Month: February 2004

‘Drug Ballad’ is one of several songs from the Marshall Mathers LP Eminem has performed in front of us at his unforgettable show in Paris Bercy 2003. ‘Drug Ballad’ lets you travel into the mind of a drug user. You can feel the sensations he gets through the rythm and the words. It’s like feeling words spinning around you. Words that are artistically expressed by a brilliant poet. The poetic value of ‘Drug Ballad’ has been deeply analyzed on this website. Check it out:
http://literaryhigh.joeuser.com/articleComments.asp?AID=1383
To those who doubt it: yes, Eminem is a poet. And a brilliant one. Eminem manages to make you travel into his world through his imagination. I have read on some forums that Marshall Mathers cannot be considered a poet because he uses vulgar words. Nonsense! Fran’ois Villon, Alain Bosquet and many other have done it before him. His poetry is street poetry. The streets needed a voice and have found it in Marshall Mathers. He describes things in their roughness and uglyness and I like his sense of realism that is also mixed up with imaginary things from the world of Slim Shady.
A young man, Dan , who was probably fed up with sugarcoated expressions has written this unfinished poem in 2000:
http://kelvin7.net/archives/danthill/2000/02/28/irony_in_the_key_of_vulgarity
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Fuck all this shit,
I just want you.
Fuck all these words,
It’s useless protocol,
That accomplishes not,
A single damn thing,
A single coveted smile,
A single stolen kiss,or
A profitable touch, while
Reading these lines.
You can find a lot of poetry in rap music. I’m not saying that Marshall Mathers is the only rapper to have lyrics that sound like poetry. I appreciate Saul Williams who is completely different from Eminem. But Eminem is original in his way of telling stories.
‘Drug Ballad’ is a ballad through Marshall’s mind. He expresses that he didn’t feel well in his skin and that he wanted to escape problems through his drug and alcohol abuse:
That’s the sound of a bottle when it’s hollow
When you swallow it all wollow and drown in your sorrow
And tomorrow you’re probably going to want to do it again
What’s a little spinal fluid between you and a friend? screw it
And what’s a little bit of alcohol poisoning?
And what’s a little fight?
It’s a strong addiction and it can’t be fixed, as the chorus expresses it well:
’cause every time I go to try to leave
Something keeps pullin’ on my sleeve
I don’t wanna, but I gotta stay
These drugs really got ahold of me
’cause every time I try to tell them no
They won’t let me ever let them go
I’m a sucka all I gotta say
These drugs really got ahold of me
Marshall is like a prisoner who cannot walk away. The temptation is big and the sensations are so good. He wants to be high all the time and escape to his problems.
Many poets have been confronted to addiction problems. There is no need to be shocked by it. Baudelaire often talked about drugs and alcohol. Ernest Downson, who is well know for his sympathy for absinthe has written an ode to the green liquid:
Absinthia Taetra
Green changed to white, emerald to opal; nothing was changed.
The man let the water trickle gently into his glass, and as the green clouded, a mist fell from his mind.
Then he drank opaline.
Memories and terrors beset him. The past tore after him like a panther and through the blackness of the present he saw the luminous tiger eyes of the things to be.
But he drank opaline.
And that obscure night of the soul, and the valley of humiliation, through which he stumbled, were forgotten. He saw blue vistas of undiscovered countries, high prospects and a quiet, caressing sea. The past shed its perfume over him, to-day held his hand as if it were a little child, and to-morrow shone like a white star: nothing was changed.
He drank opaline.
The man had known the obscure night of the soul, and lay even now in the valley of humiliation; and the tiger menace of the things to be was red in the skies. But for a little while he had forgotten.
Green changed to white, emerald to opal; nothing was changed.
While Ernest Dowson describes the beauty of the opaline, the Slim Shady LP and the Marshall Mathers LP have been written mostly under the unfluence of drugs like marijuana, ecstasy and mushrooms by Marshall. Both albums are very creative. ‘Drug Ballad’ is a beautiful ode to drugs. Eminem makes you feel what he feels. His transformed perception of reality while he was taking drugs. He travelled to another universe:
Get in your car, start it, and start drivin’
Over the island and cause a 42 car pile-up
[em’s spaceman voice]earth calling, pilot to co-pilot
Look at the life on this planet, sir, no sign of it
All I can see is a bunch of smoke flyin’
And I’m so high that I might die if I go by it
Let me out of this place
I’m outta place
I’m in outer space
I’ve just vanished without a trace
I’m going to a pretty place now where the flowers grow
I’ll be back in an hour or so
Marshall never told you to do the same, though. Eminem has given up drugs since the time he was on probation. He has decided to stay sober for Hailie. Taking drugs or not is your decision. It is up to you to stay drug free. I have never drunk absinthe. But I love Ernest Dowson’s poem. Do you get my point?
Don’t worry: Eminem may heave given up drugs and alcohol, but his imagination and his creative skills you enjoyed in the Eminem Show will also please you in his next. His work has never disappointed me.
You don’t need drugs to travel with Marshall through his mind when he gets high. Just close your eyes and let the words spin around you and guide you through this beautiful song.”Drug Ballad”
[Girl] Yeaaah, hahahaha…whooooo, shit!
