Eminem Encore Original Tracklist May 2026

The Original Tracklist:

Mosh - A high-energy song with a strong anti-Bush administration message.
My 1st Single - A track that showcases Eminem's early days as a rapper.
My Dad's Gone Crazy - A dark, emotional song that explores Eminem's complicated relationship with his father.
Insane - A haunting track that features Eminem's signature rapid-fire flow.
I Just Don't Care - A melodic song with a catchy hook.
Like Toy Soldiers - A reflective track that explores the consequences of hip-hop feuds.
Mosh (Skit) - A brief interlude that complements the album's themes.
The Real Slim Shady - A return to Eminem's Slim Shady persona, with a catchy, upbeat melody.
Stan - A critically acclaimed song that tells the story of an obsessive fan.
The Way I Are - A melodic track with a memorable hook.
E-Mail Myself - A humorous song that showcases Eminem's storytelling ability.
Guilty Conscience 2 - A sequel to the song from his previous album, "The Marshall Mathers LP".
Going Through Changes - A melancholic track that explores Eminem's personal growth.
Not Afraid - A powerful song that showcases Eminem's introspective side.
Cleanin' Out My Closet - A cathartic track that explores Eminem's complicated relationships.
Tony Montana - A high-energy song with a Latin-inspired beat.
Visions of Underground - An instrumental track that showcases Eminem's production skills.
King of Hollywood - A song that explores the darker side of fame.
Encore - The title track, which features a catchy hook and a memorable melody.

Impact and Legacy:

"Encore" was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 23 million copies worldwide. The album's themes of personal growth, controversy, and social commentary have cemented its place as one of Eminem's best works.

Tracklist Evolution:

Over the years, "Encore" has undergone several tracklist changes, with some editions featuring bonus tracks or alternate versions. However, the original tracklist remains the most iconic and widely recognized. eminem encore original tracklist

Cultural Significance:

"Encore" has had a lasting impact on hip-hop culture, with many regarding it as one of the greatest albums of the 2000s. The album's influence can be seen in many subsequent hip-hop releases, and its themes continue to resonate with listeners today.

Here’s a review of the original, leaked tracklist for Eminem’s Encore (often referred to by fans as the “original version” before the 2004 leak forced changes).

The Leak: How the Internet Destroyed the Plan

In the spring of 2004, several songs intended for the original Encore leaked onto peer-to-peer networks like Kazaa and LimeWire. In the pre-streaming era, a leak two months before release was a death sentence. Eminem was reportedly furious and heartbroken. He explained in later interviews (notably with XXL and Rolling Stone) that he felt "violated." The Original Tracklist:

His label, Interscope, faced a brutal choice: release the compromised album or pivot. Eminem chose to pivot. He famously said he went "back to the drawing board"—but the drawing board was a haze of pills. In a matter of weeks, he recorded a batch of new, sillier songs to replace the leaked ones.

As producer and confidant Luis Resto later recalled, "He just started making weird, funny records... almost like he was trying to sabotage the album because he was so upset about the leak."

Thus, the Encore we know today was born—a jarring hybrid of serious, heartfelt rap (like "Mockingbird" and "Like Toy Soldiers") and absurdist, accent-driven comedy (like "Big Weenie," "Rain Man," and "My 1st Single").

What Could Have Been vs. What We Got

| Original Encore (Leaked) | Official Encore (2004) | |------------------------------|---------------------------| | “We As Americans” | “Evil Deeds” | | “Love You More” | “Never Enough” (kept) | | “Bully” (bonus/b-side) | “Yellow Brick Road” (kept) | | No “Big Weenie” | “Big Weenie” (added) | | No “Rain Man” | “Rain Man” (added) | | No “My 1st Single” | “My 1st Single” (added) | | Tone: darker, political, sad | Tone: goofy, erratic, rushed | Mosh - A high-energy song with a strong

2. The Omission of "Bully" & "When I’m Gone"

"Bully" is arguably one of the most vicious diss tracks Eminem ever recorded—directed at Ja Rule and Irv Gotti, with a hook about Columbine that was so controversial it never saw a proper commercial release. "When I’m Gone" is one of his most emotionally devastating songs. Removing these from the standard tracklist weakened the album’s emotional backbone.

The Reconstruction: The "Original" Tracklist

While no official "tracklist sheet" from the studio has ever been publicly auctioned, a general consensus exists among the Eminem community regarding what the album looked like before the leaks occurred. By removing the "goofy" replacement tracks and restoring the leaked "serious" tracks, the album transforms.

Here is the widely accepted reconstruction of the Original Encore:

Side A: The Darkness

Curtains Up (Skit)
Evil Deeds
Never Enough (feat. 50 Cent)
Yellow Brick Road (Explains the racial tapes controversy; a key contextual track)
Like Toy Soldiers (The lead single; remains the emotional core)
Mosh (The political protest anthem)
Puke
My 1st Single (Retained, though controversial among purists)
Paul (Skit)
Rain Man (Often cited as a replacement track, but positioned here in the reconstruction)

Side B: The Redemption 11. Big Weenie (Often removed in fan edits, but included in some original drafts) 12. Em Calls Paul (Skit) 13. Encore / Curtains Down (feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent) 14. Mockingbird (The heartfelt track to his daughter) 15. Crazy in Love 16. One Shot 2 Shot (feat. D12) (Retained from original plan) 17. We As Americans (CRITICAL ADDITION: Originally leaked, intended as a centerpiece track addressing patriotism and assassination threats) 18. Love You More (CRITICAL ADDITION: A dark, intense relationship track that leaked early) 19. Ricky Ticky Toc (CRITICAL ADDITION: A high-energy lyrical exercise) 20. Spend Some Time (feat. Obie Trice, Stat Quo & 50 Cent)

(Note: "Ass Like That" and "Just Lose It" were retained from the final version, though "Just Lose It" was the lead single released just prior to the major leaks. "We As Americans" and "Love You More" eventually saw official release on the album's bonus disc.)