Gavin's Blog

Battling is and will certainly remain one of Eminem’s biggest passions. You can feel a certain nostalgy in his words when he recalls Rap Olympics in 1997:

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Just a short note before MiJack fans get mad at me: I do respect your idol’s artistry. I just can’t stand his attitude towards Eminem.

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The press has spilled a lot of ink about Eminem’s so called ‘ misogyny ‘. A further examination of his life and statements will make people understand that those allegations are totally unjustified. Like many other rappers, Marshall Mathers may have talked about ‘ bitches and hoes ‘ that should be ‘ raped ‘ and ‘ murdered ‘ in his lyrics. Matter of fact: Marshall is different in real life.

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Do you like Detroit gangsta tales? Then you will probably enjoy Backstab’s second album ‘ Blow Me ‘.

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Infinite is Eminem’s first album and also his introduction to the world. Marshall Mathers had placed a lot of hope in the release of his debut album, that, unfortunately sold only 1000 copies.

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Devil’s Night is one of the most provocative rap albums. No wonder it has raised a lot of controversy.

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Growing up in the Northwest Detroit hood

Obie Trice grew up on the Northwest side of the D. The hood he grew up in can be described as « mix of struggling families and thugs ».

Growing up in the hood, no matter where you come from, has never been easy. Even going to school will confront a kid very early to typical problems like drugs and bullies. Ghetto inhabitants are survivors and they have it at least 10 times harder as other people.

Obie’s family

They used to call him « stank » as a kid. A nickname that sometimes annoyed Obie when he was growing up:

“We called him ‘Stank,’ ’cause he was a little stanker. He didn’t like that. When he was 12, we were in the store, and I called him by that name. He said, ‘Mama, don’t call me that no more!’” (Eleanor Trice)

Obie is the youngest of four brothers names Gerald, Terry and Damon. All of his brothers are graduates with good job positions.

Obie was the rebellious character of his family. Why? Simply because he was as spoiled kid:

« The reason why Obie was sort of rebellious is because I think he’s the one that was spoiled the most. »

« Gerry and Terry, they were sort of self-reliant. Damon was kind of a loner, but he was focused on his future. Obie got everything he wanted. And, you know, when it comes easy, it goes easy. He didn’t learn the value of anything at that time. You know how kids are. » ( Obie’s dad)

The brother Obie is close to is Terry:

“That’s the only manager I roll with, he’s a father figure to me, but [back then] he was gone away to school. I’d holler at him over the phone, but the phone ain’t shit on havin’ somebody around you, know what I mean? »

Obie’s parents are divorced, but Obie has always been in touch with his dad. Obie’s dad had a determinant role in Obie’s rapping skills:

« He had a dictionary and some index cards, and he would ask me questions about various words. What’s this word mean, that word mean? How do you use it in a sentence? I never realized that he was building his vocabulary to rap. »

Beef with Eleanor Trice

Like many teenagers, Obie caused some trouble and sorrows to his mom.

Obie was a rebel who raised hell in his mom’s life.

Those conflicts between kids and parents are necessary, because they are part of growing up in an adolescent’s life.

“Me and my moms used to have a good time together,” you tell me, “and, as I got older, just seein’ the transition in her face, like, you know, her lovin’ me as a little guy to gettin’ to where she can’t stand me, that shit was crazy. I was doin’ what I was doin’, though. You couldn’t tell me shit back then.”Eleanor had also to struggle with her son’s bad frequentations. Obie happened to bring unwanted guests at his mom’s home, like this girl his mom had to through out of her living room at 4 am:

“I went and grabbed a knife long as my arm, ‘Bitch, get outta my house.’” (Eleanor Trice)

Obie also got involved in hustling and the fact that he rapidly quitted his job « because it was too cold » became a living nightmare for his mom.

But right now Obie has settled his beef with his mom. His recent « Don’t Come Down » song and video out of his debut album cheers is an open and moving apology to Eleanor Trice.

Obie Trice’s career

Obie has known his D12 fellows since the Hip Hop Shop:

“I’ve known Obie since the Hip-Hop Shop » (Proof)

Proof gave him his rap name:

« That was around ’94, ’95. I thought he was incredible. Back then, he said his rap name was Obie One. I asked him, ‘What’s your real name?’ He said ‘Obie Trice.’ I said, ‘That’s your rap name.’” (Proof)

But his way to stardom is a long story of determination and patient work in the shadow.