[Em] (aight)
[Eminem] Guess what? I ain’t coming in yet…
I’ll come in a minute
[Eminem] Ayo…This is my love song…it goes like this
[Eminem]
Back when Mark Walhberg was Marky Mark
This is how we used to make the party start
We used to mix Hen’ with Bacardi Dark
And when it, kicks in you can hardly talk
And by the, sixth gin you’re gonna probably crawl
And you’ll be, sick then and you’ll probably barf
And my pre-diction is you’re gonna probably fall
Either somewhere in the lobby or the hallway wall
And everything’s spinning
You’re beginin’ to think women
are swimming in pink linen again in the sink
Then in a couple of minutes that bottle of Guiness is finished
You are now allowed to officially slap bitches
You have the right to remain violent and start wilin’
Start a fight with the same guy that was smart eyin’ you
Get in your car, start it, and start drivin’
Over the island and cause a 42 car pile-up
[Em’s spaceman voice]Earth calling, pilot to co-pilot
Looking at the life on this planet, sir, no sign of it
All I can see is a bunch of smoke flyin’
And I’m so high that I might die if I go by it
Let me out of this place
I’m outta place
I’m in outer space
I’ve just vanished without a trace
I’m going to a pretty place now where the flowers grow
I’ll be back in an hour or so
[Chorus]
[Eminem]
‘Cause every time I go to try to leave
Something keeps pullin’ on my sleeve
I don’t wanna, but I gotta stay
These drugs really got ahold of me
‘Cause every time I try to tell them “no”
They won’t let me ever let them go
I’m a sucka all I gotta say
These drugs really got ahold of me
[Eminem]
In third grade, all I used to do
Was sniff glue through a tube and play rubix cube
17 years later I’m as Rude as Jude
Scheming on the first chick with the hugest boobs
I’ve got no game
And every face looks the same
They’ve got no name
So I don’t need game to play
I just say whatever I want to whoever I want
Whenever I want, wherever I want, however I want
However, I do show some respect to few
As ecstacy got me standing next to you
Getting sentimental as fuck spillin’ guts to you
We just met
But I think I’m in love with you
But you’re on it too
So you tell me you love me too
Wake up in the morning like “yo, what the fuck we do?”
I gotta go bitch
You know I have stuff to do
‘Cause if I get caught cheatin’ then I’m stuck with you
But in the long run
These drugs are probably going to catch up sooner or later
But fuck it, I’m on one
So let’s enjoy
Let the X destroy your spinal cord
So it’s not a straight line no more
‘Til we walk around looking like some wind-up dolls
Shit’s sticking out of our backs like a dinosaur
Shit, six hits won’t even get me high no more
So bye for now
I’m going to try to find some more
[Chorus]
[Eminem]
That’s the sound of a bottle when it’s hollow
When you swallow it all wollow and drown in your sorrow
And tomorrow you’re probably going to want to do it again
What’s a little spinal fluid between you and a friend? Screw it
And what’s a little bit of alcohol poisoning?
And what’s a little fight?
Tomorrow you’ll be boys again
It’s your life
Live it however you wanna
Marijuana is everywhere
Where was you brought up?
It don’t matter as long as you get where you’re going
‘Cause none of the shit is going to mean shit where we’re going
They tell you to stop, but you just sit there ignoring
Even though you wake up feeling like shit every morning
But you’re young
You’ve got a lot of drugs to do
Girls to screw
Parties to crash
Sucks to be you
If I could take it all back now, I wouldn’t
I would have did more shit that people said that I shouldn’t
But I’m all grown up now and upgraded and graduated
Did better drugs and updated
But I’ve still got a lot of growing up to do
I’ve still got a whole lot of throwing up to spew
But when it’s all said and done I’ll be 40
Before I know it with a 40 on the porch telling stories
With a bottle of Jack
Two grandkids in my lap
Babysitting for Hailie while Hailie’s out getting smashed
[Chorus 2x]
[Same as previous, but 2nd time the last line is repeated like this]
Drugs really got ahold of me
They really got ahold of me
‘Cause drugs really got ahold of me
They really got ahold of me

Ice Cube has put a chill on Dr. Dre’s supposed final album.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459168/20021216/story.jhtml
Dre has pushed back the release of his highly anticipated Detox from next summer to the end of 2003 in order to produce his former N.W.A partner’s next release.
Cube and the good doctor entered the studio two weeks ago and have already laid down a couple of beats.
“I haven’t heard him on the mic just yet,” Dre said. “He’s got a couple of tracks that I think are banging, so I’m just waiting to see what he is going to come with.”
Cube’s as-yet-untitled album is due next summer and will be released on Dre’s Aftermath label (see “Dr. Dre To Produce Next Ice Cube Record”).
Meanwhile, Dre has been working with newcomer 50 Cent, who also signed to Aftermath, in a joint deal with Eminem’s Shady Records (see “50 Cent Worth A Million To Dr. Dre And Eminem”).
“Me and 50 got in the studio for the first time and we worked together for like five days and we did seven joints,” Dre said on the set of 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” video. “Six of them went on the album and one of them is out right now on a mixtape.”
Like Eminem (see “Eminem Aims For Dre-Like Perfection On 50 Cent, Obie Trice, D12 LPs”), Dre has more than a few kind words to say about the Queens, New York, rapper.
“50’s album, in my opinion, is going to compete with all the classic hip-hop records that have come out over the last 10 years,” he said. “Illmatic, The Chronic, Marshall Mathers LP, it’s right up there. And that’s no bullsh–.”
Dre has also been recording Rakim, whose Aftermath debut is due next year, and logging ideas for Detox, which he has said will be a concept album of sorts (see “Dr. Dre’s Final Album Will Be Hip-Hop Musical”). “I’m gonna try to make this one the one they remember me for,” he said Wednesday.
Once his album is finished, Dre plans on hanging up his solo-artist hat and focusing on his career as a producer, most likely working alongside his prot’g’ Eminem.
“[We’re] studio rats, we love being in the studio, making hot music,” Dre said. “We are definitely going to put our all in everything that we work on because we are our worst critics and we have to feel like we made a record that we have to buy. You know what I’m saying? And I don’t buy a lot of records.”
