Eminem

Solo Artist · The Rap God

Photo: Brendan_linden · CC0
Active 1988-present
Origin St. Joseph, Missouri
Albums 11
Tracks 201
Most frequent collaborator Dr. Dre · 40 tracks
Genres Hip HopRapHorrorcore
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 200 of 201 tracks

Did Eminem write his own songs?

Yes. Eminem writes his own lyrics on every record; across the studio albums covered here he is credited as a writer on effectively all 200-plus tracks. He is famous for writing his verses by hand, often over several days. Songs like 'The Way I Am,' 'Not Afraid,' and 'Rap God' are entirely his, and on hits like 'Stan' and 'Love the Way You Lie' the outside names are sample composers and hook writers, not ghostwriters.

By the Numbers

11
Studio Albums
201
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
220M+
Records Sold
38
Years Active
141
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 200 / 201 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 201 tracks: how many Eminem wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Eminem has a writing credit100%
42%
57%
Sole author85tracks42%
Co-written115tracks57%
Outside writers1tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Eminem's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 201 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer60%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Eminem's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
95%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1999The Slim Shady LP
2000The Marshall Mathers LP
2002The Eminem Show
2004Encore
2009Relapse
2010Recovery
2013The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2017Revival
2018Kamikaze
2020Music to Be Murdered By
2024The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Early · 99% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
The Slim Shady LP
99%
2000s
The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show +2 more
100%
2010s
Recovery, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 +2 more
100%
2020s
Music to Be Murdered By, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Eminem sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Eminem
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Boyz II Men51%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
George Michael80%
Snoop Dogg89%
100%Eminem
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

My Name Is
The Slim Shady LP
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Labi Siffre
Co-wrote
The Real Slim Shady
The Marshall Mathers LP
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Melvin Bradford, Tommy Coster, Mike Elizondo
Co-wrote
Stan
The Marshall Mathers LP
Written by Marshall Mathers, Dido Armstrong, Mark James, Paul Herman
Co-wrote
The Way I Am
The Marshall Mathers LP
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Without Me
The Eminem Show
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, Malcolm McLaren, Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn, Kevin Bell, Shawn Baumgardner
Co-wrote
Cleanin' Out My Closet
The Eminem Show
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass
Co-wrote
Superman
The Eminem Show
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, Steve King
Co-wrote
Sing for the Moment
The Eminem Show
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, Luis Resto, Steve King, Steven Tyler
Co-wrote
Just Lose It
Encore
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Mike Elizondo
Co-wrote
Mockingbird
Encore
Written by Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto
Co-wrote
Like Toy Soldiers
Encore
Written by Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto, Marty Inez Marrero
Co-wrote
Crack a Bottle
Relapse
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Curtis Jackson
Co-wrote
We Made You
Relapse
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Mark Batson
Co-wrote
Beautiful
Relapse
Written by Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Mark Batson
Co-wrote
Not Afraid
Recovery
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Love the Way You Lie
Recovery
Written by Marshall Mathers, Holly Hafermann
Co-wrote
No Love
Recovery
Written by Marshall Mathers, Dwayne Carter Jr.
Co-wrote
The Monster
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Written by Marshall Mathers, Holly Hafermann
Co-wrote
Berzerk
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Written by Marshall Mathers, Billy Squier
Co-wrote
Rap God
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Survival
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Headlights
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Written by Marshall Mathers, Nathaniel Ruess
Co-wrote
Walk on Water
Revival
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
River
Revival
Written by Marshall Mathers, Edward Sheeran
Co-wrote
Lucky You
Kamikaze
Written by Marshall Mathers, Gary Lucas
Co-wrote
The Ringer
Kamikaze
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Fall
Kamikaze
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Godzilla
Music to Be Murdered By
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jarad Higgins
Co-wrote
Darkness
Music to Be Murdered By
Written by Marshall Mathers
Wrote it
Houdini
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Written by Marshall Mathers, Steve Miller
Co-wrote
Somebody Save Me
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jason DeFord
Co-wrote
Tobey
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Written by Marshall Mathers, James Johnson IV, Sean Anderson
Co-wrote

