Today, streaming services allow artists to swap out songs, issue "digital deluxes," and even delete tracks post-release. But in 2004, once the plastic was pressed, the art was frozen.

This is the definitive history of the original Encore tracklist, the songs that were lost, and how a massive internet leak altered a hip-hop classic. The Context: Eminem at His Peak (2003–2004)

Thus, the Encore we know today was born—a jarring hybrid of serious, heartfelt rap (like "Mockingbird" and "Like Toy Soldiers") and absurdist, accent-driven comedy (like "Big Weenie," "Rain Man," and "My 1st Single").

The most notable of these was a track titled "Christopher Reeves." This song was initially slated to be a core part of the album before being cut and ultimately reworked after the actor's tragic death in October 2004, just a month before Encore’s release.