[Part I]
[Intro: Future]
Drop your location, she think she me or sum’ (Hendrix)
Put on my chains, now she think she me or sum’
She keep a Glock in her bag, she think …
[Verse 1]
You said, “Speak from your mind
The words that it finds
Come out of your soul, a part of the whole”
You said, “What does it change?
Both of us know
After tonight, there …
[TONY]
Maria…
The most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria…
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria…
Maria, Maria…
Maria!
I’ve just met a girl named Maria
And …
[Verse 1]
What happens in dreams where we fly?
Never been as high as tonight
Staring through a window in time
For someone to show me what I’m like
He said, “Hello”, it’s like a …
[Verse 1]
Oh-oh-oh, every little smile hides a little lie
Could cut the silence with a knife
Subatomic bliss is nothing left to miss
It’s just empty Russian roulette
[Pre-Chorus]
Try to brush it off my …
[Intro]
Look, I was gonna go easy on you not to hurt your feelings
But I’m only going to get this one chance
Something’s wrong, I can feel it (For six minutes, Slim Shady, you’re on) 226
Just a feeling I got, like something’s about to happen but I don’t know what
If that means what I think it means, we’re in trouble, big trouble
And if he is as bananas as you say, I’m not taking any chances 227
(You are just what the doc ordered) 228
[Verse 1]
I’m beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod 229
Now who thinks their arms are long enough to slapbox, slapbox 230
They said I rap like a robot, so call me rapbot
But for me to rap like a computer must be in my genes
I got a laptop in my back pocket 231
My pen’ll go off when I half-cock it 232
Got a fat knot from that rap profit
Made a living and a killing off it 233
Ever since Bill Clinton was still in office
With Monica Lewinsky feeling on his nut-sack 234
I’m an MC still as honest
But as rude and as indecent as all hell
Syllables, skill-a-holic (Kill ’em all with)235
This flippity dippity-hippity hip-hop 236
You don’t really wanna get into a pissing match 237
With this rappity-rap, packing a Mac in the back of the Ac 238
Backpack rap crap, yap-yap, yackety-yack 239
And at the exact same time
I attempt these lyrical acrobat stunts while I’m practicing that
I’ll still be able to break a mothafuckin’ table
Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half 240
Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact
How could I not blow? All I do is drop F-bombs, feel my wrath of attack 241
Rappers are having a rough time period, here’s a maxi pad
It’s actually disastrously bad for the wack
While I’m masterfully constructing this master piece (Yeah) 242
[Verse 2]
Cause I’m beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod
Now who thinks their arms are long enough to slapbox, slapbox
Let me show you maintaining this shit ain’t that hard, that hard
Everybody want the key and the secret to rap immortality like I have got 243
Well, to be truthful the blueprint’s simply rage and youthful exuberance
Everybody loves to root for a nuisance, hit the earth like an asteroid
Did nothing but shoot for the moon since (Pew) 244
MC’s get taken to school with this music
Cause I use it as a vehicle to “bus the rhyme”
Now I lead a new school full of students 245
Me? I’m a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, 2Pac
N.W.A, Cube, hey, Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy, thank you, they got Slim
Inspired enough to one day grow up 246
Blow up and be in a position, to meet Run DMC
And induct them into the mothafuckin’ Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame 247
Even though I’ll walk in the church and burst in a ball of flames
Only Hall of Fame I’ll be inducted in is the alcohol of fame
On the wall of (shame) 248
You fags think it’s all a game, ’til I walk a flock of flames
Off a plank and, tell me what in the fuck are you thinking? 249
Little gay-looking boy
So gay I can barely say it with a straight face, looking boy 250
You’re witnessing a mass-occur
Like you’re watching a church gathering take place, looking boy
Oy vey, that boy’s gay, that’s all they say, looking boy
You get a thumbs up, pat on the back 251
And a “way to go” from your label every day, looking boy
Hey, looking boy, what you say, looking boy
I get a “hell yeah” from Dre, looking boy 252
I’ma work for everything I have, never ask nobody for shit
Get outta my face, looking boy
Basically, boy, you’re never gonna be capable of keeping up
With the same pace, looking boy 253
[Verse 3]
Cause I’m beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod
The way I’m racing around the track, call me Nascar, Nascar
Dale Earnhardt of the trailer park, the White Trash God 254
Kneel before General Zod this planet’s Krypton, no Asgard, Asgard 255
So you be Thor and I’ll be Odin, you rodent, I’m omnipotent 256
Let off then I’m reloading immediately with these bombs I’m toting
And I should not be woken, I’m the walking dead
But I’m just a talking head, a zombie floating 257
But I got your mom deep throating 258
I’m out my Ramen Noodle, we have nothing in common, poodle 259
I’m a doberman, pinch yourself in the arm and pay homage, pupil 260
It’s me, my honesty’s brutal
But it’s honestly futile if I don’t utilize what I do though
For good at least once in a while 261
So I wanna make sure somewhere
In this chicken scratch I scribble and doodle 262
Enough rhymes to maybe try to help get some people through tough times 263
But I gotta keep a few punchlines, just in case cause even you unsigned
Rappers are hungry looking at me like it’s lunchtime 264
I know there was a time where once I, was king of the underground
But I still rap like I’m on my Pharoahe Monch grind 265
So I crunch rhymes, but sometimes when you combine
Appeal with the skin color of mine 266
You get too big and here they come trying to censor you like that one line 267
I said on “I’m Back” from the Mathers LP one when I tried to say
“I’ll take seven kids from Columbine
Put ’em all in a line, add an AK-47, a revolver and a nine”
See if I get away with it now that I ain’t as big as I was but I’m 268
Morphin’ into an immortal coming through the portal 269
You’re stuck in a time warp from 2004, though 270
And I don’t know what the fuck that you rhyme for
You’re pointless as Rapunzel with fucking cornrows 271
You write normal? Fuck being normal
And I just bought a new raygun from the future 272
Just to come and shoot ya, like when Fabolous made Ray J mad 273
Cause Fab said he looked like a fag at Mayweather’s pad
Singing to a man while they played piano
Man, oh man, that was a 24/7 special on the cable channel 274
So Ray J went straight to the radio station
The very next day, “Hey Fab, I’ma kill you!” 275
Lyrics coming at you at supersonic speed (J.J. Fad)
Uh, summa-lumma, dooma-lumma, you assuming I’m a human 276
What I gotta do to get it through to you? I’m superhuman 277
Innovative and I’m made of rubber
So that anything you say is ricocheting off of me and it’ll glue to you 278
And I’m devastating, more than ever demonstrating
How to give a mothafuckin’ audience a feeling like it’s levitating 279
Never fading, and I know the haters are forever waiting
For the day that they can say I fell off, they’ll be celebrating 280
Cause I know the way to get ’em motivated
I make elevating music, you make elevator music 281
“Oh, he’s too mainstream”
Well, that’s what they do when they get jealous, they confuse it
It’s not hip-hop, it’s pop 282
Cause I found a hella way to fuse it
With rock, shock rap with Doc 283
Throw on “Lose Yourself” and make ’em lose it
“I don’t know how to make songs like that
I don’t know what words to use” 284
Let me know when it occurs to you
While I’m ripping any one of these verses that versus you 285
It’s curtains, I’m inadvertently hurting you
How many verses I gotta murder to 286
Prove that if you were half as nice
Your songs you could sacrifice virgins too? 287
Ungh, school flunky, pill junky
But look at the accolades, these skills brung me 288
Full of myself, but still hungry
I bully myself cause I make me do what I put my mind to 289
And I’m a million leagues above you, ill when I speak in tongues
But it’s still tongue in cheek, fuck you 290
I’m drunk so Satan take the fucking wheel
I’m asleep in the front seat 291
Bumping Heavy D and the Boyz, still “Chunky but Funky” 292
But in my head there’s something I can feel tugging and struggling
Angels fight with devils and here’s what they want from me
They’re asking me to eliminate some of the women hate 293
But if you take into consideration the bitter hatred I had
Then you may be a little patient and more sympathetic 294
To the situation and understand the discrimination 295
But fuck it, life’s handing you lemons, make lemonade then 296
But if I can’t batter the women
How the fuck am I supposed to bake them a cake then? 297
Don’t mistake him for Satan, it’s a fatal mistake 298
If you think I need to be overseas and take a vacation to trip abroad
And make her fall on her face and don’t be a retard 299
Be a king? Think not, why be a king when you can be a God? 300
Eminem starts the song with a sweet tone and says his intention is not to hurt someone’s feelings but they have to address the issue that is bothering him. In these lines he acknowledges that he is not the man or the rapper that he used to be since his break. At this point his alter personality, Slim Shady takes the mic.
Eminem has this feeling that is bothering of him of some impending trouble. This part of the song is being used to issue a warning to his rivals that he has had it with the disses and this is an official reply to his rivals.
Eminem says that this song is what the doctor ordered, the doctor here being Dr Dre. Dr Dre is a rapper, producer and the entrepreneur who owns Aftermath Entertainment and introduced Eminem to the world. So this line could mean that getting whatever that is bothering him off his chest is the solution that was given for his ailment.
