Saturday, July 31, 2010

Eminem Posts Behind-The-Scenes Footage Of Recovery Cover Shoot

'It symbolizes how I've had to remove myself from society,' Em says of 'glass-cube' cover.

It was, to say the very least, unseasonably cold in Detroit back in April — like, 33 degrees cold — but that didn't stop Eminem from ditching his down coat to shoot the cover for his Recovery album.

Of course, he wasn't exactly happy about doing it, but at the request of photographer Nigel Parry, he shed his coat and sat in a makeshift living room in Detroit's Hart Plaza, joking, "Oh man, listen, take your time, listen, I am enjoying the weather so f---ing much!" while Parry snapped away.

All of this occurs within the first minute of a brand-new, behind-the-scenes video posted late Thursday on Em's official site. The video gives fans an exclusive look at the creation of Recovery's two iconic covers. In part one, we watch him shoot the so-called "glass-cube" cover, which, as Em explains, has a lot more symbolism than you'd think.

"It symbolizes, like, what my life is like right now because of the fame, but also kind of how I've had to remove myself from society a little bit, pull back to conquer my demons, my addiction and that whole thing," he says in the video. "It also symbolizes me never leaving Detroit, you know? I'm kinda just sitting in the middle of Detroit, watching TV. And it's kind of my living room, where people are just walking by."

The first clip ends with Eminem, Parry and a team of art directors piling into vans to go shoot the second album cover, which Em describes as "the road to Recovery." And then, in an extended gag — designed to make the rest of his crew as cold and miserable as he is — Em goes on a lengthy rant where he spouts self-help mantras ("You gotta take it one day at a time," etc.) while everyone huddles by a van, laughing.

At the end of the video, we see a quick scene of Eminem wandering down a deserted stretch of highway, and a title card promises that episode two of the Recovery behind-the-scenes footage will be coming soon.


Friday, July 23, 2010

Megan Fox Films Eminem Vid

Megan Fox reportedly filmed a cameo inEminem and Rihanna’s new music video yesterday.

The beautiful star is apparently appearing alongside Lost actor and former hobbitDominic Monaghan in the promo for Love The Way You Lie.
It’s claimed they’ll play a couple in steamy scenes as Ri’ and Em’ burn a house down!
A source told E! Online: “Things start off with a sex scene between Megan and Dominic, Then they fight but end up having sex again.”
Joseph Kahn- responsible for previous Em’, Pussycat Dolls and Muse videos- is directing Love The Way You Lie and has been shooting all week.
Pics from the set already leaked online showing Rihanna surrounded by flames.
Director Kahn posted on Twitter: “Paparazzi, stop trying to ruin my shots. Thank you.”
Source:MTV UK

Eminem Sticks Up For Taylor Swift

Eminem has called out almost everyone who’s anyone in his records - including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to name a few - but Em is apparently going easy onTaylor Swift.

The Relapse hit-maker seems to have some sort of a soft spot for the country singer, and has said that Kanye West shouldn’t have interupted her at the MTV Video Music Awards.

He told SPIN Magazine: “He shouldn’t have done that,” the father told SPIN of Kanye’s outburst. “I mean, she’s a little girl.”

Eminem, who has three daughters, said that Taylor isn’t too far off the age of his children and he’s very protective when it comes to them.

“The less that’s out there about the kids, the more chance of them having a normal life. I want the world to know how much I love them, but at the same time you gotta know when to pull back. It’s a catch-22: I want to, as a father, express my love for my girls, but I don’t want to go too far with it, where it becomes a hindrance in their lives. When they were younger, it didn’t matter, it was easier.”


Source:MTV UK

Adrian Grenier, 50 Cent and Eminem Do Documentary On "How to Make Money Selling Drugs".

"Entourage" star Adrian Grenier is working with 50 Cent, Eminem and former drug kingpin Rick Ross on a new documentary, entitled "How to Make Money Selling Drugs".

