Eminem’s Best Songs of All Time, Ranked

Check out Eminem's best songs to date, earning him an impressive net worth.

The Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022 went down as one of the very best in history. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Eminem gave their all, delighting fans all over the world and reminding them why the rap of the 1990s and 2000s was some of the greatest of all time.

Following the Super Bowl set, there was one song in particular that climbed the charts: Eminem’s classic “Lose Yourself.” Due to his appearance, he became the first artist in Spotify history to have 10 albums with more than 1.5 billion streams.

Check out some of the best Eminem songs that earned him his about $250 million net worth, making him one of the most successful rap artists of all time.

15. Mockingbird

Amazon

Year released: 2004

Album: Encore

“Mockingbird” was the fifth single from “Encore” and details Eminem’s relationships with his then-young daughters in the face of fame. One of his least controversial records, the song’s original lyrics detail his failed marriage, his being away so much at the beginning of his career and the family’s early poverty.

Mixed in are lines and the melody from “Mockingbird,” a 1963 song written and recorded by Inez and Charlie Foxx, which is based on “Hush, Little Baby,” a song of unknown origin dating back to the 19th century.

“Mockingbird” peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went 4X Platinum. It also won a Grammy nod for Best Rap Solo Performance.

14. The Monster

Facebook

Year released: 2013

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP 2

“The Monster” is one of Eminem’s highest-charting songs and features a guest appearance by none other than Rihanna. The song focuses on the unexpected and unwanted attention Eminem’s fame has brought him.

He said, “It was this thing where I want this attention for this music, but then I want to be able to go in public, and I want to be able to eat a f—ing sandwich and be left alone. I’ve never been an attention seeker, and [rap] seems like a hell of a career choice [for me], but … that’s not why I do it, just to get attention. I don’t like to go in public and walk around and be like, ‘Here I am.’ It’s not what I want.”

The fourth single off “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” “The Monster” went to the top of the charts in 12 countries, including the U.S.

13. Not Afraid

YouTube

Year released: 2010

Album: Recovery

“Not Afraid” marked a new era for Eminem. He attempted to leave his Slim Shady persona behind to embrace his responsibilities as a parent, but found Slim Shady never entirely leaves him.

“Not Afraid” received generally positive reviews from critics, but fans were mixed on its themes of growing up and taking responsibility. Despite this, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 and was certified 10X Platinum in 2014.

The song earned Eminem Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, and the video for “Not Afraid” garnered two VMAs.

12. Without Me

Discogs

Year released: 2002

Album: The Eminem Show

“Without Me” is ranked as one of of Eminem’s most successful singles, reaching No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the top spot in 15 countries.

This intended sequel to “The Real Slim Shady” lyrically reflects to Eminem’s larger-than-life role in music and, subsequently, pop culture. His job? To give everybody something to talk about while taking shots at everyone from the FCC to Moby.

11. My Name Is

Discogs

Year released: 1999

Album: The Slim Shady LP

“My Name Is” introduced the world to Eminem’s character, “Slim Shady,” which is one of his three personas — Marshall Mathers (the real person), Eminem and Slim Shady.

Throughout the song, he interrupts pop culture moments by letting listeners know who he is, what he thinks and where he’s from.

The song made the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 36. It topped the charts in several other countries and earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

10. Greatest

AP Photo

Year released: 2018

Album: Kamikaze

Eminem demonstrates his top-notch lyrical skills in a song that displays why he’s one of the greatest rappers in the world after over two decades. The lyrics are an homage to boxer Muhammad Ali (nicknamed “The Greatest”), whom the rapper has idolized since childhood.

Following the chilly reception of his 2017 LP, “Revival,” critics wondered if Eminem was losing steam. As it turns out, he proved them wrong, living up to the song’s title.

9. Darkness

raptvcom / Twitter

Year released: 2020

Album: Music to Be Murdered By

“Darkness” is Eminem’s attempt to get into the mind of Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, who trained his gun on a concert crowd in Las Vegas in 2017, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds. It also describes Eminem’s anxiety before going onstage.