‘Corey Moss, with additional reporting by Heather Parry

‘ What are friends?
Friends are people that you think are your friends
But they really your enemies, with secret indentities
and disguises, to hide they true colors
So just when you think you close enough to be brothers
they wanna come back and cut your throat when you ain’t lookin’ ‘(Eminem,’If I had’)
Loyalty. A precious word. A word that is very meaningful for Eminem and that matters to me too.
He used to be his friend. He betrayed him to get his own fame. Byron Williams was Eminem’s bodyguard. He’s been closer to Eminem than most of the people who have crossed his road. He was supposed to protect his privacy. He has betrayed him.
No wonder Eminem doesn’t trust people easily. It hurts when people who are supposed to be your friends suddenly turn against you:
‘I thought he was my friend. I came to find out that he was keeping a fucking journal! That was his plan ever since he met me. I was his shot at fame. After that happened, I didn’t trust anybody.’
I have experienced treasons from people I would never have expected to be traitors to me. But it just happened and all I can tell is that it is difficult to forget and to forgive.
Marc Hicks, a friend of Byron Williams, also knew Paul Rosenberg. When Paul asked if he knew someone who could take care of Eminem’s security, Marc Hicks recommended him.
Byron Williams exposes a lot of intimate details about Eminem during his tour. Some of them are exposed here:
http://www.abstracts.net/eminem/eminem-byron.html
It is particularly that kind of exposure I despise, he acts like the director of a cheap scandal magazine. It’s a matter of fact Eminem has used a lot ecstasy, mushrooms and weed during his former tours. So what? It is not a hidden fact, Eminem talks about in his former albums. We also know that he used to drink a lot of alcohol. Byron Williams isn’t teaching anything new to Eminem’s fans.
Since his probation time, Marshall realized that he needed to slow down. He also realized that his behavior was unhealthy at the same time.
Byron exposed Eminem’s affairs with some groupies which gives a rather bad impression of the author of ‘Shady’s Bizzness’. Whatever may have happened between Eminem and some “groupies” during his tour, it is really Shady’s business and none of ours.
Still according to Byron Williams, Paul Rosenberg is arrogant and manipulating Eminem as his puppet. He describes Eminem’s world as a dangerous world of gangsters.
According to Eminem’s friends Proof and Dee Tee, facts have ben exaggerated by Byron williams for a large part:
http://www.sohh.com/thewire/read.php?contentID=1595
Proof:
His stories are filled with very exaggerated details. I’ve known Em for twelve years, he doesn’t wake up and eat Ecstasy with his eggs-that just makes a good, interesting story, but it’s not true. Big only knew us for ten months and now he’s just out to hurt Em and make money. He wanted to be a rapper and he’s upset. Big doesn’t mention any of the stuff he did out on the road-like videotaping girls…He wasn’t a mentor to Em; they weren’t boys. Em doesn’t feel betrayed ’cause that sh!t is not true. Big’s just a down man trying to make some money. He used to ask for raises every month and Em gave him anything he wanted and then Big quit on him.
Dee Tee:
At the core, Nasty’s a good-hearted guy, but now he’s just out to pay some bills. He was always about money. The first time I met him, he was asking for more money from Paul. That story about Em testing him by jumping into crowds is bullsh!t. Nasty wasn’t Em’s big brother figure. Nasty was like a “glorified groupie” who wasn’t even good at being a bodyguard. Now he’s just sh!tting on people and betraying Em.
About groupies:
Proof:
That “underage” girl in Sweden was missing and we got checked for her, but she wasn’t with us. Kessia was a friend. We’ve met a lot of people on tour; they follow us to different shows and we get to know them, but they’re just cool with us.
Dee Tee:
Em did not sleep around like that. He would pass out after shows, or have a pizza, he wasn’t interested in all that other sh!t. Girls were in every city and he can get women. That story about me and Em in Pittsburgh–Nasty has no idea what went on. There were girls there, but it wasn’t an orgy. And I stayed behind, Em left.
I have found out details about his book by reading some exerpts, but I would never spend my money on it. Because buying this book is trashing Eminem for me.
He justifies writing his book this way:
‘To teach Em a lesson about taking advantage of people. I thought of Slim as my little brother. He has to learn how to respect people and show loyalty.’
Byron Williams talking about loyalty after betraying Eminem sounds like a big joke to me. The question is not to know if the facts Byron Williams is talking about are true or not, but rather if it is useful to expose them to the public. Money is a recurrent topic in his book. Money must also have been his main motivation along

Have you ever read the third verse of ‘ Don’t Approach Me ‘, a track that Xzibit did in collaboration with Eminem ? If you have, you have probably noticed Eminem’s embarassement to deal with typical problems due to his fame :
[Eminem]
So do I gotta buy a whole block to myself
a front door with twelve locks
and have a bodyguard walk me out to my mailbox
and everytime somebody makes a threat, run and tell cops?
Fuck that, I protect myself with these twelve shots
and one in the chamber, gun in the waist
and one in the ankle, waitin for someone to come to my place
tryin to walk up and knock like these cocksuckers are not
gonna get a shotgun or a glock shoved in their face?
And it’s a disgrace Haillie can’t play with her toys
in the front yard without you drivin by honkin your horn
screamin some shit, leanin out your windows, beepin n shit
Or pullin up in my drive like I won’t leap in your whip
And so these kids tell their friends and relatives where I live
so my address ends up on the internet again
So then, I do an interview with Spin, tellin them
that if someone comes to my crib, I’ma shove a gun in their ribs
And reporters, blow it out of proportion
“Oh, now he’s pullin guns on his fans
just for tryin to stand on his porch”
And I’m the bad guy, cause I don’t answer my door like “Hey hi!
