New Delhi: When it comes to rap music, Eminem is right up there with the greatest hits. His songs have powerful rhythms, and the rapid tempo at which he raps has earned him a large and devoted fan base all over the world. 


The rapper's first album, ‘Infinite’, was a commercial flop when it was released in 1996. The release of 1999's ‘The Slim Shady LP’ cemented Eminem's place in the international spotlight. ‘The Real Slim Shady’ was among the most-played songs of the 2000s. Slim Shady became his identity and a lasting moniker for him.


Eminem's charm, flow, and brilliant lyrics have earned him widespread acclaim, making him one of the most revered rappers of all time. On his 50th birthday, here’s a compilation of 6 best rap songs with the most iconic lyrics of all time:


Lose Yourself


‘Lose Yourself’ is intended for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. And that's pretty much everyone. There is no doubt that ‘Lose Yourself' (released in 2002) is one of Eminem's most motivational tracks.


The song became the first hip-hop song to win an Academy Award (Oscars) for the category of best original song.


The lyrics go:


"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment


You own it, you better never let it go


You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow


This opportunity comes once in a lifetime"


What could be more motivational than Emimen's Oscar-winning pick-up song, which is all about embracing the moment and giving it your best?



Stan


Eminem's ‘Stan’ is a rhyming four-part narrative film. Verse by verse, the listener gains a more nuanced grasp of Stan's twisted personality and life story. Most listeners are familiar with the song's lyrics, but they may not be prepared for the emotional crescendo that occurs towards the song's conclusion.


On November 20, 2000, it was released as the third single from the rapper's third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. 


The song chronicles the tale of Stanley ‘Stan’ Mitchell, who calls himself Eminem's number-one fan but goes to extreme measures when he feels neglected by the rapper. 


According to Eminem, the sad narrative is not based on any actual events, and Stan was created entirely in his mind in response to his encounters with his fanbase.



Like Toy Soldiers


Eminem released the diss track ‘Like Toy Soldiers’ in 2003, intending for it to be the last diss track ever made. This song is a critique of rap beefing and its increasingly lethal outcomes.


As the lyrics of ‘Like Toy Soldiers’ suggest, rap beefs are a central theme of the song. In a new take on the typical rap diss track, Em praises one other instead of tearing each other down. 


To Eminem, the rap industry's reliance on diss tracks is analogous to a military unit following orders from its superiors, who in this instance seem to be the record labels that cash in on the feuds.



Rap God


When 'Rap God' was released in 2013, it sparked a raging firestorm of criticism due to the song's pervasive homophobia and horrifyingly violent analogies. 


Wordplay-wise, nonetheless, the song remains outstanding. Unfortunately, the poor politics come along with the clever wordplay, but the awards certainly speak for themselves. 


The section of one verse when Slim Shady starts rapping at "supersonic speed" has garnered a lot of attention and praise. Billboard claims that Eminem's ‘Rap God’ holds this record, with him rapping 1,560 words in 6 minutes and 4 seconds or an average of 4.28 words per second. This is one the ‘Fastest Rap Verse’ ever sung.



Venom


The album ‘Kamikaze’ by Eminem features the song ‘Venom,’ which is the title song for the Marvel film of the same name. Eminem has talked about India and even Mahatma Gandhi in the song.


With the complexity of the lyrics, the song piques the curiosity of every Eminem fan in India. The rapper referenced the freedom warrior, even going so far as to say that he felt "a little bit of Gandhi" in his own character. He brazenly declares in the song that he is a "mix of Kamikaze and Mahatma Gandhi" (a deadly combo).


The fact that a rapper like Eminem addressed India in a song is fascinating since rap tracks are frequently abstract and may not have a clear message or goal behind them.



Untouchable


Eminem jumped right into sensitive issues like white privilege, systemic racism, and more in the song ‘Untouchable’. He also attacked corrupt police officers for their use of excessive force and racial profiling against black people.


The first verse starts like this: 


“Black boy, black boy, we ain’t gonna lie to you”


“Black boy, black boy, we don’t like the sight of you”


Em's raps are written from an Afro-American point of view. Through the lyrics, he admits that African Americans have been treated unfairly over the course of history.



Which of Eminem’s lyrics do you love the most?