Eminem begins by saying that he is feeling invincible just like a God because he believes that he is the greatest rapper that ever lived.
He invites his rivals to a challenge of slap boxing, which is a form of martial arts. The same line can also be a metaphor for a rap challenge. The phrase on boxing, about arms that are too short to box with God were first used by James Weldon Johnson in his poem ‘The Prodigal song.’
His rivals have compared his performance style to that of a robot, meaning that he is mechanical in his rap, to which he replies that may be it is because he is one, only specifically designed to rap. The rapbot term was used by Liam Lynch in a parody. He also talks of the gadgets that he uses to note down his lyrical ideas.
Eminem compares his pen, which is his weapon to a gun, which at its safest it is clicked onto a half-cock position. However, unlike the gun, his pen shoots off and starts writing. At times in the course of his work Eminem is said to become a workaholic.
Eminem says that he has earned a lot of money from making rap music that gives him a suitable life, like that of a god. A fat knot is a wad of bills that are rolled up. Eminem could also be using a play on words when he uses rap profit, which when twisted can sound close to rap prophet and just like a prophet always sets the way for God’s messenger, Dr Dre also set the path for Eminem.
He says that he has been rapping since the former president Bill Clinton was in office. Bill Clinton was the president of the USA between 1993 to 2001 and was accused of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky who was an intern in the White House, to which he said that it was not an affair but rather that she just gave him blowjobs, for this act he was almost impeached. Eminem has also used the comparison to Bill Clinton in ‘My Name Is’ in the album The Slim Shady LP.
Eminem uses the line, ‘Kill ’em all’ from the group OFWGKTA, the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, a hip hop group from California.
He uses these lines from the song ‘Rappers Delight’ by the group Sugar Hill Gang and the original words were ‘I said the Hip-Hop, the hibby, the hibby the hip-hip-hop.
Eminem says that just like back then, he is still the same rapper who was honest, rude and indecent. For the rudeness and indecency he has been accused of being racist, misogynist and homophobic. He however maintains that his rap style has remained the same, with killer rhymes, great melodies and enunciation.
He pays tribute to Big Punisher, who used the lines ‘packing a mac in the back of the Ac.’ Big Punisher was a rapper and actor who died in the year 2000 and was considered one of the best lyricists of the time.
He tells his rivals that should they accept his challenge, they cannot outdo his rapping skills. It is well known that Eminem can combine words that may seem to mean nothing and make them rhyme and make sense. Eminem, for instance uses the words backpack rap, which is rap that is not mainstream with yap-yap and yackety-yack which is the equivalent of making useless and meaningless noise. Yackety-yack is also a song by the Coasters. So in these lines Eminem tells his rivals to quit making senseless noise about his being mainstream and that they should shut up.
Eminem says that through it all he is able to perform a spectacular performance and make money while at it. The breaking a table could also refer to their career in wrestling or a fight match with some former friends. Eminem has defended the use of the word faggot by saying he saying he nothing against gay people but rather that it was a word that he grew up around.
He uses this to show that even after his experiences, the aftermath, he still managed to get a great producer who owns the Aftermath entertainment company, which was the perfect recipe for his success.
Eminem completes the verse by sympathizing with his rivals about having a bad time and offers them a maxi pad, a sanitary product, to wipe off the blood while he keeps working on what he considers one of his best works. He also raps that their attempts are pathetic at best.
Eminem says that keeping up the hard work and fame is not hard. He suggests that they stop thinking that he knows the secret to longevity because he doesn’t know it.
He then admits that there is a formula that works, his bottled up anger and his youth and to hit the fans hard or impress them, so much that one becomes unforgettable. Besides according to him, people are tired of the conventional and it always takes the unique or controversial person to make it. Blueprint was also Jay Zs album released in 2001 and like him, he has managed to keep his place in the spotlight.
His music is so unique that aspiring rappers have to study it to get his style. He says that from being an aspiring rapper he is now the teacher of rap. ‘Bus the rhyme’ can also be taken to mean a reference to Busta Rhymes, a rapper and producer, he was also a member of Leaders of the New school, making a further argument for Eminem’s training of new rappers. He is famous too, for his great rhymes and fast rapping style.
Eminem is talking about the people who have inspired him in his work.
Run DMC is another major influence on Eminem and in 2009, Eminem inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, something that he considered a great honour.
Eminem is comparing himself to his idols who he says he can’t live up to and can only be inducted into the alco(hol) of fame and shame, possibly because of the nature of his lyrics which have been said to be homophobic, misogynist and racist. He also considers his own drug abuse as a factor. Some alcohol establishments also used to have a wall of shame for patrons caught in uncompromising or embarrassing poses.
He says his rivals think that all the beef is just a joke. He uses these lines to shed light on one of the people that he has beef with namely Waka Flocka Fame and makes it clear by quoting the line ‘what the fuck you thinking’ from his debut album Flockaveli.
Eminem continues with his gay insults and tells the above artist what he thinks of him, pitiable.
He concludes that his rivals are being slaughtered with a word play on mass occur for massacre. He uses the Oy Vey line from a comedy movie by the same title released in 2010.
Eminem says that his rivals are the type that is ruled by the record labels, they produce what the label wants and not what they would like. He mocks them on their relationship with the labels which tell their artists ‘way to go’ and then he adds ‘a’ just before the words to show a dismissal by the same label, just like how one would deal with a four year child to encourage them and at the same time get rid of them. Contrary to such a scenario his work with Dr Dre is different, him doing the work and Dre cheering him on.
Eminem concludes the verse by telling them that he earns his keep, which is true because Eminem likes having a handle on what he is doing and will even take time away to ensure the rhymes flow as well as his word use. He dismisses by telling them that they will never catch up with him. Dr Dre is also known for pushing hard anyone that he has signed to his label.
Eminem says that his pace in the music industry is only comparable to that of Ralph Dale Earnhardt, one of the biggest racing drivers in Nascar, an American racing sport. Dale died on the track and it could be equated to show that Eminem will die while still rapping.
Eminem, who was a big fan of comics as a child brings in a reference to General Dru-Zod a super villain in DC comics who is also one superman’s headaches. Zod and Superman are both from Krypton and Eminem uses this comparison to show himself as the villain. Asgard on the other hand is the nine worlds that make the homes of the AEsir gods or the Nordics heaven, it is ruled by Odin. Eminem as he role plays he says that the Earth is not Krypton but Asgard.
As Odin, the king of the heavens, Eminem will still be stronger than his rivals, who he casts as Thor, who is the son of Odin. As Odin, Eminem can banish his rivals who he tells that although they learned under his tutelage in rapping skills they can never equal his prowess.
He says that when they take a break he will be working on new material to blast them with. When working he does not want to be disturbed because he is in a sort of inspired daze. This could be Eminem’s way of telling them to let the sleeping dogs lie, as they might not like the reaction when the dogs wake up.
He says that even his rival’s mother has bowed down to him and is giving him a blowjob.
Eminem is using the noodles symbolically, they do look like brains, so this can be interpreted to mean that Eminem is out of his rightful mind, meaning that he is crazy. Ramen noodles are mostly used by the poor and Eminem is using this line to show where he has come from. His rivals on the other hand are pedigree poodles, a dog breed associated with the wealthy and is more of a lapdog, so his rivals rap about things that they don’t fully appreciate and for them, things are handed down on a silver spoon whereas he had to work hard to get to where he is. As with most small dogs, poodles are known to bark, a lot, however, for all their bark they do not bite.
Eminem compares himself to a doberman, a dog known for its intelligence, attentiveness and loyalty and often classified as a working dog. Eminem considers himself as great as doberman, when he tells his rivals to pinch himself, he is using the second name for a doberman, Pinscher, and he tells them to give recognition to greatness.
He raps that at times the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow but it would be pointless to have talent and squander it, and in fact every once in a while he will use it for the greater good.
This is how Eminem refers to his works in progress or drafts that he writes on pieces of paper, which to any outsider might appear like meaningless scrawls.
Eminem is saying that where he can he will use his music to help those that he inspires or his fans through challenging times in their life. The lines also show Eminem’s growth from a time when he said “If I could only use this power for good
I wouldn’t; not even if I could” in the song ‘Say What U Say’ in the album The Eminem Show.
He says that he will retain a few of the lines that he is known for, those that cause controversy but he will leave some for them who are yet to be signed to a record label. He raps that because of his fame and money some rappers feel threatened that he will take it all, and because of that, they have to take him or get rid of him.
He acknowledges that he too had his time doing underground music before he became famous but he still does his music like that of an underground music like Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe Monch is a rapper best known for the complexity of his lyrics and delivery, which is what Eminem is saying that he will stay true to.
Eminem keeps writing his music but even he admits that his colour has played a large role in his fame and fortune.
Eminem is talking about censorship by the media or by governments of which he has had his fair share of due to his often controversial lyrics, for instance the US Secret Service investigated him for his track ‘We as Americans’ for the line that mentions dead presidents and more.
On the ‘I’m Back’ track in Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem talked about the Columbine shootings. In all the versions sold, the words kids and Columbine were censored, he asks himself if he tried the same track today if he would get the same censorship now that his ratings have dropped.
This is another reference to Asgard, which could only be accessed through a portal.
