For a song that says a big FU to the world, Eminem's "The Way I Am" has reached peaks of success around the world. And with good reason too. The hilarious single explores what Eminem is all about and how nobody, not even his label, can take him away from what he is - a lyrical genius without limits.
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"The Way I Am" was released on May 23, 2000 as the second single from Eminem's critically acclaimed album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Eminem was on his third album at the time and the white boy was making all sorts of headlines for you crazy writing skills and deep profanity. As a result, he received a lot of criticism and his fan base also grew exponentially. It was an odd mix of star fruit and pain that got a little too overwhelming for Eminem.
Eminem wrote The Way I Am himself. Eminemrevealedthat he wrote the song on the plane;
I remember being on a plane. I got on a plane and I thought, this flow in my head and suddenly the piano came towards me. I just repeated the melody so I wouldn't forget it. I basically wrote the song on the plane and then I had to make the beat. I had to ask Dre how to do that because at that point I was still learning how to produce, so I had to bring the idea to life. I was actually going to LA to record with Dre at the time, so that was one of the things I brought to him and struck the idea. So all we had to do was get the keyboard player to play a melody and then he had some drum sounds on his drum machine and I started playing. That's how it happened.
Not only did Eminem write the song, but he made the beat and produced the song, the first of his songs to carry all those important credits.
"The Way I Am" reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and #8 on the UK Singles Chart. It also cracked the top 10 in several countries worldwide. In March 2022,RIAAcertified the song 2x platinum for selling over 2 million copies in the US alone.
Listen to Eminem's "The Way I Am"
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Meaning and Analysis of Eminem's Lyrics "The Way I Am"
introduction
These spoken words are a vision of the song and what is to come. Eminem asks Dr. close"let run"e„Turn up the beat.“Both are slight references to the fact that Eminem made the beat and produced the song, something Dr. Dre used to do it for Eminem.
Then Eminem will dedicate this song to someone. He did that in many of his songs, which carry an important message. But now he really can't be bothered. This is not a dedication. That's a big FU!
Verso 1
And then begins. An onslaught of lyrical madness and aggression that describes why this song is dedicated to no one. This song is for himself. He expresses his frustration with how things are going around him.
The worst MC on this, this earth
And since birth I've been cursed with this curse just to curse
Eminem has been unfiltered his entire career. From its humble beginnings on street corners to packed stadiums, it hasn't been reprimanded for its mass appeal. He would rather get his message and intention across than be a radio hit. He thinks he was cursed to swear, and somehow it worked. He got bigger than any other rapper dead or alive;"How can you not explode? I only dropped F-bombs.”says Eminem in an ambiguous way in "Happy Raps.“
Leaving me alone when you freaks see me
On the street when I'm eating or feeding my daughter
This is for all the 'Stans' out there - the kind of Stans featured in "Stan". The crazy fans were getting a bit too much for Eminem at this point. They respect absolutely no borders. If you see him with his daughter, at least you have the decency to leave him alone. At this point in his career he was at the height of his fame and family life. And the Stans didn't help at all. This sort of behavior practically forced Eminem to hole up in his Detroit mansion, not to mention eroded his relationship with his daughters. To this day, crazed fans still comment on Hailie Jade's Instagram posts about Eminem and "demand" new music from Eminem. He already addressed that in this song;
And no, I don't owe you anything.
Quite self-explanatory!
Eminem also says he has very little patience for the freaks. He won't become Mr. Freundlich if a crazy fan gets in the way of him and his daughters.
For you, Eminem is the GOAT and a living legend. For him you are one in a billion like you. They ask for a photo or an autograph. But when a few thousand more line up, it can get very boring very quickly;"I'm tired of you all (you all), I don't want to be mean."
Koro
These lyrics have become immortal at this point in rap history.
And I am what you say I am
If it wasn't me, then why should I say I am?
Although these texts seem quite simple, they are quite profound. Eminem says he is what you say he is. Why? Because he doesn't have the patience or the need to refute anyone who claims Eminem is anything. At this point in his career, Eminem has earned the title of King of Controversy. Critics took his lyrics literally - misogynist, misogynist, meat eater, devil worshiper, sadist, homophobe... Every day there was a headline claiming that Eminem was this and that. Eminem tires of debunking those claims. So it might as well absorb the criticism. And that's exactly what he did.
back 2
Eminem begins the second verse of "The Way I Am" with a dig at his father, whom he grew up without. Maybe that's why he is the way he is. But he says something else. Em says he doesn't care since his father didn't do it for him since he left Em when Em was a baby.
And: "Oh, it's his lyrical content
The song 'Guilty Conscience' got such bad reactions."