You guys wants some autographs? Okay, form a straight line!”
Sometimes I feel like loadin this rifle
and climbin the roof at night and hidin outside to snipe you
It’s not that I don’t like you..
.. it’s just that I’m not behind the mic
I’m a person who’s just like you
Those verses made me think a lot about how much fans could disturb Marshall and Hailie’s lives in a bad way.
Fame has brought Eminem a lot of recognition, admiration and respect in the whole wide world. A lot of people love and appreciate the talented MC. But the same people who bring a lot of positive things in Marshall’s life may also become his worst nightmare when they lack respect towards him in real life.
We his huge fans in particular, have to respect Marshall’s privacy. Have you ever pictured yourself in Marshall’s shoes ? How would you react if you only had a few moments to spend with your daughter and then some crazy fans came to ask you for autographs and invaded your privacy without even asking if it is ok for you ? Wouldn’t you feel angry ? I guess the answer is yes.
Eminem: And what people don’t realize is that you’re a regular person. When I go out on that stage– if I’m on stage and my voice cracks or I’m losing my voice because I’ve been on tour for so long — If I slip and fall down and trip over a cord, whatever happens. People don’t realize that you’re a regular person. You out here making your living. You trying to entertain this crowd and whatever happens, happens. And you’re just a human being. And when you don’t want to sign nine million autographs when you’re standing outside of your bus, and you sign a few of them, and then them other people that didn’t get their autographs are like “Fuck you, asshole!” People don’t realize you’re a regular person, you a human being. And that’s one of the hardest things that people have trouble coming to grips with.
Think twice before acting stupid. Do you realize that Marshall cannot go out of his house without being disguised and being followed by more than a hundred persons ? Have you ever realized how much he may suffer from this situation ? You may say : he wanted to be famous. Yes, it is true. He wanted to be famous. But he didn’t expect so much fame when he started his career. Remember : Eminem wasn’t born in Hollywood. He is not some rich actor or entertainer’s son. He has known poverty, he has struggled to succeed. He wasn’t prepared to the pressures of fame when he came to the top.
He may be a superstar, his music may be divine, but Marshall is only human. A regular human being. Try to look at him as a regular person who has good days and bad days, like anybody of us. Don’t put more pressure on his shoulders, respect him. Don’t invade his privacy when you perfectly know he wants to share a few moments with Hailie. Those moments only belong to him and his daughter. Don’t make his life a living nightmare, life has been hard enough to him.
If you read Paul Rosenberg’s interview about Eminem, you will realize, how much difficult it sometimes is for Marshall to cope with his fame.
Being asked about Marshall’s state of mind, Paul replied :
‘ I’d say that he’s unhappier than the average person- a lot of things haven’t worked out for him. He’s trapped as an entertainer-can’t act like a normal guy, can’t walk around, can’t react to situations like other people can, can’t confront things. ‘
Paul also insisted on Eminem’s wish for anonymity.
–If Em had one wish, what do you think it’d be ?
-Anonymity. I know it’s totally contradictory, because he’s a famous rapper, but I really think that’s what he’d want.
And when is Marshall the happiest ? You guessed it : when he’s with Hailie.
-‘ When he’s at home with his daughter’when he’s hanging with his boys he’s just relaxed and regular, ‘ said Paul.
So have the decency not to ask him for an autograph when he shares some moments with his daughter. Let him , for a few minutes, live a normal life.
Sometimes fans really go too far in their craziness :
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/110902_nw_eminem.html
Some other fans have climbed over his fence at his former home in Sterling Heights and even dared using his swimming pool.
Eminem loves his fans and he also has a true and loyal fanbase. But he wants to be treated respectfully.
I’m addressing to my fellow fans who may cross Marshall’s road by coincidence : think twice before acting weird. Greet him politely and ask him if it is convenient to him to talk to you now. If he says no, you have to respect his decision. Don’t be selfish and respect the man’s privacy. Don’t become the next stalker.

Many people are shocked by Eminem’s subject matter and don’t understand why the talented M.C chooses to talk so much about his life and to share so many things about his past with his audience. Rapper Tricky, whose childhood has also been a living nightmare said about Eminem :
‘ Eminem should shut up about his fucking mum and dad. His mum was an alcoholic and his dad wasn’t around and he slept on his friend’s couch ’cause he was broke, right? My mum committed suicide when I was three; I found my dad in a phone book when I was 12, and I didn’t sleep on my friends’ couches ‘ I slept in prison cells. You don’t hear me on records every minute saying ‘Oh, my mum, my dad! Oh, I’ve been in prison!’ I’m here to touch people’s souls. For me, talk about prison and fucking guns don’t make any sense. The reason I’m a musician is so that I could get away from that’ ‘
You can find his statements here :
http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1687
Tricky’s biography is related on this website :
http://www.moon-palace.de/tricky/bio1.html
Maybe Tricky doesn’t realize that it would have been better for Eminem to grow up as an orphan than with a mentally sick and unstable mom. Maybe he doesn’t realize how much Eminem’s wounds are deep and how much he needs to talk about with an audience that is ready to listen to him and to fully understand his pain. Nothing allows him to judge Eminem’s motivations in doing his music.
Does Tricky know how much difficult it is for a little kid to constantly switch school, to see boyfriends come and go all the time, to be constantly humiliated and forced to take medication he didn’t need at all ? Eminem had no peace inside of his home nor outside. Abused at home and bullied at school. He nearly lost his life several times.
People have no right to judge Marshall Mathers. Marshall Mathers is lucky to have survived to all this. Some people are unable to overcome the problems they had to face during their childhood and become self destructive or land in psychiatic institutions. Worst, some of them commit suicide.
