Eminem has become the master of surprise. He dropped Music to Be Murdered By without warning on Friday (January 17), his 11th album overall and first since 2018’s Kamikaze. This is by no means a comeback, as Marshall Mathers dropped four albums, one compilation and a slew of features in the past decade.
Though his 2010s were spotty, Shady still recorded a number of undeniable gems. Take a ride down Dresden Street as we revisit the Top 10 Eminem Songs of the 2010s.
10. “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna (Recovery 2010)
Eminem has always had a way of mining hits out of darkness. He’s far from the first artist to turn the topic of an extremely unhealthy relationship into a pop jingle, but that he was able to turn such startling lyrics about a toxic romance into radio bait highlights the draw the masses have to Marshall Mathers. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Rihanna was belting out beautifully anguished vocals on the hook.
9. “Legacy” (The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2013)
Marshall Mathers used to be the type of kid that would always think the sky was falling. Eminem knows better. So naturally, he has some advice to give to troubled youths. He gives a front-porch view of his life as a teen, absorbed in comic books, afraid of the world, before realizing his prodigious gift with a pen and turning his life around. After all the accolades, all the controversy, what Em is most proud of is his ability to inspire the kids that can see themselves in his story.
8. “Castle” & 7. “Arose” (Revival 2017)
Eminem got his T.I. on by making the last two songs of his ninth album the most impactful. “Castle,” the penultimate cut, functions as three letters to his daughter Hailie.
As he laments the toll his fame as taken on her, he declares fatigue and the track rolls into “Arose,” which finds Marshall imagining his farewells had he died after his 2007 overdose. “With every second, each closer to death,” he apologizes to the late Proof and says goodbye to his daughters to heart-wrenching effect.
When he boomerangs back and the heart monitor starts beeping, it’s a moment of emotional triumph. The song then brilliantly circles back to “Castle,” where he redirects his future to multi-platinum success and, more importantly, recovery.
6. “Guts Over Fear” featuring Sia (ShadyXV 2014)
“It’s too late to start over,” Eminem declares at the outset of the accompaniment to The Equalizer. “This is the only thing I, thing I know.” Thematic comparisons to the Denzel Washington film aside, this was an accurate snapshot of Marshall Mathers in 2014. He was in full reflective mode, looking back on the early days of his career, and the courage it took to plunge forth in the face of criticism. Though he had tread on this topic before, his self-awareness keeps the song fresh as he taps into one of his most marketable aspects: his relatability.
5. “Airplanes, Pt. II” with B.o.B (B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ_M4pV_eOQ
Eminem and B.o.B is an unlikely collaboration, but the cut works because the two rappers embrace their differences. The then-upstart Bobby Ray keeps his head in the clouds as he imagines better days. Marshall, the battle-tested veteran, holds no such pretense. He takes B.o.B’s spacey concept and flips it on its ear, trashing daydreaming in favor of hard work and guts. Eminem’s steadfast approach clearly won the song and outlined a mindset that led to a legendary career.
4. “Detroit Vs. Everybody” with Dej Loaf, Royce Da 5’9, Big Sean, Danny Brown & Trick-Trick (ShadyXV 2014)
Several notable MCs from the 313 put their mics up and followed Eminem on this Motown free-for-all. Every rapper brings their “A” game, and Shady in particular nimbly pays tribute to the “D” for making him the “angry, bitter blonde.” This track is valuable for its staying power at Detroit Pistons games and its “(Insert city here) vs. Everybody” t-shirts, but the real draw remains one of the best posse cuts of the 2010s.
3. “Not Afraid” (Recovery 2010)
If Alcoholics Anonymous took the form of a song, it would be the lead single to Eminem’s reflective seventh album. The same guy who used to fire off drug-fueled ravings about causing mayhem was soberly facing his demons, manning up and holding his ground over an inspiring Boi-1da beat. Shady would eventually revert to his trademarked shock rap, but for one shining moment, Marshall Mathers stepped up to the podium a new man.
2. “Rap God” (The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2013)
The opening keys of “Rap God” still bring a jolt of excitement for the lyrical wizardry to come. Though Eminem’s hyper-lyrical schtick would grow tiresome in subsequent years, here he’s electric, shapeshifting from flow to flow like a Transformer. He’s clearly having a blast on his Pharoahe Monch grind, spitting at breakneck speed and daring the listener to keep up. He touches on everything and everyone from Thor to Heavy D and the Boyz, leading to an unpredictability that’s as engaging as his supercalifragilistic flow.
1. “Headlights” (The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2013)
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 worked because it was not a forced attempt to recapture the magic of Eminem’s 2000 masterpiece, The Marshall Mathers LP. Rather, Em revisited topics from the original LP from a more mature perspective. This approach yielded “Headlights,” Marshall’s heartfelt apology to his mother. The song gut-wrenchingly paints a portrait of two broken, abandoned people, doing their best to make it in a cold world, surviving both because of and in spite of each other.
Though Eminem spent the first half of his career hurling vicious insults at Debbie Mathers, here he is full of genuine regret and compassion toward her. Nate Ruess’ impassioned singing, the enriched piano keys, and slow, deliberate drums accentuate Marshall’s sincerity. Though Eminem has often drawn from his anger for inspiration, “Headlights” proves that his humanity is his greatest artistic strength.