Eminem tells his rivals that he is undergoing transformation to become a God when they are still stuck. The reality is that even if Eminem stopped rapping today, his place in history is accounted for, It is his way of accepting that in his 2004 album Encore, he was at his lowest in both his life and work but they have to move on from that fixation.
Eminem is saying that his rivals lyrics are as pointless as a Rapunzel with cornrows. Rapunzel is a children’s classic tale in which Rapunzel was imprisoned in a tower and to she would let her hair down to let her jailer, an evil enchantress and later a prince climb using her hair to get to her. Similarly, Eminem compares his rivals to Rapunzel, only their hair is braided and therefore useless to them, meaning that they have rhymes but they are not giving them fame or fortune.
Eminem is saying that he does not write his music to please the world. He also brings in the Ray J and Fabolous beef,in which Ray J had a gun and wanted to kill Fabolous. So Eminem has his gun, only it is not the common gun but a special delivery from the future, this simply means that Eminem has new material to daze his fans and rivals with.
Eminem is talking about the beef between Fabolous and Ray J, which began because of a private party at which Ray J was singing and Fabolous had hinted that it was something else other than a party.
Fabolous was hinting that the whole scene looked gay as Ray J sang ‘One Wish’ close to Floyd Mayweather as they were playing piano, a message he communicated via twitter.
Eminem raps that Ray J full of anger went to the station threatening to shoot fabolous. For the next couple of days that was the talk of the town.
J.J. Fad is an American rap group whose name stands for Just, Jammim, Fresh And Def, the group was formed in 1985.
Eminem says that he will keep the music coming at astronomical speeds because he is more than a human being and as he has stated, he is the Rap God.
Eminem is comparing himself to rubber, rubber is a material which can be molded in any shape and form, meaning that his music is something that he can control or shape as he pleases. Rubber also makes for a great sling shot where anything that touches it will bounce and it is similar to one of the childhood rhymes.
Eminem raps about completely demolishing his rivals while still giving his fans something that they can appreciate, and make them feel uplifted.
He raps that his rivals are like vultures who wait for him to fall away from glory so that they can be happy. This shows that his rivals have nothing better to do with their time.
Eminem uses these lines to have an impact in society, it is some of the good that he gives back to society. This can be seen in his ‘Lose Yourself’ an award winning song which was the soundtrack for 8 Mile and ‘Not Afraid’ that is in the album ‘Recovery.’ Eminem tells them that he writes music that will have an impact in people’s lives not the type or boring music played in elevators.
Eminem was criticized because of songs such as the two above with people saying that he has gone soft and is no longer producing underground music. Eminem clarifies that those two songs do not count as rap but rather a different type of Pop music.
He says that he and Dre have found a way to fuse rap and rock, to create something that is nice to listen to but still retain the shock value associated with music.
Eminem gives an example of two of his tracks where shock rap has worked. It should be noted that ‘Lose Yourself’ earned its recognition as the first rap song to win an Oscar.
This is another play on words by Eminem, using his verses and versus against the rivals, which keeps bothering them. He tells them that he is not easy to imitate and if any of them can crack his code, then they should let him know.
Eminem asks his rivals how many verses do they want him to murder, meaning rap for them to concede defeat.
Eminem compares his murdering verses to sacrificing virgins, he asks them to prove that they are even just half as good. Virgins were sacrificed to Gods by ancient cultures and if his rivals were half as great, as he is, then they too would be receiving sacrifices. This line can also be interpreted to mean, if they would be willing to sacrifice virgins just to get half of the talent that Eminem possesses.
These are some of the terms that have been used against Eminem, that he is a drop out and a drug addict and yet it is a combination of these factors and others that have brought his fame and fortune. Although Eminem dropped out of school in ninth grade, there is no doubt about his literature skills, so to make fun of his rivals he uses the word ‘brung’ just for mockery purposes. In reality, Eminem is one of the few rappers who use correct English in their rap and still manages to make great hits.
He says that back then he was proud even when he had nothing and even now with all he could ever want he still drives himself hard to accomplish his goals. In his movie 8 Mile, Eminem was known to work for close to sixteen hours a day. It can also mean that he is successful but still longs to work even harder.
Eminem considers himself to be way ahead of his rivals and but he still makes hits even when rapping gibberish. It can also mean that even under drug induced insanity he still makes great hits.
His rapping has made him high so he passes on the baton to his rivals, who refers to as Satan, while he takes a break. Alternatively, it can mean that Eminem is so drunk that instead of calling God he tells the devil to drive or make his decisions a bit. The opposite of this line was in a song ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ by Carrie Underwood and knowing Eminem and his controversies this could be a point to watch.
Eminem pays Homage to Heavy D through the words of his song ‘Chunky but Funky’ from the album Living Large, he was an American rapper who died in 2011.
Eminem goes back to the first lines of his song by bringing back that troubling feeling, it is the classic fight between the good and the bad. He says his feeling is making him want to get rid some of the hate against women. This is a major change from Eminem, who never seems lucky with the women in his life.
Eminem is referring to his public legal battles with his mother and Kim the mother of his child, so he begs for a little patience and understanding of his plight.
He tells the women to try understand his background and his upbringing which was one of the earlier subjects of his music such as ‘Cleaning Out My Closet. He also hopes that they can understand what discrimination is all about, partly because equality is yet to be achieved for women, so they know what it is means being on the outside looking in but also the racial discrimination that he has been subject to as a white rapper in a black dominated field.
Eminem is saying that at times you work with whatever talent that you have, its about accepting the situation then trying to make the better of it. Another show of Eminem’s skills is using the words ‘but fuck it’ to address his alleged homophobic tendencies. In the past he said of gays “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want” hence the reference to making lemonade.
Another of Eminem’s word plays comes back into use. Eminem was accused of battering his former partner Kim, however he is asking that if he can’t be with them, how else will he understand them, which to him, includes pushing them to see far just how far he can get away with it.
He does not want to be mistaken for something that he is not. This could be because of internet rumours of being part of the Illuminati or his earlier line with Satan.
Further mischief in Eminem’s line is using the words ‘ a vacation to trip abroad,’ i.e. trip a broad, this means that he still has his ways of getting at the women despite being asked to be understood a few lines above.
He finishes the song by asking why should he settle for the lower position of a king who rules limited territory when he can be God and have it all.
Eminem starts the song with a sweet tone and says his intention is not to hurt someone’s feelings but they have to address the issue that is bothering him. In these lines he acknowledges that he is not the man or the rapper that he used to be since his break. At this point his alter personality, Slim Shady takes the mic.
Eminem has this feeling that is bothering of him of some impending trouble. This part of the song is being used to issue a warning to his rivals that he has had it with the disses and this is an official reply to his rivals.
Eminem says that this song is what the doctor ordered, the doctor here being Dr Dre. Dr Dre is a rapper, producer and the entrepreneur who owns Aftermath Entertainment and introduced Eminem to the world. So this line could mean that getting whatever that is bothering him off his chest is the solution that was given for his ailment.
Eminem begins by saying that he is feeling invincible just like a God because he believes that he is the greatest rapper that ever lived.
He invites his rivals to a challenge of slap boxing, which is a form of martial arts. The same line can also be a metaphor for a rap challenge. The phrase on boxing, about arms that are too short to box with God were first used by James Weldon Johnson in his poem ‘The Prodigal song.’
His rivals have compared his performance style to that of a robot, meaning that he is mechanical in his rap, to which he replies that may be it is because he is one, only specifically designed to rap. The rapbot term was used by Liam Lynch in a parody. He also talks of the gadgets that he uses to note down his lyrical ideas.
Eminem compares his pen, which is his weapon to a gun, which at its safest it is clicked onto a half-cock position. However, unlike the gun, his pen shoots off and starts writing. At times in the course of his work Eminem is said to become a workaholic.
Eminem says that he has earned a lot of money from making rap music that gives him a suitable life, like that of a god. A fat knot is a wad of bills that are rolled up. Eminem could also be using a play on words when he uses rap profit, which when twisted can sound close to rap prophet and just like a prophet always sets the way for God’s messenger, Dr Dre also set the path for Eminem.
He says that he has been rapping since the former president Bill Clinton was in office. Bill Clinton was the president of the USA between 1993 to 2001 and was accused of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky who was an intern in the White House, to which he said that it was not an affair but rather that she just gave him blowjobs, for this act he was almost impeached. Eminem has also used the comparison to Bill Clinton in ‘My Name Is’ in the album The Slim Shady LP.
Eminem uses the line, ‘Kill ’em all’ from the group OFWGKTA, the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, a hip hop group from California.
He uses these lines from the song ‘Rappers Delight’ by the group Sugar Hill Gang and the original words were ‘I said the Hip-Hop, the hibby, the hibby the hip-hip-hop.
Eminem says that just like back then, he is still the same rapper who was honest, rude and indecent. For the rudeness and indecency he has been accused of being racist, misogynist and homophobic. He however maintains that his rap style has remained the same, with killer rhymes, great melodies and enunciation.
He pays tribute to Big Punisher, who used the lines ‘packing a mac in the back of the Ac.’ Big Punisher was a rapper and actor who died in the year 2000 and was considered one of the best lyricists of the time.