Track Nr15 on D12’s « Devil’s Night » album made people attentive at Obie’s voice.

Rufus Johnson (D12’s Bizarre) introduced Obie Trice to his future boss, Marshall Mathers.

Obie Trice appeared in the « Without Me » video in 2002 and he made a second apparition in the well made « Rap Name » video.

Obie appears on the 8 mile soundtrack. Listeners had the pleasure to enjoy Obie in sonsg like « Adrenaline Rush » and « Rap Name ».

With his debut album « Cheers », released in 2003, Obie made his official steps in the rap game. He is certainly one of the realest and skilled Detroit rapper signed to Shady Records.

London, Nov 20 : After enraging Madonna and Michael Jackson, Eminem gave some anxious moments to the French security services by planning to stage his show near Jacques Chirac’s gunship.

According to The Sun, the rapper reportedly wanted to stage a gig on HMS Belfast, which is docked on the Thames just yards from the gunship, which is being used by the French president, who is currently on a state visit to UK, as an emergency bolthole in the event of a terrorist scare

Have you ever watched Obie’s video « Don’t Come Down »?

Parents, moms in particular will get Obie’s touching message towards Eleanor Trice. When I saw Obie’s video, it immediately made me think about my 14 years old son and the many conflicts that have opposed us as he entered his adolescence. You might be the coolest mom in the world and even have a liberal point of view on education, share the same musical tastes, have a lot in common with your progeny , there will always be conflicts.

The words that come out of Obie’s mouths are the words of a matured man who fully understands his former mistakes. The song is an open apology towards his mom, who obviously suffered from his foolish teenage years behavior:
“I could write a book on Obie. Obie was a mess. Yes, he was.” (Eleanor Trice)

Picture Obie in front of his house in Northwest Detroit in the middle of the winter. The whole lanscape is surrounded with snow.

Obie is very conscious that he didn’t take his mom’s advice seriously when he was younger. Typical teenage behavior. Teenagers always think they know better. Now that he’s a grown man, he is perfectly conscious of it:

« As a child i was fowl
(uh) Ma, I couldn’t understand them things that came out ya mouth (daddy’s ain’t shit)
You would cuss, fuss till your blood pressure went up, then give up and slouch on the couch and drink ya liquor (fuck you dog)
A hard headed nigga I was quick temper short attention span not attending class (no) what a dummy
I would run over you honey
You confront me and say Obie you no longer have a mommy
Don’t use my phone don’t even eat my food
Matter a fact, Dont speak
It was just me and you in that house with that mouse and them traps and they gat, waitin on the day when you gon pull the
trigger back »

When our children don’t act the right way, we often reject them out of anger. That’s exactly what happens in this song. Picture Obie and Eleanor’s arguments…

Eleanor knew that her son was involved in some drug deals and it literally broke her heart:

« You tryin to kill me boy (no)
Is that what you wanna do, kill me? You wanna kill me (kill me)
Your not feelin me the beepers not that drastic
Its the B blasted, bastard
Your lyin (your lyin)
You took plastic freezer bags with dope inside of em
She knew, damn but she hated that it was true »

Sometimes as a responsible parent, you have to be your own son’s enemy in order to protect him from himself:

« I done raised two boys I can do away with you
The locks changed and the nights got colder
Im slinging bolders lookin like the bolda tolka
Fuck it im the osta
Im down for mounds ride by my corner
Like Im not gone cry (no)
Not reek the pain of watchin my youngest man (no no no)
On the corners slangin cane
Im callin the cops… »

Picture Obie being caught by the cops, probably mad at his mom.
But after all those years, after so many misunderstanding, so many hurtful situations, a son’s love for his mom will remain for ever. And that’s the wonderful part of Obie’s song and video.

Take some time to watch this moving video that is also an ode to Eleanor Trice, Obie’s one and only mom.

Never Enough clearly targets the media. It is a clever Eminem- Nate Dogg-50 Cent collaboration.

Because Eminem is always speaking his mind, he often gets so much negative feedback from the press. How many times has he been misinterpreted, misunderstood, misquoted?

