Living With Kim
When Eminem is singing it is usually about his family. His narratives very often include references to family time and holidays like Christmas. One of Eminem’s most famous references to Christmas is in his 2004 song “Mockingbird”. It reveals a sweeter-side to his often unsteady relationship with Kim.
“I recall a year ago when Dad had no money. Mom wrapped the Christmas gifts and placed them under the tree, saying some were from me because Dad couldn’t afford them. That Christmas will always stay with me as I spent the entire night crying.”
The song also details Kim’s spiral into drug addiction. “Papa was a rolling stone/Mama developed a habit.” This and Eminem’s own addiction must have been painful for the rapper to put his children through, because his own chaotic childhood has also been documented by Eminem in songs that mention his mother. Eminem hints at this with lyrics from D12’s 2001 song “Purple Pills,” “Cool, calm, just like my mom/With a couple of Valium in her hand!”
Eminem Keeps His Head Up
“Hailie’s Song” illustrates Eminem’s emotional journey as he maneuvers pressure as poetically as 2Pac did in songs like “Keep Ya Head Up”. “This boulder on my shoulder gets heavy and harder to hold/And this load is like the weight of the world.”
In “Hailie’s Song”, the listener learns that it is Eminem’s belief that the birth of Hailie Jade saved him. “Now it don’t feel like the world’s on my shoulders/Everyone’s leanin’ on me/’Cause my baby knows that her daddy’s a soldier/Nothin’ can take her from me!”
Walking on Water
“Walk On Water” featuring Beyoncé also has religious undertones. In the chorus, Beyoncé sings, “I walk on water, but I’m not Jesus. I walk on water, but only when it’s frozen.” The wintery imagery aligns well with Eminem’s Detroit style.
In the song, Eminem uses his rap verses to describe his spiritual evolution towards humility that likely began with the violent death of his hype-man and best friend DeShaun Holton (known as Proof).
“Every album, song/I was spazzin’ the **** out on/And now I’m getting clowned/And frowned on/But the only one who’s looking down/On me that matters now’s DeShaun.”
