How do you rate Eminem as lyricist?

[led]

Making peace with her mom in "Headlights." Whatta lyrics.

I went in headfirst
Never thinking about who what I said hurt, in what verse
My mom probably got it the worst
The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are
Did I take it too far?
Cleaning out my closet and all them other songs
But regardless I don't hate you cause ma!
You're still beautiful to me, cause you're my mom
Though far be it for you to be calling, my house was Vietnam
Desert Storm and both of us put together can form an atomic bomb equivalent to Chemical warfare
And forever we can drag this on and on
But, agree to disagree
That gift from me up under the Christmas tree don't mean **** to me
You're kicking me out? It's 15 degrees and it's Christmas Eve (little prick just leave)
Ma, let me grab my ****ing coat, anything to have each other's goats
Why we always at each others throats? Especially when dad, he ****ed us both
We're in the same ****ing boat, you'd think that it'd make us close (nope)
Further away that drove us, but together headlights shine, a car full of belongings
Still got a ways to go, back to grandma's house it's straight up the road
And I was the man of the house, the oldest, so my shoulders carried the weight of the load
Then Nate got taken away by the state at 8 years old, and
That's when I realized you were sick and it wasn't fixable or changable
And to this day we remained estranged and I hate it though, but

I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far


Cause to this day we remain estranged and I hate it though
Cause you ain't even get to witness your grand baby's growth
But I'm sorry mama for Cleaning Out My Closet, at the time I was angry
Rightfully maybe so, never meant that far to take it though, cause
Now I know it's not your fault, and I'm not making jokes
That song I no longer play at shows and I cringe every time it's on the radio
And I think of Nathan being placed in a home
And all the medicine you fed us
And how I just wanted you to taste your own, but
Now the medications taken over and your mental states deteriorating slow
And I'm way too old to cry, that ****'s painful though
But ma, I forgive you, so does Nathan yo
All you did, all you said, you did your best to raise us both
Foster care, that cross you bare, few may be as heavy as yours
But I love you Debbie Mathers, oh what a tangled web we have, cause
One thing I never asked was where the **** my deadbeat dad was
**** it I guess he had trouble keeping up with every address
But I'd have flipped every mattress, every rock and desert cactus
Own a collection of maps and followed my kids to the edge of the atlas
Someone ever moved them from me? That you could bet your ass's
If I had to come down the chimney dressed as Santa, kidnap them
And although one has met their grandma
Once you pulled up in our drive one night as we were leaving to get some handburgers
Me, her and Nate, we introduced you, hugged you
And as you left I had this overwhelming sadness come over me
As we pulled off to go our separate paths, and
I saw your headlights as I looked back
And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my Mom and my Dad
So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote this on the jet
I guess I had to get this off my chest, I hope I get the chance to lay it before I'm dead
The stewardess said to fasten my seatbelt, I guess we're crashing
So if I'm not dreaming, I hope you this message that I'll always love you from afar
Cause you're my mama...

[Mushashi]

He fell off after Eminem Show, I stopped checking for him after that point. The songs I did hear after I wasn't impressed with, voice, content, lyrics... meh.

[SlySlickSmooth]

He's his own lyricist.. now every artist comes up using tried and true methods. AKA Hopsin.

I think what a lot of hip hop fans fail to realize is, artists that come up as legends have this certain "sound" or "style" that makes them, them.

When I listen to new songs on the radio(just to laugh at how ****ty everything is), its all recycled styles.

As far a story telling he's up there as one of the best, for sure. But for me, his content never kept me as an Eminem-enthusiast, but I give the man his props.

[Knicksman20]

Just read through this entire thread. I'm no fan of Em but you have to give credit where it's due. Em lyrically is a monster; there's no denying that. He's in my top 10 as a lyricist dead or alive. But he is NOT nor will he ever be the greatest. His voice has & will always be annoying which takes away from his flow & delivery. I've always compared him to Canibus because his voice held him back from blowing up the way he should've.

I knew he was the real deal lyrically when I heard this in the late 90's:

[~AK49~]

One of the better lyricists ever, if not thee best. But....his songs have fallen off since he is doing better in life and has lost the rage and passion. New album is pretty good, but nothing 'goats gonna goat' about it.

[nubian]

I think he's complete trash but music is subjective there can be no lists or top in anything in music since some like rock and others pop.

[Uturn]

Enjoyed his earlier stuff. After The Eminem Show, I was done with Em. Haven't listened to any of his later material or picked up any of his newest albums. Marshall Mathers LP is defiantly one of GOAT rap albums though.

Can't stand listening to him now though. It's commercialized garbage most of it. I understand everybody moves on with music as they mature, but Em just isn't the same guy anymore. Nothing compares to the old Em. He was one of the illest lyricist I've ever witnessed to grace the mic. His word play is incredible.

[Weltschmerz]

I don't rate him as a lyricist. He got famous for being angry and foul-mouthed. I write better lyrics scribbling randomly on toilet paper all the time.