Eminem's 16 Most Controversial Lyrics Of All Time
Eminem sure has a way with words. Even if you’re not an Em fan, his lyrics have probably grabbed your attention at some point. From overly offensive references about rape and the LGBT community to misogynistic lyrics, it’s pretty safe to assume that Eminem (or his Slim Shady alter ego) do not give a f-ck about what you think.
Take Exhibit A from his song, “Criminal.”
“Cuz every time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime to tell em what's on my mind - I guess I'm a CRIMINAL.”
Eminem’s lyrics were even used in a recent case by the Supreme Court. Either way, Eminem could easily rank as one of the most controversial lyricists of all time. Here are 15 of his most shocking verses.
2017 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher
At the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards, a cypher ensued where the GOAT Eminem laid down bars aimed at 45, Donald Trump. Starting off with a slow flow, Eminem ultimately touches on everything from Steve Bannon to Charlottesville. The former Celebrity Apprentice hosts' failure to quickly respond to Puerto Rico's hurricane relief and his stance against Black Lives Matter and Colin Kaepernick was also not off limits in this freestyle. Em says,
"From his endorsement of Bannon/support for the Klansmen/ tiki torches in hand for the soldiers that's black and comes home from Iraq and is still told to go back to Africa/Fork and a dagger in this racist 94-year-old grandpa/Who keeps ignoring out past historical, deplorable factors/ Now if you're a black athlete, you're a spoiled little brat for trying to use your platform and your stature to try to give those a voice who don't have one/He says, "you're spitting in the face of vets who fought for us you bastards"/Unless you're a POW who's tortured and battered/'Cause to him you're zeros/'Cause he don't like his war heroes captured/That's not disrespecting the military/ F--k that! This is for Colin/ball up a fist!
Shady CXVPHER (Shady XV compilation)
Eminem leaves no situation untouched on this freestyle. Just check his reference to the Ray Rice altercation that happened in the elevator. Too soon, Em. Too soon.
“But I may fight for gay rights, especially if that dyke is more of a knockout than Janay Rice/Play nice? Bitch I’ll punch Lana Del Rey right in the face twice, like Ray Rice in broad daylight in the plain sight of the elevator surveillance/’Til her head is banging on the railing, then celebrate with the Ravens.”
"Kill You" (The Marshall Mathers LP)
The song title alone should allude to some crazy lyrics about to go down.
"Slut, you think I won't choke no whore/'Til the vocal cords don't work in her throat no more?!/Shut up slut, you're causin' too much chaos."
AND
“Oh, now he's raping his own mother, abusing a whore/Snorting coke, and we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?/You god damn right bitch, and now it's too late/I'm triple platinum and tragedies happen in two states.”
"Vegas" (Shady XV compilation)
Fan or foe, Eminem will hit you where it hurts and Iggy was on the receiving end of this one. Yikes.
“So swallow my pride you’re lucky just to follow my ride/If I let you run alongside the Humvee/Unless you’re Nicki, grab you by the wrist, let’s ski/So what’s it gon’ be?/Put that shit away Iggy. You don’t wanna blow that rape whistle on me/Scream! I love it. ‘Fore I get lost with the gettin’ off.”
"Love the Way You Lie" (Recovery)
Eminem quickly goes from calm to crazy. While Rihanna grabs you with the melodic hook, Em talks about setting houses on fires.
“I'm tired of the games, I just want her back/I know I'm a liar/If she ever tries to fuckin' leave again, I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.”
"Roman’s Revenge" (Roman Reloaded)
Even on his featured verses, like this one for Nicki Minaj, Em's lyrics are still off-kilter. At least he's consistent, right?
“Twisted-ass mind, got a pretzel for a brain/an eraser for a head, fucking pencil for a frame/you don't like it then peel off bitch/every last woman on Earth I'll kill off.”
"Rap God" (The Marshall Mathers LP 2)
There goes those offensive lyrics targeted at the LGBT community again. It's hard not to take his lyrics so seriously [or not].
