Eminem

Lyrics

[Produced by Dr. Dre]

[Chorus: Eminem]
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, what? (Excuse me) My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
(Can I have the attention of the class for one second?)
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady

[Verse 1: Eminem & Dr. Dre]
Hi, kids, do you like violence? (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Wanna see me stick nine-inch nails through each one of my eyelids? (Uh-huh)
Wanna copy me and do exactly like I did? (Yeah, yeah)
Try 'cid and get fucked up worse than my life is? (Huh?)
My brain's dead weight, I'm tryna get my head straight
But I can't figure out which Spice Girl I want to impregnate (Oh)
And Dr. Dre said, "Slim Shady, you a basehead" (Uh-uh)
"Then why's your face red? Man, you wasted"
Well, since age 12, I felt like I'm someone else
'Cause I hung my original self from the top bunk with a belt
Got pissed off and ripped Pamela Lee's tits off
And smacked her so hard I knocked her clothes backwards like Kris Kross
I smoke a fat pound of grass, and fall on my ass
Faster than a fat bitch who sat down too fast
Come here, slut; "Shady, wait a minute, that's my girl, dawg"
I don't give a fuck, God sent me to piss the world off
[Chorus: Eminem]
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady

[Verse 2: Eminem]
My English teacher wanted to flunk me in junior high (Shh)
Thanks a lot, next semester I'll be 35
I smacked him in his face with an eraser, chased him with a stapler
And stapled his nuts to a stack of paper (Ow)
Walked in the strip club, had my jacket zipped up
Flashed the bartender, then stuck my dick in the tip cup
Extraterrestrial, running over pedestrians in a spaceship While they're screaming at me, "Let's just be friends"
99 percent of my life, I was lied to
I just found out my mom does more dope than I do (Damn)
I told her I'd grow up to be a famous rapper
Make a record about doin' drugs and name it after her
(Oh, thank you)
You know you blew up when the women rush your stands
And try to touch your hands like some screamin' Usher fans
(Ahh, ahh, ahh)
This guy at White Castle asked for my autograph (Dude, can I get your autograph?)
So I signed it, "Dear Dave, thanks for the support, asshole"
[Chorus: Eminem]
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady

[Verse 3: Eminem]
Stop the tape, this kid needs to be locked away (Get him)
Dr. Dre, don't just stand there, operate
I'm not ready to leave, it's too scary to die (Fuck that)
I'll have to be carried inside the cemetery and buried alive
(Huh, yup)
Am I comin' or goin'? I can barely decide
I just drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive? (Go ahead)
All my life I was very deprived
I ain't had a woman in years and my palms are too hairy to hide (Whoops)
Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk
I spit when I talk, I'll fuck anything that walks (Come here)
When I was little, I used to get so hungry I would throw fits
How you gonna breastfeed me, Mom? You ain't got no tits
I lay awake and strap myself in the bed
With a bulletproof vest on and shoot myself in the head (Bang)
'Cause I'm steamin' mad (Grr)
And by the way, when you see my dad (Yeah?)
Tell him that I slit his throat in this dream I had
[Chorus: Eminem]
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, who? My name is, huh?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady

If someone were asked to list artists that have made a significant impact on hip hop, Eminem would likely be a name that comes to mind. The Detroit-born rapper has been an integral figure in the genre for over two decades, and his debut single, "My Name Is," helped propel him into the national spotlight.

About My Name Is

"My Name Is" appeared on Eminem's major label debut, "The Slim Shady LP," which was released in 1999. The song's success helped the album reach quadruple-platinum status, and it earned Eminem a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2000. "Just Don't Give a F***" was the first single released from Eminem's debut album, but "My Name Is" quickly became the breakout hit.

The song's controversy was almost as noteworthy as its commercial success. The lyrics, particularly the line, "99 percent of my life I was lied to / I just found out my mom does more dope than I do," led to Eminem being sued by his mother, Debbie Mathers.

Aside from the legal issues, "My Name Is" also included a sample from the 1975 song "I Got The..." by British musician Labi Siffre. Siffre, who is openly gay, was initially hesitant to have his music sampled in a song that included homophobic lyrics. However, he ultimately allowed Eminem and Dr. Dre to use the sample, on the condition that they remove the lyrics about raping lesbians and Eminem's gay junior high teacher.

Labi Siffre criticized Eminem's use of homophobic lyrics in "My Name Is," calling the rapper's choice to target women and members of the LGBTQ community "lazy writing." Despite the controversy, the song remains an important piece of hip hop history -- both in terms of Eminem's career and the broader evolution of the genre.

"My Name Is" is a departure from many of the traditional themes found in hip hop. While other rap songs often tackle social issues, explore the realities of the urban experience, or focus on braggadocio or gangster culture, "My Name Is" is more of a satirical take on popular culture. Eminem pokes fun at celebrity culture and takes digs at politicians, using humor to convey his message.

The song's music video also played a crucial role in establishing Eminem's public persona. It features the rapper in a variety of costumes and settings, including dressed as Bill Clinton and standing in front of a group of Marilyn Monroe lookalikes. The video's low-budget aesthetic and irreverent visuals set it apart from more straightforward hip hop videos, further cementing Eminem's status as a boundary-pushing artist.

"My Name Is" was a massive hit upon its initial release, and its influence can still be felt in the world of rap and hip hop today. The song helped establish Eminem as a major force in the music industry, and it remains a cultural touchstone for fans of the genre.

Conclusion

Eminem's debut single, "My Name Is," is a landmark moment in hip hop history. The song's humorous take on popular culture, coupled with its low-budget music video and controversial lyrics, helped establish Eminem as a unique voice in the genre. "My Name Is" continues to be an important piece of rap history, and it remains a testament to the power of humor and satire in music.

• Release Date: January 25, 1999
• Artist: Eminem