He tells his rivals that should they accept his challenge, they cannot outdo his rapping skills. It is well known that Eminem can combine words that may seem to mean nothing and make them rhyme and make sense. Eminem, for instance uses the words backpack rap, which is rap that is not mainstream with yap-yap and yackety-yack which is the equivalent of making useless and meaningless noise. Yackety-yack is also a song by the Coasters. So in these lines Eminem tells his rivals to quit making senseless noise about his being mainstream and that they should shut up.
Eminem says that through it all he is able to perform a spectacular performance and make money while at it. The breaking a table could also refer to their career in wrestling or a fight match with some former friends. Eminem has defended the use of the word faggot by saying he saying he nothing against gay people but rather that it was a word that he grew up around.
He uses this to show that even after his experiences, the aftermath, he still managed to get a great producer who owns the Aftermath entertainment company, which was the perfect recipe for his success.
Eminem completes the verse by sympathizing with his rivals about having a bad time and offers them a maxi pad, a sanitary product, to wipe off the blood while he keeps working on what he considers one of his best works. He also raps that their attempts are pathetic at best.
Eminem says that keeping up the hard work and fame is not hard. He suggests that they stop thinking that he knows the secret to longevity because he doesn’t know it.
He then admits that there is a formula that works, his bottled up anger and his youth and to hit the fans hard or impress them, so much that one becomes unforgettable. Besides according to him, people are tired of the conventional and it always takes the unique or controversial person to make it. Blueprint was also Jay Zs album released in 2001 and like him, he has managed to keep his place in the spotlight.
His music is so unique that aspiring rappers have to study it to get his style. He says that from being an aspiring rapper he is now the teacher of rap. ‘Bus the rhyme’ can also be taken to mean a reference to Busta Rhymes, a rapper and producer, he was also a member of Leaders of the New school, making a further argument for Eminem’s training of new rappers. He is famous too, for his great rhymes and fast rapping style.
Eminem is talking about the people who have inspired him in his work.
Run DMC is another major influence on Eminem and in 2009, Eminem inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, something that he considered a great honour.
Eminem is comparing himself to his idols who he says he can’t live up to and can only be inducted into the alco(hol) of fame and shame, possibly because of the nature of his lyrics which have been said to be homophobic, misogynist and racist. He also considers his own drug abuse as a factor. Some alcohol establishments also used to have a wall of shame for patrons caught in uncompromising or embarrassing poses.
He says his rivals think that all the beef is just a joke. He uses these lines to shed light on one of the people that he has beef with namely Waka Flocka Fame and makes it clear by quoting the line ‘what the fuck you thinking’ from his debut album Flockaveli.
Eminem continues with his gay insults and tells the above artist what he thinks of him, pitiable.
He concludes that his rivals are being slaughtered with a word play on mass occur for massacre. He uses the Oy Vey line from a comedy movie by the same title released in 2010.
Eminem says that his rivals are the type that is ruled by the record labels, they produce what the label wants and not what they would like. He mocks them on their relationship with the labels which tell their artists ‘way to go’ and then he adds ‘a’ just before the words to show a dismissal by the same label, just like how one would deal with a four year child to encourage them and at the same time get rid of them. Contrary to such a scenario his work with Dr Dre is different, him doing the work and Dre cheering him on.
Eminem concludes the verse by telling them that he earns his keep, which is true because Eminem likes having a handle on what he is doing and will even take time away to ensure the rhymes flow as well as his word use. He dismisses by telling them that they will never catch up with him. Dr Dre is also known for pushing hard anyone that he has signed to his label.
Eminem says that his pace in the music industry is only comparable to that of Ralph Dale Earnhardt, one of the biggest racing drivers in Nascar, an American racing sport. Dale died on the track and it could be equated to show that Eminem will die while still rapping.
Eminem, who was a big fan of comics as a child brings in a reference to General Dru-Zod a super villain in DC comics who is also one superman’s headaches. Zod and Superman are both from Krypton and Eminem uses this comparison to show himself as the villain. Asgard on the other hand is the nine worlds that make the homes of the AEsir gods or the Nordics heaven, it is ruled by Odin. Eminem as he role plays he says that the Earth is not Krypton but Asgard.
As Odin, the king of the heavens, Eminem will still be stronger than his rivals, who he casts as Thor, who is the son of Odin. As Odin, Eminem can banish his rivals who he tells that although they learned under his tutelage in rapping skills they can never equal his prowess.
He says that when they take a break he will be working on new material to blast them with. When working he does not want to be disturbed because he is in a sort of inspired daze. This could be Eminem’s way of telling them to let the sleeping dogs lie, as they might not like the reaction when the dogs wake up.
He says that even his rival’s mother has bowed down to him and is giving him a blowjob.
Eminem is using the noodles symbolically, they do look like brains, so this can be interpreted to mean that Eminem is out of his rightful mind, meaning that he is crazy. Ramen noodles are mostly used by the poor and Eminem is using this line to show where he has come from. His rivals on the other hand are pedigree poodles, a dog breed associated with the wealthy and is more of a lapdog, so his rivals rap about things that they don’t fully appreciate and for them, things are handed down on a silver spoon whereas he had to work hard to get to where he is. As with most small dogs, poodles are known to bark, a lot, however, for all their bark they do not bite.
Eminem compares himself to a doberman, a dog known for its intelligence, attentiveness and loyalty and often classified as a working dog. Eminem considers himself as great as doberman, when he tells his rivals to pinch himself, he is using the second name for a doberman, Pinscher, and he tells them to give recognition to greatness.
He raps that at times the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow but it would be pointless to have talent and squander it, and in fact every once in a while he will use it for the greater good.
This is how Eminem refers to his works in progress or drafts that he writes on pieces of paper, which to any outsider might appear like meaningless scrawls.
Eminem is saying that where he can he will use his music to help those that he inspires or his fans through challenging times in their life. The lines also show Eminem’s growth from a time when he said “If I could only use this power for good
I wouldn’t; not even if I could” in the song ‘Say What U Say’ in the album The Eminem Show.
He says that he will retain a few of the lines that he is known for, those that cause controversy but he will leave some for them who are yet to be signed to a record label. He raps that because of his fame and money some rappers feel threatened that he will take it all, and because of that, they have to take him or get rid of him.
He acknowledges that he too had his time doing underground music before he became famous but he still does his music like that of an underground music like Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe Monch is a rapper best known for the complexity of his lyrics and delivery, which is what Eminem is saying that he will stay true to.
Eminem keeps writing his music but even he admits that his colour has played a large role in his fame and fortune.
Eminem is talking about censorship by the media or by governments of which he has had his fair share of due to his often controversial lyrics, for instance the US Secret Service investigated him for his track ‘We as Americans’ for the line that mentions dead presidents and more.
On the ‘I’m Back’ track in Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem talked about the Columbine shootings. In all the versions sold, the words kids and Columbine were censored, he asks himself if he tried the same track today if he would get the same censorship now that his ratings have dropped.
This is another reference to Asgard, which could only be accessed through a portal.
Eminem tells his rivals that he is undergoing transformation to become a God when they are still stuck. The reality is that even if Eminem stopped rapping today, his place in history is accounted for, It is his way of accepting that in his 2004 album Encore, he was at his lowest in both his life and work but they have to move on from that fixation.
Eminem is saying that his rivals lyrics are as pointless as a Rapunzel with cornrows. Rapunzel is a children’s classic tale in which Rapunzel was imprisoned in a tower and to she would let her hair down to let her jailer, an evil enchantress and later a prince climb using her hair to get to her. Similarly, Eminem compares his rivals to Rapunzel, only their hair is braided and therefore useless to them, meaning that they have rhymes but they are not giving them fame or fortune.
Eminem is saying that he does not write his music to please the world. He also brings in the Ray J and Fabolous beef,in which Ray J had a gun and wanted to kill Fabolous. So Eminem has his gun, only it is not the common gun but a special delivery from the future, this simply means that Eminem has new material to daze his fans and rivals with.
Eminem is talking about the beef between Fabolous and Ray J, which began because of a private party at which Ray J was singing and Fabolous had hinted that it was something else other than a party.
Fabolous was hinting that the whole scene looked gay as Ray J sang ‘One Wish’ close to Floyd Mayweather as they were playing piano, a message he communicated via twitter.
Eminem raps that Ray J full of anger went to the station threatening to shoot fabolous. For the next couple of days that was the talk of the town.
J.J. Fad is an American rap group whose name stands for Just, Jammim, Fresh And Def, the group was formed in 1985.
Eminem says that he will keep the music coming at astronomical speeds because he is more than a human being and as he has stated, he is the Rap God.
Eminem is comparing himself to rubber, rubber is a material which can be molded in any shape and form, meaning that his music is something that he can control or shape as he pleases. Rubber also makes for a great sling shot where anything that touches it will bounce and it is similar to one of the childhood rhymes.
Eminem raps about completely demolishing his rivals while still giving his fans something that they can appreciate, and make them feel uplifted.
He raps that his rivals are like vultures who wait for him to fall away from glory so that they can be happy. This shows that his rivals have nothing better to do with their time.
