Eminem's 40th birthday is today (Oct. 17), and to celebrate the midwestern rapper who rose to the national stage a decade and a half ago, we're taking a look at Em's 30 biggest hits on the Billboard Hot 100. He may go by a handful of names -- Eminem, Marshall Mathers, Slim Shady -- but the Detroit rapper/producer/actor has never shied away from being himself, and only himself, sharing his trials and tribulations in his music with fans since stepping up to the mic in his teens. Along the road to 2010's "Recovery," he's earned six Billboard 200 No. 1s, four Hot 100 No. 1s, countless of awards, and respect from just about everyone in hip-hop. Help us wish Eminem a happy birthday by checking out the ranking of his hugest hits below. Use the comments section to share which track is your favorite.
This ranking of Eminem's 30 Biggest Billboard Hits is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart through the tally dated October 20, 2012. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years.
30
Old Time's Sake
Eminem feat. Dr. Dre
Hot 100 Peak Position: 25
2009
Eminem's and Dr. Dre's bromance, birthed in the late '90s, is in full display in many of Em's Billboard hits, including "Old Time's Sake." The single, from "Relapse" (2009), features both rappers brushing off competition.
29
Ass Like That
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 60
2005
Who's not familiar with Em's comical side? The rapper's sense of humor has both amused and annoyed listeners. A key example is "Ass Like That," wherein Slim Shady lists -- in a less than respectful manner -- a few femme artists who's derrieres he's fond of, including Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears and Janet Jackson.
28
Beautiful
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 17
2009
Considering the tribulations Eminem was going through at the time (including divorce and addiction), punchlines weren't exactly what fans expected to hear on "Relapse." On the third and final "Relapse" single, Em shows his very troubled thoughts going on "behind the tears of a clown.
27
The Way I Am
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 58
2000
The second "The Marshall Matthers LP" single is one of Eminem's most honest, menacing tracks he's recorded. On "The Way I Am," he teeters from rapping to yelling about the haunting pressures that he faces from fans to labels executives.
26
That's All She Wrote
T.I. feat. Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 18
2010
Em and Tip share a connection that goes beyond respect for each other's artistry. Both artists have supported each other throughout their careers and personal struggles. "That's All She Wrote," came four years after their first collaborative track, "Touchdown," off T.I.'s "T.I. vs T.I.P."
25
You Don't Know
Eminem feat. 50 Cent, Cashis, Lloyd Banks
Hot 100 Peak Position: 12
2006
Em's first single off Shady Records compilation "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up" went straight to the Hot 100 top 15. In celebration of the Shady Records camaraderie, the video for the single included cameos by Tony Yayo, The Alchmesit, Young Buck, D12, Bobby Creekwater, Obie Trice, Mobb Deep, Trick Trick, Dr. Dre and Stat Quo.
24
My Name Is
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 36
1999
From his debut single, "My Name Is," Eminem came out the gate spitting witty, brutally honest rhymes and the video pulled together tough-but-funny visuals to match.
23
Stan
Eminem feat. Dido
Hot 100 Peak Position: 51
2000
Although it didn't reach as high on the Hot 100 as some of Eminem's other tracks, "Stan" is certainly one of his most influential songs. Em' intricately tells of himself through a disturbing story of an obsessed fan. Not only a milestone in Em's discography, "Stan" was given new life when he performed the song alongside Elton John during the 2001 Grammys.
22
Like Toy Soldiers
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 24
2005
Eminem rarely held back on rhyming about harsh realities. On the "Encore" single, he chronicles the feuds he and his camp, including 50, had taken on through out their careers and the devastating outcomes. Unfortunately, Proof, who plays Bugz, the man shot and killed in the video, was also shot and killed one year after the video debuted.
21
Drop The World
Lil Wayne feat. Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 18
2010
Thanks to gravitas of Eminem's presence and Weezy's ominous chorus, "Drop the World," produced by Hit-Boy and Chase N. Cashe, is one of "Rebirth's" brightest songs.
20
Encore
Eminem featuring Dr. Dre
Hot 100 Peak Position: 25
2005
The "Encore" title track is another peek into the camaraderie between Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, oh, and attempt to hype fans for the long-in-the-works arrival of Dre's "Detox." "And don't worry about that Detox album/ It's comin', we gonna make Dre do it," Em closes the track.
19
No Love
Eminem feat. Lil Wayne
Hot 100 Peak Position: 23
2010
Both high-profile rappers spit rapid "f*ck you" rhymes to their haters over a revamped sample of Haddaway's "What Is Love," courtesy of Just Blaze.
18
We Made You
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 9
2009
The "Relapse" single, which samples Walter Egan's "Hot Summer Nights," features Eminem throwing shots at pop culture over a carnival friendly, Dr. Dre, Doc Ish, Em produced beat.
17
Forgot About Dre
Dr. Dre feat. Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 25
2000
Eminem and Dre both take advantage of "Forgot About Dre," off "2001," to remind doubtful critics of the veteran rapper's legacy and continuous success.
