, point blank, period.
Yo, I’ll fuckin’, I’ll, I’ll puke, eat it, and freak you
Battle? I’m too weeded to speak to
The only key that I see to defeat you
Would be for me to remove these two Adidas and beat you
And force feed you ’em both
And on each feet is a cleat shoe
I’ll lift you you off your feet so fast with a roundhouse
You’ll think I pulled the fuckin’ ground out from underneath you
I ain’t no fuckin’ G, I’m a cannibal
I ain’t tryna to shoot you
I’m tryna to chop you into pieces and eat you
Wrap you in rope and plastic, stab you with broken glass
And have you with open gashes strapped to a soakin’ mattress
Coke and acid, black magic, cloaks and daggers
Fuck the planet ’til it spins on a broken axis
I’m so bananas I’m showin’ up to your open casket
To fill it full of explosive gasses and close it back
With a lit match in it while I sit back and just hope it catches
Blow you to fragments, laugh, roll you and smoke the ashes
3. Renegade/ Jay-Z featuring Eminem/ The Blueprint
Eminem was the feature and produced this heavily debated track off of Jay-Z’s classic album, The Blueprint. First there is the matter of Royce. There is a version with him on it that many claim was the original version. Then there is the question of who outdid who on this track. The consensus seems to be that Eminem murdered it hands down. While both MC’s dis an incredible job I tend to agree that Em did just a little bit more here.
See I’m a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me is
A monger of hate, Satan, a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain’t the case, see it’s a matter of taste
We as the people decide if Shady’s as bad as they say he is
Or is he the latter, a gateway to escape?
Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today
See it’s easy as cake, simple as whistlin’ Dixie
While I’m wavin’ a pistol at sixty Christians against me
Go to war with the Mormons, take a bath with the Catholics
In holy water, no wonder they try to hold me under longer
I’m a motherfuckin’ spiteful, delightful eyeful
The new Ice Cube, motherfuckers hate to like you
What did I do? I’m just a kid from the gutter
Makin’ his butter off these bloodsuckers, ‘cause I’m a motherfuckin’
4. Dead Wrong/ Notorious B.I.G./ Born Again
This track is off Biggie’s only posthumous album, Born Again, and has him spitting some of the illest verses of his career, the type that Puff would have never released if he was still alive. B.I.G. killed it and Em dropped a serious verse. The best part about it is that you know B.I.G would have loved it. He probably would have dropped his two monster verses, smiled, and been like, “how is this little white boy keeping up with me”?
There’s several different levels to devil worshippin’
Horse’s heads, human sacrifices, cannibalism, candles and exorcism
Animals havin’ sex with ’em, camels, mammals, and rabbits
But I don’t get into that, I kicked the habit
I just beat you to death with weapons that eat through the flesh
And I never eat you unless the fuckin’ meat looks fresh
I got a lion in my pocket, I’m lyin’, I got a nine in my pocket
And baby I’m just, dyin’ to cock him
He’s ready for war, I’m ready for war
I got machetes and swords for any faggot that said he was raw
My Uzi’s as, heavy as yours, yeah you met me before
I just didn’t have as large an arsenal of weapons before
Marshall will step in the door, I lay your head on the floor
With your body spread on the bedspread, red on the wall
Red on the ceilin’, red on the floor, get a new whore
Met on the second, wed on the third
Then she’s dead on the fourth, I’m dead wrong
5. ‘Till I Collapse/ Eminem feat. Nate Dogg (R.I.P)/ The Eminem Show
The beat was militant and Em’s rhymes matched. He must have just read an article discrediting him or something right before he wrote this song because the lyrics were insane and the delivery was something that has never been heard before. Not many MC’s can put that kind of feeling into a song. He challenges every MC out there to get at him and guess what? Nobody did.
Soon as the verse starts, I eat at an MC’s heart
What is he thinkin’? How not to go against me, smart
And it’s absurd, how people hang on every word
I’ll probably never get the props I feel I ever deserve
But I’ll never be served, my spot is forever reserved
If I ever leave Earth, that would be the death of me first
‘Cause in my heart of hearts I know nothin’ could ever be worse
That’s why I’m clever when I put together every verse
My thoughts, are sporadic, I act, like I’m an addict
I rap like I’m addicted to smack like I’m Kim Mathers
But I don’t wanna go forth and back in constant battles
The fact is I would rather sit back and bomb some rappers
So this is like a full blown attack I’m launchin’ at ’em
The track is on some battlin’ raps who want some static?
