Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is filled with complex, knee-slapping, controversial and overall breathtaking lyrics. For a lyricist like Em, we'd have to imagine that every rhyme has a purpose and no word or referenced was placed by accident.

Upon repeated spins of the multi-layered rap album, MTV News noticed that Slim Shady shouts out a number of hip-hop luminaries — 43 to be exact. Need help figuring out who's who? Don't sweat it we have you covered, breaking down each shout out in the order they were referenced.

Rick Rubin

The Lyric: "Follow you must, Rick Rubin my little Padawan." — "Rhyme or Reason" Who: Rubin is a pioneering hip-hop producer who went on to master rock, pop and country as well. He started out producing tracks like Run DMC's "Walk This Way" and Beastie Boys' "Paul Revere" and ended up logging in work with Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Adele.

Chief Keef

The Lyric: "I'm angrier than all eight of the reindeer/Put together with Chief Keef, 'cause I hate every f---ing thing, yeah." — "Rhyme or Reason" Who: Keef, who hails from Chicago, is both talented and troubled. He once blasted Katy Perry on Twitter and is most known for his singles "I Don't Like" and "Hate Bein' Sober." You can see why Shady relates.

Dr. Dre

The Lyric: "I wasn't at the studio, bitch/ What'd you do, screw Dre?" — "So Much Better" Who: The guy responsible for Em's career (not to mention those of Snoop and 50 Cent and Game and Kendrick Lamar).

Drake

The Lyric: "You fake, lying slut you never told me you knew Drake." — "So Much Better" Who: Just turn on the radio, he's impossible to miss.

Lupe Fiasco

The Lyric: "And Lupe? You want to lose two legs?" — "So Much Better" Who: Lupe is one of the game's top lyricists and according to the lyrics on "So Much Better," may have slept with Shady's girl. Ouch!

G-Unit

The Lyric: "Like G-Unit without the hyphen, I'm, hyping 'em up." — "Survival" Who: 50 Cent's crew of lyrical assassins. Em knows them well considering his signed Fif in 2002 and collaborated with members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo on repeated occasions.

Onyx

The Lyric: "Instead of tryna escape through my comics/ Why don't I just blast a little something like Onyx." — "Legacy" Who: A hardcore group from Queens, noted for their bald heads, bad attitudes and #1 rap single "Slam" from their 1993 platinum debut Bacdafucup.

Phife Dawg

The Lyric: "I could be iconic in my conquest/ Word to Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest." — "Legacy" Who: One-fourth of influential hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Throughout the 1990's Phife starred alongside Q-Tip on classic Tribe records like "Scenario" and "Electric Relaxation."

Asher Roth

The Lyric: "Quit acting salty I was counting on you to count me out as Asher Roth/ When he round-a-bout dissed me to shout me out." —"A--hole" Who: Asher hit it big in 2009 with his platinum single "I Love College," but has been relatively quiet since. Sounds like Em may have given the Pennsylvania MC new life though.

Insane Clown Posse

The Lyric: "Thinking we have some magnetic pull/ Then scream, 'ICP in this bitch, how do f---ing magnets work? '" — "A--hole" Who: The Detroit rap duo are often berated by Em. They're most known for their face paint, annual Gather of the Juggalos concert and 2009 single "Miracles," where they question the ways of the world and how magnets work.

Kendrick Lamar

The Lyric: "Bout to go ham, ya bish, shout out to Kendrick." — "Berzerk" Who: Like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar released his major-label debut (good kid, m.A.A.d city) under the guidance of Dr. Dre. He also appears on MMLP 2's "Love Game" with Marshall.

MC Ren

The Lyric: "Let's bring it back to that vintage Slim, bitch/The art of MC'ing mixed with da Vinci and MC Ren." — "Berzerk" Who: MC Ren was a member of 1980's gangsta pioneers N.W.A. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E may have got most of the shine, but Ren was regarded as a top lyricist in his own right.

Kid Rock

The Lyric: "So come get on this kid's rock, Bawitdaba, dang-dang." — "Berzerk" Who: Kid Rock is a little bit of rock, a little bit of country and a dash of hip-hop. His 1999 single "Bawitdaba" was his first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but his most successful track is "Picture" with Sheryl Crow.

