D12 - American Psycho - YouTube
Eminem - On Fire lyrics. - YouTube
Eminem - Role Model [HQ & Lyrics] - YouTube
Eminem: Kill You (lyrics) - YouTube
D12 - Shit On You - YouTube
Eminem - Square Dance - YouTube
You've said you were a Pun fan. Myself as well. All opinion, but as much as I loved Pun's music, and as highly as i regard him, when i mention "lyricists", I'm referring to punchlines and ground level wordplay, not saying that's what everyone looks for when they say "lyricist".
I'd put pun on a different plateau because of his style, I'd relate him in the "style" dept. to guys like Tech, Bone thugs, Jay when he raps fast, Twista, ect. In that lane, pun also brings lyrics to the table which makes him shine.
I look at it like stats on Madden. "Lyricists" in my book consist of guys like Sean Price, Eminem, Canibus, Big L, Rass Kass, Chino XL, Cassidy, Bear Witnez, Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss, Redman, Lloyd Banks. Pun was another category in my book, like Jay, B.I.G., Cam'ron, Drake, Wayne, or even 50 Cent.
So while i may give Em a 10/10 in lyrics(when he was nice), he was never able to get that from me for rapping fast(he goes off beat), story telling(never liked his story songs much), beat selection(he's good for picking wack stuff), or coming up with choruses.
So...say Em's a 10 in lyrics and 6 and below in everything else(my opinion), another guy I hold in close second would be Canibus(same stats), Someone like B.I.G. may be an 9.5 in lyrics, and nothing below a 6.5 in any other category mentioned. Who's going to the playoffs?
Still stand by what I said, IN MY OPINION, lyrically, no ones touching Em's overall catalog. That's why I get so annoyed when people set me up to listen to new stuff by saying stuff like "he killed it". He "killed" those verses of "square dance". He "killed" the track "kill you". These days he suckerpunches shyt and runs off. Doesn't effect the fact once upon of time he was one of the few MCs that could put together phrases and punchlines that awed me. Again, JUST MY OPINION.