Surviving 20 years in the rap game and retaining the same level of skill you possessed at the outset of your career is a tall order and the sign of an artist that takes their craft seriously, and Eminem is in that rare class of MC.

Debuting in 1996, with his first studio album, Infinite, the Detroit representative would face disinterest before an impressive showing at the Rap Olympics a year later and a record deal with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records would make him one of the hottest commodities in rap, as well as one of its biggest earners. Em shattered stereotypes as a Caucasian MC with exceptional rhyme skills while churning out quality material and besting some of the greatest MCs of all time when pitted against them. As a result, he's built a legacy as one of the more formidable wordsmiths in the history of hip-hop.

Despite his freestyle and battle skills ranking among the best rap fans have witnessed, Eminem is also one of the greatest songwriters to emerge in hip-hop, with a laundry list of classic singles and deep cuts on his resume. While many artists can rely on singers, other rappers or vocal samples to complement their verses, Em usually goes for dolo, constructing a song from top to bottom -- hook and chorus included.

Over the course of his career, Marshall Mathers has been responsible for an endless amount of tracks, many of which have served as the soundtrack to rap fans lives for the better part of the past two decades. Though he makes headlines for his collabos, like his recent work with Big Sean on "No Favors," it's his solo material that has kept him at the top of the game this long.

After taking a dive into his discography -- from albums like The Slim Shady LP to The Eminem Show and more -- and making a few tough decisions, here are some of the 20 definitive Eminem songs he's released to date.

  • "My Name Is"

    Eminem
  • "Guilty Conscience"

    Eminem Featuring Dr. Dre
  • "Role Model"

    Eminem
  • "The Real Slim Shady"

    Eminem
  • "The Way I Am"

    Eminem
  • "Stan"

    Eminem Featuring Dido
  • "Kim"

    Eminem
  • "Without Me"

    Eminem
  • "Cleanin' Out My Closet"

    Eminem
  • "Sing for the Moment"

    Eminem
  • "Till I Collapse"

    Eminem Featuring Nate Dogg
  • "Superman"

    Eminem
  • "White America"

    Eminem
  • "Like Toy Soldiers"

    Eminem
  • "Bagpipes From Baghdad"

    Eminem
  • "Love The Way You Lie"

    Eminem Featuring Rihanna
  • "Not Afraid"

    Eminem
  • "Drug Ballad"

    Eminem
  • "Mockingbird"

    Eminem
  • "Lose Yourself"

    Eminem

More From HOT 99.1