The video for Eminem’s latest (and surprisingly tolerable) single 3AM debuted Saturday (May 2nd) night on Cinemax, of all places, with a gruesome depiction of the song’s protagonist on a pill-popping murder spree. If TRL could see us now…
Em spits one of his most pedophillically hilarious lines ever in the second verse:
Sitting nude in my living room / it’s almost noon / I wonder what’s on the tube / maybe they’ll show some boobs / surfing every channel until I find Hannah Montana / and then I reach for the Aloe & Lanolin / Bust all over the wall panel …and so on. He then moves on to buckets and lotion and all other kinds of antics, bathing in blood, freaking epileptic in the woods, stabbing and jabbing and whatever the fuck else.
Directed by Syndrome, the video’s production is impressive. As sharp eyes might have caught, Em recently launched a new site called PopsompHills.com to help promote his new Relapse album. With a mission statement quote from Ralph Nader, I think it’s a safe bet to say that we’re in for an interesting ride once this album hits.
Symbolism? You decide.
I love that he pulls that weird accent the whole song. I would also love if he used that accent in ONLY this song. Now don’t call me a racist but why is it the only rapper I can enjoy every bit of is Eminem? I like to think it’s because he actually has shit to say. Not just because he’s white, and I’m white.
Here’s hoping that it’s maybe just because you haven’t been exposed/open to some of the really great hip-hop out there. Allow me to help:
Brother Ali feat. Slug – The Believers
Pete Philly & Perquisite – Awake
CMA – Tactics
Pete Philly & Perquisite – Hope (feat. Talib Kweli)
Crown City Rockers – Another Day
Nas – Hero
K-OS – The Aviator
I had the opposite reaction to this song. I don’t feel Eminem has much to say. I couldn’t tell you how this song is a statement that has a greater meaning. His songs tend to be about murdering people he dislikes, which seems to appeal to the angsty teenager demographic and not the hip-hop heads. I used to be into all that during my high school days of the Slim Shady era, but I seem to have outgrown this.
My question is this, if Eminem’s name wasn’t attached to this album would anyone listen to it? I’d be hard pressed to say yes, but I’m not in the target audience.
Em is a good rapper. Meaning, physically he can recite rhyming verses in a good clear way. In the studio anyway, I’ve seem him lip sync live.
But is the music original in any way? No. And the lyrical content? Well it’s the same old Eminem. We know his gimmick and I guess you either like it or not. No one should be waiting for him to evolve in any way because that clearly isn’t gonna happen.
Contraire. His flow has definitely evolved considerably between his first record and this one.
Saw it today on MTV, I admit it made me anticipate the new album. The way he raps here (and I don’t mean just the accent of that puppet dog) has already been used in his previous work, but not to this extent. It even kind of annoys me, and I agree with Ryan, that inclusion of it just in this song is enough for the whole record.
Eminem sure did evolved, but also kind of regressed, as the time passed, and the shit that comes out of his mouth in this clip leaves no comment.
finally got around to checking this out… didn’t do anything for me. and does he seriously say “3 am in the morning?” can’t help but recall that phil anselmo interview. and there, i’ve trolled my own site.
Alright Johnny Firecloud,
I listened to those, and the winner is K-OS. In an effort to stop being so OCD about watching every good show and listen to every good band and essentially take up all my life energy, I have to be selective.
Interesting… K-OS was an afterthought, really. He’s hit or miss. Brother Ali’s fantastic.