Eminem: Time to Get Back to Basics?

Eminem is arguably one of the best rappers to ever grace the genre. There are plenty of people out there claiming he’s fallen off and his newer tracks aren’t as good. Fans are waiting for him to find his next target to bring back the Eminem of old. He went from being a novelty white rappers with My Name Is, but his controversial lyrics and aim at anyone attitude kept him from being your typical one hit wonder. His rap beefs have been the stuff of legends as he aims at anyone and everything that pissed him off. Most would attribute his success to tearing down some of music and pop culture’s greatest draws.

Rap beef be damned, there’s more to Eminem’s career than a series of beefs. When it comes down to his most successful tracks, Em is at his best when he’s got someone to one up. Not just in the form of diss tracks, take a look at some of the features Eminem has been on. When he lays down his verses, it reminds you why he’s in the discussion for greatest of all time. In no particular order, we’re breaking down some of Eminem’s collaborations:

Forgot About Dre – Dr. Dre

This was the track that even casual rap fans were introduced to Em. Fans had been waiting for the day Dre released another album and in 1999 they got their wish with 2001. Not only did it get Snoop and Dre back on tracks like Still D.R.E, but it was almost impossible not to sing along to Forgot About Dre.

Renegade – Jay-Z

What do you get when you take one of hip-hop’s biggest icons and throw in the up and comer everyone can’t stop talking about? 2001’s Renegade off the Blueprint album, arguably Jay’s best work and Renegade would quickly enter heavy rotation on everyone’s playlists.

Caterpillar – Royce da 5’9

Long-time collaborators, Eminem and Royce da 5’9 have laid down plenty of tracks but none too much better than 2018’s Caterpillar. Taking us back to the old-school sound, Caterpiller shreds today’s rappers for their lack of respect for the artists that came before them.

Speedom – Tech N9ne

If you were looking for a track that is a sets his career apart from his usual antics, enter Speedom into that discussion. One of Eminem’s fastest raps proves he can not only rhyme just about anything, but can do it at a pace most other’s can’t. 

Patiently Waiting – 50 Cent

50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was one of 2003’s most anticipated albums so why wouldn’t Eminem, who helped make it happen, throw himself on a track just for fun. If ever there was a time to introduce an artist to fans, you had to get Eminem on a track to get their attention. Not only did he kill it on Patiently Waiting, but the duo had instant on track chemistry.

On top of all those great track’s there’s still collaborations with Rihanna, D12, Drake, Lil Wayne and so many more that aren’t even named. More often than not his guest spots were what made songs hits. Some recent, some still favorites from back in the day.

If everyone wants Eminem to get back to proving why he’s the best, he doesn’t have to go back to his old antics. There’s no rabbit to pull out of his hat. He doesn’t need to start his next big rap beef or controversy. Em just needs to have a collaboration album of artists who challenge him to step his game up. Release that album in let’s say 2021, just about 25 year’s after the release of his first studio album. Put every artist on that elevated his career to the next level. After all, he’s one of the best selling solo artists of all time, but it was the passion to be better than those he had beef with, and his passion to be the best on the track that took his career from another one-and-done rapper to phenom. Maybe he doesn’t have anything left to prove to this generation or the last, but a celebration of his career 25 year’s after Infinte was released would sure put his stamp on the rap game.