Marshall Mathers III

I didn't listen to a lot of Eminem when he was popular. I really only got into him after he had mostly retired. Given that, I've been able to appreciate his best work. And it really is good.The "white rapper" thing is pretty much dead really. Sure, it helped his sales. And his skin colour might have let him ignore stereotypes to rap about issues that black artists might not have gotten away with. But Eminem is clearly, absolutely, no-question, one of the best 10 rappers ever. On any measure. Lyrical complexity? Check. Variety of flows? Check. Variation of subject matter? Check. Commercial success? Cheque.

Anyway, I've broken down Em's greatest hits by the type of song they are. I much prefer his introspective raps - the emotional, honest stuff. That said, his first big hits were the crude singles from his first album.

Eminem's greatest hits by type

Childish, 'funny' raps
The Real Slim Shady
My Name Is
We Made You
Ass Like That
Just Lose It

Dirty, sweaty, strip club bangers
Shake That
Without Me
Crack A Bottle

Violent, angry raps
The Way I Am
Guilty Conscience
3 a.m.

Introspective raps
Stan
When I'm Gone
Like Toy Soldiers
Cleaning Out My Closet
Lose Yourself
Sing For The Moment
Mockingbird
Mosh

Appearances on other hits:
Jay-Z - Renegade
D12 - My Band
D12 - Purple Pills
Akon - Smack That
Drake - Forever

Personally, I can't go past 'Stan', 'Lose Yourself' and 'Like Toy Soldiers'. All three are clever, honest, and catchy. The last two cover subject matter - making it as a rapper and dealing with conflicts - that have been done to death by other artists. However Em makes them fresh and interesting.

- 'Stan' is a rap masterpiece. The story of an obsessed fan writing letters to Eminem, it was the best song of 2001. It was also a clear sign that Marshall Mathers wasn't just Slim Shady, a skeevy perv with a fast mouth. His performance with Elton John at the Grammys was great.

- 'Lose Yourself' won an Oscar for Best Song, thanks to it being part of the 2002 film 8 Mile. It tells the story of Eminem/B. Rabbit as he struggles to overcome nerves and the pressures of raising a daughter in tough conditions to realise his dream of becoming a rapper. One of his most emotionally powerful tracks.

- 'Like Toy Soldiers' uses an old sped-up Martika hook that sounds childish, but it works beautifully. An honest examination of how he had taken on conflicts with other rappers that had put the lives of his children and supporters in danger.

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He really has said some terrible things in his songs. Truly, truly terrible things. He's also made some excellent, insightful, clever, lasting music. I guess you take the good with the bad.