Eminem's debut album—the lyrics are quick, clear, and quirky, but also deep, dark, and disturbing. Eminem's voice is at its highest and most nasal, a sound not as prevalent on other albums.
Eminem creates continuity with the name theme of his albums. While The Slim Shady LP put him on a parental watchlist, The Marshall Mathers LP probably landed him on the hit list of every advocacy group on the planet.
While Eminem took home the Oscar, he gets support from 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Obie Trice, Macy Gray, Nas, Rakim, and Gang Starr. The 50 Cent track "Wanksta" proved to be 50's breakout song.
Having been mired in personal and professional controversies, The Eminem Show is Em's first album to deal heavily with his status as a celebrity. Em takes a staunchly anti-celebrity stance and drops plenty of hints about his retirement from rap.
Despite the title, this wasn't the end. In classic Eminem fashion, he continues to rap about his ex-wife, his daughter, and even goes after former President George Bush on this album.
After a few years out of the studio and a stint in rehab, Eminem released this album in 2009. Despite mixed reviews, it still did well with fans.
While Eminem has proven himself to be a lyrical master, his writing grew to conform to largely the same format. However, it's also grown increasingly personal regarding Eminem's own struggle with drugs and suicidal tendencies. With Encore, Relapse, and Recovery, you'll find the same catchy beats, clever lyrics, emotional revelations, and non-sensical topics delivered by one of the strongest voices in rap.