Future

The Lyric: "I done did enough codeine to knock Future into tomorrow." — "Berzerk" Who: Future is currently rap's go-to hook man and songwriter, collaborating with the likes of Rick Ross, B.o.B, DJ Khaled, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus. His 2011 mixtape, Dirty Sprite is a nod to one of rap's most celebrated drugs and a possible reason for Em's codeine line.

Birdman

The Lyric: "I ain't called anybody baby since Birdman, unless you're a swallow." — "Berzerk" Who: Birdman (a.k.a Baby) is the CEO of Cash Money Records and the man responsible for bringing us acts like Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Rakim

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Rakim is often referred to as the God, a nod to his supreme rap skills and Five-Percenter teachings, which he began infusing in his raps since he and Eric. B's 1986 debut album, Paid in Full.

Lakim Shabazz

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Lakim Shabazz was a founding member of the same Flavor Unit crew that made Queen Latifah famous.

Tupac Shakur

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Tupac left fans with a wealth of passionate and innovative raps that have continued to be released even after his tragic death in 1996.

N.W.A.

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: One of rap's most influential and celebrated groups, which consisted of a changing roster of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella and original member Arabian Prince. N.W.A. is largely credited with bringing gangsta rap to the forefront with powerful tracks like "F--- Tha Police" and "Straight Outta Compton."

Ice Cube

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Cube started as one of the standout members of N.W.A, but left the group to jump start his solo career in 1990 and has since gone on to make a successful transition into Hollywood as an actor, director and film producer.

DJ Yella

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Yella is a founding member of N.W.A. and served as the group's DJ and producer alongside Dr. Dre.

Eazy-E

The Lyric: "Me, I'm a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, Tupac N./ W.A., Cube, Hey Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, they got slim." — "Rap God" Who: Eazy-E is often referred to as the Godfather of Gangsta Rap. Not only was he the frontman in N.W.A., he was co-owner of the Ruthless Records and put out a number of solo albums and discovered Bone Thugs N Harmony before he died of AIDS in 1995.

Run DMC

The Lyric: "They got slim/ Inspired enough to one day grow up, blow up and be in a position/ To meet Run DMC and induct them into the mother---ing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." — "Rap God" Who: Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels and the late Jam Master Jay, helped to take hip-hop to new heights in the 1980's when most thought the genre was just a fad. Tracks like "Sucka MCs," "King of Rock" and "Walk This Way" proved that rap could create larger-than-life superstars and some lasting tunes as well.

Pharoahe Monch

The Lyrics: "I still rap like I'm on my Pharoahe Monch grind." — "Rap God" Who: As one half of the Queens, New York duo Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe captivated audiences with intricate flows and complex rhyme couplets. Monch peaked with his solo 1999 single "Simon Says," but never quite broke through rap's underground. Despite his sales history, he remains largely influential to lyrical titans like Eminem.

Fabolous

The Lyric: "I just bought a new ray gun from the future/ To just come and shoot ya like when Fabolous made Ray J mad." — "Rap God" Who: Brooklyn MC Fabolous got his start rhyming on mixtapes in the late 1990's and grew to a new millennium hit maker with successful singles like "Can't Let You Go" and "Make Me Better." Then of course there was his unforgettable 2011 beef with R&B singer Ray J.

JJ Fad

The Lyric: "Lyrics coming at you at supersonic speed, JJ Fad." — "Rap God" Who: 1980's female rap group JJ Fad weren't the biggest thing to come out of California, but their 1987 single "Supersonic" continues to influence artists decades later. Not only does Em interpolate their flow on "Rap God," Fergie also sampled them on her 2006 single "Fergalicious."

Heavy D and the Boys

The Lyric: "Bumpin' Heavy D and the Boys, still chunky but funky." — "Rap God" Who: The late Heavy D was the lead rapper in the four-man, Mount Vernon, New York group. Not only did Hev churn out dance hits like 1991's "Now That We Found Love," he also helped pave the way for other Mount Vernon notables Diddy and his cousin Pete Rock.

