From Rap Battles to Rap God, Eminem is Still On Top

UPDATE: Will Eminem Tour in 2015? Find out here!

When I think back on my young adolescence, my memory is colored by awkward first kisses, braces, and laboriously learning all of the words to “Cleaning out my Closet”, “Lose Yourself”, and “Without Me” by Eminem. Oh, was that just me? I think not. You’d be surprised as to how many lines you can quote from this rapper’s expansive discography. Putting his dramatic life and tongue-in-cheek lyrics aside, there are several reasons as to why Eminem should at least be everyone’s guilty pleasure. For me, this artist has been someone I consider the best in his genre for quite some time. This blog is here to simply remind you why Marshall Mathers—a.k.a Slim Shady, a.k.a Eminem—is still the best rapper around.

1. Total Slaughter

This past January, Eminem  announced the formation of Total Slaughter, a competitive rap battle league modeled after the UFC (don’t worry, the only thing violent about Total Slaughter will be the rhymes). This league is intended to give national attention to the artists as well as rap battles themselves. As we know from 8 Mile, the cinematic yet highly accurate account of Eminem’s beginnings, this hip-hop artist wouldn’t be a superstar without the recognition gained from underground open mic contests. Eminem is bringing Total Slaughter to NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom for its inaugural event on July 2nd. Tickets for the event will go on sale May 16th. So the question is, will Eminem be put in the ring? His manager assures us that he won’t be, that he’s simply out of practice for the league. But I have a hard time believing Eminem would turn down an opportunity to surprise us. Out of practice? Allow me to say two words: Rap God.

2. 17 Years Later, Eminem Breaks His Own Record

The release of ‘Rap God’ elicited the normal set of reactions that come whenever Eminem drops a track: 1. Holy **** 2. What did he just say? In the “supersonic speed” section (around 4:26) of ‘Rap God’, Eminem raps 97 words in 15 seconds, an average of 6 words per second. By doing so, he breaks his own record for most words per minute. Though the record for fastest rapper still goes to vets like Twista and Busta Rhymes, Eminem accomplished something else entirely. The “supersonic speed” section doesn’t let down lyrically or rhythmically. ‘Rap God’ is complicated and satisfying all the way through, loaded with controversy and venomous shout outs to his contemporaries. ‘Rap God’ is the highest selling track of its kind, arriving at the perfect point in Eminem’s career where he can step back and rap about his experience in the industry with tact and a well nurtured talent for rhyme.

3. Eminem + Sir Elton John = BFF

One career defining moment for Eminem was when he teamed up with Elton John to perform a legendary rendition of “Stan” at the 2001 Grammy Awards. At the end of their duet, Eminem and Elton John held up their hands in solidarity, showing mutual respect for each other and their work. But their friendship didn’t stop (or start) there. While Eminem was in rehab for prescription drugs, Elton John would call him at least once a week just to check-in. These two artists turn to each other for both career and life advice, supporting each other in every venture. This is perhaps the one of the most adorable—and unlikely—bromances in the music industry today.

4. Eminem is a Writer, a GREAT Writer

So what’s the songwriting process? Mathers writes lines and ideas on any piece of paper he can get his hands on, sticks it in a backpack, and carries it with him into the studio where several scraps of paper are strung together to form masterpieces. Eminem said it himself, “I write constantly, to the point where while I’m writing in my books I know 95 percent of this stuff, 98 percent of it’s never gonna get used. But by writing all the time it’s like I’m sharpening my tools.” Vets in the industry who have worked with Eminem such as Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin will say that Eminem is “completely obsessed” with his work, and that it’s “truly a 24/7 act”. But isn’t that what it takes to be one of the best lyricists in the hip-hop world? Take this lyric from verse 1 of “Cleanin out my Closet”: ‘All this commotion emotions run deep as ocean’s exploding/ Tempers flaring from parents just blow ’em off and keep going/ Not taking nothing from no one give ’em hell long as I’m breathing/ Keep kicking a** in the morning and taking names in the evening’. Seriously, you could form a college course around this stuff.

5. When it Comes to Award Shows, Eminem goes Unmatched

It doesn’t matter how many creepy life-sized stuffed animals Miley brings up on stage, or how fierce Bey looks when she does a hair toss (no offense Bey, you’re still the boss). When it comes to shock, awe, and overall buzz, Eminem takes the cake for his awards show performances. For starters, do you remember the blonde clones, clad in tall white-tees, filing in behind “the real Slim Shady” as Eminem entered Radio City Music Hall for the 2000 MTV VMA’s? Or when he addressed the audience state-of-the-union style at the 2002 MTV VMA’s? And this wouldn’t be the last time Eminem proved he can make an entrance. At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Rihanna opened the show with the chorus of “Love the Way You Lie”. Then, out of nowhere, Eminem emerges from the digitized flames in the background to rap his award winning lyrics. The amazing and ironic truth behind Eminem performing at awards shows, is that he will likely be making fun of at least a few audience members there before walking away with a couple of awards by the end of the night.

In a career that has spanned 17 years, Eminem has become known as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. And he’s not done. This summer, in addition to supporting fellow rappers in the Total Slaughter League, Eminem will be on tour with Rihanna. With songs such as ‘Rap God’ and ‘Berzerk’ coming from Eminem’s latest (The Marshall Mathers LP 2) there’s just no telling what could follow. Let me just say that when I was a Eminem obsessed middle school kid, I could have never guessed how far this artist would come. I’m not embarrassed to say that I’m reliving my Eminem phase, and 13 year old me couldn’t be happier.