The Eminem Show [Explicit Lyrics]

Eminem | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00006690G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Gangsta & Hardcore
  • #37 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Pop Rap
  • #83 in Music > R&B

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Any lingering doubts as to the depth of Eminem's skills or his potential for raw yet compelling honesty are dispelled on The Eminem Show's first track. Armed with a quicksilver flow and a thundering rhythm track (the record was exec produced by longtime mentor and partner Dr. Dre), "White America" finds Eminem ferociously mauling the hand that feeds him, lambasting his critics, the industry, and the racism that, in many ways, helped make Marshall Mathers more than just another rapper. "Let's do the math," Em sneers, "If I was black I would have sold half/ I could be one of your kids/ Little Eric looks just like this." After the bombast of The Marshall Mathers LP and Eminem's well-noted use of sexual epithets, this kind of material is made more controversial because it actually rings true. From a brutal retort to his long-estranged and equally troubled mother ("Cleaning Out My Closets") to a surprisingly tender ode to his child ("Hailie's Song"), Eminem examines his life, loves, arrests, addictions, failures, and successes with surprising insight, making this a funk-drenched hip-hop confessional well worth the hype. --Amy Linden

Product Description

EMINEM THE EMINEM SHOW

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 145 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A step up from the last album June 17, 2002

By axeman2081

Format:Audio CD

As witty as "The Marshall Mathers LP" was, "The Eminem Show" seems to be even wittier. This time, Eminem concentrates less on pushing buttons, and more on social and personal commentary.

Curtains Up(skit) - Just some sound effects giving the impression of Em walking up to a microphone.

White America - A heavy sounding song about how Eminem has unwittingly reached so many people in so many different ways. He points out how he wouldn't be targeted so much if he was black.

Business - Dre's G-funk production is easily recognizable here, and is just as groovy as ever. Em plays the role of Robin to Dre's Batman, much like the current video for "Without Me".

Cleaning Out My Closet - Self explanatory title. Here, Em once again vents his thoughts on his fame, ex-wife, and mother, but manages to say enough new stuff to keep from sounding repetative.

Square Dance - Don't let the title fool you, its still a rap song. Em says this song overall is intended to help you forget stuff and let loose. A few pot shots at Cannabis pop up here.

The Kiss(skit) - A loose recreation of the events that led to Eminem's arrest.

Soldier - With all the negative press, lawsuits, and newfound fame coming at him, Em describes himself as someone who keeps moving along despite all the pressure around him.

Say Goodbye to Hollywood - This seems to be Em saying that after all the things that have happened to him, he can't be carefree anymore.

Drips - A tale about how Obie Trice hooked up with a fictional girlfriend of Eminem, and wound up getting some kind of STD. Basically, this song is a graphic picture about the dangers of unprotected sex.

Without Me - The traditional, catchy, leadoff single with the Slim Shady persona in full force.... Sounds different enough from "My Name Is" and "The Real Slim Shady" to hold its own.

Paul Rosenbeurg(skit) - Em's manager urgently warns him not to carry his gun around.

Sing for the Moment - Using a sample of Aerosmith's "Dream on", Em tells us in his own unique way how and why kids are drawn to him and entertainers in general.

Superman - A twisted semi-love song about Em's ex-wife. He indicates they may get back together down the road, but for now he could care less because "I can't be your Superman".

Halie's Song - A heartfelt ode to his beloved daugher. Em himself admits that he can't sing that good. Someone said how this sounded similar to the boy bands that Em puts down. Well, the difference is he wrote this himself, and the feelings are real.

Steve Berman(skit) - The head of Interscope records doesn't get a chance to say what he wants to say about this album.

When the Music Stops - The members of D-12 lend a hand in telling how life can be rough when the focus is not on music anymore.

Say What U Say - Em and Dre go back and forth in dissing Jermaine Dupri.

