When it comes to Eminem, there are a lot of different opinions out there.
Some people think he’s the greatest rapper of all time. Some think his music is garbage and he’s dissing too many people.
One thing that most people can agree on is that Eminem’s music genre is rare.
But what is the genre exactly? A small tip of the hat: lyrical hip-hop and horrorcore.
Let’s dive into what exactly this means. After, we’ll discuss how Eminem’s music style developed.
Eminem’s general music genre
Lyrical Hip Hop
Eminem is mainly known for his lyrical hip-hop music genre.
Explained in a few words, it means there is a high focus on the lyrics while they are flowing between hip-hop beats.
He started out in the underground rap scene and quickly rose to prominence with his unique music style.
His lyrics are often extremely clever and fast-paced, but also poetic and relatable.
Eminem’s songs sometimes deal with darker topics, but he also has a sense of humor and can be lighthearted too.
Horrorcore
Next, Eminem’s music genre can be categorized as horrorcore or shock rap, at least for some periods.
horrorcore is a subgenre of hip-hop that is pictured by graphic, violent, and often explicit themes.
Eminem is known for his dark and violent lyrics, so it’s no surprise that this is a genre fans know him for.
Other influences
Pop and rock music also have had an impact on Eminem’s genre. The rock influences already started on his “The Eminem Show”.
Think about the song “Love the Way You Lie” with Eminem. You could call this a pop song.
How did Eminem’s music style develop?
Infinite
Infinite was Eminem’s first album and it was released in 1996. It didn’t sell very well, but it marked Eminem’s breakthrough with the underground audience.
The Slim Shady LP
The Slim Shady LP is a lyrical hip-hop album. It does contain horrorcore and G-funk influences, which he learned from Dr. Dre.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of Eminem’s alter ego, Slim Shady, and contain satirical content with depictions of violence.
The album was created during Eminem’s time living in poverty and showcases his frustrations with the situation.
The Marshall Mathers LP
The Marshall Mathers LP is a hip-hop album that ranges from horrorcore to hardcore hip-hop, released in 2000.
The album also features satirical songs and collaborations with artists like Dido and Snoop Dogg.
The Eminem Show
Eminem’s fourth album, The Eminem Show, has a lighter tone than his previous album, The Marshall Mathers LP.
The music style incorporates a heavier use of rap rock than Eminem’s previous albums.
In an interview, Eminem said that he treated the album like it was a rock record. He continued that he “tried to get the best of both worlds” on the album.
Encore
Critics generally agreed that Eminem’s Encore was a less impressive release than his earlier albums, with much of the criticism being directed towards the second half of the album.
Still, the songs “Mockingbird” and “Like Toy Soldiers” from this album are seen as being part of Eminem’s best songs.
Relapse
Eminem described the concept behind Relapse as the ending of his drug rehabilitation and thus rap as if he was on drugs again, as well as the return of his fictional alter-ego Slim Shady.
Recovery
This album, Recovery, showcases a more personal side of Eminem – the rapper says that many of the songs were written while he was going through therapy.
The tracks are slower and more melodic than his older material, and Eminem even calls one song “a ballad”.
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is an album that contains arena rock and old-school hip-hop influences.
Inspired by the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J, The production on this album is more minimalist than Eminem’s former albums.
Revival
Eminem’s album, Revival, was met with mixed reviews.
Some loved the rock-inspired production on certain tracks. Other critics find the heavy use of pop stars for guest appearances to be jarring.
The lead single from the album features Beyoncé.
Kamikaze
Kamikaze was praised as an improvement over the rapper’s previous album and a return to his more aggressive style.
However, others find that the album lacks the modern sound of hip-hop, making it outdated.
It also generated some controversy for its diss tracks against various artists. For example even against Tyler, The Creator.
Music to Be Murdered By
Eminem’s latest album has improved the production in comparison with previous albums.
At the same time, some claim there’s a lack of innovation, and shock value in his style on this one.
Conclusion
Eminem is one of the most successful and controversial rappers in history.
His music genre is characterized by lyrical hip-hop and horrorcore.
The style has evolved over time, incorporating different influences along the way.