Music Details
Artist
Label
Genre
More details

The Eminem Show (by Eminem, Rap)

common sense media says

Very explicit; for mature older teens only.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is another explicit gem from Eminem. Use this album to bring up the topic of censorship with your kids. Eminem denounces censors and critics, but spits some of the most offensive lyrics around.

Positive messages: He prides himself on being the anti-role model.
Violence: V is for Very, Very Violent.
Sex: Everything from venereal disease to rape. Disrespectful and explicit.
Language: If swear words were dollars, he?d be rich?.actually, he is rich.
Consumerism: Not as bad as most popular rap.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drunk driving and all varieties of drugs.

More on The Eminem Show

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the following: Where should we draw the line between freedom of speech and explicit material? Who should make that decision? What harm, if any, can come from this music?

What's the story?

What's the story?
For his third album, THE EMINEM SHOW, the rapper still uses shock value and offensive topics to get attention, but is moving away from sarcasm and parody toward a more serious and critical attitude. In addition to rants about his censors, his abusive relationships, and the government, he includes introspective thoughts on success, fame, and social responsibility. Don't be fooled though -- he is still rapping about killing his mother and doing drugs in front of his child, testing the limits of taste and morality. The album has some very strong songs, like "Business" and "Square Dance." But a few duds break up the flow, including "Drips," about venereal disease, which is disgusting and disrespectful.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This album has the same strengths as the first two (The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP). It showcases Eminem's excellent rapping ability, and it is backed by solid production work. But has Eminem reached the bottom of the "shock value" barrel? Eminem has shown that he can rap intelligently about poignant topics. Whether he is willing to do so for an entire album has yet to be seen.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: May 26, 2002
Label: Interscope Records
Genre: Rap
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes

This review was written by David Brown
 
 

Review It

 

Review The Eminem Show





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Sanjay407
kid, 13 years old
 

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
Probably eminem's BEST album of ALL TIME
such a great album, yet filled with profanity and other explicit stuff. The song "drips" disgusts me, while i love other song like "superman, "sing for the moment", "haile's song" and a bunch of others. I mean, even the skits are good. The worst song (not including skits) is probably "drips", because of un-talented "Obie Trice." But the other songs are lyricly amazing and in other ways also amazing. great abum, just quite explicit.

itsallgood
teen, 16 years old
 
For older teens
My favorite album ever, but inapropriate. The songs are great, very personal. The tone is angry, upset, my favorite side of eminem. My favorite album ever, but not to appropriate.

magicman102
kid, 11 years old
 
I'm not gonna say anything rude i love Eminem even though i'm like ten i even have a crush on the guy i don't really like Drips but i don't know if Fack is on there i do like Fack even though it is pretty Perverted.And Hailies song is great any way if he says something horrible it is his way of getting it out of his system like the song Kim or Bonnie and Clyde 97

Eminem1014eva
parent of 17 year old
 
I am a Big eminem fan . this is one of his BEST albums ever . not too offensive .

Ankit sankalp bara
teen, 14 years old
 
but i love eminem very much

simpsonsfan81
kid, 11 years old
 
enimem is the best rapper alive
awsome songs

eminemfan100
kid, 13 years old
 
Who Cares If It Is Parental Advisory
I Started Lisning To Eminem When I Was 7.My Parents Are A big fan of eminem aswell but the eminem show is just great. The songs such as Without Me, Cleanin out My Closet, Sing For The Moment And Hailies Song Are Just Great.So Parents If Your Children Want To Listen to Eminem and you don't approve of it, Leo the listen to the clean version instead. Because Eminem is the greatest thing which happned to music

 
WHY??
Why you guys hating on eminem?!?!?

kylepathfinder
teen, 14 years old
 
One of the best rap albums ever. Even though he cusses a lot and talks about not so good topics, it's still really good.

ninjaman77
parent of 15 year old
 

Gabeisepic
kid, 11 years old
 
:)
Kid friendly and positive themes

sweetjynx97
teen, 14 years old
 
REALLY GOOD
THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING SONGS ON THE ALBUM YES HE DOES STRETCHTHE FREEDOM OF SPPECH FAR BUT HE HAS AMAZING TALENT THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE YOU CANT DENY

skyoate
teen, 15 years old
 
Not as bad as adults portray it to be.
eminem is the best rapper ever. sure some of his songs are pretty bad, but he also has many good ones such as: when i'm gone, beautiful, mockingbird, hailie's song, etc. i started listening to his stuff in 1st grade and seriously, no effect. i'm even transferring to a catholic school next year. so if you think your kids aren't responsible enough to handle it you can keep be over-protective. i could care less.

rap is awesome
kid, 11 years old
 
Improved
Em has improved so much! Its not dark and intense like encore but has a few songs for 'shock value' like drips. great album buy it. i love the songs like 'when the music stops.'

jakesyl
parent of 3 year old
 
okay
life lessons

eminemrulez2000
kid, 11 years old
 
BEST EVER
Sure he swears a lot but he's the best rapper ever! Just buy the clean version and its A OK for kids!

LEGOUniverseFa ...
kid, 12 years old
 
Iffy for kids 13+
Well, The Eminem Show is a great album music-wise, but it is definitely not good language-wise. However, even if you have the clean versions of the songs, there is still a little bit of sexual reference. 13-year-olds are okay for this.

april161999
kid, 12 years old
 
for teens
I isn't my favourite but its o.k a lot of swearing and violance.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you add The Eminem Show to your playlist?


Already listened to it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age