Discography 11 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Eminem201 tracks
40Dr. Dre, 40 tracks 37Andre Young, 37 tracks JB29Jeff Bass, 29 tracks LR20Luis Resto, 20 tracks 19Mark Batson, 19 tracks MB17Mark Bass, 17 tracks ME11Mike Elizondo, 11 tracks HH8Holly Hafermann, 8 tracks SK7Steve King, 7 tracks DK7DJ Khalil, 7 tracks MB6Melvin Bradford, 6 tracks M6Mel-Man, 6 tracks DP6Denaun Porter, 6 tracks F6F.B.T., 6 tracks RR6Rick Rubin, 6 tracks SG6Skylar Grey, 6 tracks RM5Ryan Montgomery, 5 tracks RD5Royce da 5'9", 5 tracks MP5Mr. Porter, 5 tracks on D12's page B4Bizarre, 4 tracks on D12's page TF4Theron Feemster, 4 tracks 5C450 Cent, 4 tracks B4Boi-1da, 4 tracks DR3Dina Rae, 3 tracks NH3Nathaniel Hale, 3 tracks ND3Nate Dogg, 3 tracks SM3Swifty McVay, 3 tracks on D12's page K3Kuniva, 3 tracks on D12's page D3D12, 3 tracks KB3Kevin Bell, 3 tracks KA3Khalil Abdul Rahman, 3 tracks JB3Just Blaze, 3 tracks ID3Illa da Producer, 3 tracks BY3Bobby Yewah, 3 tracks WG3White Gold, 3 tracks DH2DeShaun Holton, 2 tracks OT2Obie Trice, 2 tracks BM2Brian May, 2 tracks on Queen's page BH2Brian Honeycutt, 2 tracks PI2Pranam Injeti, 2 tracks AM2Alecia Moore, 2 tracks on Pink's page P2P!nk, 2 tracks R2Rihanna, 2 tracks ES2Edward Sheeran, 2 tracks ES2Ed Sheeran, 2 tracks RJ2Ronny J, 2 tracks MW2Mike Will Made-It, 2 tracks JR2Jessica Reyez, 2 tracks JR2Jessie Reyez, 2 tracks SJ2Sly Jordan, 2 tracks SP2Sly Pyper, 2 tracks LS1Labi Siffre, 1 track D1Dido, 1 track MJ1Mark James, 1 track PH1Paul Herman, 1 track T41The 45 King, 1 track TC1Tommy Coster, 1 track EC1Eric Collins, 1 track KJ1Kirk Jones, 1 track R1RBX, 1 track SF1Sticky Fingaz, 1 track CB1Calvin Broadus Jr., 1 track AJ1Alvin Joyner, 1 track SD1Snoop Dogg, 1 track X1Xzibit, 1 track MM1Malcolm McLaren, 1 track AD1Anne Dudley, 1 track TH1Trevor Horn, 1 track SB1Shawn Baumgardner, 1 track DH1DJ Head, 1 track PR1Paul Rosenberg, 1 track ST1Steven Tyler, 1 track on Aerosmith's page SB1Steve Berman, 1 track HJ1Hailie Jade, 1 track MI1Marty Inez Marrero, 1 track SQ1Stat Quo, 1 track AW1Ann Wilson, 1 track on Heart's page NW1Nancy Wilson, 1 track on Heart's page B1Brown, 1 track K1Kobe, 1 track JK1Jordan Kahn, 1 track OO1Ozzy Osbourne, 1 track BD1Bob Daisley, 1 track DC1Dwayne Carter Jr., 1 track LW1Lil Wayne, 1 track SS1Script Shepherd, 1 track NB1Nick Brongers, 1 track AD1Alex da Kid, 1 track RA1Rod Argent, 1 track BS1Billy Squier, 1 track KL1Kendrick Lamar, 1 track NR1Nathaniel Ruess, 1 track NR1Nate Ruess, 1 track B1Beyoncé, 1 track P1Phresher, 1 track AK1Alicia Keys, 1 track XA1X Ambassadors, 1 track KA1Kehlani Ashley Parrish, 1 track K1Kehlani, 1 track MW1Michael Wayne Atha, 1 track Y1Yelawolf, 1 track GL1Gary Lucas, 1 track JS1Jahaan Sweet, 1 track JL1Joyner Lucas, 1 track TK1Tay Keith, 1 track S1Suby, 1 track KM1Katorah Marrero, 1 track YM1Young M.A, 1 track DD1D.A. Doman, 1 track JW1Juice WRLD, 1 track JW1Juice Wrld, 1 track BT1Black Thought, 1 track on The Roots's page KF1Kamaal Fareed, 1 track Q1Q-Tip, 1 track D1Denaun, 1 track BA1Brandon Anderson, 1 track A.1Anderson .Paak, 1 track CT1Caleb Toliver, 1 track DT1Don Toliver, 1 track DW1Dominick Wickliffe, 1 track JO1Joel Ortiz, 1 track KC1Kxng Crooked, 1 track JO1Joell Ortiz, 1 track DR1Destin Route, 1 track J1JID, 1 track II1Ike Ibeabuchi, 1 track DJ1Dem Jointz, 1 track SM1Steve Miller, 1 track EM1Ezekiel Miller, 1 track EM1Ez Mil, 1 track JJ1James Johnson IV, 1 track BS1Big Sean, 1 track B1BabyTron, 1 track JD1Jason DeFord, 1 track on Jelly Roll's page JR1Jelly Roll, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JB Jeff Bass · LR Luis Resto · MB Mark Bass