As Eminem expresses it so well, he sometimes has so much to say that the words just flow out of his mouth rapidly. He sometimes even needs people like Dr Dre to slow him down:

‘ There’s not much you could do or say to phase me
People think I’m a little bit crazy
I get it from all angles, even occasionally Doc Dre-zie’ll
Have to step in every once in a while to save me
To make me stop and think about it ‘fore I just say things’ ‘It is also a matter of fact that Eminem’s lyrics need a further examination if you want to get his many and subtle rhymes:

‘ Sometimes the average listener rewinds and plays me twenty times
cuz I say so many rhymes, it may seem like I’m goin too fast cuz my mind is racing ‘ ‘

Even some fans don’t always get Eminem. To get each inch of him, you need to spend time focusing on his words and music. I admit that even the few songs of Eminem’s Encore that I didn’t like in the beginning are growing on me: sometimes, you missed a line or a word combination or simply the artist’s intention’sometimes, you also need to be in a specific mood to get one of Eminem’s songs. That’s exactly what happened to me yesterday with the song Puke. I was in the mood of full disgust. Not for the same reasons as Eminem, but it helped me to understand the song better and my mood alteration made me feel close to Eminem’s feelings. ‘ Feeling bad’total disgust of everything and everybody’just wanna puke ‘. Then I took time to listen to the song a second time and it enlightened me on the beauty of some rhymes I hadn’t even noticed in the beginning.

Eminem has so much to tell and he often gets so much criticized for his sincerity. People shouldn’t forget that he is also the product of his environment and the fertility of his rhymes can be explained by his many and often rough experiences of the past while he was living across 8 Mile.

All those difficult experiences that he went through made him become the person he is:

‘ I’m thankful for the talent in which God gave me
And I’m thankful for the environment that he placed me
Believe it or not, I thank my mom for how she raised me
In the neighborhood daily, they jumped and chased me
It only made me what I am today, see.. ‘

Love him or loathe him, let Eminem be who he is. Let him say what he has to say.

Eminem a has a message for many cowards who keep hating him:

‘ Regardless of what anybody believes who hates me
You ain’t gonna make or break me
Tryna strip me of my credibility and make me look fake, G
You’re only gonna be in for a rude awakening
Cuz sooner or later you haters are all gonna face me
And when you face me with all the shit you’ve been saving to say to me
You had all this time to think about it
Now don’t pussy out and try to wimp out, face me
Cuz I’ve been patiently waiting for the day
That we finally meet in the same place to see’ ‘

In fact many people prompt to judge him without even knowing his story nor the whole context in which he grew up. I myself have read so many negative critics from people who -obviously- did not even know very much about hip hop nor about Eminem himself.

Eminem is like a soldier who never stops battling against emcees, against magazines that won’t leave him alone:

‘ No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many emcees I end up
Ooh ooh, it’s never enough’ ‘

50 Cent goes on with an offensive verse. Like a winner, he takes his enemies over with his ‘ untouchable flow ‘:

‘ My flow’s untouchable now you gotta face it
Uh oh, it gets worse when I go back to the basics
You go say the wrong shit and get your face split
The smell of victory, love it so much I can taste it
The spot my talk, it blaze a direct hit
Graze it, your peace talk, save it’ ‘

Haters, stop hating, you’ve already lost the battle. Our hot emcees will get you busted:

“You shit sounds dated, you’re overrated
I’m obligated to study your moves then crush you mutherfuckers
If I’m the best and the worst, then God’s gift is a curse
Soldier trained to destroy, you payin’ attention boy?
I spit shit, slick shit, so quick you miss it
To be specific I go ballistic as hieroglyphic
My music is a drug, press play, you ain’t gotta sniff it
Chew it or pop it, roll a bag of the chocolate
Get your high over and over, but you gotta cop it
When it’s hot, it’s hot
Your hatin’ is undeniable, stop it …”

Never Enough is a real hot song on Encore. Unfortunately, it is a little bit short. I was looking for a little bit more of those hot rhymes. Don’t miss track 3 on the album, it is really worth your attention.

