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The Marshall Mathers LP
by
The Marshall Mathers LP Image
Metascore
78

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

User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1964 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.

Top Track

Stan
My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why I... got out of bed at all The morning rain clouds up my window... and I can't see at all And even if I could... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    100
    Disable your prejudgment button and you'll hear a work of art whose immense entertainment value in no way compromises its intimations of a pathology that's both personal and political, created by one of those charming rogues you encounter so much more often on the page...
  2. AllMusic
    100
    A fairly brilliant expansion of his debut, turning his spare, menacing hip-hop into a hyper-surreal, wittily disturbing thrill ride.
  3. Village Voice
    90
    The ever increasing variety in Eminem's voice (drawled Southern-bounce cadences, impatiently curt throaty staccatos, flat Beck-like deadpans, crying and screaming) somehow feels completely conversational, and the musical backdrop (calypso/Caribbean, Gothic etherea, jiggy disco evolving into P.M. Dawn) is frequently, of all things, beautiful.
  4. MTV.com
    80
    What's most pure is Eminem's liberating fearlessness in taking hip-hop left turns and acting the fool. The best hip-hop stand-up comic since Biz Markie; all that and a bag o' chronic.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    70
    Aside from the horrifyingly detailed stalker narrative of "Stan" and the homicidal fantasy of "Kim," nothing on Marshall Mathers rises above the level of locker-room insults -- nearly every song seems to feature Eminem's giving someone the finger.
  6. L.A. Weekly
    60
    It just isn't as much fun this time around, no matter how fresh Dre's beats are or how many worthy targets get shot down along with the innocent.
  7. Slant Magazine
    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

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 349 out of 366
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 366
  3. Negative: 13 out of 366
  1. ZachB
    May 6, 2005
    10
    An amazing album which , when viewed by an open mind, contains lyrics as poignant and honest as those of any folk writer...Bob Dylan An amazing album which , when viewed by an open mind, contains lyrics as poignant and honest as those of any folk writer...Bob Dylan included. The absolute best work of art ever written.… Expand
  2. HeatherP(Purdy,Missouri)
    Apr 10, 2003
    10
    iT iS gReAt!1!1!
  4. BlueLotusPoet
    Oct 13, 2010
    10
    Practically Eminem at his best. While shock rap isnt really something difficult to do, Eminem mixes it with his lyrical cleverness. He throwsPractically 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
  5. eli_obeid
    Feb 11, 2016
    10
    ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Its eminem, case closed!!!… Expand
  6. TheHound1
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    No singing, no pop artists, no **** just straight rap.
    Without a doubt this album is Eminem at his best.
  7. TTW107
    Feb 14, 2012
    10
    All around one of the best albums I've ever heard. I've been listening to this album for ten+ years straight and it's still amazing. I evenAll around one of the best albums I've ever heard. I've been listening to this album for ten+ years straight and it's still amazing. I even listen to 'Kim' from time to time, it's kind of a masterpiece but i can't listen to it a lot. Other than that every song goes so unbelievably hard. "We don't do drive-bys, we park in front of houses and shoot, and when the police come we f*ckin shoot it out with them too, that's the mentality here, that's the reality here, did i just hear somebody say they wanna challenge me here, while i'm holding a pistol with this many calibers here" wow.… Expand
  8. Seanyer
    Jul 20, 2004
    0
    Garbage.

See all 366 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best Album of 2000
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2000
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2000

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