‘Cause I don’t really think that the fact that I’m Slim matters
A plaque and platinum status is wack if I’m not the baddest
6. Rap God/ The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Does this entire song being absolute fire even require an explanation? Okay, honestly, this song made Eminem a very feared MC and he displayed about 15 styles, all of which will destroy your favorite rapper.
Now who thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box?
Let me show you maintainin’ this shit ain’t that hard, that hard
Everybody wants the key and the secret to rap immortality like I have got
Well to be truthful the blueprint’s simply rage and youthful exuberance
Everybody loves to root for a nuisance
Hit the Earth like an asteroid, did nothin’ but shoot for the moon since
MC’s get taken to school with this music ’cause I use it
As a vehicle to bust a rhyme, now I lead a new school full of students
Me? I’m a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, 2Pac, N.W.A
Cube, hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, thank you, they got Slim
Inspired enough to one day grow up, blow up and be in a position
To meet Run-D.M.C. and induct them into the motherfuckin’ Rock ‘N
Roll Hall of Fame, even though I’ll walk in the church and burst in a ball of flames
Only Hall of Fame I’ll be inducted in is the alcohol of fame on the wall of shame
You fags think it’s all a game, ’til I walk a flock of flames
Off a plank and, tell me what in the fuck are you thinkin’?
Little gay lookin’ boy, so gay I can barely say it with a straight face lookin’ boy
You’re witnessin’ a mass-occur like you’re watchin’ a church gatherin’ take place lookin’ boy
Oy vey, that boy’s gay, that’s all they say lookin’ boy
You get a thumbs up, pat on the back and a “way to go” from your label every day lookin’ boy
Hey lookin’ boy, what ya say lookin’ boy?
I get a “hell yeah” from Dre lookin’ boy
I’ma work for everything I have, never asked nobody for shit, get out my face lookin’ boy
Basically boy, you’re never gonna be capable of keepin’ up with the same pace lookin’ boy
7. Rock Bottom/ The Slim Shady LP
A lot of people will never understand that it’s verses like these that make everybody love Eminem as an artist. If you’ve ever been broke this song will hit home hard. To write this song, Em must have really been going through it and you can feel that in every word he spits. A classic song that every Em fan is very familiar with.
I feel like I’m walkin’ a tight rope, without a circus net
Poppin’ Percocet, I’m a nervous wreck
I deserve respect but I work a sweat for this worthless check
I’m about to burst this tech at somebody to reverse this debt
Minimum wage got my adrenaline caged
Full of venom and rage, especially when I’m engaged
And my daughter’s down to her last diaper, it’s got my ass hyper
I pray that God answers, maybe I’ll ask nicer
Watchin’ ballers while they flossin’ in they Pathfinders
These overnight stars becomin’ autograph signers
We all long to blow up and leave the past behind us
Along with the small fries and average half pinters
But playa haters turnin’ bitch like they had vaginas
‘Cause we see them dollar signs and let the cash blind us
Money’ll brainwash you and leave yo’ ass mindless
When snakes slither in the grass spineless
8. Marshall Mathers/ The Marshall Mathers LP
This song showcases Eminem at his boy-band dissing best. Honestly, nobody is safe, as the Insane Clown Posse and XXL Magazine get it too. Em addresses his legal issues, blowing up to international superstar status, and of course his trouble with his mom, Debbie Mathers. Other than his innate ability to rap, Marshall shows us that he really just is a regular guy.
Yo, you might see me joggin’, you might see me walkin’
You might see me walkin’ a dead Rottweiler dog
With its head chopped off in the park with a spiked collar
Hollerin’ at him cause the son of a bitch won’t quit barkin’
Or leanin’ out a window with a cocked shotgun
Drivin’ up the block in the car that they shot ‘Pac in
Lookin’ for Big’s killers, dressin’ ridiculous
Blue and red like I don’t see what the big deal is
Double barrel twelve gauge bigger than Chris Wallace
Pissed off cause Biggie and ‘Pac just missed all this
Watchin’ all these cheap imitations get rich off ’em
And get dollars that shoulda been there’s like they switched wallets
And amidst all this Cris poppin’ and wristwatches
I just sit back and just watch and just get nauseous
And walk around with an empty bottle of Remy Martin
Startin’ shit like some 26 year old skinny Cartman (God Damn it!)