Marshall had opportunity and the courage to expose his life in its uglyness.
Who would have thought that Marshall’s story that happened in Michigan would deeply move and help one of his listeners (me) in France ?And I am not the only one to say so.
Eminem touches people’s lives all around the world. So many of my fellow fans have been transformed by his music.
What do you think, Tricky ? Eminem is also here to touch people’s souls. And his music has done miracles in my life.
People who superficially know Eminem always think that he is only a self-centred person who constantly bags on his mom and his ex-wife.
I’m currently in touch with young people who get abused by their moms and who find their force and solace in his music.
Some other people who experience bad marriages can relate to songs like ‘ Kim ‘. Not that they tike the song literally, but they fully understand and can relate to the feelings of frustration and rage that are expressed in his song.
Don’t be so fast in trying to shut down or censoring any artist. You may not like him, you may not find his or her songs meaningful. Never forget that what doesn’t mean anything or make any sense to you may rescue some other people.

Eminem: If I’m a jump off a bridge, I’m a jump off a bridge because I want to jump a bridge, not because somebody told me to.
Proof: Not because Ice-T say he jump off the bridge. We jump off the bridge cause we gonna jump off the bridge anyway.
Eminem: You want to jump off the bridge with us? Let’s all three of us go right now and we’ll go jump off a bridge.
Proof: Come on man, everybody is doing it.
Eminem: Everybody is doing it now.
Proof: Everybody is jumping off the bridge, dude. Dude, everyone is jumping off the bridge.
Eminem: Would you come jump off the bridge with us?
iCAST: If I jump off the bridge, I can’t listen to your CD anymore.
Eminem: You can listen to my CD on the way down.
iCAST: Alright. I’ll do it. I’m in.
Those statements from a former interview Eminem and his friend Proof had given to iCast are (you guessed it right) total sarcasm.
But it refers to a serious subject : how far are people ready to go in misinterpreting an artist’s word ?
Years ago, a 17 years old teenager commits suicide. His name is David Hurcombe. Matter of fact : he was depressed. Fed up with life. He used to like Eminem. ‘ Rock Bottom ‘ lyrics were found on the note found in his bedroom along with those words :
‘ Anyway got to go, miss my train, see ya’ll in hell. ‘
This sad story is related on several websites :
http://www.advocate.com/html/news/012501/012501ent03.asp
http://www.peace.ca/eminemfansuicide.htm
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_183742.html
Who is to blame for David’s death ? His parents ? His teachers ? Society ? Eminem ? David himself ?
It is so easy to blame Eminem at first sight. But it is totally unfair.
I feel compassion for the parents who had to face with the painful loss of their kids, but I am addressing to them not to hate on Eminem for their own kids’ action. Would the same parents also blame Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera if their lyrics were found on their kids who tragically end up with their lives ?
When Eminem wrote ‘ Rock Bottom ‘, he was depressed. He wanted to commit suicide. It was just the way he felt at the precise moment he dropped his lines.
But Marshall never told you to commit suicide. His personal feelings and immense pain are expressed in his song.
David’s mom was wrong when she said about Eminem’s song :
“They are not the sort of words that really mean very much. But they are generally a bit miserable.”
On the contrary, ‘ Rock Bottom ‘ is a meaningful song.
‘ Rock Bottom ‘ has been very influential to me. This song made me cry when I first listened to it. I was deeply moved, because I have been through similar situations. ‘ Rock Bottom ‘ is a reflection about life and certainly an invitation to stay humble, but I never interpreted it as an invitation to suicide.
‘ Rock Bottom ‘ is not a sarcastic song. It is only sarcastic towards (rich and happy) people who are too comfortable and probably too arrogant in their lives to feel other people’s pain.
In his song ‘ Who Knew ‘, Eminem raise an interesting debate , which brings parents back to their responsibilities.
‘ But don’t blame me when lil’ Eric jumps off of the terrace
You shoulda been watchin him – apparently you ain’t parents’ ‘
What is Eminem trying to say ? That parents should take care of their own kids, for sure. Because it’s their responsibility.
Maybe also that suicide rates would certainly decrease if parents were more conprehensive and closer to their kids. Most of the time, teenagers who commit suicide feel lost and surrounded by problems. But they don’t trust anybody to share them. They think that suicide is the only way to get rid of their problems.
Eminem and Proof said it in their iCast interview :
Eminem: If I’m a jump off a bridge, I’m a jump off a bridge because I want to jump a bridge, not because somebody told me to.
Proof: Not because Ice-T say he jump off the bridge. We jump off the bridge cause we gonna jump off the bridge anyway.
Nobody told David Hurcombe nor Kaleigh Davis to commit suicide. It was their decision.
It is so easy, but also so stupid to accuse any entertainer for their death. How many people have watched ‘ Stan ‘ in this world and are still alive ?
Suicide cases are tragical cases, but they are single cases. Not every Eminem listener is disturbed or suicidal.
You cannot take Eminem seriously when he says in ‘ Role Model ‘ :
‘ Follow me and do exactly what the song says:
smoke weed, take pills, drop outta school, kill people and drink’ ‘
It’s up to the listener to be intelligent enough not to take Eminem literally.
Eminem is not parents’ worst nightmare, even if the press sometimes wants to make us believe it. If some parents took enough time to focus a real interest on the music their kids like, they could avoid a lot of problems. They could even help their kids to analyze Eminem’s lyrics and help them to distinguish right from wrong. Teenagers need to be understood and respected in their choices. A lack of dialogue often leads to the worst issues. Don’t find an easy culprit in Eminem when the problem lies elsewhere.