'Till I Collapse - The beat is identical to Queen's "We Will Rock You", and makes for an arena-rock sounding ode to Em's desire to continue on. Nate Dogg provides a very catchy chorus.

My Dad's Gone Crazy - Em's daughter is featured here, and she comments on what we've known all along. All the subject matter on the album is summed up well in the last few verses.

Curtains Close(skit) - Ken Kaniff is left all by himself as "The Eminem Show" ends.

... about for a sec then tells his mind.Em shows his songwriting gift.VERY GOOD SONG.
20-Curtain's Close-Ken Keniff is back closing out the show.

Rating:
15/10

This CD really impressed me and should impress you as well.
Sorry this review is so long.Anyway this CD is well worth the 15 bucks.Hell, I think it should be more if u ask me. Read more ›

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Eminem Show" 3rd times a charm! May 30, 2002

By K. Andersen

Format:Audio CD

I have found "The Eminem Show" (Eminem's 3rd full length solo CD release for interscope records) to be honest, intelligent, frightening, and important.
Eminem keeps it real, and I love him for it!
The CD's content is much more personal this time around, a
logical next step in profit Shady's evolution.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Evolving May 30, 2002

By ClosedBook

Format:Audio CD

I have been with Eminem from the start, well, atleast the start of his professional recording career. I love his music. I think he is brilliant...yes, I said brilliant. I'm a girl, and he doesn't offend me at all. I think he is very is insightful and sensitive. He sees the world differently and I love that.

This CD, in my opinion, is his best to date. He is growing as an artist. He hasn't lost his edge, but he has matured. Every song here is a keeper.

If everyone would stop looking for controversy, they would hear great music.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars If you hate Eminem, skip this review June 4, 2002

By E.J. Rupert VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

All Eminem haters stop reading now and I'll see you on my next review.

Welcome home, Em. He's been gone for a while. "No he hasn't", you say, "he's released the Marshall Mathers LP in 2000 and the D-12 album last year" (don't admit that you actually bought that D-12 album, by the way). But true underground heads know that he took a vacation from the streets and started kicking some Generation-X, MTV-ready raps for all of America to eat up and/or criticize. But just like Jay-Z did with The Blueprint and Nas did with Stillmatic, Eminem brings it back to the streets with his third album, The Eminem Show. There's not one commercial, radio-friendly song on this album (except for "Without Me", which is the weakest track on here compared to the rest of the songs). Forget the title to the first single off his second album, THIS is the Real Slim Shady.

If you think he has totally ditched his style (shock value lyrics, dissing your favorite artists for no reason), you're wrong, as evidenced on "Without Me"'s third verse when he disses an *NSYNC member and Moby. The beef continues on "Say What You Say" when guest Dr. Dre takes shots at a certain producer in Atlanta: "I'm a giant...when I see you I'ma step on you and not even know it/You midget/...Over eighty million records sold/And I ain't have to do it with 10- or 11-year-olds." Timbaland also puts his two cents in as well at the end of the track. Unfortunately, we heard all this dissing before (The Roots vs. Nas, Nas vs. Jay-Z, Jay-Z vs. anybody who ain't him) so you're left with a "Who cares?" feeling. Therefore, the diss records (with artists) thankfully stop there....

Eminem, still one of the best, if not THE best, rapper in the game, brings it on politically ("White America"), explains his reasoning for him hating his parents ("Cleaning Out My Closet"), and shows affection for the only female he loves: his daughter ("Hailie's Song"). And songs like "Say Goodbye Hollywood" talk about his recent lawsuit(s). Now I wouldn't dare rank Eminem with 2Pac, but just like Pac's Me Against the World versus his other albums, The Eminem Show is Em's darkest and most personal record, which is why it's his best album.

Dudes on the block will be arguing over what's the best song on the album, but my pick is "When the Music Stops" with D-12, where, for once, everyone sounds good. And "Soldier" and "Till I Collapse" tie at second. In fact, there's not one song worth skipping on this album, but the aforementioned "Without Me", which really sounds like "The Real Slim Shady Part 2", comes close.