Eminem uses these lines to have an impact in society, it is some of the good that he gives back to society. This can be seen in his ‘Lose Yourself’ an award winning song which was the soundtrack for 8 Mile and ‘Not Afraid’ that is in the album ‘Recovery.’ Eminem tells them that he writes music that will have an impact in people’s lives not the type or boring music played in elevators.
Eminem was criticized because of songs such as the two above with people saying that he has gone soft and is no longer producing underground music. Eminem clarifies that those two songs do not count as rap but rather a different type of Pop music.
He says that he and Dre have found a way to fuse rap and rock, to create something that is nice to listen to but still retain the shock value associated with music.
Eminem gives an example of two of his tracks where shock rap has worked. It should be noted that ‘Lose Yourself’ earned its recognition as the first rap song to win an Oscar.
This is another play on words by Eminem, using his verses and versus against the rivals, which keeps bothering them. He tells them that he is not easy to imitate and if any of them can crack his code, then they should let him know.
Eminem asks his rivals how many verses do they want him to murder, meaning rap for them to concede defeat.
Eminem compares his murdering verses to sacrificing virgins, he asks them to prove that they are even just half as good. Virgins were sacrificed to Gods by ancient cultures and if his rivals were half as great, as he is, then they too would be receiving sacrifices. This line can also be interpreted to mean, if they would be willing to sacrifice virgins just to get half of the talent that Eminem possesses.
These are some of the terms that have been used against Eminem, that he is a drop out and a drug addict and yet it is a combination of these factors and others that have brought his fame and fortune. Although Eminem dropped out of school in ninth grade, there is no doubt about his literature skills, so to make fun of his rivals he uses the word ‘brung’ just for mockery purposes. In reality, Eminem is one of the few rappers who use correct English in their rap and still manages to make great hits.
He says that back then he was proud even when he had nothing and even now with all he could ever want he still drives himself hard to accomplish his goals. In his movie 8 Mile, Eminem was known to work for close to sixteen hours a day. It can also mean that he is successful but still longs to work even harder.
Eminem considers himself to be way ahead of his rivals and but he still makes hits even when rapping gibberish. It can also mean that even under drug induced insanity he still makes great hits.
His rapping has made him high so he passes on the baton to his rivals, who refers to as Satan, while he takes a break. Alternatively, it can mean that Eminem is so drunk that instead of calling God he tells the devil to drive or make his decisions a bit. The opposite of this line was in a song ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ by Carrie Underwood and knowing Eminem and his controversies this could be a point to watch.
Eminem pays Homage to Heavy D through the words of his song ‘Chunky but Funky’ from the album Living Large, he was an American rapper who died in 2011.
Eminem goes back to the first lines of his song by bringing back that troubling feeling, it is the classic fight between the good and the bad. He says his feeling is making him want to get rid some of the hate against women. This is a major change from Eminem, who never seems lucky with the women in his life.
Eminem is referring to his public legal battles with his mother and Kim the mother of his child, so he begs for a little patience and understanding of his plight.
He tells the women to try understand his background and his upbringing which was one of the earlier subjects of his music such as ‘Cleaning Out My Closet. He also hopes that they can understand what discrimination is all about, partly because equality is yet to be achieved for women, so they know what it is means being on the outside looking in but also the racial discrimination that he has been subject to as a white rapper in a black dominated field.
Eminem is saying that at times you work with whatever talent that you have, its about accepting the situation then trying to make the better of it. Another show of Eminem’s skills is using the words ‘but fuck it’ to address his alleged homophobic tendencies. In the past he said of gays “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want” hence the reference to making lemonade.
Another of Eminem’s word plays comes back into use. Eminem was accused of battering his former partner Kim, however he is asking that if he can’t be with them, how else will he understand them, which to him, includes pushing them to see far just how far he can get away with it.
He does not want to be mistaken for something that he is not. This could be because of internet rumours of being part of the Illuminati or his earlier line with Satan.
Further mischief in Eminem’s line is using the words ‘ a vacation to trip abroad,’ i.e. trip a broad, this means that he still has his ways of getting at the women despite being asked to be understood a few lines above.
He finishes the song by asking why should he settle for the lower position of a king who rules limited territory when he can be God and have it all.
Eminem starts the song with a sweet tone and says his intention is not to hurt someone’s feelings but they have to address the issue that is bothering him. In these lines he acknowledges that he is not the man or the rapper that he used to be since his break. At this point his alter personality, Slim Shady takes the mic.
Eminem has this feeling that is bothering of him of some impending trouble. This part of the song is being used to issue a warning to his rivals that he has had it with the disses and this is an official reply to his rivals.
Eminem says that this song is what the doctor ordered, the doctor here being Dr Dre. Dr Dre is a rapper, producer and the entrepreneur who owns Aftermath Entertainment and introduced Eminem to the world. So this line could mean that getting whatever that is bothering him off his chest is the solution that was given for his ailment.
Eminem begins by saying that he is feeling invincible just like a God because he believes that he is the greatest rapper that ever lived.
He invites his rivals to a challenge of slap boxing, which is a form of martial arts. The same line can also be a metaphor for a rap challenge. The phrase on boxing, about arms that are too short to box with God were first used by James Weldon Johnson in his poem ‘The Prodigal song.’
His rivals have compared his performance style to that of a robot, meaning that he is mechanical in his rap, to which he replies that may be it is because he is one, only specifically designed to rap. The rapbot term was used by Liam Lynch in a parody. He also talks of the gadgets that he uses to note down his lyrical ideas.
Eminem compares his pen, which is his weapon to a gun, which at its safest it is clicked onto a half-cock position. However, unlike the gun, his pen shoots off and starts writing. At times in the course of his work Eminem is said to become a workaholic.
Eminem says that he has earned a lot of money from making rap music that gives him a suitable life, like that of a god. A fat knot is a wad of bills that are rolled up. Eminem could also be using a play on words when he uses rap profit, which when twisted can sound close to rap prophet and just like a prophet always sets the way for God’s messenger, Dr Dre also set the path for Eminem.
He says that he has been rapping since the former president Bill Clinton was in office. Bill Clinton was the president of the USA between 1993 to 2001 and was accused of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky who was an intern in the White House, to which he said that it was not an affair but rather that she just gave him blowjobs, for this act he was almost impeached. Eminem has also used the comparison to Bill Clinton in ‘My Name Is’ in the album The Slim Shady LP.
Eminem uses the line, ‘Kill ’em all’ from the group OFWGKTA, the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, a hip hop group from California.
He uses these lines from the song ‘Rappers Delight’ by the group Sugar Hill Gang and the original words were ‘I said the Hip-Hop, the hibby, the hibby the hip-hip-hop.
Eminem says that just like back then, he is still the same rapper who was honest, rude and indecent. For the rudeness and indecency he has been accused of being racist, misogynist and homophobic. He however maintains that his rap style has remained the same, with killer rhymes, great melodies and enunciation.
He pays tribute to Big Punisher, who used the lines ‘packing a mac in the back of the Ac.’ Big Punisher was a rapper and actor who died in the year 2000 and was considered one of the best lyricists of the time.
He tells his rivals that should they accept his challenge, they cannot outdo his rapping skills. It is well known that Eminem can combine words that may seem to mean nothing and make them rhyme and make sense. Eminem, for instance uses the words backpack rap, which is rap that is not mainstream with yap-yap and yackety-yack which is the equivalent of making useless and meaningless noise. Yackety-yack is also a song by the Coasters. So in these lines Eminem tells his rivals to quit making senseless noise about his being mainstream and that they should shut up.
Eminem says that through it all he is able to perform a spectacular performance and make money while at it. The breaking a table could also refer to their career in wrestling or a fight match with some former friends. Eminem has defended the use of the word faggot by saying he saying he nothing against gay people but rather that it was a word that he grew up around.
He uses this to show that even after his experiences, the aftermath, he still managed to get a great producer who owns the Aftermath entertainment company, which was the perfect recipe for his success.
Eminem completes the verse by sympathizing with his rivals about having a bad time and offers them a maxi pad, a sanitary product, to wipe off the blood while he keeps working on what he considers one of his best works. He also raps that their attempts are pathetic at best.
Eminem says that keeping up the hard work and fame is not hard. He suggests that they stop thinking that he knows the secret to longevity because he doesn’t know it.
He then admits that there is a formula that works, his bottled up anger and his youth and to hit the fans hard or impress them, so much that one becomes unforgettable. Besides according to him, people are tired of the conventional and it always takes the unique or controversial person to make it. Blueprint was also Jay Zs album released in 2001 and like him, he has managed to keep his place in the spotlight.
His music is so unique that aspiring rappers have to study it to get his style. He says that from being an aspiring rapper he is now the teacher of rap. ‘Bus the rhyme’ can also be taken to mean a reference to Busta Rhymes, a rapper and producer, he was also a member of Leaders of the New school, making a further argument for Eminem’s training of new rappers. He is famous too, for his great rhymes and fast rapping style.
Eminem is talking about the people who have inspired him in his work.
Run DMC is another major influence on Eminem and in 2009, Eminem inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, something that he considered a great honour.