By Maureen Coleman
mcoleman@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
24 February 2004
Barbara Dickson: A fan on rap star EminemBELFAST-bound singer Barbara Dickson today revealed an unexpected choice of musical hero – controversial rapper Eminem.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=494597
The Scottish-born star, who plays the Waterfront Hall tonight, hailed the US rap artist a “genius” and “a modern-day Bob Dylan”.
Barbara was speaking before her Belfast show, which is part of the UK tour to promote her latest album, entitled The Platinum Collection.
The singer, best known for her number one single with Elaine Paige I Know Him So Well, also said she would love to see Eminem in concert.
“I don’t really think much of a lot of the music around today, particularly those reality TV stars, who really just produce disposable music,” she said.
“I quite like Daniel Bedingfield, but my favourite contemporary artist is undoubtedly Eminem.
“I think the man is a total genius. He’s funny and clever and fabulous and writes great lyrics.
“I’d love to see him in concert. I really think he’s the new Bob Dylan, an extremely talented man.”
Concert-goers at Barbara’s show tonight won’t be treated to any Eminem covers, despite her admiration for the star.
But she will be singing many of the songs which made her one of the biggest selling female artists of the ’70s and ’80s.
And she’s looking forward to getting back to Belfast, which she says is one of her favourite venues.
“During the Troubles when many acts wouldn’t come to Northern Ireland I was very keen to get over and play,” she said.
“I really felt it was important to bring as much normality to the place as possible and the great thing was that people seemed to appreciate the music all the more.
“The reception I always get in Belfast is fantastic. I have a real affinity with the place.
“In fact, I used to share a flat with a Belfast girl in Edinburgh and she introduced me to traditional Irish music.
“I’ve great memories of playing in Belfast and Derry and heading off to Donegal.
“I love Dublin too but I always think Belfast has a real edge about it, which you can’t find anywhere else throughout Ireland.”

Rapper’s publisher sues Apple, MTV over commercial
By David Shepardson / The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0402/24/d01-72651.htm
Metro Detroit’s hometown rapper Eminem claims Apple Computer Inc. wrongly used one of his songs in a TV ad touting Apple’s iTunes internet store.
As a result, the publisher of Eminem’s music is suing MTV, Apple Computer, Viacom and the advertising agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day in U.S. District Court in Detroit, claiming copyright infringement.
The advertisement featured a 10-year-old singing Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself.’ The suit claims the commercial aired many times on MTV beginning in July 2003 and ran for at least three months. It also appeared on Apple’s Web site.
‘Eminem has never nationally endorsed any commercial products and … even if he were interested in endorsing a product, any endorsement deal would require a significant amount of money, possibly in excess of $10 million,’ said the 15-page lawsuit filed Friday.
The suit claims that Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs personally called Joel Martin, the manager of Ferndale-based Eight Mile Style music publishing firm, asking Martin and Eminem to ‘rethink their position’ about using the song.
In response, the suit said Eminem ended discussions with Apple. The suit includes a May 7 e-mail to Martin from a Chiat/Day executive, Andrew Schafter, that read: ‘So to confirm, you guys are a definite ‘no’ for the campaign as it is (The young boy rapping ‘Lose Yourself.’) ‘
The song, written by Eminem and two others in October 2002, wasn’t copyrighted until Oct. 27, 2003, according to a registration certificate filed with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Spokeswomen for Viacom ‘ MTV’s parent ‘ and Apple Computer didn’t return calls from The Detroit News. A spokesman for Chiat/Day in Los Angeles declined to comment.
Eminem, 31, who was born Marshall Mathers, attended Lincoln High School in Warren and has sold more than 33 million records, according to industry estimates.
You can reach David Shepardson at (313) 222-2028 or dshepardson@detnews.com.

‘ Shit On You ‘ has probably angered a lot of people, but I guess the most offended were certainly feminist groups.
Eminem has been protested and demonstrated against by some intolerant groups, because of the misinterpretation of his lyrics :
http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/01_2001/013101.asp
This is a typical statement that comes from a feministic website :
‘ Occasionally, the level of hatred aimed at women will rise to a degree that earns attention’for better or worse. Critics have debated the misogyny of Eminem’s lyrics, yet his songs about rape and violence continue to sell millions of records. ‘
http://www.now.org/issues/violence/072403violence.html
The song is misogynistic on purpose :
‘ And all women ain’t SHIT
Only good for cooking cleaning and sucking dick- And that’s it (I said it)’ ‘
What Bizarre expresses in those few lines is nearly equivalent to what Marshall says in his song ‘ Business ‘ :
‘ ‘there’s no such thing, like a female with good looks, who cooks
and cleans’ ‘
The question is : I am a woman. Should I feel offended by those lyrics ? Should I feel demeaned or insulted by Eminem and his fellows ?
My answer is clearly no.
Why ?
First, because I got a sense of humor.
Second, because I know that those lines are ‘ nuttin’ but music ‘, those are words on the mic and they don’t necessarly reflect the entertainers’ point of view in real life.
Third, if you take a look at ‘ Shit On You ‘, you will clearly understand that Bizarre and Eminem are pissing off a specific category of women on purpose. Feminists from activists groups are targetted in particular :
‘ A lot of people say misogynistic which is true
I don’t deny it- matter of fact I stand by it
So please stand by at the start of a damn riot
If you don’t wanna get stampeded then stand quiet (that’s)
Boy girl dog woman man child’ ‘
It’s sad, but there will always be narrow minded people, even at University :
http://www.dailyillini.com/nov00/nov03/news/news02.shtml
Accusing Eminem an his fellows from D12 to be misogynistic men is far too simplistic. It is so easy to misunderstand them at first sight. But open your eyes : the D12 group didn’t invent misogyny nor is the group responsible for any kind of demeaning behavior against women. What is expressed in Eminem and his fellows’ lines is a parody of some typical masculine behavior towards women. While watching the video of ‘ Shit On You ‘, Bizarre is so funny while saying those lines, that you immediatly understand that his statement must be taken at a second degree.