I’m anti Backstreet and Ricky Martin
With instincts to kill N’Sync don’t get me started
These fuckin’ brats can’t sing and Britney’s garbage
What’s this bitch retarded? Gimme back my sixteen dollars
All I see is sissies in magazines smilin’
Whatever happened to wildin’ out and bein’ violent?
Whatever happened to catchin’ a good old fashioned
Passionate ass whoopin’ and gettin’ your shoes coat and your hat tooken?
9. Sing For the Moment/ The Eminem Show
Do I know Eminem? Definitely not. But I can imagine that going from being a broke white rapper from Detroit to being a mega superstar must be a hell of a ride, both in good and bad ways. And Em addresses some real issues in this song. This rapper, because of his skin tone, brought hip-hop into a lot of homes that normally wouldn’t have been exposed to it. That means his CD’s were in the CD players of a lot of important peoples’ kids. I imagine most of them weren’t very happy about that.
Entertainment is changin’, intertwinin’ with gangsters
In the land of the killers a sinner’s mind is a sanctum
Holy or unholy, only have one homie
Only this gun lonely cause don’t anyone know me
Yet everybody just feels like they can relate
I guess words are a motherfucker, they can be great
Or they can degrade or even worse, they can teach hate
It’s like these kids hang on every single statement we make
Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
Now how the fuck did this metamorphosis happen?
From standin’ on corners and porches just rappin’
To havin’ a fortune, no more kissin’ ass
But then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you
Fans turn on you, attorneys all want a turn at you
To get they hands on every dime you have
They want you to lose your mind every time you mad
So they can try to make you out to look like a loose cannon
Any dispute won’t hesitate to produce handguns
That’s why these prosecutors wanna convict me
Strictly just to get me off of these streets quickly
But all they kids be listenin’ to me religiously
So I’m signin’ CD’s while police fingerprint me
They’re for the judge’s daughter but his grudge is against me
If I’m such a fuckin menace this shit doesn’t make sense B
It’s all political, if my music is literal
And I’m a criminal how the fuck can I raise a little girl?
I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be fit to
You’re full of shit too Guerrera, that was a fist that hit you
10. Patiently Waiting/ 50 Cent Feat. Eminem/ Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
Em made a big move when signing 50 Cent and this song solidified it all. Shady was definitely in the building so Eminem drops this gem to let it officially be known. Enough said.
If ya patiently waitin’ to make it through all the hatin’
Debatin’ whether or not you can even weather the storm
Unless you lay on the table they operatin’ to save you
It’s like an angel came to you sent from the heavens above
They think they crazy but they ain’t crazy, let’s face it
Shit basically they just playin’ sick
They ain’t shit, they ain’t sayin’ shit, spray ’em 50
A to the K get in the way I’ll bring Dre and them with me
And turn this day into fuckin’ mayhem, you stayin’ with me?
Don’t let me lose you, I’m not tryna confuse you
When I let loose with this Uzi and just shoot through your Isuzu
You get the message? Am I getting’ through to you?
You know what’s comin’, you motherfuckers don’t even know, do you?
Take some Big and some Pac and you mix ’em up in a pot
Sprinkle a little Big L on top, what the fuck do you got?
You got the realest and illest killas tied up in a knot
The juggernauts of this rap shit, like it or not
It’s like a fight to the top just to see who’d die for the spot
You put ya life in this, nothin’ like survivin’ a shot
Y’all know what time it is, soon as 50 signs on this dot
Shit what you know about death threats? ‘Cause I get a lot
Shady Records was eighty seconds away from the towers
Them cowards fucked with the wrong building, they meant to hit ours
Better evacuate all children, its nuclear showers
There’s nothin’ spookier
You’re now about to witness the power of fuckin 50
Article By : Jon DaBove