"Guilty Conscience" is an infamous song by Eminem from his previous album The Slim Shady LP (1999). In the song, Eminem raps about all the things the devil can make a man do. And it's not pretty. The song received backlash for its crude lyrics, although Dr. Dre plays the angel. Eminem didn't create the devil, he just rapped about it. The lyrical content of this song was not fiction. It's what happened in the real world. So maybe the police and the magazines should focus on catching society's true predators instead of hunting Eminem for a song.
Eminem also got a lot of flak for everything bad that was going on at the time. When someone shot a school, Eminem was blamed because his lyrics motivated the shooter. But that was a guy. Eminem's music literally earns a few million streams a day. Where are all the other million shooters? Maybe there was something wrong with the guy?!
Marilyn Manson has suffered similar criticism throughout her career. It was reported that shooters fromKolumne High SchoolIn 1999 they were Marilyn Manson fans. Both Marilyn Manson and Eminem performed "The Way I Am" in a live concert.
Verso 3
In the third and final verse of the song, Eminem rebels against the demands of his label and the industry. He says he won't be able to create another pop sensation like "My Name Is," the first single from Eminem's second studio album, The Slim Shady LP. The song garnered Eminem many awards, including Eminem's first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Despite its success, Eminem hated the song;"One thing I won't do is release another song like 'My Name Is'. I can't stand this damn music. This album is rawer. Fans looking for bubblegum rap won't find it here.
But Em's label demanded another hit for the "TMMLP" album.“By the time I wrote The Way I Am, I had already turned in the entire album. The problem was my label didn't think I had a lead single yet... The label wanted a single so I gave them "The Way I Am" which was the complete opposite of what they wanted. I kind of rebelled against the label by letting them know they couldn't force me to do something I didn't want to do."
Eminem didn't want to be seen as just another pop sensation pumping out radio hit after radio hit. Everything he wanted to be was real. And people wanted to put Eminem on a block they were comfortable with. A white rapper who made it big in a predominantly black genre was unknown at the time. So you had questions.
What school did I go to, what area did I grow up in?
Eminem was the outsider in the hip-hop genre, and that didn't sit well with many. Eminem has never tried to be anything he is not. He's never pretended to fit where he doesn't belong, despite growing up around black people, friends and artists all his life.
And I'm thankful for every fan I get
Eminem is grateful for each and every one of you. He would be nothing without his fans. This is the dream he dreamed of. But the dream turns into a nightmare when Em can't even use a public urinal in peace. He can't eat a hamburger in a restaurant without people rushing to get autographs on napkins. Leave the man alone.
"The Way I Am" may be one of Eminem's biggest hits, but this song speaks to a reality common to many celebrities out there. Most of her personal life is bogged down by crazy fans, paparazzi and the media, who constantly stalk her for the slightest gossip.
Let's hear what you think of this song in the comments below. For the full lyrics see belowGenius.
Related
FAQs
What does just random things mean? ›
Something that's random is lacking in order, plan, or purpose. It happens totally by chance, like the random picking of lottery numbers or unplanned random acts of kindness.
What is the meaning behind stan Eminem? ›The Eminem-inspired use of the word “stan” to describe hyper-devoted fans has been added to Merriam-Webster's dictionary. The casual use of “stan” famously comes from Eminem and Dido's hit 2000 song of the same name, in which the rapper weaves a harrowing yarn about an obsessive fan trying to get his attention.
Did stan really happen? ›“Stan” is not based on a true story. Eminem's 2000 smash-hit “Stan” was not based on a real person. However, the song, which tells the story of an obsessed fan who kills himself and his girlfriend after Eminem fails to respond to his letters, was inspired by the rapper's real experiences.
What song is Slim Shady sampled from? ›"My Name Is" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his second album The Slim Shady LP (1999). It is also the opening song and lead single of the album. The song samples British singer Labi Siffre's 1975 track "I Got The..." as a bass and guitar riff by British pop rock duo Chas & Dave.
What does randomly random mean? ›/ˈræn.dəm.li/ C1. in a way that happens, is done, or is chosen by chance rather than according to a plan: The books were randomly arranged on the shelves. Interviewees were chosen randomly.
Is random a slang word? ›The word random literally means “proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern.” However, since the 1980s, random has been used as a slang term to mean “a person or thing that is odd or unpredictable.” There is certainly something odd and unpredictable about randomness.
What does slim shady mean in slang? ›thin and of questionable/ill repute.
What Mental Illness Did Stan have? ›Personality. Stan has Borderline Personality Disorder, which is the driving force behind most of Stan's actions. This illness, also called Emotional Dysregulation Disorder, is a mood disorder characterized by unstable moods, self-image and relationships.
Who is the original Stan? ›The original Stan, aka actor Devon Sawa, wished Eminem a happy birthday, proving he's still the rapper's biggest fan 19 years later.
