Is Eminem’s New Track About Domestic Violence His Most Important Song Ever?
At this point in his career, it’s hard to pick the best song in Eminem‘s discography. He has so many. From “The Real Slim Shady” to “Guilty Conscience” to “Stan” to “The Way I Am” to “Lose Yourself” to “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” to “When I’m Gone” to “Beautiful” to “Not Afraid,” the Detroit rapper’s got enough great songs to put out a three-disc “Greatest Hits” collection. And they all represent something different. They’re funny. Silly. Deep. Inspiring. Gross. Dark. Scary. Hilarious. So, seriously: How do you pick just one song and call it his best?
But when it comes to most important, the list gets noticeably shorter. While songs like “The Real Slim Shady,” “Guilty Conscience,” and even “The Way I Am” helped introduce us to Em and his I-just-don’t-give-a-f*ck style of rapping, they didn’t change our attitudes about things going on in the world. Neither did other songs that touched on his persistent problems with drug addiction, his hatred for his mother and his ex-wife Kim, and his struggles to find respect as a white MC. They all entertained the hell out of us, but again, they didn’t exactly change life as we know it.
Fortunately, Eminem continues to surprise us. If you haven’t heard it by now, his latest album, Recovery, leaked to the Internet last week. Filled with aggressive punchlines and a more clear-minded approach to rapping on Em’s part, the disc is everything the world hoped 2009’s Relapse would be. After finally ditching the annoying accents he adopted on that album, Em proves he can still command a microphone and outspit just about anyone on the face of the planet. But he also shows that he’s matured as an MC and does something that he’s never done before—made a song that transcends Eminem fans (and any other rap fans, for that matter) and touches on a topic that everyone out there, even those who once hated him, will be able to appreciate.
The song is called “Love The Way You Lie” and it features Rihanna. On the song, Rihanna starts by singing, “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, well, that’s alright because I like the way it hurts/Just gonna stand there and hear me cry, well, that’s alright because I love the way you lie.” From there, Em raps three verses which provide the details of a troubled relationship. There’s arguing, domestic violence, apologies and (eventually) a resolution that those within these types of romantic relationships are probably all too familiar with. Despite the subject matter, Em doesn’t pull any punches (no pun intended, obviously) and does a nice job of driving home the point that domestic violence is a vicious cycle.
The reason it works, though—and the reason I’d say “Love The Way You Lie” is Em’s most important track to date—is that he sends a clear message about domestic violence without making it so blatant that you’re forced to hit the “Next Track” button. It’s as if Em and Rih-Rih have tricked us into thinking about domestic violence in our society. There’s no intro or outro with Em addressing the subject matter. There’s no bridge where Rihanna breaks down in tears and sings her heart out. They just let the song speak for itself.
That Em practically made a living off rapping about domestic violence in the past (“KIM,” anyone?) only makes it that much stronger. It gives a lot of those older tracks purpose, almost as if they’ve set Em up to make a statement on domestic violence today without it seeming corny or over-the-top. It’s as if he’s saying, “Here’s all the twisted thoughts that go through the mind of someone that batters a female—are you sure this is what you want? And are you sure that you’re ready to go through this over…and over…and over again if it is?”
By adding Rihanna—who struggled through domestic violence with her former boyfriend Chris Brown—the song becomes more believable, too. It’s the type of track that will do more than just become a hit on the radio. It’ll give girls (and guys) in troubled relationships something to think about. It’ll get played at schools and shelters and on the radio and generate discussion. It’ll make a difference.
“Love The Way You Lie” may not be Em’s best song of all-time. It not may feature him taking shots at pop stars, raging against the machine or giving the middle finger to the rest of the world. It may not dazzle you with wordplay or make you want to stand in front of the mirror and rap every word. But when it comes to his legacy, it very well may go down as the most socially important track of Eminem’s career. Of course, only time will tell. But for now: I love what “Love The Way You Lie” says about how far Em has come.
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Eminem’s best work is a poem he wrote named “Rock Bottom” on Slim Shady LP. But u made your point.
Actually I’m very impressed by the last album
Eminem’s lyrical abilties are back. And I don’t know if there will be a video of the song you talking about but it could be a legendary
one
End of sentence sorry.
Nice article
The album is def. a modern day classic
as for this song
It feels so raw and original unlike the generic cannibal album Relapse
Buying 2 physical copies!!