You either like Eminem or you don't, and he's not gonna change for no one. Like he said a few years back, he just don't give a you-know-what. But those who think that Eminem has changed his style are just mad because they can't find the "hits" that they found on his last two albums. This album is for the true Eminem fans only, not the mainstream, current-fad loving, bandwagon-jumping individuals. You probably won't see another single off this album on TRL, so that means that most of his fans will throw this album away. Oh well, their loss. Read more ›

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars eminem's best November 24, 2002

By kris

Format:Audio CD

To be honest, before this album I had liked some of Eminem's songs but I never thought of him as an amazing artist. He was and still is an mult-talented rapper, and he had witty lyrics but his albums were made up of the songs sounded the same and not many stood out due to a lack of stand-out beats and lyrics that were conceptually repetitve. However on this album has gotten much more personal, switched up the format and type or rapping on each song, created great hooks and finally beats that are just as predominant as him. So heres the breakdown of ths songs, skipping the skits:

White America: the pounding beats and Eminem's agressive tone match each other perfectly in this song with self-confessing lyrics about Eminem's rise that are not only shocking in what they say but because that Eminem is willing to admit them. From this song you know Eminem is much more focused on his rise to fame and the media's potray of him rather then jabs at his targeets. 8.5/10

Business-a good bouncy track with a great beat with eminem talking bout the rap game. 8.5/10

Cleaning out my Closet- one of the most personal tracks on the album about eminem's darkest issues, but mainly his mother. Rather than make jokes about her, the track is of grim seriousness and emotion. 8.5/10

Square Dance- this is a good song even though its got a strange chrous. A pretty good beat and some political raps. 8/10

Say Goodbye to Hollywood: another track with personal lyrics mixed with an desperationa and vunerability in eminem's voice. A good beat too. 8.5/10

Drips: this one of the lesser tracks on the album. Not really worthy of mention. An ok beat, but predicatable unorignal lyrics bout STDs and sex. 7/10

Without Me:the first single. Although its uncannily similar to his earlier first singles of the other albums.... This is the albums most club-friendly song and has jumpy beat which suits eminem's upbeat raps. A good hook too. 8/10

Sing for the moment: An amazing song with lyrics about emimen's music, how music people affects people and plain thought-provoking. Grim music matches eminem's voice that is full of determination, emotion and edge. 9/10

Superman: although the lyrics are somewhat unoringal in comparison to the other one on the album. Eminem's flow on the song is a hook all itself and the chorous is great too. 8.5/10

Soldier: although Eminem's lyrics about how tough he is are much less inovative, the beat and Eminem's flow is full of raw energy, enough to overshadow the lyrics. 8.5/10

Halie's Song: the is the best song on the album. Eminem's voice is compact with emotion, love and anger at the same time. The lyrics reveal the vunerability of eminem and how deep he can be. The hook is powerful and grasping. 9.5/10

When the Music Stops: this song may be overlooked as a typical D12 song, its not. Although their are some of their typical lyrics, their are many insightful ones too about music and themselves. But the track has a dark creeping beats that coats the grimmness of the rappers. 8.5/10

Say What You Say: This is Dre's magic. The beat is slamming and head-bobbing that its impossible not to be drawn it. Emine's & Dre's flows and chorous are full of rawness and edge. A great slamming track full of energy. 9.5/10

Till I Collapse: eminem's flow that speaks like a giant, empowering lyrics, a militant beat thats rocks, and Nate Dawg's hook = 9.5/10

My Dad's Gone Crazy: Eminem is at his wittiest and funniest here with a great hook and beat. 8.5/10

this is eminem's best work capturing his anger, frustration, emotion, pain, love and skills all in one. Combine this with amazing, pumped up beats and you've got an amazing album.

overal 9/10 Read more ›