Who created the word Stan? ›While some say the term is a combination of "fan" and "stalker," "stan" was first coined in 2000 when Eminem dropped a twisted allegory in a song called "Stan," about a man who was pushed to the edge when his idol wouldn't answer his fan mail. The word used to be synonymous with overzealous or obsessed.
Who is Eminem Dissing in Slim Shady? ›
Speaking of diss tracks, one thing that left many fans scratching their heads was why Eminem dissed Will Smith in his hit song 'The Real Slim Shady'.
What rapper does shady refer to? ›Slim Shady is the alter ego of American rapper Eminem. Slim Shady may also refer to: Slim Shady EP, Eminem's 1997 EP. The Slim Shady LP, Eminem's 1999 album.
Who is the most sampled rapper? ›James Brown
The Godfather of Soul takes the crown by a serious stretch for most sampled artist. With almost 7,500 samples to his name, he's a go to guy for other musicians out there.
There are three types of random variables- discrete random variables, continuous random variables, and mixed random variables.
What does this is so random mean? ›So this phrase “that's so random” is usually said to exclaim when something is unique, surprising, shocking, out of the ordinary, or unexpected.
Is random random truly random? ›Random is random, right? Not really. Since computers have no imagination whatsoever, it is physically impossible for them to come up with a truly random number. If you use built-in functions to randomize a number, it will produce a pseudo-random number using a complex algorithm.
What is the most popular slang word? ›"Ghosted," which means to quit communicating with someone without an explanation, remained the survey's top slang term.
What is the modern meaning of random? ›adjective. 1. : lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern. : made, done, or chosen at random.
What word can replace random? ›- arbitrary.
- scattered.
- haphazard.
- erratic.
- accidental.
- stray.
- sporadic.
- odd.
In this context, shady is a neutral word that doesn't really evoke any sort of emotion. In a different context, looking at connotation, Jim might call Tina shady. Here, the word possesses a negative connotation that implies slyness or sneakiness.
What does alter ego mean in English? ›
: a second self or different version of oneself: such as. : a trusted friend. : the opposite side of a personality. Clark Kent and his alter ego Superman.
Who was Slim Shady written about? ›Coming from his classic 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP, the song is a scathing commentary on the music industry and how disruptive he knows his career had been thus far.
Why did Eminem's voice change? ›The ringing in my ears was almost louder than the music so what started happening, is slowly but surely over time, I started putting extra mid-range in my voice,” Eminem says, before mocking his own vocals and flow with a strained, aggressive-yelling delivery.
Who is Eminem ex wife? › Did Eminem lose custody of his daughter? ›30, 2000 -- Eminem has given up the fight for physical custody of his 5-year-old daughter. The 26-year-old rap star and estranged wife Kimberly Scott Mathers have agreed to joint legal custody of their daughter Hailie, with Mathers to have physical custody.
Did Eminem daughter live with him? ›Hailie spent most of her youth under Eminem's 15,000-square-foot roof in the Detroit suburbs with half-sister Whitney, mom Kim's daughter from another relationship, and cousin Alaina, the daughter of Kim's twin sister, Dawn.
Does Eminem see his daughter? ›Eminem keeps his private life super, well, private, especially when it comes to his daughter, who he's pretty much never seen with publicly. But Hailie Jade joined her dad during his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction this week, sitting by his side at a table in the audience.
What is BPD in mental health? ›Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a type of personality disorder. You might be diagnosed with a personality disorder if you have difficulties with how you think and feel about yourself and other people. And if these difficulties make it hard to cope day to day.
How old is Slim Shady? › Does Stan have depression? ›Stan's depression is also a recurring theme throughout the show. He became terribly depressed when Wendy broke up with him in "Raisins", briefly joining the Goth Kids.
Who was Eminem's biggest fan? ›
Lyrics. The song tells the story of a person named Stanley "Stan" Mitchell (voiced by Eminem) who claims to be Eminem's biggest fan.
Who is the king of Stan? ›Bai Qi, the King of Stan, is the Prince's father. In Black and White Twin Dragons he is mentioned to have grown ill and/or weak, which is probably why the Prince has taken over Stan in his place.
Who started Stan culture? ›The term “stan” came into popular culture in 2000, with Eminem's song “Stan” featuring Dido, which details a story about an overly dedicated fan who turns out to be a stalker (stalker + fan = stan). Over the past two decades, the term has been adopted by the most dedicated celebrity fans on social media platforms.
What word did Eminem add to the dictionary? ›Well, it only took 17 years. “Stan,” a word originally coined by Eminem's 2000 single about a fan desperate to take the rapper's every word literally, has now been added to the Oxford American Dictionary.
What are Eminem fans called? ›Eminem. Stans. Musician. Named after the song "Stan" Emmure.
What does it mean to YEET? ›Yeet is a slang word that functions broadly with the meaning “to throw,” but is especially used to emphasize forcefulness and a lack of concern for the thing being thrown. (You don't yeet something if you're worried that it might break.)