Eminem knows that he will shock people, but he doesn’t write his rhymes with the only purpose to shock people :
“I do say things, that i think will shock people, but i dont do things, that will shock people.’
‘Shit On You’ expresses a disgust of society and its hypocrisy. It points out its failures. The D12 ‘don’t give a fuck’ if you like their words, if you find them correct or not. They really don’t care about who you are.
That also means they won’t make any compromise just to please you. So let them say what they have to say.
Swifty starts with a well written parody of violence, a ‘lyrical piranha’ that will hit you and eat you, followed by Bizarre who makes fun of Islamic integrism, cumulates violence and mysogyny and sarcastically concludes with ‘Truly yours- The Idiotic Bizarre’. A conclusion that is made on purpose to piss you off.
The whole ‘Shit On You’ video intelligently combines different elements that usually wouldn’t match: threatening thugs in the Detroit landscape and a lot of comical effects that are reinforced by Eminem’s different disguises.
Honestly, there is no need to get offended. The D12 crew points out some misogyny and people’s arrogance than is (so often) induced by the same conservative and activist groups who are so shocked by the content of D12’s lyrics.
The D12 crew also gives you a little taste of violence. A street violence they haven’t invented, but that they parody so well.
Well, if the D12 have offended you, there is nothing they can do for you anyway:
‘If you people get offended I don’t care (stop cryin)
Tryin to get us to leave cuz what we say just aint clean (uh, uh)…’ (‘Ain’t Nuttin’ But Music’)
It’s high time you realized it ain’t ‘nutting but music’.

Invasion part III: final battle, countdown to Armaggedon. The final chapter of a spiritual battle has begun. Dj Green Latern and Eminem are ready to shoot.
Eminem fires back at the Source who didn’t stop targetting the best rapper as a racist. In this track, you can feel Eminem’s anger against the Source’s owner who didn’t stop running their mouth against him.
The white owned magazine has clearly shown its lack of honesty. Anybody who knows Eminem well also knows that the statements made on his former tape ( a tape that was made out of anger in a particular context ) don’t reflect Marshall’s mentallity.
Benzino’s hypocrisy is reflected through his statements, though:
‘Black women are bad, white women are good’, I don’t care if he’s redeemed himself now, that’s not the message.If that’s who he is, then he has to be held accountable for that.”
If we consider the fact that Eminem’s former freestyle was meant to suck -by definition- as a ‘suckering rhyme’, we will take into account following elements:
-Eminem never released this freestyle, there is no written text for it. It was never meant to be professional work, it was just a way to get rid of the rejection white MCs experienced from the black side.
-Eminem was angry with his former black girlfriend and expressed it on a tape. He made the mistake to talk about black women in general.
-it is known that Eminem has dated black women and even at a time racial tension was a high in Detroit.
Jennifer from Madison has left an insightful comment on a MTV website:
‘To penalize him for something he said a long time ago is just stupid. Who hasn’t done something in their past that they regret? The Source is acting like he was a member of the KKK or something. He just broke up with a girl and insulted her. If he were a racist, would he have dated an African-American woman in the first place? How many racist comments have Benzino and Dave Mays made in their lives? Because they weren’t on tape, does that make them less accountable? ‘
Jennifer, 29
Madison, WI
So have Angela and Ebony:
“Where does Benzino come off saying that we should treat this Eminem incident the way we treated Tyson, Bryant, Kelly and Simpson’s incidents? A rape conviction, a rape allegation, pending charges of sex with a minor and murder accusations are completely different than a racial comment.
As an African-American woman, I am not offended by what Eminem said on that tape. He was young and dumb and had just broken up with his girlfriend. Many black artists use racial slurs about white women and white people in general. And that is now, not ten years ago. I don’t remember Benzino getting upset over that. Where’s his double standard now? I am glad Eminem was man enough to own up to the tapes and to put them in perspective. ”
Ebony, 22
Newark, NJ
“I am a black woman married to a black man and this story on Eminem has not hindered my plan to continue to enjoy his music and buy his albums. Perhaps The Source should focus on black hip-hop artists who continue to degrade sistas daily. Benzino, are you saying it is OK to call a woman a bitch, a ho or a money-hungry chickenhead, but only if you are a black artist? My bad! ”
Angela, 36
Romeoville, IL
Moreover what do you call a half black man who encouraged the white MC he had signed on his label to use the ‘N’ word and then who calls Eminem a racist for a tape that has never been released and that is taken out of context? An hypocrite.
And how should we describe a white man who admits that ‘hip hop made him respect Black people?’ A racist.
How should we call a journalist who is ready to misrepresent the truth for her magazine’s highest interest? A traitor.
Who are the persons who want to judge Eminem? An hypocrite, a racist and a traitor. Persons who would walk on the dead for their own interest and in order to increase their sales.
Benzino and Dave Mays and their dishonest employee Kim Osorio who gets intentionally called a ho’ by Eminem are trying to work against Eminem’s career. They talk big like Eminem states it in his song, they are ready to do anything to trash him which makes them look even more ridiculous:
“I got a riddle, what’s little and talks big with midget arms
and has creamy white filling in the middle
that’ll do any thing to throw dirt on my name
if it means walking the whole Mediterranean.
Is it an albanian? Armenian? Iranian? Tasmanian? No. “
But Eminem is well weaponed against them. His weapons are his honesty. Eminem doesn’t need to fake his feelings. He has nothing to hide. He has made a mistake. He feels sorry and he apologized for. He wants to go forward.
