The Way I Am
by Eminem
Published By: Dutton, 2008
Genre: Nonfiction | Biography & Memoir, Arts & Entertainment
Page Count: 208 (Paperback)
ISBN: 9780452296121
Publisher’s Description
Chart topping-and headline-making-rap artist Eminem shares his private reflections, drawings, handwritten lyrics, and photographs in his New York Times bestseller The Way I Am
Fiercely intelligent, relentlessly provocative, and prodigiously gifted, Eminem is known as much for his enigmatic persona as for being the fastest-selling rap artist and the first rapper to ever win an Oscar. Everyone wants to know what Eminem is really like after the curtains go down. In The Way I Am, Eminem writes candidly, about how he sees the world. About family and friends; hip-hop and rap battles and his searing rhymes; about the conflicts and challenges that have made him who he is today.
Illustrated with more than 200 full-color and black-and-white photographs-including family snapshots and personal Polaroids, it is a visual self-portrait that spans the rapper’s entire life and career, from his early childhood in Missouri to the basement home studio he records in today, from Detroit’s famous Hip Hop Shop to sold-out arenas around the globe. Readers who have wondered at Em’s intricate, eye-opening rhyme patterns can also see, first-hand, the way his mind works in dozens of reproductions of his original lyric sheets, written in pen, on hotel stationery, on whatever scrap of paper was at hand. These lyric sheets, published for the first time here, show uncut genius at work. Taking readers deep inside his creative process, Eminem reckons with the way that chaos and controversy have fueled his music and helped to give birth to some of his most famous songs (including “Stan,” “Without Me,” and “Lose Yourself”).
Providing a personal tour of Eminem’s creative process, The Way I Am has been hailed as “fascinating,” “compelling,” and “candid.”
About the Author
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1972, Eminem moved frequently throughout his childhood, experiencing poverty and instability. He began rapping in the early 1990s, releasing his debut album, Infinite, in 1996. However, it was his second album, The Slim Shady LP, released in 1999, that catapulted him to fame. The album’s controversial content and catchy hooks resonated with audiences, and it became a commercial and critical success.
Over the next two decades, Eminem released a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, including The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), The Eminem Show (2002), Encore (2004), Relapse (2009), Recovery (2010), The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), and Kamikaze (2018). He has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Billboard Artist of the Decade Award.
Eminem’s music is known for its dark humor, confessional lyrics, and technical skill. He is often praised for his ability to connect with his listeners on a personal level, and his music has been credited with helping to break down racial barriers in hip-hop.
Eminem is also an accomplished actor, having starred in films such as 8 Mile (2002), Funny People (2009), and The Interview (2014). He has also produced several television series, including Entourage (2004-2011) and How to Make It in America (2010-2011).
Eminem is a highly successful and influential figure in hip-hop and popular culture. He has been praised for his creative vision, his business acumen, and his ability to connect with his fans.