Why did Eminem fight Christina Aguilera? ›Eminem revealed why he dissed Christina Aguilera, pointing out that she started their feud after making comments about his marriage on TV. Explaining how it all started, Eminem said he was initially flattered when Aguilera choose one of his songs on her MTV special, What a Girl Wants, but he soon became annoyed.
Are Dre and Eminem still friends? ›The pair have remained close friends — Eminem still releases his albums via Aftermath — and with more than 20 years of hindsight, Dre explained how he's still making sense of the Slim Shady phenomenon.
What did Christina Aguilera say about Eminem on MTV? ›In her MTV special, What a Girl Wants, Christina said she heard a rumor that Eminem secretly wed his longtime girlfriend (Kimberly Scott). "I heard he's married now .... the girl that he talks about killing on his record, actually," she said on the special.
Why do rappers wear shades? ›Hip-hop artists do not only wear sunglasses to complete a fashion style; they wear them to hide their eyes and expression—for example, Rick Ross. The hip-hop artist Rick Ross' style of music is more suited for night parties and clubs. Thus, he is paid to perform in nightclubs most of the time.
Did Michael Jackson own Eminem's Masters? ›
In 2007, three years after the song was released, Michael's company Sony/ATV bought the publishing company Famous Music for $370 million. This purchase meant he then owned the rights to all of Eminem's music. Michael continued to own the rapper's music until he died in 2009.
Why does Eminem always say Slim Shady? ›Eminem has said that he uses the name "Slim Shady" because it is a alter ego that he uses to say the things that he would never say in real life. He has also said that the name is inspired by Dr. Dre's character in the film "The Slim Shady LP".
Who has the most rap hits of all time? ›| Number | Artist |
|---|---|
| 27 | Drake |
| 11 | Lil Wayne |
| 10 | Puff Daddy |
| Kanye West |
HASN'T BROKEN: Most No.
Drake has tallied 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in his career, the most among rappers. Among all artists, though, he's tied with Whitney Houston for the seventh-most, after The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (19), Rihanna (14), Michael Jackson (13), The Supremes and Madonna (12 each).
Tung Twista – Mista Tung Twista
Mista Tung Twista is an American rapper who holds the Guinness world record for the fastest rap song ever recorded. His track clocks in at an incredible 6.9 seconds, making it one of the quickest rap songs of all time.
"Stan" is a song by American rapper Eminem featuring vocals sampled from the opening lines of British singer Dido's song "Thank You". It was released on November 20, 2000, as the third single from Eminem's third album, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). "Stan" peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What does Stan mean urban dictionary? ›Stan (adj.)
UrbanDictionary: A crazed and or obsessed fan. The term comes from the song Stan by Eminem. The term Stan is used to describe a fan who goes to great lengths to obsess over a celebrity.
There's a new word with hip-hop origins that is being added to the Oxford dictionary. That word is “Stan.”Here is how the dictionary defined the word: An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.
Who invented the word Stan? ›Well, it only took 17 years. “Stan,” a word originally coined by Eminem's 2000 single about a fan desperate to take the rapper's every word literally, has now been added to the Oxford American Dictionary.
Is Slim Shady and Eminem the same person? ›Slim Shady is the alter ego of American rapper Eminem. Slim Shady may also refer to: Slim Shady EP, Eminem's 1997 EP. The Slim Shady LP, Eminem's 1999 album.
Is MC Stan rich? ›
What is his net worth as per MC Stan Net Worth 2023? According to MC Stan Net Worth 2023, MC Stan's net worth is 3 million US dollars.
What is the opposite of a stan? ›blanche, n. one who obsessively or overzealously dislikes someone or something, esp. a celebrity blanche, v. to act in ways becoming of a blanche.
What does Gucci mean Urban Dictionary? ›Gucci — Say good-bye to remarking, “That's cool” and say hello to “That's gucci.” Urban Dictionary traces “gucci” back to '08, but it's still a relatively niche term. It means “good” or “cool.” As in: “I'll be there in 10,” Jaden texted me. “Gucci,” I replied.
Does Eminem have his own word in the dictionary? ›Eminem coined the term “Stan” which was even added to the Oxford American Dictionary in 2017.
What does stan mean at the end of a word? ›The -stan suffix, and also sta and -istan, occur in various languages as markers of place. In Persian and Urdu, -stan means “where one stands” or “place of.” The Indo-European root word sta is used to signify “stands” and “settlement,” and this root still appears in Russian.
What does stan mean in Latin? ›-stan-, root. -stan- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "stand; remain. '' This meaning is found in such words as: circumstance, constant, distance, distant, happenstance, inconstancy, inconstant, insubstantial, stance, stanch, stanchion, stanza, substance, substantial, substantive, transubstantiation.