The song uses the melody and lyrics from “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel. The video follows a hooded Eminem into a dark room and an unidentified person wearing the same clothes in a hotel room surrounded by alcohol and guns, who opens fire on the crowd below before law enforcement can reach him.

The video ends with news reports of gun violence around the country and the statement: “When will it end? When enough people care. Register to vote at vote.gov. Make your voice heard and help change the gun laws in America.”

“Darkness” has over 59 million views as of February 2022.

8. Godzilla

YouTube

Year released: 2020

Album: Music to Be Murdered By

“Godzilla” features Juice Wrld in his first posthumous release following his 2019 death.

The song is also notable for having the fastest rap lyrics ever recorded — in the third verse, Eminem raps 10.65 syllables per second, which is about 300 words in 30 seconds.

“Godzilla” has sold more than 3 million copies and went 3X Platinum in November 2020.

7. The Way I Am

Wikipedia

Year released: 2000

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP

“The Way I Am” shows Eminem feeling the squeeze from fans as well as his record executive to continue to churn out hits.

His anger shows in the lyrics, which name-check the killers from the Columbine High school massacre and Marilyn Manson. (“When a dude’s gettin bullied and shoots up his school, and they blame it on Marilyn…”)

“The Way I Am” shipped Platinum upon its release.

6. Rap God

Discogs

Year released: 2013

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem flexes his lyrical muscles as the reigning king of the genre while poking fun at everyone to Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and the superhero Thor. While “Rap God” received critical acclaim, there was some controversy due to its homophobic lyrics.

Eminem received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance and won a Guinness World Record for the “most words in a hit single” at 1,560. “Rap God” has been certified 3X Platinum since its release.

5. The Real Slim Shady

Discogs

Year released: 2000

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP

Reaching No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, “Slim Shady” was Eminem’s first real hit single. A harsh critique of the pop culture of the day, Eminem skewers various celebrities, including Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

The song and video won several awards, including two VMAs and a Grammy. It is also on NME’s list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

4. Love the Way You Lie

Discogs

Year released: 2010

Album: Recovery

“Love the Way You Lie” also features Rhianna and gives the perspective of a relationship mired in domestic violence from both sides.

It is Eminem’s best-selling single to date — it was at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and sold over 12 million copies domestically.

Meghan Fox and Dominic Monaghan (“The Lord of the Rings”) played the doomed lovers in the video.

3. Venom

YouTube

Year released: 2018

Album: Kamikaze

While a bonus track on Kamikaze, “Venom” also appears on the soundtrack “Venom – Music From the Motion Picture.”

Most of the song is autobiographical, but Eminem also compares himself to character Eddie Brock and his dual identity, Venom — there’s a direct line to Marshall Mathers becoming Eminem.

Following its release, the song went to the top of the charts and went Platinum in 2019.

2. Lose Yourself

Discogs

Year released: 2002

Album: 8 Mile: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture

“Lose Yourself” is the lyrical journey of Eminem’s character B-Rabbit in “8 Mile.” The song encapsulates his struggle to get respect from the Detroit rap community. It was a massive commercial success — it was on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 1 for 12 weeks and went to the top of the charts in 19 other countries.

The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003 and Grammys for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance. “Rolling Stone” has listed it on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list at No. 166.

Eminem performed the song in the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022.

1. Stan

Discogs

Year released: 2000

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP

“Stan” samples vocals from Dido’s song “Thank You” and reached No. 1 in 12 countries, including the U.S. It, too, is on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list at No. 223.

The song is written from Eminem fan Stanley “Stan” Mitchell’s perspective (he is voiced by Eminem) — he is obsessed with the rapper and writes him several letters, to which Eminem does not respond.

He gets angrier and angrier at Eminem and, after consuming drugs and alcohol, drives himself and his pregnant girlfriend (played by Dido) off a cliff. When Eminem writes back (in his own voice), he apologizes for his late reply and tells Stan to get help after hearing a news report about a man who killed himself and his girlfriend and comes to the realization that he’s too late.