Top 10 Underrated Eminem Songs

No one ever talks about these songs. And that’s a damn shame. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten underrated Eminem songs. For this list, we’ll be ranking ten of the most underrated Eminem songs throughout his discography.

The Eminem Show saw Eminem at the height of his commercial prowess, aided by hit singles like “Without Me,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “Sing for the Moment.” “Business,” however, barely made a dent in the Billboard charts. That said, it did reach #6 in the UK, a fair sight better than in the US. “Business” is arguably one of Eminem’s most fun songs, mostly due to Dre’s infectious and poppy beat. Eminem also does what Eminem does best—flowing about being the best while dropping some insanely funny and clever lines along the way. It’s the most amusing Eminem song you’ve never heard.

“Still Don’t Give a F***” perfectly encapsulates everything that makes Eminem both so great and so controversial. Em goes all out on this song, including encouraging his own drug use and offensive personality, and spouting some of the most insanely violent lyrics of his career. If that’s not at all, he also shows us why he’s considered a master lyricist with lines like “I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives, a brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives.” “Still Don’t Give a F***” showed the world just who Eminem was, and a lot of people didn’t like it.

You won’t find “Off the Wall” on any of Eminem’s studio releases, nor Redman’s. Nope, you’ll find it on the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack. Hardcore. For “Off the Wall,” Eminem teams up with Redman, and the two make for a fantastic duo. While Redman is certainly great, it’s Eminem who shines on this track, again mostly due to his signature flow and stellar lyrics. He also hits on many of his classic subjects, including his mother, his wife Kim, and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. The beat may be a little strange, but Eminem kills it regardless.

While “Criminal” is adored by hardcore Eminem fans, many casual listeners have never heard it, and that’s a damn shame. Here we see Eminem being controversial just to be controversial, like the constant references to violence, genitals, and many pejorative remarks. However, it’s not the controversy that makes this song so good, but the technical prowess at hand. The beat is amazing, and Eminem spouts some of the greatest lines of his career. His flow immediately following the skit is particularly fantastic and arguably the greatest of his entire discography. So many lyricists would kill to have a fraction of this man’s talent.

OK, we know we just said that “Criminal” is one of Eminem’s technical masterpieces, but “Rabbit Run” has to be up there as well. “Rabbit Run” was the closing track to the “8 Mile” soundtrack, meaning few have actually heard it. It may be overlooked, but it's one of Eminem’s most impressive pieces. Not only does it feature some killer rhymes and lines, but the song doesn’t have a chorus or bridge; it’s simply one long, continuous three-minute flow from Em. It’s on this song that Eminem proves he’s not only a lyrical genius, but a rapping god as well.

“Infinite” is one of Eminem’s earliest works, yet it still holds up to this day despite how far he’s come both in terms of writing ability and production quality. The title track of his debut studio album, it may lack in Eminem’s later personality and charm, but it still highlights an extremely talented rapper on the cusp of immense success. Eminem’s lyrical abilities are instantly notable, as this entire song serves as a showcase for his insane rhyming abilities. As he says in the song, “My rhymin’ skills got you climbin’ hills.” He’s not wrong.

The Slim Shady LP seemed to be made to stir controversy and get Eminem’s name in the headlines. And while it certainly did that, it still contained a few nuggets of personality. “Rock Bottom” is one of the few personal songs on the record, and it gave the album some much-needed humanity. The song was written right after Eminem was fired from his day job and had $40 for his daughter’s Christmas present, and his pain regarding poverty and parenthood are clearly and emotionally expressed in the song. While Em would master his more morose subject matter in subsequent albums, this was a great start.

“No Apologies” appeared on Shady Records’ Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, a compilation album starring artists signed to Eminem’s label. Of course, Eminem had to make a cameo appearance, and as usual, he absolutely slays. And while the song contains the usual brilliant lyrics, it also has a fantastic beat and stellar production courtesy of Luis Resto and Eminem himself. The chorus is full of haunting strings, resonating bells, and pained vocals similar to “The Way I Am,” and the entire third verse shows Eminem perhaps at his most vulnerable and open. It’s a highly emotional song that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

Recovery is often placed near the bottom of Eminem’s discography, but it still features some undeniably great songs, chief among them being “25 to Life.” The track’s chorus departs from Eminem’s previous style, but the story and the message really make an impact. It’s told like a typical, spiteful break-up song, but we learn at the end that Eminem is talking about hip hop, not a person. And while Em didn’t divorce hip hop like he said he would at the end of the song, we nevertheless feel his pain when it comes to his strained relationship with fame, success, and respect.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

• “Bad Guy” (2013) The Marshall Mathers LP 2
• “Evil Twin” (2013) The Marshall Mathers LP 2
• “If I Had” (1999) The Slim Shady LP

Any track with Kendrick Lamar is worth a listen. For “Love Game,” Lamar partners with Em and drops his more academic, political, and socioeconomic edge to deliver a hilarious song about difficult girlfriends. Of course, it could be read as an extended metaphor about their troubled connections to the music industry, but meh, funny sex song is more fun. To go with the brilliantly funny lyrics is a truly unique beat and an unconventional flow from both Em and Lamar, showcasing their respective technical capabilities. “Love Game” has a little bit of everything, and it’s easily one of Eminem’s most unique tracks.