Kool Keith

The Lyric: "Going cuckoo and cooky as Kool Keith." — "The Monster" Who: Before Slim Shady, it was Kool Keith who reigned as rap's multiple-personality king of weird. The Bronx, New York rapper started in the 1980's as a founding member of the Ultramagnetic MC's, but in the '90's found solo success using a number of aliases like Dr. Octagon and Dr. Dooom.

Ludacris

The Lyric: "F--- I gotta do to hear this new song from Luda? Be an expert at computers?" — "So Far..." Who: Ludacris released his debut independent LP Incognegro in 1999, not long after Em dropped his The Slim Shady LP. And like Em Luda has found multiplatinum success by infusing some humor into his lyrics.

Yelawolf

The Lyric: "'What you bumpin'? Trunk Muzik Yelawolf's better,' f---ing bitch." — "So Far..." Who: Don't let the lyrics fool you, Eminem is a fan of Yelawolf, after all he signed the Alabama MC to his Shady Records label and put out his major label debut Radioactive in 2011.

Busta Rhymes

The Lyric: "Think I might be about to Bussa Bus." — "Love Game" Who: Older hip-hop heads may remember Busta Rhymes during his days as a member of Leaders of the New School. These days the Dungeon Dragon is celebrating his 20-plus year career as a soloist on Cash Money Records where he will drop his 10th solo album next year.

Lil Wayne

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Lil Wayne may be a household name now, but the Cash Money superstar started as a little regarded rap teen in the 1990's. Those days are long gone now that he has his own Young Money label, multiplatinum plaques and his own Trukfit clothing line.

Andre 3000

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Andre 3000 started as one-half of Atlanta duo OutKast in 1994, but has now grown into something of a hip-hop enigma only popping up to spit surprise guest verses for other artists.

Kanye West

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Over the past nine years, Kanye West has stood as rap's most creative spirit, pushing the envelope with each platinum release.

Akon

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: It's debatable how "hip-hop" Akon is, but his 2004 hard-as-nails debut single "Locked Up" definitely caught the attention of rap fans. The Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and producer has since moved on to more worldly sounds, but still manages to get a shout out from Em.

Jay Z

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Jay Z started out as a hustle-centric rapper from Brooklyn, but now he owns his own record company and management firm, sports agency, clothing company and string of sports bars. If you haven't heard of Hov, might we suggest you get a clue.

Lil' Jon

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: The Altanta-based rapper and producer is most known for his fun adlibs and his rambunctious 2003 single "Get Low."

Raekwon

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Raekwon the Chef got his start 20 years ago as a member of Wu-Tang Clan and has since gone on to enjoy a notable solo career anchored by his 1995 classic LP Only Built 4 Cuban Linx....

Ma$e

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: After the Notorious B.I.G. was tragically gunned down in 1997, Harlem, New York rapper Ma$e helped to keep Diddy's Bad Boy Records at the top of the game with his debut Harlem World. M-A-Dollar Sign retired from rap to focus on religion and then came back, retired and came back again.

Polow da Don

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: You may not know Polow da Don's name, but you surely know his work. The Atlanta music producer scored a #1 hit with Fergie "London Bridge" and logged in serious work with Chris Brown ("Forever"), Nas ("Hero") and Rich Boy ("Throw Some D's").

Dante Ross

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Dante Ross is one of hip-hop's unsung heroes. The NYC native has served as A&R for groups like De La Soul and Brand Nubian. He also was responsible for signing Ol' Dirty Bastard to his first solo deal and produced for 3rd Bass and Latin rocker Carlos Santana.

Kwame

The Lyric: "Used to be my fiancé/ 'Til you sucked Wayne, Andre and Kanye/ LeBron, Akon, Jay, Lil' Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e/ Polow the Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwame?" — "Love Game" Who: Musically Kwame is most-known for his 1989 single "The Rhythm," but he's also enjoyed success behind the scenes as producer, hooking up with Eminem to make the track for Lloyd Banks' 2004 gold single "On Fire." If that doesn't ring a bell, hip-hop fans may remember him as the butt of the Notorious B.I.G.'s jokes on his 1994 single "Unbelievable."