Evil Deeds is a major track of Encore. It is well written and meaningful. Marshall shares very personal memories and all day sorrows with his audience. No wonder this very emotional song managed to move me deep inside. ‘ Evil Deeds ‘ also looks like the prayer of a tormented soul that is longing for some peace, as the introduction clearly reveals it:

‘ Lord please forgive me for what I do’ For I know not what I’ve done’ ‘

Marshall is asking God for forgiveness about his sins. Marshall sometimes wishes he could erase some episodes of his past, but he can’t. Old memories about Debbie always come to his mind and Marshall recalls his painful past with his shady mom. Maybe Eminem also addresses to Marshall Mathers II at the same time he talks to God, because Debbie wouldn’t let him the chance to meet his dad:

‘ Father please forgive me for I know not what I do.
I just never had the chance to ever meet you.
Therefore I did not know that I would grow to be
my mother’s evil seed and do these evil deeds.
I said father please forgive me for I know not what I do.
I just never had the chance to ever meet you.
Therefore I did not know that I would grow to be
my mother’s evil seed and do these evil deeds. (*Echo*) ‘

As I have stated it in a preceding article, Marshall didn’t really spend his early childhood years with his mom. The person who really witnessed Marshall’s early years and who raised him as a little baby is great aunt Edna Swartz from Missouri.

(At the time I wrote my article about Eminem’s hidden childhood, I didn’t know that aunt Edna had passed away 6 months ago.)

Edna Swartz and her husband Edmond Charles (who died around 1992) offered Marshall some stability and love in their home:

‘ My Aunt Edna, which would be my great-aunt Edna, and my Uncle Charles, my great-uncle Charles. This was in Missouri. They’re from my dad’s side. They took care of me a lot. My Uncle Charles passed in ‘92 or ‘93, and Aunt Edna passed away just six months ago. She was, like, eighty-six. They were older, but they did things with me; they let me stay the weekends there, took me to school, bought me things, let me stay and watch TV, let me cut the grass to get five dollars, took me to the mall. Between them and my Uncle Ronnie, they were my solidity. ‘

Debbie’s character clearly appears in the song and her sick behavior towards her son is still very hurtful:

‘ In elementary the came to me and sang this song. (*Echo*)
It went a little something like this. ‘Marry had a little lamb. (*Echo*)
Debbie had a Satan spawn. (*Echo*)’
Momma, why do they keep saying this? I just don’t understand. ‘

The absence of his dad has deeply wounded Marshall:

‘ And by the way, where’s my dad? ‘

As the song goes on, other memories from the past will come to the surface. Marshall’s life across 8 Mile, the way he experienced racism from the black side. But there is certainly an important message to understand at the beginning of the second verse: Eminem feels as he has been caught in the middle of two different communities. He doesn’t want to be pictured as total part of the white nor of the black Detroit community. Why? Simply because he belongs to both:

‘ Predominantly. Predominantly. Everything’s always predominantly.
Predominantly white. Predominantly black.
But what about me? Where does that leave me?
I guess I’m in between predominantly both of ‘em.
I think if I hear that fucking word again I’mma scream.
Wild projectile, vomiting. What do I look like, a comedian to you?
Do you think I’m kidding? Do I look like some kind of idi-
Wait a minute, shit, don’t answer that. Why am I so misunderstood?
Why do I go through so much bullshit, it’s such bullshit, touch this bitch. ‘

Marshall has often been misinterpreted about his intentions, particularly as a rapper. The white community hasn’t stopped asking about his ‘ whiteness ‘ as a hip hop artist, while some components of the black community considered him as a ‘ culture stealer ‘. It is a matter of fact that Eminem is often very misunderstood and it is also due to the fact people don’t bother to have an attentive look at his cultural past in the particular Detroit contest. Anybody who knows Marshall won’t doubt his will to embrace black culture and to be a contributor of it.

Today Marshall is rich. He has fulfilled his dream to become a rapper. A dream that didn’t go without pain and hard struggles. A dream that went true, but that also increased his pain.
Marshall didn’t intend to get that big. All he wanted was to allow his family a comfortable life and give his daughter the life he never had. Some people keep telling me:

‘ Now that Eminem is rich, he should just should up and quit whining about his past, his mom and his ex wife ‘

I wish the same people had walked a mile into Eminem’s shoes. I wish they had only experienced half of the dramas he went through. Honestly, if you ask me, I think that after what he experienced during his childhood, you can consider Marshall breathing and being alive as a miracle in itself.
The experiences we had in our childhood- particularly if you’re been wounded physically or psychologically can haunt you for life. That’s what Eminem is telling us: ‘ I’m still wounded’this is how I feel inside and wealth won’t change anything. ‘:

‘ There goes poor Marshall again,
whining about his millions and his fortune and
his sorrow he’s always drowning in
and the dad that he never had and how his childhood was so bad
and how mom was a dope addict and his ex how they go at it.
Man, I’d hate to have it as bad as that Mr. Mathers claims he had it.
Man, I can’t imagine it. That little rich poor white bastard needs to
take some of that cash out of the bank and take a bath in it. ‘

And you don’t know Marshall’s complete story and he sometimes wishes he had less money and would feel happier:

‘ Man, if I only had half of it’You only knew the half of it’ ‘

People have judged Eminem the wrong way because of his arguments with Debbie. But they need to realize that those arguments are due to his mom’s sickness.
In Evil Deeds, Marshall is also trying to do a public apology to Debbie. It is his way to say: ‘ I’m sorry Mama ‘:

‘ Evil deeds, while I plant these evil seeds.
Please release me from these evil demons
I never had any of this shit planned, mom, please believe.
I don’t wanna be Satan’s spawn.
Never got the chance to say I’m sorry.
Now look at all the pain I caused.
Santa Clause, why you not comin this year again?
What did I do that was so bad to deserve this?
Everything coulda been so perfect, like life in a fairy tail
I’m bout to be hoist up in the air. ‘

After all those years, Eminem has matured. As an artist and as an individual. His mom is gravely ill and I think he realized about the shortness of life. Those few lines are his olive branch aimed at Debbie.

The greatest pain Eminem has currently to face with is the abnormality of his life: there is no place for privacy. People surround him from everywhere. All he wants is a peaceful moment with Hailie.
His life is a never ending show. The curtain never falls, and Marshall is caught up in the middle of a never ending and infernal circle.

Evil Deeds is a very good song that people should listen to carefully. I’ve been objected that this song is so selfish and so personal many times. Think twice: Eminem talks about himself, but how many monoparental families are there in this world? How many mishandled kids? How many people wounded by a hurtful past? The more personal Marshall gets, the more universal his message becomes.

Like Toy Soldiers is one of Encore’s masterpieces of work.. The chorus is a sample of Martika, a Cuban American artist and actress. You will learn more about Martika on the following website.

Like Toy Soldiers fully exposes us the dangerous character of hip hop beefs and how easy it is to get involved in a war most of the rappers would prefer to avoid if they could.
Hip hop wars made us lose Tupac and Biggie in 1996 and 1997. Many beefs can end in bloody wars and that’s exactly what Eminem would like to avoid:

« I’m supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure
Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
I am never supposed to show it, my crew ain’t supposed to know it
Even if it means goin’ toe to toe with a Benzino it don’t matter
I’d never drag them in battles that I can handle unless I absolutely have to
I’m supposed to set an example
I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide ‘em
If some shit ever just pop off, I’m supposed to be beside ‘em… »

Eminem is a like a courageous soldier and he is never afraid of his enemies. People who have followed the great emcee’s battles with Benzino had the pleasure to listen to Benzino’s lyrical murder.
Marshall is also supposed to set an example for his crew and to show loyalty to them by sticking up for them in case of trouble.

Because he signed 50 Cent to Shady Records, Eminem got involved in a huge beef with Ja Rule, Irv Gotti and the whole Murder Inc crew.

Attentive spectators of the Eminem/ Ja Rule have noticed how personal this beef became in no time.
Ja Rule dared attacking Hailie in his song, which is certainly the attitude of a coward. I will never understand why people dare going that far. In Eminem’s case, most of his enemies are not that well weaponed lyrically to drop their bomb against him. Attacking an innocent child is easier. It is also a sure way to get a reaction from Eminem- and some more publicity:

« ow Ja said ‘I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it’
There’s a certain line you just don’t cross and he crossed it
I heard him say Hailie’s name on a song and I just lost it
It was crazy, this shit be way beyond some Jay-z and Nas shit
And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it… »

Marshall has put so much energy in a lyrical beef that the Shady camp has eventually won. But this hard war has left him exhausted. Now Marshall is tired of those beefs. He clearly addresses to his enemies and shows his determination to squash them.

