Personally for me it’ll be:
1. The Eminem show – It was the album that not only got me into Eminem, but hip-hop in general, i’m a metalhead ususally, but this album opened my mind to this genre of music, and since then have discovered many artists who I would certainly not have given a chance to before. The beats are awesome, lyrics are real and clever, can’t fault this album at all really.
2. Relapse – Eminem’s most underrated album I feel, I know that even he has stated in interviews that he wasn’t too fond of this album, but the sheer darkness to it, and the raw energy and talent from a man so torn apart by drugs. Absolutely fantastic.
3. MMLP – This album is fantastic, similar to eminem show in themes, also got really great lyrics and beats, but there are a few songs on here i was a bit iffy about. Kim, dispite how dark it is, I think is a masterpiece. Not to get involved with the social issues of his marriage, but the song is great to listen to when you’re angry. Would be higher, but there were some tracks that were kind of iffy in my eyes.
4. Encore – I actually quite liked Rain Man & big weenie, it was a tad different from his earlier stuff, but I think on the whole a decent album, but definitely not one of his best
5. SSLP – Some real gems on this one, but I think a lot of it seemed too immature to me, it’s a good album to listen to, but it lacked the power behind his later albums I feel.
6. MMLP2 – Have only listened to the whole thing once, it is a good album, and Rap god is a fucking killer track, but on the whole I think eminem has left his prime, I don’t think we’re going to get anything as good as his early 2000’s days stuff, but it was a damn sight better than Recovery
7. Infinite – Again, haven’t listened to this album as much as the others, it’s a lot more raw and more about the lyrics than the later albums, the beats were meh, but that’s to be expected really, production quality’s a lot lower, but I do think that add’s something. On the whole I don’t think eminem had really found his feet and his style at this point. Definitely worth a listen if you’re a fan of eminem, and want to hear his roots though.
8. Recovery – God the hype this album got was unbelievable, none of the songs were bad as such, but they were all way too safe, all samey, and as much as I hate to say it, too ‘pop’y, completely lost the edge eminem had in relapse and all of his earlier albums. It’s a decent album, but when you place it next to his other releases there’s no contest