Music is reflection of self
We just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
It’s fucked up, ain’t it? How we can come from practically nothin’
To bein’ able to have any fuckin’ thing that we wanted.
That’s why we sing for these kids who don’t have a thing
Except for a dream and a fuckin’ rap magazine,
Who post pin-up pictures on their walls all day long,
Idolize their favorite rappers and know all their songs.
Or for anyone who’s ever been through shit in their lives
So they sit and they cry at night, wishin’ they’d die,
‘Til they throw on a rap record and they sit and they vibe.
We’re nothin’ to you, but we’re the fuckin’ shit in their eyes.
That’s why we seize the moment, try to freeze it and own it,
Squeeze it and hold it ’cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone, just let our spirits
Live on through our lyrics that you hear in our songs.
— Eminem, “Sing for the Moment”
It’s his birthday. If you’ve hung around these here parts, you know my feeling for the man. In fact, the third post I ever wrote on this here site – way back in 2002 – !!! – was blathering over how I couldn’t wait for 8 Mile to come out. This is why it’s funny to me when new readers who consider me just like them get shocked or “disappointed” when I write about him in the way that I do. I can’t help it you’re new around here.
Some other things I’ve written about him:
In the summer of 2020, in the heaviness of lockdown,I wrote a MONSTER post about him, this one percolating for YEARS. Eminem helped me get through the first year of quarantine. Writing the piece took me months, was a steadying factor.
My sister and I went and saw him and Rihanna in concert, which was a hoot.
This one was fun: on Eminem’s love of Alfred Hitchcock. I pitched it to Film Comment in early 2020, after the release of Em’s Music to be Murdered By – inspired by Hitchcock. Film Comment was intrigued but then they ceased operation because of the pandemic. Finally, I just wrote it.
There’s way more in my archives, but here’s a link to the first in-depth thing I wrote about him: “Am I Too Loud For You?”. If you want my take on one of the most notorious songs in his notorious catalog, there it is.
Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like what I do, and if you feel inclined to support my work, here’s a link to my Venmo account. And I’ve launched a Substack, Sheila Variations 2.0, if you’d like to subscribe.
Speaking of birthdays, as of tomorrow your blog is fresh and fine at birthday time!! I’m so incredibly thrilled and delighted to be on this journey with you, to read your words, to absorb your wisdom, to be inspired by your insights! How much I love this place you’ve created with blood sweat and tears :-) congratulations and much love forever! XOXO Stevie
Stevie! You always remember! Can you BELIEVE my blog is about to turn 23??
I just can’t believe it.
sending you so much love!!
It’s amazing and splendiferous! I’m so proud of you! XOXO love you
I love it when you write about Eminem. The reactions you get must be similar to what I get. lol
I think Eminem would be very happy to read your writing; few people analyze him passionately and seriously. It’s very different from the nonsense found on Pitchfork and so on. But those who work for Em are too useless to show him your work.
Matheus – how nice of you to say, thank you!
I am so frustrated by how he is normally written about. Especially when people clearly feel they are “above” even dirtying their feet by engaging with him – you just can’t feel this way if you are a music journalist. It’s so lazy. Granted, Eminem fans tend towards the obsessive, and we know everything about him, but there’s just no excuse to write a piece for a major publication where you show that you clearly do not know of the existence of Kamikaze. you missed an entire ALBUM and you write for Rolling Stone and clearly no editor clocked this.
I haven’t really read Pitchfork pieces on him. at this point, nobody’s writing about him at all. he is in a really weird position in the culture. sort of emeritus status but also sort of citizen kane.
anyway – thank you! I do enjoy writing about him even if it drives some people crazy.
It’s very strange. No music critic gives Eminem the importance he deserves, unlike the musicians that these reviewers revere. They don’t understand how Em could have absurdly high sales and streaming numbers in 2025 for someone with no online presence, NO SHOWS/TOURS, nothing. Curiously, Em is the most “organic, natural” of all musical icons since the 90s.
You and Holly Boson are the best people to write about Em. Holly’s Twitter has precious information about Eminem’s old stuff. I’m eagerly awaiting her book.
https://guiltyconscience.show/about/
https://x.com/fireh9lly
Matheus – Hi! I was unaware of Holly Boson – I’m not on Twitter anymore but she is on my radar now!
Eminem changed the game I’d love him to come out with a rager of an album – without the fast rapping – I’m a little tired of it! I’m sure he has a LOT to say but I’m not really “feeling” him out there right now. You can usually tell when he’s working on something – you just get the vibe. So I’m just not sure. It was great to see him show up with Jack White. We haven’t seen the man in a year!!
I suppose that’s not too long a time, in Eminem years.