He makes you understand how much he is fed up with those useless beefs. Eminem also reminds us that he never got involved in the beef opposing Dr Dre to Suge Knight.
Eminem is a huge contributor to hip hop culture, he doesn’t want to be an annihilator of what he helped build :

« spent too much energy on it, honestly I’m exhausted
And I’m so caught in it I almost feel I’m the one who caused it
This ain’t what I’m in hip-hop for, it’s not why I got in it
That was never my object for someone to get killed
Why would I wanna destroy something I help build
It wasn’t my intentions, my intentions was good
I went through my whole career without ever mentionin’ Suge
Now it’s just out of respect for not runnin’ my mouth
And talkin’ about something that I knew nothing about
Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn’t my beef
So I did, I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth
While he’s all over t.v. down talkin’ a man who literally saved my life
Like fuck it i understand this is business
And this shit just isn’t none of my business
But still knowin’ this shit could pop off at any minute cuz … »

Marshall is conscious to have a lot of true and loyal soldiers within his Shady camp, but also among the numerous persons who support him:

“We still have soldiers that’s on the front line
That’s willing to die for us as soon as we give the orders
Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us
We’ll maybe shout ‘em out in a rap or up in a chorus
To show them we love ‘em back and let ‘em know how important it is
To have run ya nav and who sulked us up in our corners
Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is
But I ain’t tryna have none of my people hurt and murdered …”

He’s so right about it: this kind of loyalty is worth more than an award. But Eminem doesn’t want anybody to get killed because of worthless bloody wars.
He also recalls a time the emcees only role were to spit some hot rhymes in a battle.
The message towards his enemies is clear: « let’s end a war in which we are acting like little toy soldiers. »

No more blood for hip hop rivalries. Eminem’s sincerity is touching. No contest Like Toy Soldiers is one of the best songs of the album.

The Yellow Brick Road song addresses to the many people who have misunderstood and misinterpreted some precise episodes of Marshall’s past.

The introduction clearly reveal each generation’s will to make some progress in comparison to the elder generations:

‘ We all have this idea that we should move up from our parents station and each generation should do a little bit better’ ‘

First of all, people need to take Detroit’s historical past into account before talking about Eminem. As far as we can look back to Detroit’s black history, there have been a lot of tensions and racial segregations in the D town since Blacks moved from the Southern states to North.. I myself have investigated black history in the D to fully understand its context and background.

It’s a matter of fact Detroit is charged with a heavy racial past. There have always been huge tensions between black and white communities. Tensions that Dave Mays and Benzino don’t even seen to be aware of when they- unjustifiably- accused Eminem of racism.

In 1989, Marshall was the member of a rap collective called Bassmint Production that had been created by one of his high school friends, Mike Ruby.

Bassmint Production was composed of white aspiring emcees including Eminem’s former friend, Chaos Kid. Eminem and his friends actually suffered from racism from the black community which used to consider white emcees as ridiculous black wanabees and didn’t really offer them a chance to get some recognition from a black audience.

Eminem’s ‘ foolish pride ‘ rhymes were just a private retaliation on the mic’

A retaliation against a black community that considered any white rapper as a culture invader. Those rhymes did suck. Our emcees from Bassmint perfectly knew it. That’s how they baptized them ‘ suckering rhymes ‘.

Another reason why those ‘ Foolish Pride ‘ rhymes were created is a personal retaliation against a black girl Eminem went out with and he had just dumped.

Of course, those lyrics are regrettable. But people should know that they were not intented to be published. Written lyrics of those rhymes didn’t even exist.

Marshall recalls the time he was experiencing racism constantly for not having ‘ the right color ‘:

‘ Come on, let’s cut the bullshit enough
Let’s get it started, let’s start addressing this issue and open it up
Let’s take this shit back to bassmint
And we can disscuss statements thats made on this tape
And its whole origin of the music that we all know and love
The music that we all enjoy the music you all accuse me of tryna destroy
Let’s rewind it to 89 when I was a boy on the east side of Detroit
Crossin 8 Mile in the border in the hate territory
I’d like to share a story, this is my story and cant no body tell it for me
You will well inform me, I am well aware that I don’t belong here
You’ve made that perfectly clear, I get my ass kicked damn near everywhere
From Bel-Air shopping center just for stopping in there
From the black side all the way to the white side
Okay there’s a bright side a day that I might slide
You may call it a past I call it haulin my ass
Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks
Oh them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks
Them good old notorious oh well known tracks’ ‘

People need to realize that it hasn’t been simple for him to live across 8 Mile where he nearly lost his life twice (once because of D’Angelo Bailey and the second time as a teenager while he was threatened with a gun by black guys).