16
Superman
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 15
2003
Slim Shady gives us a sneak peek into his prolific love life in the "The Eminem Show" single. "Superman," which is appropriately slower tempo, was reportedly inspired by onetime-flame Mariah Carey.
15
Sing For The Moment
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 14
2003
"Sing For The Moment," which samples Aerosmith's "Dream On," touches on a familiar subject for Eminem ("The Way I Am"): misunderstanding. Em digs deeper into his thesis that music is not the cause of violence amongst young people.
14
When I'm Gone
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 11
2005
"Now show them that you love them more than us," Eminem rhymes in the emotional "When I'm Gone." Eminem sheds light into the strain his celebrity status has had on his family, especially his baby girl Hailie. Marshall Mathers' vulnerability rocketed him to the top 10 of the Hot 100.
13
Mockingbird
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 11
2005
Eminem laces the familiar "Hush, Little Baby" lullaby with an apology to his daughter Hailie for being absent at times in her life and the failing relationship between himself and her mother, Kim. The song is strengthened by a video that includes a montage of home videos of Mathers and his family.
12
Shake That
Eminem feat. Nate Dogg
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
2006
"Shake That" features Nate Dogg and Em, on their sixth collaboration, taking a lyrical stab at the art of seduction. "Shake That" was nominated for a "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" Grammy Award.
11
I Need A Doctor
Eminem and Skylar Grey
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
2011
The respect and loyalty between Dre and Eminem is in full view on the Alex da Kid produced "I Need A Doctor." Singer Skylar Grey told San Francisco's WiLD 94.9 that Em's lyrics, which he recorded in two hours after presented with the hook, brought her to tears.
10
Crack A Bottle
Eminem feat. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
2009
"Crack A Bottle" not only marked the return of the Shady trifecta -- 50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre -- it also placed the rappers at the top of the Hot 100 for the first time together. The "Relapse" single had the additional honor of earning 50, Em and Dre a Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy.
9
Forever
Drake feat. Kanye West, Eminem and Lil Wayne
Hot 100 Peak Position: 8
2009
Originally only headed for the soundtrack to LeBron James' "More Than A Game," the Boi-1da produced posse cut made its way to the re-release of Eminem's "Relapse," "Relapse: Refill." "Forever," which Jay-Z told MTV was the best collaborative track of 2009, peaked at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 1 on Rap Songs.
8
Just Lose It
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
2004
"I get a little out of control with my rhymes," Shady says on the first single off "Encore." And he surely does on "Just Lose It." The rapper throws not-so subtle shots at Michael Jackson which angered the King of Pop. "I am very angry at Eminem's depiction of me in his video," Jackson said to Steve Harvey a week after the song's video was released. "I feel that it is outrageous and disrespectful. It is one thing to spoof, but it is another to be demeaning and insensitive."
7
The Real Slim Shady
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
2000
Despite doubt he could top "My Name Is" with another hit, Eminem exceeded expectations and brought home his first Hot 100 top five with "The Real Slim Shady." The Dr. Dre, Mel-Man produced track stirred controversy (surprise, surprise) as it poked fun at pop stars and their "sugar-coated" songs. Em, brought the song's lyrics to life, when he performed it at the 2000 MTV VMAs with an army of look-a-likes behind him.
6
Cleanin' Out My Closet
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
2002
Two years after the success of "The Real Slim Shady," Eminem found his way back to the Hot 100 top five by cleaning out the skeletons from his closet. On "The Eminem Show" single, the rapper reminisces on his troubled youth and the animosity he holds towards his mother.
5
Not Afraid
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
2010
In 2010, Eminen re-introduced himself as a sober, stronger man. The rapper displayed his strength and hope on the first single of his seventh studio album, "Recovery." With a powerful chorus, which is backed by a choir, the song was a chart triumph as well: "Not Afraid" marked Eminem's third Hot 100 No. 1.
4
Without Me
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
2002
A superman rap game, Eminem's "Without Me" -- which features a playful saxophone riff -- peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
3
Smack That
Akon feat. Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
2006
You can't deny Akon has an ear for a hit and among his club-friendly favorites is "Smack That." The "Konvicted" single, featuring Eminem, shot up from No. 95 to No. 7 on the Hot 100 chart in one week before peaking just shy of the top spot.
2
Love The Way You Lie
Eminem feat. Rihanna
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (seven weeks)
2010
Eminem and Rihanna touch on the heavy subject of domestic abuse with sincere emotion. The mid-tempo track takes a look into the minds of both the abuser and the victim. "Love the Way You Lie" held on to No. 1 on the Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks and was Em's second No. 1 from Billboard 200 No. 1 "Recovery."
1
Lose Yourself
Eminem
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (twelve weeks)
2002
What better way to crown the success of famed hip-hop film, "8 Mile," than with a Hot 100 No. 1? While on the set of "8 Mile," Em' crafted a cut that would empower many to face their fears and seize the moment. The soundtrack's single stayed steady at No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks. And to top it off, "Lose Yourself" was the first rap song to ever win an Oscar for Best Original Song.
http://www.billboard.com/column/the-...2.story?page=3