The Best Single Song on Each of Eminem’s First 5 Albums

When the Detroit-based rapper Eminem released his major label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, in 1999, he became a star overnight. With brash lyrics, vivid imagery, and the backing of famed producer Dr. Dre, Em had the complete package. And as a result, he sold millions and millions of albums. Today, he is widely considered on the short list of the best rappers of all time.

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But when you put on his first handful of albums, which songs should you skip to first? Of course, the entirety of each LP is worth your ear, but there are tracks to single out and heap on the praise. Below, that’s exactly what we wanted to do. Indeed, these are the best single songs on each of Eminem’s first five albums.

“Infinite” from ‘Infinite’ (1996)

The title track from Eminem’s debut studio album (though this one came before his partnership with Dr. Dre), this song helped earn Em some initial attention. The word play is masterful, the flow catchy and fun. Not yet does Em show the razor-sharp tongue that he would become famous for. But still, this is a song that certainly showcases his immense talent.

“Bad Meets Evil” from ‘The Slim Shady LP’ (1999)

When considering the rapper’s sophomore record and the first he made with Dre, you could pick the LP’s debut single “My Name Is” or any other song about his screwed up family life. But we think the best song to put on first is his collaboration with longtime friend Royce Da 5’9”. Playing on cowboy tropes, the duet tells an incredible story through lyricism that seems almost impossible to come up with, let alone lay to track and release to the world.

“Stan” from ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ (2000)

There are a number of stellar songs from Mathers’ 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP. But it’s hard not to pick a track that created a term used often in the lexicon today. The idea of a “Stan” is someone who obsesses over and supports unconditionally another person, thing or idea. And that term can be traced back to this track, which Em wrote about a crazed fan. A year after its release, he performed the song live with Elton John at the Grammys. No wonder it’s had such a long life.

“‘Till I Collapse” from ‘The Eminem Show’ (2002)

Eminem’s 2002 album, The Eminem Show, may just be his best work of his career. With biting songs like “White America” and catchy tracks like “Without Me”, the album is mature and full of skill. But the song that just gets your heart racing is the banger, “‘Till I Collapse”, which features the iconic hook singer Nate Dogg. It’s the kind of song that will rattle your car as you play it over and over while racing down the highway.

“Crazy In Love” from ‘Encore’ (2004)

The price of fame is often mental health. And it was around the release of Em’s 2004 album, Encore, that all the things that come from his success started to catch up with him. As a result, the quality of his music started to slip. But Encore still had some great tracks, including “Crazy In Love”, which featured the classic rock sisters of Heart. It’s an epic song that makes you feel both frantic and passionate. That’s quite a compelling combo.

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