They also need to realize that Marshall has grown up within black culture and that his love for hip hop made him become the big star he is now.

The repetition of ‘ railroad tracks ‘ in the first verse shows how much Eminem was into his every day life routine. An attentive listener will enjoy the astute combination of ‘ old railroad tracks ‘ with ‘ oh well known tracks ‘ that make us travel through Eminem’s mind as if he took us for a journey. You will have the impression to travel by train and to listen to music at the same time:

‘ Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks
Oh them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks
Them good old notorious oh well known tracks’ ‘

The second verse will remind us of Eminem’s friendship with Proof and of his constant fight for recognition as a white emcee. Eminem’s clever word and syllable combination impressed Proof who started freestyling with his friend:

‘ I roam the streets so much they call me a drifter
Sometimes I stick up a thumb just to hitch hike
Just to get picked up to get me a lift to 8 mile and van dike
And steal a god damn bike from somebody’s backyard
And drop it off at the park that was the half way mark
To meet Kim had to walk back to her mama’s them dramas after dark
To sneak me in the house when I’m kicked out my mom’s
Thats about the time I first met Proof when poof he’d carry on the set
Set eyes born in and out some flyers, he was doin some talent shows
At center line, I had told him to stop by and check this out sometime
He looked at me like I’m out my mind shook his head like white boys dont know how to rhyme
I spit out a line and rhymed birthday with first place
And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike
We was on the same shit that Big Daddy Kane shit with compound syllables sound combined
From that day we was down to ride somehow we knew we’d meet again somewhere down the line’ ‘

Proof also remembers the time he used to rhyme with Marshall:

‘ ‘when he rapped, he was dope. What made us get dope and become great friends was we both rhymed ‘first place’ and ‘birthday,’ and we’ve been tight ever since [laughs].’ (MC Big Proof)

The third verse reminds us of the many black activists in Detroit’he also tells us how he went out with a beautiful black girl who was interested in him because he was rapping:

‘ Which reminds me back in 89 me and Kim broke up for the first time
She was tryna two time me and there was this black girl
At our school who thought I was cool cuz I rapped so she was kinda eyein me
And oh the irony guess what her name was ain’t even gon’ say it plus
The same color hair as hers was and blue contacts and a pair of jugs
The bombest god damn girl in our whole school if I could pull it
Not only would I become more popular but I would be able to piss Kim off at the same time
But it backfired I was supposed to dump her but she dumped me for this black guy
And thats the last I ever seen or heard or spoke to the oh foolish pride girl
But I’ve heard people say they heard the tape and it ain’t that bad
But it was I singled out a whole race and for that apologize
I was wrong cuz no matter what color a girl is she still a [bitch?] ‘

He also dated her to piss Kim off. When he finally broke up with the black girl, Marshall was full of resentment. He made the mistake to single out a whole race because of the anger he couldn’t contain.

Marshall was a teenager, he made a mistake. Of course, he shouldn’t have recorded those words. But he apologized for them. So now let’s move on and let’s look at Eminem’s great contribution to a culture and a music that he deeply loves. Anybody calling Marshall a racist should get his facts straight. No need to debate on the fact that most of his best friends and collaborators are black.

Eminem is certainly one of the best things that happened to hip hop. His rhyming style, his originality and his rich musical compositions have given rap music a new and positive direction.

The most touching words Eminem put into his brand new album are the words dedicated to his little daughter Hailie. When I first listened to the song, I loved the softness of the song and I couldn’t hide my tears, because I was moved deeply inside. When Marshall talks about Hailie, nobody could doubt his true feelings expressed into music.

Some people were chocked because Eminem made his personal issues and his dialogue with Hailie public. To all of you who were shocked by the personal character of Mockinbird, arguing about it and doubting Marshall’s sincerity, let me tell you this:

-Marshall is a public person, his life is exposed by the media every day, people knew about Kim’s whereabouts anyway

- Because Marshall has this particular kind of relationship with his public, he intends to share those precious words addressed to Hailie.

The song is like a beautiful necklace whose pearls the listener will collect one by one.

