The original tracklist for Eminem's "Encore" (2004) features the following:
Part of the original leaked sessions; widely believed to be an original inclusion. 🔄 The Replacements
The following table highlights how the final 2004 release differed from the "intended" version due to the leaks: Original Intended Song Final Album Replacement Reason for Change (Moved to Bonus Disc) Leaked early; replaced by new recordings Love You More (Moved to Bonus Disc) Leaked early; replaced by "Crazy In Love" Bully Big Weenie Last-minute replacement after "Bully" leaked Monkey See, Monkey Do Rain Man Last-minute "goofy" replacement Christopher Reeves Ass Like That Scrapped due to Reeve's death Come On In One Shot 2 Shot Swapped with the D12 collaboration
Then everything changed.
The Lost Masterpiece: Unraveling Eminem’s Original Encore Tracklist
If "We As Americans" had taken its rightful place in the main sequence, it would have provided a jarring, serious political tone that the album desperately lacked.
If the original, leaked, and bonus tracks had been combined without the late-2004 filler, Encore might have been viewed as a classic on par with its predecessors. Original/Intended Songs Replaced/Filler Songs We As Americans Just Lose It Love You More Ass Like That Monkey See, Monkey Do Big Weenie Come On In My 1st Single 4. The Legacy of the "Lost" Encore eminem encore original tracklist
The "original" tracklist for 's 2004 album, , is a legendary topic among fans because the album was significantly altered following a massive leak of early material. Eminem has confirmed in various interviews that several "silly" or "filler" songs (like "Big Weenie" and "Rain Man") were recorded in a matter of days to replace the leaked tracks. The Confirmed Leaked Tracks
The story behind the original tracklist for 's 2004 album is one of the most famous "what if" scenarios in hip-hop history. While no official original tracklist was ever released, Eminem has confirmed that a massive leak forced him to overhaul the album's direction, replacing polished masterpieces with hastily recorded, "goofy" songs. The Leak That Changed Everything In late 2003, several high-quality tracks intended for were leaked online, later appearing on a bootleg titled Straight from the Lab
Devastated and furious, Eminem refused to release leaked material as the backbone of his new project. Instead of delaying the album to write intricate new poetry, a frustrated Mathers locked himself in the studio under the heavy influence of prescription drugs. In a rushed, rebellious state of mind, he recorded replacement tracks like "Big Weenie," "My 1st Single," "Rain Man," and "Ass Like That" in just a matter of days. These goofy, cartoonish tracks replaced the emotionally raw, politically charged songs that had leaked. Reconstructing the Original Tracklist The original tracklist for Eminem's "Encore" (2004) features
Had the original version of Encore hit store shelves in late 2004, the narrative surrounding Eminem’s career trajectory would be entirely different.
The leaked songs were eventually packaged by Interscope Records and Shady Records into a bonus disc for the Deluxe Edition of Encore , titled the Straight From the Lab EP. By swapping out the rushed replacement tracks and restoring these leaked gems, we get a clear picture of the original Encore tracklist. The Restored Masterpieces (The Leaked Tracks)