Eminem is comparing himself to his idols who he says he can’t live up to and can only be inducted into the alco(hol) of fame and shame, possibly because of the nature of his lyrics which have been said to be homophobic, misogynist and racist. He also considers his own drug abuse as a factor. Some alcohol establishments also used to have a wall of shame for patrons caught in uncompromising or embarrassing poses.
He says his rivals think that all the beef is just a joke. He uses these lines to shed light on one of the people that he has beef with namely Waka Flocka Fame and makes it clear by quoting the line ‘what the fuck you thinking’ from his debut album Flockaveli.
Eminem continues with his gay insults and tells the above artist what he thinks of him, pitiable.
He concludes that his rivals are being slaughtered with a word play on mass occur for massacre. He uses the Oy Vey line from a comedy movie by the same title released in 2010.
Eminem says that his rivals are the type that is ruled by the record labels, they produce what the label wants and not what they would like. He mocks them on their relationship with the labels which tell their artists ‘way to go’ and then he adds ‘a’ just before the words to show a dismissal by the same label, just like how one would deal with a four year child to encourage them and at the same time get rid of them. Contrary to such a scenario his work with Dr Dre is different, him doing the work and Dre cheering him on.
Eminem concludes the verse by telling them that he earns his keep, which is true because Eminem likes having a handle on what he is doing and will even take time away to ensure the rhymes flow as well as his word use. He dismisses by telling them that they will never catch up with him. Dr Dre is also known for pushing hard anyone that he has signed to his label.
Eminem says that his pace in the music industry is only comparable to that of Ralph Dale Earnhardt, one of the biggest racing drivers in Nascar, an American racing sport. Dale died on the track and it could be equated to show that Eminem will die while still rapping.
Eminem, who was a big fan of comics as a child brings in a reference to General Dru-Zod a super villain in DC comics who is also one superman’s headaches. Zod and Superman are both from Krypton and Eminem uses this comparison to show himself as the villain. Asgard on the other hand is the nine worlds that make the homes of the AEsir gods or the Nordics heaven, it is ruled by Odin. Eminem as he role plays he says that the Earth is not Krypton but Asgard.
As Odin, the king of the heavens, Eminem will still be stronger than his rivals, who he casts as Thor, who is the son of Odin. As Odin, Eminem can banish his rivals who he tells that although they learned under his tutelage in rapping skills they can never equal his prowess.
He says that when they take a break he will be working on new material to blast them with. When working he does not want to be disturbed because he is in a sort of inspired daze. This could be Eminem’s way of telling them to let the sleeping dogs lie, as they might not like the reaction when the dogs wake up.
He says that even his rival’s mother has bowed down to him and is giving him a blowjob.
Eminem is using the noodles symbolically, they do look like brains, so this can be interpreted to mean that Eminem is out of his rightful mind, meaning that he is crazy. Ramen noodles are mostly used by the poor and Eminem is using this line to show where he has come from. His rivals on the other hand are pedigree poodles, a dog breed associated with the wealthy and is more of a lapdog, so his rivals rap about things that they don’t fully appreciate and for them, things are handed down on a silver spoon whereas he had to work hard to get to where he is. As with most small dogs, poodles are known to bark, a lot, however, for all their bark they do not bite.
Eminem compares himself to a doberman, a dog known for its intelligence, attentiveness and loyalty and often classified as a working dog. Eminem considers himself as great as doberman, when he tells his rivals to pinch himself, he is using the second name for a doberman, Pinscher, and he tells them to give recognition to greatness.
He raps that at times the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow but it would be pointless to have talent and squander it, and in fact every once in a while he will use it for the greater good.
This is how Eminem refers to his works in progress or drafts that he writes on pieces of paper, which to any outsider might appear like meaningless scrawls.
Eminem is saying that where he can he will use his music to help those that he inspires or his fans through challenging times in their life. The lines also show Eminem’s growth from a time when he said “If I could only use this power for good
I wouldn’t; not even if I could” in the song ‘Say What U Say’ in the album The Eminem Show.
He says that he will retain a few of the lines that he is known for, those that cause controversy but he will leave some for them who are yet to be signed to a record label. He raps that because of his fame and money some rappers feel threatened that he will take it all, and because of that, they have to take him or get rid of him.
He acknowledges that he too had his time doing underground music before he became famous but he still does his music like that of an underground music like Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe Monch is a rapper best known for the complexity of his lyrics and delivery, which is what Eminem is saying that he will stay true to.
Eminem keeps writing his music but even he admits that his colour has played a large role in his fame and fortune.
Eminem is talking about censorship by the media or by governments of which he has had his fair share of due to his often controversial lyrics, for instance the US Secret Service investigated him for his track ‘We as Americans’ for the line that mentions dead presidents and more.
On the ‘I’m Back’ track in Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem talked about the Columbine shootings. In all the versions sold, the words kids and Columbine were censored, he asks himself if he tried the same track today if he would get the same censorship now that his ratings have dropped.
This is another reference to Asgard, which could only be accessed through a portal.
Eminem tells his rivals that he is undergoing transformation to become a God when they are still stuck. The reality is that even if Eminem stopped rapping today, his place in history is accounted for, It is his way of accepting that in his 2004 album Encore, he was at his lowest in both his life and work but they have to move on from that fixation.
Eminem is saying that his rivals lyrics are as pointless as a Rapunzel with cornrows. Rapunzel is a children’s classic tale in which Rapunzel was imprisoned in a tower and to she would let her hair down to let her jailer, an evil enchantress and later a prince climb using her hair to get to her. Similarly, Eminem compares his rivals to Rapunzel, only their hair is braided and therefore useless to them, meaning that they have rhymes but they are not giving them fame or fortune.
Eminem is saying that he does not write his music to please the world. He also brings in the Ray J and Fabolous beef,in which Ray J had a gun and wanted to kill Fabolous. So Eminem has his gun, only it is not the common gun but a special delivery from the future, this simply means that Eminem has new material to daze his fans and rivals with.
Eminem is talking about the beef between Fabolous and Ray J, which began because of a private party at which Ray J was singing and Fabolous had hinted that it was something else other than a party.
Fabolous was hinting that the whole scene looked gay as Ray J sang ‘One Wish’ close to Floyd Mayweather as they were playing piano, a message he communicated via twitter.
Eminem raps that Ray J full of anger went to the station threatening to shoot fabolous. For the next couple of days that was the talk of the town.
J.J. Fad is an American rap group whose name stands for Just, Jammim, Fresh And Def, the group was formed in 1985.
Eminem says that he will keep the music coming at astronomical speeds because he is more than a human being and as he has stated, he is the Rap God.
Eminem is comparing himself to rubber, rubber is a material which can be molded in any shape and form, meaning that his music is something that he can control or shape as he pleases. Rubber also makes for a great sling shot where anything that touches it will bounce and it is similar to one of the childhood rhymes.
Eminem raps about completely demolishing his rivals while still giving his fans something that they can appreciate, and make them feel uplifted.
He raps that his rivals are like vultures who wait for him to fall away from glory so that they can be happy. This shows that his rivals have nothing better to do with their time.
Eminem uses these lines to have an impact in society, it is some of the good that he gives back to society. This can be seen in his ‘Lose Yourself’ an award winning song which was the soundtrack for 8 Mile and ‘Not Afraid’ that is in the album ‘Recovery.’ Eminem tells them that he writes music that will have an impact in people’s lives not the type or boring music played in elevators.
Eminem was criticized because of songs such as the two above with people saying that he has gone soft and is no longer producing underground music. Eminem clarifies that those two songs do not count as rap but rather a different type of Pop music.
He says that he and Dre have found a way to fuse rap and rock, to create something that is nice to listen to but still retain the shock value associated with music.
Eminem gives an example of two of his tracks where shock rap has worked. It should be noted that ‘Lose Yourself’ earned its recognition as the first rap song to win an Oscar.
This is another play on words by Eminem, using his verses and versus against the rivals, which keeps bothering them. He tells them that he is not easy to imitate and if any of them can crack his code, then they should let him know.
Eminem asks his rivals how many verses do they want him to murder, meaning rap for them to concede defeat.
Eminem compares his murdering verses to sacrificing virgins, he asks them to prove that they are even just half as good. Virgins were sacrificed to Gods by ancient cultures and if his rivals were half as great, as he is, then they too would be receiving sacrifices. This line can also be interpreted to mean, if they would be willing to sacrifice virgins just to get half of the talent that Eminem possesses.
These are some of the terms that have been used against Eminem, that he is a drop out and a drug addict and yet it is a combination of these factors and others that have brought his fame and fortune. Although Eminem dropped out of school in ninth grade, there is no doubt about his literature skills, so to make fun of his rivals he uses the word ‘brung’ just for mockery purposes. In reality, Eminem is one of the few rappers who use correct English in their rap and still manages to make great hits.
He says that back then he was proud even when he had nothing and even now with all he could ever want he still drives himself hard to accomplish his goals. In his movie 8 Mile, Eminem was known to work for close to sixteen hours a day. It can also mean that he is successful but still longs to work even harder.
Eminem considers himself to be way ahead of his rivals and but he still makes hits even when rapping gibberish. It can also mean that even under drug induced insanity he still makes great hits.
