“Curtain Call: The Hits” represents Eminem’s inaugural greatest hits compilation, marking a significant milestone in the career of the American rapper.
This compilation was officially released on December 6, 2005, under the banners of Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The primary objective of this album is to curate Eminem’s most widely acclaimed singles, along with the incorporation of four freshly crafted tracks.
Among these additions is a live rendition of the renowned track “Stan,” featuring the collaborative talent of English singer-songwriter Elton John, performed during the illustrious 43rd Grammy Awards. In addition, the album encompasses the songs “Fack,” “When I’m Gone,” and “Shake That,” the latter featuring the vocal prowess of Nate Dogg.
This compilation album achieved significant accolades within the realm of music. In the United States, it achieved the esteemed Diamond certification on March 8, 2022. Furthermore, it garnered quintuple platinum status in the vibrant music landscape of New Zealand. Its prowess extended to the pinnacles of numerous music charts, including the prestigious US Billboard 200 and the venerable UK Albums Chart.
Remarkably, on July 11, 2022, Eminem tantalizingly unveiled the prospect of a sequel to this album, aptly titled “Curtain Call 2.” This forthcoming endeavor promises to encapsulate materials from the rapper’s subsequent creative endeavors. The much-anticipated sequel was eventually released on August 5, 2022.
In terms of chart performance, “Curtain Call: The Hits” made a resounding impact. Swiftly ascending to the top echelons of both the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, it mirrored the impressive trajectory of Eminem’s preceding album, “Encore.” The album achieved remarkable first-week sales, amassing nearly 441,000 units, followed by approximately 324,000 units in the subsequent week, culminating in a two-week reign at the summit.
While it experienced a descent to the fourth position in its third week, an impressive resurgence of 33 percent propelled it to a sales figure approximating 430,000 units. Impressively, the album recorded close to 1.2 million units sold within the first three weeks of its release.
This accomplishment added another accolade to Eminem’s repertoire: his fifth consecutive number 1 album in both the United States and the United Kingdom, a streak that included the “8 Mile” soundtrack. Notably, as of November 2013, the album had remarkably sold 3,782,000 copies in the United States, meriting the esteemed Diamond certification from the RIAA.
The album’s commercial success was complemented by the performance of its two singles, “When I’m Gone” and “Shake That.” These singles secured notable positions, peaking at numbers 8 and 6, respectively, on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. While “When I’m Gone” managed to make its mark on the UK charts, achieving the position of #4, “Shake That” primarily garnered attention within the US market.
An intriguing facet of “Curtain Call: The Hits” is its distinction as the longest-running rap LP in the annals of the Billboard 200. This distinction, conferred upon the album in August 2017, underscores its enduring impact and relevance.
For those seeking a more sanitized listening experience, a clean version of the album is also on offer. This iteration consists of 15 tracks, characterized by the omission of both “Intro” and “FACK,” owing to the explicit nature of the latter and the former’s thematic association with the song. Notably, “My Name Is” is positioned as the opening track.
The tracks mirror their counterparts from the clean versions of their respective albums, albeit with the exception of “Guilty Conscience,” which adopts the radio edit.
While certain profanities remain intact on several tracks, words such as “shit,” “bitch,” and “ass” remain uncensored, in alignment with their presentation on “The Slim Shady LP” and “The Marshall Mathers LP.” Interestingly, “Just Lose It” diverges from this pattern by leaving “ass” uncensored. However, the album “Encore” opted to replace “ass” with the word “thing.”