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Eminem is unique in the hip-hop data: he writes every single lyric himself, famously by hand before recording. The authorship score reflects this near-perfect lyricist score. However, the credit table shows an important split: while Eminem is credited as lyricist on virtually every track, the music/composition credit goes to producers like Dr. Dre and the Bass Brothers (Jeff and Mark Bass). His score as a composer is lower than his lyricist score.

Quick Facts

  • Grammys15 wins
  • OscarBest Original Song for 'Lose Yourself' (2003), the first hip-hop act to win
  • Alter egoRaps as Slim Shady, his darker, satirical persona
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
  • CraftWrites his lyrics by hand, often over several days per song

Creative Fingerprint

A pure lyricist: Eminem writes his own words on every record, credited as a writer on effectively all 200-plus tracks in this catalogue. The outside names on his songs are producers, sample composers, and hook singers, never ghostwriters.

The Story

Eminem is the best-selling rapper of all time and one of the most commercially successful artists in music history, with roots in the Detroit underground rap scene where he honed his craft through years of battling before signing to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. Known for his technically precise delivery, dense internal rhyme schemes, and autobiographical subject matter drawn from a turbulent childhood and rise to fame, he became the first artist to have his first ten studio albums debut at number one in the United States. Unlike most of his peers in mainstream rap, Eminem writes every lyric himself, famously by hand in notebooks, and has built a catalog that is both wildly controversial and widely recognized as among the most technically accomplished in the genre.

Awards & Recognition

Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Lose Yourself' (2003), the first hip-hop act to win the award
Fifteen Grammy Awards across his career
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022
Over 220 million records sold worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
Five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100

Frequently Asked Questions Eminem

Did Eminem write his own songs?
Yes. Eminem writes his own lyrics on every record; across the studio albums covered here he is credited as a writer on effectively all 200-plus tracks. He is famous for writing his verses by hand, often over several days. Songs like 'The Way I Am,' 'Not Afraid,' and 'Rap God' are entirely his, and on hits like 'Stan' and 'Love the Way You Lie' the outside names are sample composers and hook writers, not ghostwriters.
Who wrote 'Lose Yourself'?
Eminem wrote 'Lose Yourself' with his production team for the 2002 film 8 Mile. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the first hip-hop track ever to do so. It appears on the 8 Mile soundtrack rather than on one of his solo studio albums.
Did Eminem write 'Stan'?
Yes. 'Stan' (2000) was written by Eminem and built around a sample of Dido's 'Thank You,' which is why Dido and that song's writers share the credit. The rapped verses that tell the story are entirely his.
Who wrote the hook on 'Love the Way You Lie'?
The chorus of 'Love the Way You Lie' (2010) was written by Skylar Grey, credited as Holly Hafermann, while Eminem wrote his own verses. Rihanna performed the hook.
How many albums has Eminem released?
This catalogue covers his 11 solo studio albums, from The Slim Shady LP (1999) to The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024).
How many Grammys has Eminem won?
Fifteen Grammy Awards over the course of his career.
Did Eminem win an Oscar?
Yes. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003 for 'Lose Yourself,' becoming the first hip-hop artist to win the award.
Who is Slim Shady?
Slim Shady is Eminem's alter ego, a darker and more satirical persona he introduced on The Slim Shady LP (1999). Marshall Mathers uses the name to voice his most provocative material.
Did Dr. Dre write Eminem's songs?
No. Dr. Dre, credited as Andre Young, produced and co-wrote the music on early hits like 'My Name Is' and 'The Real Slim Shady,' but Eminem wrote all the lyrics himself. Dre was his producer and mentor, not his ghostwriter.
Is Eminem considered one of the greatest rappers?
Yes. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, known especially for his technical skill, rhyme density, and storytelling, as on 'Stan' and 'Rap God.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Eminem Wikipedia: The Slim Shady LP Wikipedia: The Marshall Mathers LP Wikipedia: The Eminem Show Wikipedia: Encore Wikipedia: Relapse Wikipedia: Recovery Wikipedia: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 Wikipedia: Revival Wikipedia: Kamikaze Wikipedia: Music to Be Murdered By Wikipedia: The Death of Slim Shady