Marshall first adresses to Hailie to let her know that he is very conscious of her pain. Sometimes, Hailie feels lost between her mom’s absence she is unable to explain and her daddy’s absence for obvious professional reasons:

« I know sometimes things may not always
make since to you right now
but hey what did daddy always tell
straighten up lil soldier
stiffin up that upper lip
what you cryin about?
you got me… »

Marshall can read his daughter’s pain in her eyes. I know by experience how much little kid’s faces can say more than thousand words.

At the beginning of the song, Marshall goes straight to the subject. He talks about Kim’s absence and about how much his daughter misses her mom. He also talks about his own absences that must sometimes be a huge pain into Hailie’s heart. It is a matter of fact Hailie doesn’t see her daddy very often. But Marshall ensures his daughter of his omnipresent love, which is the most important:

« Hailie i know you miss your mom
and i know you miss your dad when I’m gone
but I’m tryin to give you the life that i never had
i can see your sad, even when you smile
even when you laugh i can see it in your eyes
deep inside you wanna cry cause your scared
i aint there, daddy’s with you in your prayers
no more cryin, wipe them tears
daddy’s here, no more nightmares… »

In the first verse, Eminem mentions another little girl, whose nickname is Laney. I’ve been asked by many people who this little girl was. Laney is Alaina, Dawn’s (Kim’s twin sister) daughter. Alaina has been adopted by Marshall, she currently lives with him and goes by the name Alaina Mathers:

« Daddy’s here, no more nightmares
we gonna pull together through it
we gon do it, Laney uncle’s crazy
but he loves you baby and you better know it
we’re all we got in this world when it spins
when it swirls, when it whirls, when it twirls
two little beautiful girls lookin puzzled
in a daze, i know its confusin you
daddys always on the move
momma’s always on the news
i try to keep you sheltered from it
but somehow it seems the harder that i try
to do that the more it backfires on me
all the things growin up as daddy
that he had to see, daddy dont want you to see… »

Eminem has always done his best to keep Hailie sheltered from the scandals surrounding Kim, but sometimes he doesn’t manage to protect her completely from this kind of exposure.

In the second verse, Marshall recalls the time when he was struggling for recognition., the dog years he went through across 8 Mile.

At this time, Marshall and Kim had no money, their appartement was often broken into and robbed. He recalls a dramatic event. Kim wanted to spare some money for Hailie’s college:

« and your mom was savin money for you in a jar
tryin to start a piggy bank for you so you could go to college
almost had a thousand dollars til someone broke in and stole it
and i know it hurt so bad it broke your momma’s heart
and it seemed like everything was just startin to fall apart
mom and dad was arguin a lot… »

There are references to places in Detroit where Eminem and Kim used to live:

« So momma moved back on charmas in a flat one bedroom apartment
and dad moved back to the other side of 8 mile on Novara… »

In fact « Chalmas » refers to Chalmer Street in Detroit that is located in Wayne county:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=Chalmer+Street+&city=Detroit&state=MI

MC Hush, who was Eminem’s formerly friend and neighbor at this time, has mentioned Novara street several times in an interview.

Marshall looks at some ancient pictures and he remembers his memories with Kim.

Then he addresses again to Hailie and Alaina, giving both girls strength and hope, telling them that Kim’s situation is temporary. He wants them to understand that despite all, he can handle the situation and that he is here for them:

« Laney, im talkin to you too, daddy’s still here
I like the sound of that, yeah
its gotta ring to it dont it, shhh, momma’s only gone for the moment… »

The third verse is touching and funny. Marshall is ready to « give the world » to his daughter. He will make her smile by any means:

« i know mommy’s not here right now
and we don’t know why we feel how we feel inside
it may seem a little crazy pretty baby
but i promise, momma’s gon be alright
and if you ask me to daddys gonna buy you a mockingbird
I’m gon give you the world
im’a buy a diamond ring for you im’a sing for you
i’ll do anything for you to see you smile
and if that mockinbird dont sing and that ring dont shine
im’a break that birdie’s neck
i’ll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya
and make him eat every karot, dont fuck with dad »

The message of the song is reassuring : Marshall tells his daughter that sometimes we have no control of our destiny, but that Kim is gonna be all right.

Mockinbird, you’d better sing for Hailie or Marshall might break your neck!

Hailie keep your head up: your daddy loves you and remember he will always be there for you.