The Marshall Mathers LP Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 360 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length from Eminem (aka Marshall Mathers) garnered two Grammys for the rapper and became the fastest-selling rap album in history.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 21
  2. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. A fairly brilliant expansion of his debut, turning his spare, menacing hip-hop into a hyper-surreal, wittily disturbing thrill ride.
  2. It's smartly crafted black comedy from hip-hop's greatest white MC, a strong storyteller and a master of the metaphor, who produces staggeringly popular music that's mostly meant to be enjoyed with both a pained grimace and a smirk.
  3. True, even misdirected, Eminem's disaffection sucks you in and the wholesale nihilism can still provoke shivers. But it all used to be more fun.
  4. Feb 13, 2012
    30
    The collaborative efforts of tracks like "Bitch Please II" and "Under the Influence" make Eminem seem like an ornamental prop in Dr. Dre's ever-growing hip-hop dynasty.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 8 out of 211
  1. Practically Eminem at his best. While shock rap isnt really something difficult to do, Eminem mixes it with his lyrical cleverness. He throws out memorable punchlines bound to stick and he does it in a style which is clearly not simple and just thrown out with little effort. This album is quite a treasure, being that its one of the few pieces of work that are connected to the mainstream success of the heavilly underground infested horrorcore community. Expand
  2. Not as good as the Slim Shady LP, but has some real great tracks, and what is arguably one of the best rap songs ever, Stan. The Way Am, Drug Ballad, The Real Slim Shady, **** Please, and Marshall Mathers are the best tracks after that. Overall the album has a very raw, honest feel. While disturbing and auditorrily grating, Kim is probably the most open and unreserved song I've ever heard. Expand
  3. JoeyH.
    7
    i think the albums dope, but eminem talks about the same things all the time, he's gotta throw in some twists
  4. anon
    2
    at this rate, "Marshall Mathers" could go down as the single most overrated LP of the decade.

See all 211 User Reviews