Twenty-one years ago, on November 12, 2004, Eminem released “Encore”. The title, cover, and skits hinted at a curtain call.
The tone mixed jokes with jabs. The lyrics targeted George W. Bush, Michael Jackson, and Christopher Reeve. The feuds with Benzino and Ja Rule also surfaced.
Despite the leaks, the numbers were serious. “Encore” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200. It sold 710,000 copies in two days. Then the following full week added 871,000 more. So, the 10-day total hit 1.58 million. And the RIAA certified it 4× Platinum by mid-December of the same year. By August 2005, global sales reached 11 million.
However, critics were split. Some tracks felt too goofy. Yet “Like Toy Soldiers” and “Mockingbird” drew high praise. Moreover, those songs still rank among Eminem’s best. The singles run was heavy: “Just Lose It”, “Encore”, “Ass Like That”, “Like Toy Soldiers”, and “Mockingbird”.
Meanwhile, Eminem later called Encore one of his weaker sets. He blamed leaks and addiction. He said seven songs leaked before release. So, he had to rush new material and later regretted some of his choices.
Looking Back Without Anger
During a Shade 45 milestone broadcast, Em looked back. “Twenty years of ‘Rain Man’”, he joked. He admitted he dislikes a few songs. But he defended several others. “Yellow Brick Road” and “Like Toy Soldiers” topped his list.
Then he explained the leak damage. “Bully”, “Can I Bitch”, “We As Americans”, and “Love You More” were meant for the album. And he believes those cuts would have tightened the set. “For the most part, I’m still happy with that album”, he said.
Still, he does not hate “Encore”. He hates the period of his life. The drugs. The pressure. The rush. Yet he remains proud of the work he fully stood behind. And fans heard the honesty through the mess.
In truth, “Encore” aged better than many expected. The humour stings less. The therapy songs hit harder. Moreover, the album feels human and unpolished. It is not plastic pop. It is a snapshot of someone struggling and still writing. So listeners keep returning.
Today, “Encore” is Eminem’s sixth most-streamed album on Spotify. It has 4.1 billion streams and counting. And that endurance says a lot.
By the way, we have a special EJ Magazine issue dedicated entirely to the album. It mirrors the original Encore design and uses high-quality 2004 promo photos. So zoom in and enjoy the details you may have missed. And celebrate the chapter fans refuse to skip.