His rapping has made him high so he passes on the baton to his rivals, who refers to as Satan, while he takes a break. Alternatively, it can mean that Eminem is so drunk that instead of calling God he tells the devil to drive or make his decisions a bit. The opposite of this line was in a song ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ by Carrie Underwood and knowing Eminem and his controversies this could be a point to watch.
Eminem pays Homage to Heavy D through the words of his song ‘Chunky but Funky’ from the album Living Large, he was an American rapper who died in 2011.
Eminem goes back to the first lines of his song by bringing back that troubling feeling, it is the classic fight between the good and the bad. He says his feeling is making him want to get rid some of the hate against women. This is a major change from Eminem, who never seems lucky with the women in his life.
Eminem is referring to his public legal battles with his mother and Kim the mother of his child, so he begs for a little patience and understanding of his plight.
He tells the women to try understand his background and his upbringing which was one of the earlier subjects of his music such as ‘Cleaning Out My Closet. He also hopes that they can understand what discrimination is all about, partly because equality is yet to be achieved for women, so they know what it is means being on the outside looking in but also the racial discrimination that he has been subject to as a white rapper in a black dominated field.
Eminem is saying that at times you work with whatever talent that you have, its about accepting the situation then trying to make the better of it. Another show of Eminem’s skills is using the words ‘but fuck it’ to address his alleged homophobic tendencies. In the past he said of gays “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want” hence the reference to making lemonade.
Another of Eminem’s word plays comes back into use. Eminem was accused of battering his former partner Kim, however he is asking that if he can’t be with them, how else will he understand them, which to him, includes pushing them to see far just how far he can get away with it.
He does not want to be mistaken for something that he is not. This could be because of internet rumours of being part of the Illuminati or his earlier line with Satan.
Further mischief in Eminem’s line is using the words ‘ a vacation to trip abroad,’ i.e. trip a broad, this means that he still has his ways of getting at the women despite being asked to be understood a few lines above.
He finishes the song by asking why should he settle for the lower position of a king who rules limited territory when he can be God and have it all.
Eminem starts the song with a sweet tone and says his intention is not to hurt someone’s feelings but they have to address the issue that is bothering him. In these lines he acknowledges that he is not the man or the rapper that he used to be since his break. At this point his alter personality, Slim Shady takes the mic.
Eminem has this feeling that is bothering of him of some impending trouble. This part of the song is being used to issue a warning to his rivals that he has had it with the disses and this is an official reply to his rivals.
Eminem says that this song is what the doctor ordered, the doctor here being Dr Dre. Dr Dre is a rapper, producer and the entrepreneur who owns Aftermath Entertainment and introduced Eminem to the world. So this line could mean that getting whatever that is bothering him off his chest is the solution that was given for his ailment.
Eminem begins by saying that he is feeling invincible just like a God because he believes that he is the greatest rapper that ever lived.
He invites his rivals to a challenge of slap boxing, which is a form of martial arts. The same line can also be a metaphor for a rap challenge. The phrase on boxing, about arms that are too short to box with God were first used by James Weldon Johnson in his poem ‘The Prodigal song.’
His rivals have compared his performance style to that of a robot, meaning that he is mechanical in his rap, to which he replies that may be it is because he is one, only specifically designed to rap. The rapbot term was used by Liam Lynch in a parody. He also talks of the gadgets that he uses to note down his lyrical ideas.
Eminem compares his pen, which is his weapon to a gun, which at its safest it is clicked onto a half-cock position. However, unlike the gun, his pen shoots off and starts writing. At times in the course of his work Eminem is said to become a workaholic.
Eminem says that he has earned a lot of money from making rap music that gives him a suitable life, like that of a god. A fat knot is a wad of bills that are rolled up. Eminem could also be using a play on words when he uses rap profit, which when twisted can sound close to rap prophet and just like a prophet always sets the way for God’s messenger, Dr Dre also set the path for Eminem.
He says that he has been rapping since the former president Bill Clinton was in office. Bill Clinton was the president of the USA between 1993 to 2001 and was accused of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky who was an intern in the White House, to which he said that it was not an affair but rather that she just gave him blowjobs, for this act he was almost impeached. Eminem has also used the comparison to Bill Clinton in ‘My Name Is’ in the album The Slim Shady LP.
Eminem uses the line, ‘Kill ’em all’ from the group OFWGKTA, the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, a hip hop group from California.
He uses these lines from the song ‘Rappers Delight’ by the group Sugar Hill Gang and the original words were ‘I said the Hip-Hop, the hibby, the hibby the hip-hip-hop.
Eminem says that just like back then, he is still the same rapper who was honest, rude and indecent. For the rudeness and indecency he has been accused of being racist, misogynist and homophobic. He however maintains that his rap style has remained the same, with killer rhymes, great melodies and enunciation.
He pays tribute to Big Punisher, who used the lines ‘packing a mac in the back of the Ac.’ Big Punisher was a rapper and actor who died in the year 2000 and was considered one of the best lyricists of the time.
He tells his rivals that should they accept his challenge, they cannot outdo his rapping skills. It is well known that Eminem can combine words that may seem to mean nothing and make them rhyme and make sense. Eminem, for instance uses the words backpack rap, which is rap that is not mainstream with yap-yap and yackety-yack which is the equivalent of making useless and meaningless noise. Yackety-yack is also a song by the Coasters. So in these lines Eminem tells his rivals to quit making senseless noise about his being mainstream and that they should shut up.
Eminem says that through it all he is able to perform a spectacular performance and make money while at it. The breaking a table could also refer to their career in wrestling or a fight match with some former friends. Eminem has defended the use of the word faggot by saying he saying he nothing against gay people but rather that it was a word that he grew up around.
He uses this to show that even after his experiences, the aftermath, he still managed to get a great producer who owns the Aftermath entertainment company, which was the perfect recipe for his success.
Eminem completes the verse by sympathizing with his rivals about having a bad time and offers them a maxi pad, a sanitary product, to wipe off the blood while he keeps working on what he considers one of his best works. He also raps that their attempts are pathetic at best.
Eminem says that keeping up the hard work and fame is not hard. He suggests that they stop thinking that he knows the secret to longevity because he doesn’t know it.
He then admits that there is a formula that works, his bottled up anger and his youth and to hit the fans hard or impress them, so much that one becomes unforgettable. Besides according to him, people are tired of the conventional and it always takes the unique or controversial person to make it. Blueprint was also Jay Zs album released in 2001 and like him, he has managed to keep his place in the spotlight.
His music is so unique that aspiring rappers have to study it to get his style. He says that from being an aspiring rapper he is now the teacher of rap. ‘Bus the rhyme’ can also be taken to mean a reference to Busta Rhymes, a rapper and producer, he was also a member of Leaders of the New school, making a further argument for Eminem’s training of new rappers. He is famous too, for his great rhymes and fast rapping style.
Eminem is talking about the people who have inspired him in his work.
Run DMC is another major influence on Eminem and in 2009, Eminem inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, something that he considered a great honour.
Eminem is comparing himself to his idols who he says he can’t live up to and can only be inducted into the alco(hol) of fame and shame, possibly because of the nature of his lyrics which have been said to be homophobic, misogynist and racist. He also considers his own drug abuse as a factor. Some alcohol establishments also used to have a wall of shame for patrons caught in uncompromising or embarrassing poses.
He says his rivals think that all the beef is just a joke. He uses these lines to shed light on one of the people that he has beef with namely Waka Flocka Fame and makes it clear by quoting the line ‘what the fuck you thinking’ from his debut album Flockaveli.
Eminem continues with his gay insults and tells the above artist what he thinks of him, pitiable.
He concludes that his rivals are being slaughtered with a word play on mass occur for massacre. He uses the Oy Vey line from a comedy movie by the same title released in 2010.
Eminem says that his rivals are the type that is ruled by the record labels, they produce what the label wants and not what they would like. He mocks them on their relationship with the labels which tell their artists ‘way to go’ and then he adds ‘a’ just before the words to show a dismissal by the same label, just like how one would deal with a four year child to encourage them and at the same time get rid of them. Contrary to such a scenario his work with Dr Dre is different, him doing the work and Dre cheering him on.
Eminem concludes the verse by telling them that he earns his keep, which is true because Eminem likes having a handle on what he is doing and will even take time away to ensure the rhymes flow as well as his word use. He dismisses by telling them that they will never catch up with him. Dr Dre is also known for pushing hard anyone that he has signed to his label.
Eminem says that his pace in the music industry is only comparable to that of Ralph Dale Earnhardt, one of the biggest racing drivers in Nascar, an American racing sport. Dale died on the track and it could be equated to show that Eminem will die while still rapping.
Eminem, who was a big fan of comics as a child brings in a reference to General Dru-Zod a super villain in DC comics who is also one superman’s headaches. Zod and Superman are both from Krypton and Eminem uses this comparison to show himself as the villain. Asgard on the other hand is the nine worlds that make the homes of the AEsir gods or the Nordics heaven, it is ruled by Odin. Eminem as he role plays he says that the Earth is not Krypton but Asgard.