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For me some of the standouts would be… Going Through Changes, Rap God, Believe, Detroit Vs Everybody, The Ringer, I Will, Medicine Man (Dr Dre), Best Friend (Yelawolf), Welcome 2 Hell, Castle & Arose.
No evil twin? And Not Afraid makes the Top 3 lmao y’all goofy af get off his dick this ofey corny and so is this website, he’s chino xl from the interscope mk ultra program, very insecure misogynistic Redman, RasKass Peppered with white privilege
Revival 2013? This site is a joke like this list
It’s a joke cuz end not getting g paid and he is on strike so they are publishing shit not finished and end having to grab these songs and finish them on his iPhone He has a crisis of criminal behavor surrounding what and what is in control of the Eminem dynasty and some say it’s his mom that’s in control and right now is playing dumb like she has no clue her son is a rapper she refuses to talk about it and the irs is trying to kick her ass she has cancer and seems content to die which her dirty little secrets Trudy Johnson knows all about Joyce dunn
Kings never die should have made the list, but this is pretty solid.
This site is constantly praising eminem and bashing anyone who is critical of him (Lord Jamar) You used to just report the news, now you don’t even hide your bias.
Too many upset blacks mad white ppl love and support em. Worru about supporting ur own
I’m a black man who support Em but I’m also a Metal fan too so I get a lot of pushback
Push back from wh?. Like what you like and never be afriad 2 like or listen 2 what you like
What about that whole supporting your own shit?
Because Lord Jamar is a clown.
Evil Twim should be number one and you don’t even have it in your top ten, smdh.
Mmlp2 is up there w encore for worst em album. 0 flow. 0 rhytm. 0 replay value minus rapgod
That’s because the songs never got finished they are supposed to have Em go back over then he is be the last one that touches all of his song and his people have excluded him from the final cut most don’t know this and think nothing of it but when you hear me finally copy’s of any of his songs there is no question who finished and approved that song for sell En must be turning into a Monzturr by now
… I put MMLP 2 up there with SSLP. Even the bonus cuts are dope.
Damn, pretty good list. Most people dont even know about guts over fear. Not sure about not afraid or airplanes being that high but not a bad list
BAD GUY??
Thats why I don’t listen to 2010 eminem. It is all pop music garbage.
Right name 4 u guys….hiphop dix-riders
No “Not Alike”, or “Lucky You”? Trash ass list.
This was a great list. I don’t agree with the B.o.B. song inclusion but great list overall. Rap God never gets old.
Huge Eminem fan
But sorry. That list does not cut it lol
(Top 4 songs of all his albums since he came back from his hiatus) RELAPSE: 4. Stay Wide Awake 3. Same Song & Dance 2. My Mom 1. Deja Vu. RECOVERY: 4. Cold Wind Blows 3. No Love 2. Love the Way You Lie 1. Not Afraid MMLP 2: 4. Evil Twin 3. Bad Guy 2. Rap God 1. Headlights REVIVAL: 4. Like Home 3. Chloraseptic 2. Castle 1. Arose KAMIKAZE: 4. Venom 3. The Ringer 2. Not Alike 1. Lucky You MUSIC TO BE MURDERED BY 4. Yah Yah 3. I Will 2. Darkness 1. Godzilla
Be careful what you wish for, psycho (50 cent), Medicine ball, darkness, evil twin, all I think about, groundhogs day. Most of Kamikaze and your picks from murdered
decent, but some songs missing. I think crack a bottle could fit in the relapse. sedution is top 4 in recovery. mmlp2 wicked ways and beautiful pain, also DON’T FRONT, shame it didnt make into the album. revival’s def the best song is castle, finally someone recognised that. ALSO ONE THING IS MISSED OUT – BEST FRIEND WITH Yela, cuz that was fire from beyond.
I hate Crack a Bottle. Seduction is dope, but I don’t think it’s as good as the ones I named. Wicked Ways and Beautiful Pain are fucking amazing–bonus cuts that are better than almost any of the album cuts.
ITS HARD TO PICK BEST SONGS, there are too many of them.
ARE U KIDDING? Headlights? Really? HEADLIGHTS? OMG.
Rap God should be top 1, Headlight should not be anywhere near this list. Jesus Christ.
Replace Airplanes with Bad Guy from MMLP2 and then I’d agree with this list a bit more.
I’m sorry…. Although I’ve only been listening to Eminem since 2010, but even I can tell this list is TRAAAASH… Maybe if we were looking for lame shit like deeper meaning and ignored his lyrical acrobatics, untamed aggression, and shock rap (you know his best qualities), then maybe this list would elevate to being mediocre at best. I don’t know who made this list but they obviously have no idea what make Eminem a icon, a livin’ legend. This list was made in 2020, so there’s no reason that not ONE song from Kamikaze is on here. I listened to that album and got so many goose bumps I thought I was gonna grow feathers. Maybe use people who actually listen to and appreciate what makes hip-hop magical and don’t disrespect one the greatest MC’s we’ve ever been blessed with in our lifetime with this garbage ass list. If you didn’t put Rap God as high as you did, I would have seriously considered mailing your offices a dump as a symbol of the malfeasance you’ve spread across the internet. Have a great day dickheads