Eminem

Lyrics

[Intro: Obie Trice]
Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks
Ra—, *record scratch*

[Refrain 1: Eminem]
Two trailer-park girls go 'round the outside
'Round the outside, 'round the outside
Two trailer-park girls go 'round the outside
'Round the outside, 'round the outside
Woo! (Ooh, ooh)

[Refrain 2: Eminem]
Guess who's back, back again?
Shady's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Guess who's back?
(Da-da-da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da-da-da, da, da, da, da)

[Verse 1: Eminem]
I've created a monster
'Cause nobody wants to see Marshall no more, they want Shady, I'm chopped liver
Well, if you want Shady, this is what I'll give ya
A little bit of weed mixed with some hard liquor
Some vodka that'll jump-start my heart quicker
Than a shock when I get shocked at the hospital
By the doctor when I'm not cooperating
When I'm rockin' the table while he's operating (Hey!)
You waited this long, now stop debating
'Cause I'm back, I'm on the rag and ovulating
I know that you got a job, Ms. Cheney
But your husband's heart problem's complicating
So the FCC won't let me be
Or let me be me, so let me see
They tried to shut me down on MTV
But it feels so empty without me
So come on and dip, bum on your lips
Fuck that, cum on your lips and some on your tits
And get ready, 'cause this shit's about to get heavy
I just settled all my lawsuits (Fuck you, Debbie!)
[Chorus: Eminem]
Now, this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
I said this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me

[Verse 2: Eminem]
Little hellions, kids feeling rebellious
Embarrassed, their parents still listen to Elvis
They start feelin' like prisoners, helpless
'Til someone comes along on a mission and yells, "Bitch!"
A visionary, vision is scary
Could start a revolution, pollutin' the airwaves
A rebel,so just let me revel and bask
In the fact that I got everyone kissin' my ass
And it's a disaster, such a catastrophe
For you to see so damn much of my ass, you asked for me?
Well, I'm back, da-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Fix your bent antenna, tune it in, and then I'm gonna
Enter in and up under your skin like a splinter
The center of attention, back for the winter
I'm interesting, the best thing since wrestling
Infesting in your kid's ears and nesting
Testing, "Attention, please"
Feel the tension soon as someone mentions me
Here's my ten cents, my two cents is free
A nuisance, who sent? You sent for me?
[Chorus: Eminem]
Now, this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
I said this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me

[Verse 3: Eminem]
A tisket, a tasket, I'll go tit-for-tat wit'
Anybody who's talkin', "This shit, that shit"
Chris Kirkpatrick, you can get your ass kicked
Worse than them little Limp Bizkit bastards
And Moby? You can get stomped by Obie
You thirty-six-year-old bald-headed fag, blow me
You don't know me, you're too old, let go
It's over, nobody listens to techno
Now, let's go, just give me the signal
I'll be there with a whole list full of new insults
I've been dope, suspenseful with a pencil
Ever since Prince turned himself into a symbol
But, sometimes, the shit just seems
Everybody only wants to discuss me
So this must mean I'm disgusting
But it's just me, I'm just obscene (Yeah)
Though I'm not the first king of controversy
I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley
To do Black music so selfishly
And use it to get myself wealthy (Hey!)
There's a concept that works
Twenty million other white rappers emerge
But no matter how many fish in the sea
It'd be so empty without me
[Chorus: Eminem]
Now, this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
I said this looks like a job for me
So everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
[Outro: Eminem]
Hum, dei-dei, la-la
La-la, la-la-la
La-la, la-la-la
La-la, la-la
Hum, dei-dei, la-la
La-la, la-la-la
La-la, la-la-la
La-la, la-la
Kids!

Eminem, a controversial figure in the rap industry, has undoubtedly influenced the genre since his debut in 1996. In his fourth studio album, The Eminem Show, he released the track "Without Me." The song praises Eminem for being a massive contributor to the hip-hop scene, confidently boasting his importance in the industry. Many fans today believe that "Without Me" can be considered one of the densest rap songs in history, even though it is often perceived as "poppy" and a lead single.

About Without Me

The song "Without Me" was released in 2002 as the lead single for The Eminem Show album. Produced by Eminem, along with Jeff Bass and Malcolm McLaren, the song features background vocals from Obie Trice and Nate Dogg. One of the most memorable musical features of the track is the catchy chorus that samples the 1981 hit song "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren. 

Eminem's lyrics in the single revolve around his significance in the rap genre. He criticizes different celebrities and the music industry while poking fun at himself. Eminem raps "I've created a monster 'cause nobody wants to hear Marshall no more/ They want Shady I'm chop liver." In this line, he brings attention to the character Slim Shady, which Eminem considers an essential part of his identity. He goes further to say people no longer want to hear him rap under his given name, Marshall Mathers. The verse highlights Eminem's clever play on words and use of irony.

The song's hook, "The real Slim Shady, please, stand up," is also one of the track's most iconic lines. Eminem sampled the same line he used four years before in his single, "My Name Is," from the album The Slim Shady LP. The use of this line in "Without Me" has great symbolic importance as it reminds the audience of the rapper's dual identity in the rap industry.

"Without Me" was a commercial success, reaching the top five charts in 20 countries and ranking number one in thirteen of them. Its popularity earned it a spot on the soundtrack album for the 2016 film Suicide Squad. To this day, the single is an emblem of Eminem's contribution to the music world, especially in the rap scene.

In conclusion, "Without Me" is a significant accomplishment in Eminem's oeuvre. The song praises the rapper's influence and sheds light on his dual identity in the rap world. From its catchy hook to its creative use of lyrics, "Without Me" showcases Eminem's talent in rap artistry. Today, many fans regard it as one of the densest rap songs in the history of the genre, proving that the track's importance will continue to be recognized in the music industry for years to come.

• Release Date: May 14, 2002
• Artist: Eminem