Don’t really care for the album… love the previous ones… but yeah this song is amazing. My favorite on the album… one of the three tracks I love on the album… that stand out…
as a rapper myself and with eminem being my inspiration for rapping. this article is very convicing and as resetly listening to the song you are talking about, you are right about how eminem doesn’t sound as if he’s coming out and just saying that domestic violence is a dreadfull disease. but at the sametime he does the song as if he’s conversating with his ex wife. for an artist to be able to make a song thats directed at a certain person to be able to make it seem like it was for the entire world or not like a speach but something like that. its just eye opening that eminem can still make a song that is chart toping and not make it into a single, but the single he chose to be the lead single made history for him, that puts it into perspective when thinking about it, when an artist has the talent to make more that just one chart topper song its as if the artist is unreal, a machine so to speak and when an artist can do that, thats a legend. but to get back on topic, the way the song flows with em’s verses and rihanna’s chorus’s it seems to all come together perfect…
I hate all these ‘true fans’ who writin reviews about the album. If you were w true EMIN3M fan then you would not have illegallly downloaded his album. You would have waited, like me, for it to be released when Mr. Mathers wanted it to be released…… God Damn, some suckas just tickle me pink to my stomach
(I kno that’s a dre line and not em btw)
These albums are “leaked” two – three weeks early like clockwork. It is intentional. It generates a great buzz and is some of the best marketing you can get. Ultimately more albums will be sold and most of those who have it now will buy it as well.
Good review, great album – I have it early and will certainly be buying it.
One thing I’ll say is that the song is very realistic, anybody who ever been in a bad relationship knows how it is to lose your temper and do summin you wish you could take back, then regret it later and try your hardest to make it right……..And before you bombard me, no I’ve never beaten any of my girlfriends, I’ve said some really mean spirited thigns in the heat of the moment but thats as far as I’ve gone with it……
And adding Rhianna to it makes it alot more meaningful to young ladies out there who can relate to her situation……I can see this song being really motivational to alot of diffrent types of people
It’s going to win Song of the Year at the Grammys. It’s THAT good!
Yeah, I downloaded it, but I’m buying the CD on Monday.
i love his old skool stuff he made b4 he made it. must say its his best. “infinite” is the sikest song
Yeah – i downloaded the album – any true em fan would not be able to wait – makes no difference anyway – in fact it’s better for em – because everytime i download his album before the release date i vow to buy 5 copies of his album – i keep one and hand the rest out to family and friends who like his stuff. i would much rather see him get all the accolades he deserves than save my money so therefore i play my small part in making it happen by shelling out $100 rather than rob him of an album – it will make me more happy to see him go tripple platinum and yet again get top selling artist of the year and more than that top selling artist of the decade two decades running. Make sure you do the same – buy at least 2 albums – it’s not fair to rob him of his title – make him go number one – who else deserves it – if people were more discerning they would hear the story his music really tells – a tragic story of illegitimate children with no mores instilled in them who then grow up to become a generation of slim shady’s. this generation needs help – take the hand he offers – hopefully he will lead us in the right direction – at some stage explicitly – because there is someone we desperately need to meet who’s hands are stretched out and bloodied for our sake – i guess there really is a slim shady in all of us so let’s all stand up admit it and return to the great physician who agonised over our disease, our innate evil, only his suffering can bring us peace but only if we go to him to be healed ‘I hope we see the light before it’s ruined’ (Ghetto Gospel). Em produced that song – watch the video clip and look closely to see what these lyrics match up with – think about it – this is who we must see for help. Recovery album is brilliant – one of his best – the Rihanna collaboration is genius – they pulled it off perfect – yet if we want complete recovery for ourselves and our broken relationships we will have to go to the only one who can ultimately provide this recovery and solution for our lives(slim shady can really only show us our problem and our condition) I wonder when Marshal Mathers will take us to Him?
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Yeah, he is.
The only thing I’m unsure about is the suggestion that this song “tackles” the issue of domestic violence. Whilst looking at the subtext might make a level-headed person think, listening to the lyrics and looking no deeper has Em threatening to burn her house down, hitting her and punching walls, and Rhianna singing how she loves it.
Just worried it (whether intentionally or not) continues to promote the myth that women love, and desire, violence and abusive/aggressive behaviour from men. It’s how many men justify rape and violence against women, “she was asking for it”… just a thought.
[...] and not feel something), Eminem might well have pulled it off with “Love the Way You Lie.” Dr. Jays discusses how the song “transcends Eminem fans (and any other rap fans, for that matter) and [...]
While it opens discussion about an often taboo subject, this song makes domestic violence seem nothing outside of normal. The female voice, Rihanna, does nothing but say “that’s alright” because she’s so into this man anyway. Is this really going to “make a difference” in how people view and react toward domestic violence? I’d say no. Not a positive one at least.
Pathetic little self-involved whiner, Eminiem is now trying to justify or “balance” his past misogyny with this ditty, purporting to be about domestic violence. However, in all of the clips, it’s the woman who is initiating and participating in the violence. Real domestic violence is about dominance and humiliation of the smaller partner. We never see her crawl or curl up to defend herself. We never see the gloating of the man who gets his way through abuse of all types, only ending in violence when other forms do not work. This is a lovely fantasy, but it’s no more realistic about abuse than any of his other songs. It’s just more manipulative, letting him preen about being real about DV while the lyrics still make him the one who deserves credit and sympathy. Of course, what else can we expect from people who actually enjoyed his other “masterpieces” regardless of their warped content?
Interesting perspective . . . thanks for making me look at this song in a new way. I appreciate this song more now.