Eminem has done more for hip hop and interracial relations with his music than Benzino and Dave Mays will ever do. His love for the culture he was brought up in can hardly be denied. That’s why the talented MC is so angry with them and expresses it in the following lines:
“I told ya I love this culture.
Don’t let them insult ya.
I’m a tell you one again
this is the environment I was brought up in…”
Eminem knows what growing up in the neighborhood means. Dave Mays is a graduate talking about hip hop. It isn’t really hard to guess who’s the most credible about hip hop culture.
Benzino’s jealousy and attitude are the successful description of a loser in Eminem’s song:
‘…. Which is why I understand
you can’t be mad at a 44 year old man with a chimp on his shoulder
Who only owns half a magazine
and the only way to have it seen
it to put me on the front of it again.
Only thing that makes him grin
is to see me frowning.
Papa can’t stand me. Papa needs to take his medication
and then sit the fuck down.
in his new chair that goes round and round
that he bought with the money in his bank account.
That I get him every issue when the thing comes out.
Sit back and let his puffy clown hair come out.
And let his black side arm wrestle his white side.
Yellow part tied, loud enough that he might so he might side.
He might find, some one dumb enough to ride.’
Even if Eminem sounds really pissed off on his recent song, he manages to beat his haters from The Source with intelligence and a lot of humor.
His use of ‘asses’ instead of ‘butts’ creates a comical effect that goes along with his anger.
‘Keep licking these nuts. You industry mutts
keep walking around sniffing each other’s butts.
Or should I say asses?
What would be more politically correct term to use for the masses?’
Give it up, Dave Mays and fellows. You have already been knocked out by Eminem. Instead of spending your whole energy and money on hating him, it would certainly be high time for you to get a life and work on constructive projects that would help hip hop to go forward.Lyrics:
Artist: Eminem
Song: Invasion Part 3
[Eminem]
Yeah! Oh shit!
[DJ Green Lantern]
Evil genius!
[Eminem]
Green Lantern!
[DJ Green Lantern]
Ayo, Eminem, what do we call this shit right here?
[Eminem]
The invasion!
[DJ Green Lantern]
You had part 1. We got part 2. Now it’s part 3! The final chapter, motherfucker.
[Eminem]
Armageddon… let’s go!
I got a riddle, what’s little and talks big with midget arms
and has creamy white filling in the middle
that’ll do any thing to throw dirt on my name
if it means walking the whole Mediterranean.
Is it an albanian? Armenian? Iranian? Tasmanian? No.
His names Raymond, and oh so sorry oh, so sorry whoa.
But that was a long time ago. When I was just Joe Schmoe
Rappin in Joe Blow’s basement. I apologize for it befo’ so
either except it or you don’t, so let’s move on
and find show that I’ve grown and get the bone.
Keep licking these nuts. You industry mutts
keep walking around sniffing each other’s butts.
Or should I say asses?
What would be more politically correct term to use for the masses?
[Llyod Banks]
hold up..hold up..hold up..
New York City Man, This the kid Llyod banks
and if you hearing what im hearing right now
you know this aint no regular shit homie
This somethin special, we gotta bring this back
Green come on on on on
[Green Lantern]
Count down to Armegeddon
[Eminem]
got a riddle, what’s little and talks big
with midget arms and creamy white fillin in the middle
that’ll do anything to throw dirt on my name
if it means walking the whole Mediterranean
is it an Albanian, Armanian, Iranian, Tazmanian?
No, it’s Dave, Ray and O! Osario
So sorry, whoa! But that was a long time ago
When I was just joe shmo, rapping in joe blow’s basement
I apologized fo it before, so
Either accept it or you don’t
And let’s move on, if I aint shown that I’ve grown
Then get the bone, keep lickin these nuts,
You industry mutts, keep walking around sniffin each other’s butts
Or should I say asses?
what would be the more politically correct term to use for the masses?
The question I ask is:
How can I explain this?
How can I swing this, in English language?
If I switch to slang and turn mayn to maynnn
Do I do it in vein, or simply to entertaaain?
Am I being real or am I being fake
Am I just a fraud or am I truly genu-aine
Or am I caught up in this hot wa-tah
Woady on my daughter I told ya I love this cultcha
don’t let em insult ya, I’ma tell you one more ‘gaiiin
this is the environment that I was brought up ‘innn
but every now and theiiin, I use my ‘pen
to get rid of some frustrashiiin, or should I say ‘tion’
this is just another one of my subliminal ways of racism
you’re face is numb, you’re stunned, you look as cold
like that of a man who’s 70 some years old
and it only gets colder, which is why I understand
it can’t be mad at a forty four year old fan
with a chip on his shoulder
who only owns a half of a magazine, and the only way to have it seen is to put me on the front of it agaiiiin
only think that makes him grin, is to see me frowwwn
papa can’t stand me, papa needs to take his medication and sit the fuck dowwwn!
in his new chair that goes round and round
that he bought from new money in his bank account
that I get him every ISSUE when the thang comes out
sit back and let his puffy clown hair come out
and let his black side arm wrestle his white siiide
yell apartheid loud enough that he might slide
he might find someone dumb enough who might ride
but aint nobody over here buying two white guys
disguised as pro-black there is no slack for a Harvard college grad In a fitted hat and a hunch bag, standing by the clearance coat rack in some ol slacks and some RSO throwbacks, yeah
Shady in the place to be see and It takes what I got to roc the mic, RIGHT?! Still knockin’ a K to these punks, fuckin’ cocksuckin’ pussy lips hatin’ mixed cunts!