“That I'll still be able to break a motherfuckin' table/Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half/Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact”
"The Real Slim Shady" (Curtain Call)
"But slim, what if you win, wouldn't it be weird/Why? So you guys could just lie to get me here?/So you can, sit me here next to Britney Spears/Shit, Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs/ So I can sit next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst/And hear 'em argue over who she gave head to first.”
"Kim" (The Marshall Mathers LP)
I'm pretty sure Eminem's ex-wife, Kim, is over being the butt of all his misogynistic lyrics. This song had to be one of the creepiest of them all.
"Don't you get it bitch, no one can hear you?/Now shut the fuck up and get what's comin to you/You were supposed to love me {*Kim choking*}/NOW BLEED! BITCH BLEED! BLEED! BITCH BLEED! BLEED!”
Criminal (The Marshall Mathers LP)
You could make this song a Jeopardy question. 'How many times can Eminem offend multiple groups in one verse for $1000, Alex?' Just saying.
"My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/That'll stab you in the head whether you're a fag or lez/Or the homosex, hermaph or a trans-a-vest/Pants or dress, hate fags? The answer's, "Yes"/Homophobic? Nah, you're just heterophobic/Starin' at my jeans, watchin' my genitals bulgin'/That's my motherfuckin' balls, you'd better let go of 'em/They belong in my scrotum, you'll never get a hold of 'em"
"Who Knew" (The Marshall Mathers LP)
Censorship? What censorship? Even past President's don't go untouched. Sorry Bill Clinton.
“(Oh my God! Oh my God!) I'm sorry, there must be a mix-up/You want me to fix up lyrics while the President gets his dick sucked?/Fuck that, take drugs, rape sluts/Make fun of gay clubs, men who wear make-up”
"The Warning" (Mariah Carey diss)
Directed at Mariah Carey, he went all out from posting moaning noises to past audio of her saying certain things to him. Let's just say he's not that type of person you want to blackmail you.
"You gonna ruin my career, you better get one/Like I'ma sit and fight with you over some slut, bitch-c-nt/That made me put up with her psycho-ass over 6 months/And only spread her legs to let me hit once"
"Nail in the Coffin" (Benzino diss)
An Eminem diss doesn't sound right without some type of threat. This would be a great example of one.
"Fuckin punk pussy fuck you chump/gimme a one-on-one see if I dont fuck you up/Tryin to jump the Ruff Ryders and they cut you up/And you put Jada on a track thats how much you suck/dick in the industry, swear that you in the streets hustlin'/You sit behind a fuckin' desk at The Source butt-kissin'"
"Hailie's Revenge" (Ja Rule diss)
Talking about Em's daughter was enough to set him off and have a whole crew of rappers assist him. Ja Rule who?
"Don't you never say my little girl's name in a song again!/Fuckin' punk pussy little bitch!/I'll fuck you up boy!/Never! Never in your muthafuckin life!/I'll choke the shit outchu little muthafuckin bitch!"
"Girls" (Limp Bizkit diss)
Any diss record is fair game but the reason for their beef sounded ridiculous. Whatever it was over, that didn't stop Eminem from speaking his mind.
"Now I'm in the position that I don't wanna be in sh*t/I never had no beef with your corny son of a biches/But now the shit is broke and you can't do nothin' to fix it/So I'm tellin' you right now motherfuck a Limp Bizkit"
AND
"And as for Lethal, don't forget what I said/I'm fuckin' you up punk, you're dead, don't think that I'm playin'/And fuck Bizkit 'cause/I know you're sayin' fuck D-12/Only not to our face, under your breath to yourselves"
"Guilty Conscience" (Curtain Call)
This song perfectly describes how Eminem does not feel when it comes to his lyrical wordplay.
Fuck that shit! You just caught this bitch cheatin'/While you at work she's with some dude tryin' to get off/Fuck slittin' her throat, cut this bitches head off"