As Odin, the king of the heavens, Eminem will still be stronger than his rivals, who he casts as Thor, who is the son of Odin. As Odin, Eminem can banish his rivals who he tells that although they learned under his tutelage in rapping skills they can never equal his prowess.
He says that when they take a break he will be working on new material to blast them with. When working he does not want to be disturbed because he is in a sort of inspired daze. This could be Eminem’s way of telling them to let the sleeping dogs lie, as they might not like the reaction when the dogs wake up.
He says that even his rival’s mother has bowed down to him and is giving him a blowjob.
Eminem is using the noodles symbolically, they do look like brains, so this can be interpreted to mean that Eminem is out of his rightful mind, meaning that he is crazy. Ramen noodles are mostly used by the poor and Eminem is using this line to show where he has come from. His rivals on the other hand are pedigree poodles, a dog breed associated with the wealthy and is more of a lapdog, so his rivals rap about things that they don’t fully appreciate and for them, things are handed down on a silver spoon whereas he had to work hard to get to where he is. As with most small dogs, poodles are known to bark, a lot, however, for all their bark they do not bite.
Eminem compares himself to a doberman, a dog known for its intelligence, attentiveness and loyalty and often classified as a working dog. Eminem considers himself as great as doberman, when he tells his rivals to pinch himself, he is using the second name for a doberman, Pinscher, and he tells them to give recognition to greatness.
He raps that at times the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow but it would be pointless to have talent and squander it, and in fact every once in a while he will use it for the greater good.
This is how Eminem refers to his works in progress or drafts that he writes on pieces of paper, which to any outsider might appear like meaningless scrawls.
Eminem is saying that where he can he will use his music to help those that he inspires or his fans through challenging times in their life. The lines also show Eminem’s growth from a time when he said “If I could only use this power for good
I wouldn’t; not even if I could” in the song ‘Say What U Say’ in the album The Eminem Show.
He says that he will retain a few of the lines that he is known for, those that cause controversy but he will leave some for them who are yet to be signed to a record label. He raps that because of his fame and money some rappers feel threatened that he will take it all, and because of that, they have to take him or get rid of him.
He acknowledges that he too had his time doing underground music before he became famous but he still does his music like that of an underground music like Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe Monch is a rapper best known for the complexity of his lyrics and delivery, which is what Eminem is saying that he will stay true to.
Eminem keeps writing his music but even he admits that his colour has played a large role in his fame and fortune.
Eminem is talking about censorship by the media or by governments of which he has had his fair share of due to his often controversial lyrics, for instance the US Secret Service investigated him for his track ‘We as Americans’ for the line that mentions dead presidents and more.
On the ‘I’m Back’ track in Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem talked about the Columbine shootings. In all the versions sold, the words kids and Columbine were censored, he asks himself if he tried the same track today if he would get the same censorship now that his ratings have dropped.
This is another reference to Asgard, which could only be accessed through a portal.
Eminem tells his rivals that he is undergoing transformation to become a God when they are still stuck. The reality is that even if Eminem stopped rapping today, his place in history is accounted for, It is his way of accepting that in his 2004 album Encore, he was at his lowest in both his life and work but they have to move on from that fixation.
Eminem is saying that his rivals lyrics are as pointless as a Rapunzel with cornrows. Rapunzel is a children’s classic tale in which Rapunzel was imprisoned in a tower and to she would let her hair down to let her jailer, an evil enchantress and later a prince climb using her hair to get to her. Similarly, Eminem compares his rivals to Rapunzel, only their hair is braided and therefore useless to them, meaning that they have rhymes but they are not giving them fame or fortune.
Eminem is saying that he does not write his music to please the world. He also brings in the Ray J and Fabolous beef,in which Ray J had a gun and wanted to kill Fabolous. So Eminem has his gun, only it is not the common gun but a special delivery from the future, this simply means that Eminem has new material to daze his fans and rivals with.
Eminem is talking about the beef between Fabolous and Ray J, which began because of a private party at which Ray J was singing and Fabolous had hinted that it was something else other than a party.
Fabolous was hinting that the whole scene looked gay as Ray J sang ‘One Wish’ close to Floyd Mayweather as they were playing piano, a message he communicated via twitter.
Eminem raps that Ray J full of anger went to the station threatening to shoot fabolous. For the next couple of days that was the talk of the town.
J.J. Fad is an American rap group whose name stands for Just, Jammim, Fresh And Def, the group was formed in 1985.
Eminem says that he will keep the music coming at astronomical speeds because he is more than a human being and as he has stated, he is the Rap God.
Eminem is comparing himself to rubber, rubber is a material which can be molded in any shape and form, meaning that his music is something that he can control or shape as he pleases. Rubber also makes for a great sling shot where anything that touches it will bounce and it is similar to one of the childhood rhymes.
Eminem raps about completely demolishing his rivals while still giving his fans something that they can appreciate, and make them feel uplifted.
He raps that his rivals are like vultures who wait for him to fall away from glory so that they can be happy. This shows that his rivals have nothing better to do with their time.
Eminem uses these lines to have an impact in society, it is some of the good that he gives back to society. This can be seen in his ‘Lose Yourself’ an award winning song which was the soundtrack for 8 Mile and ‘Not Afraid’ that is in the album ‘Recovery.’ Eminem tells them that he writes music that will have an impact in people’s lives not the type or boring music played in elevators.
Eminem was criticized because of songs such as the two above with people saying that he has gone soft and is no longer producing underground music. Eminem clarifies that those two songs do not count as rap but rather a different type of Pop music.
He says that he and Dre have found a way to fuse rap and rock, to create something that is nice to listen to but still retain the shock value associated with music.
Eminem gives an example of two of his tracks where shock rap has worked. It should be noted that ‘Lose Yourself’ earned its recognition as the first rap song to win an Oscar.
This is another play on words by Eminem, using his verses and versus against the rivals, which keeps bothering them. He tells them that he is not easy to imitate and if any of them can crack his code, then they should let him know.
Eminem asks his rivals how many verses do they want him to murder, meaning rap for them to concede defeat.
Eminem compares his murdering verses to sacrificing virgins, he asks them to prove that they are even just half as good. Virgins were sacrificed to Gods by ancient cultures and if his rivals were half as great, as he is, then they too would be receiving sacrifices. This line can also be interpreted to mean, if they would be willing to sacrifice virgins just to get half of the talent that Eminem possesses.
These are some of the terms that have been used against Eminem, that he is a drop out and a drug addict and yet it is a combination of these factors and others that have brought his fame and fortune. Although Eminem dropped out of school in ninth grade, there is no doubt about his literature skills, so to make fun of his rivals he uses the word ‘brung’ just for mockery purposes. In reality, Eminem is one of the few rappers who use correct English in their rap and still manages to make great hits.
He says that back then he was proud even when he had nothing and even now with all he could ever want he still drives himself hard to accomplish his goals. In his movie 8 Mile, Eminem was known to work for close to sixteen hours a day. It can also mean that he is successful but still longs to work even harder.
Eminem considers himself to be way ahead of his rivals and but he still makes hits even when rapping gibberish. It can also mean that even under drug induced insanity he still makes great hits.
His rapping has made him high so he passes on the baton to his rivals, who refers to as Satan, while he takes a break. Alternatively, it can mean that Eminem is so drunk that instead of calling God he tells the devil to drive or make his decisions a bit. The opposite of this line was in a song ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ by Carrie Underwood and knowing Eminem and his controversies this could be a point to watch.
Eminem pays Homage to Heavy D through the words of his song ‘Chunky but Funky’ from the album Living Large, he was an American rapper who died in 2011.
Eminem goes back to the first lines of his song by bringing back that troubling feeling, it is the classic fight between the good and the bad. He says his feeling is making him want to get rid some of the hate against women. This is a major change from Eminem, who never seems lucky with the women in his life.
Eminem is referring to his public legal battles with his mother and Kim the mother of his child, so he begs for a little patience and understanding of his plight.
He tells the women to try understand his background and his upbringing which was one of the earlier subjects of his music such as ‘Cleaning Out My Closet. He also hopes that they can understand what discrimination is all about, partly because equality is yet to be achieved for women, so they know what it is means being on the outside looking in but also the racial discrimination that he has been subject to as a white rapper in a black dominated field.
Eminem is saying that at times you work with whatever talent that you have, its about accepting the situation then trying to make the better of it. Another show of Eminem’s skills is using the words ‘but fuck it’ to address his alleged homophobic tendencies. In the past he said of gays “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want” hence the reference to making lemonade.
Another of Eminem’s word plays comes back into use. Eminem was accused of battering his former partner Kim, however he is asking that if he can’t be with them, how else will he understand them, which to him, includes pushing them to see far just how far he can get away with it.
He does not want to be mistaken for something that he is not. This could be because of internet rumours of being part of the Illuminati or his earlier line with Satan.
Further mischief in Eminem’s line is using the words ‘ a vacation to trip abroad,’ i.e. trip a broad, this means that he still has his ways of getting at the women despite being asked to be understood a few lines above.
He finishes the song by asking why should he settle for the lower position of a king who rules limited territory when he can be God and have it all.
1 user explanation and meaning
Anonymous
he says that people who rap 2 or 3 words at a time have ‘speech problems’