the "classic" i assume you're talking about MMLP, i challenge that off top. Infinite is average at best, the beats are pretty weak and apart from the title song, it's nothing special.
SSLP is a good album, i bought it when it dropped but again nothing special about it tho Em didn't even really get that big off SSLP,
it' wasn't until 2001 that he really started his rise.
MMLP - great album, some classic songs but when was the last time you really listened to it? replay value for any Em album has always been pretty low for me personally. having said that, it's the closest he has gotten to a classic even thought i think it's far from it.
The Eminem Show - the production really weighs this down IMO i don't get what other people see in songs like Sing For The Moment, Soldier & My Dad's Gone Crazy. the highlights are great, Til I Collapse, Cleanin Out My Closet, White America, etc but the lows are really low, Hailie's Song, Without Me, Ken Kaniff skits

the beats plod along for the most part.
they're a far cry from the 3-4 album runs of rappers like Rakim, Ice Cube, Redman, Spice 1, EPMD, OutKast, Geto Boys, Ghostface Killah, ATCQ, De La, KRS, CMW/MC Eiht, Devin The Dude, Nas, The Roots, Pac, DJ Quik, etc