Without Me (Eminem song)
"Without Me" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album The Eminem Show (2002). "Without Me" was released on May 13, 2002,[1] as the lead single from the album, and re-released on his greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number one in fifteen countries.
"Without Me"
- "The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)
- "Say What You Say" (featuring Dr. Dre)
May 13, 2002[1]
2001[2]
4:51 (album version)
4:23 (radio edit)
Content[edit]
The song was Eminem's return after the successful Marshall Mathers LP, intended as a sequel to "The Real Slim Shady" and essentially says that he is back to save the world. It also refers to Eminem's role in the music industry and his effect on culture.
The song mocks a number of Eminem's critics, including Vice President Dick Cheney (including his recurring heart problems) and his wife Lynne, the FCC, Chris Kirkpatrick (of NSYNC), Limp Bizkit and Moby,[4][5] as well as parodying Prince's decision to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol. It also lampoons comparisons of him to Elvis Presley as a white man succeeding commercially in a predominantly black art form. A line also attacks his mother Debbie Mathers for the lawsuit she filed for the lyrics of his breakthrough hit "My Name Is".
The opening lyric "Two trailer park girls go round the outside" is based on the country rap single "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren.[6] The introduction—"Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks"—is sampled from Obie Trice's own track "Rap Name".
Critical reception[edit]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine marked it as one of the best tracks on The Eminem Show.[7] David Browne was positive: "'I've created a monster, 'cuz no one wants to hear Marshall no more,' he (Eminem) whines, partly in jest, in the beat-crazy single 'Without Me'."[8] HipHopDX noted that the blazing single "Without Me" is one of the only light-hearted songs on the album.[9] NME magazine noted that this song is "tackling disco."[10] RapReviews wrote: "His fearlessness continues on the lead single "Without Me" when he lambasts everyone from Dick Cheney's wife to the leading electronic artists of the day."[11] Kris Ex of Rolling Stone calls it "a fun-loving, barb-laden romp on which [Eminem] flits from one topic to the next like a bumblebee with ADD."[12]
Music video[edit]
The song's music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, features a number of scenarios built around its context, including Eminem and Dr. Dre as parodies of comics in general, specifically Batman, Robin (Rap Boy), and Blade trying to save a child who bought a copy of The Eminem Show that has a Parental Advisory sticker. Rap Boy and Dre rush to the rescue before the child puts the CD in his CD player and when they arrive Rap Boy snatches it away from him, showing that his CD has explicit lyrics that are not suitable for him to listen to. The kid cries and is upset after Rap Boy and Dre confiscate the album away from him. The video was shot from April 12–13 at Barwick Studios.[14] The comic and the scene with Moby feature a rabbit costume, a possible reference to the one featured in two Love Inc. music videos. The video also features Eminem (as Slim Shady) appearing in a variety of fictional television shows, such as a parody of ER, an infomercial, The Real World, and a talk show.
This video received MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, and Best Direction (for Joseph Kahn), as well as gaining nominations for Best Editing and Viewer's Choice. It also won Best Short Form Music Video at the Grammy Awards of 2003.