The star is re-teaming with Bert Marcus - his partner on documentary "Teenage Paparazzo" to co-produce the film, which will feature interviews with the trio as well as hemp advocate and stoner icon Woody Harrelson, Susan Sarandon and top-ranking U.S. government officials.

Explaining the project to Variety, Marcus says, "What we're trying to do is provide a glimpse into the lives of those involved in the war on drugs and give some answers as to addiction. W

e think the commercial prospects are going to be improved by getting recognisable people involved." The film is currently in post-production.

Source: aceshowbiz.com

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Eminem drops into Rihanna gig to perform Love The Way You Lie

The rapper dropped in to perform their hit song Love The Way You Lie in front of 20,000 fans.

The crowd at the Staples Centre in LA went wild with excitement when Eminem arrived on stage.

This was only the second time that the pair have performed the song live together.

Love The Way You Lie features on Eminem's chart-topping album Recovery.

The pair have been busy filming the video to the song with Megan Fox rumoured to be making a cameo.

Source:Metro

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

"Love The Way You Lie" Video to be shot Today

"Love The Way You Lie" video to be shot on July 20

Joseph Kahn is going to direct Eminem & Rihanna’s “Love The Way You Lie” music video. The director has updated his twitter with the following messages:

“Got off a call. Emergency music video. Gonna write and turn in a treatment in three hours to shoot asap.”

“Video is gonna happen. Lots of work to do now.”

“Video is awarded. Starts shooting Tuesday (July 20). Eminem & Rihanna. Off we go!”

Joseph has directed several popular music videos, including Lady GaGa’s “LoveGame”, Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” & “Toxic”, Kylie Minogue’s “All The Lovers” and more!

On July 20, Rihanna will be in Los Angeles – where she will perform as part of her “Last Girl On Earth Tour”. Hopefully Eminem will join her on stage!

Eminem: Behind the Scenes with SPIN




My fellow foodie Peter Gaston hit me up about the new issue of Spin Magazine, which features Eminem on the cover, and these really beautiful photographs by Maciek Kobielski, which were taken with Em in an abandoned Detroit wheel factory. There’s something about the tone that reminds me of a classic Edward Hopper painting.

“People come by here all the time,” Sierra says. Her voice is low and friendly, and she wears a small stud in her nose. Some time after she moved in three years ago, she says, she discovered a bit of trivia about the place: This is the house where Eminem spent his teenage years, the house he put on the cover of 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP, and the house his mom claims he used to carry around with him in the form of a tiny, specially commissioned replica. The listing practically writes itself: house for sale, 2br, 767 square feet, Eminem’s “rosebud.”

“They come from all over,” Sierra says. “They take pictures, ask questions.” Several visitors have tried to buy the house — one offered $56,000, another $72,000 — but she likes it too much to consider selling. A neighbor once told her that, years ago, when the place was uninhabited, she broke in, found boxes full of the teenage Marshall Mathers’ stuff, and sold it on eBay. “I don’t know where she is now,” Sierra says, nodding toward the boarded-up house to the left of hers.

Among the people who have flocked to Dresden Street to commune with the ghost of Eminem is Eminem himself. Every so often, he’ll climb into one of his cars — sometimes during the day, sometimes at night, sometimes with security, sometimes alone — and drive down from his home in the northern suburbs to look at various places he grew up: the house on Fairport Avenue, the one on Novara Street, the one here on Dresden. He likes to creep by, do a U-turn, and make a second pass. Occasionally, residents spot him through his tinted windows and shout, “What up, Em?”

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Eminem: Mental Health Underlies His Musical “Recovery” and ‘Relapse”

Eminem is back from the dead. After ending a long professional silence with a barely heard thump - last year's "Relapse" - Eminem has thundered back onto the scene of mainstream hip-hop with "Recovery." Once again, Eminem is ruling music charts, monopolizing radio waves, and raking in millions with hit-singles and highly publicized tours.
Why?

As it turns out the name says it all - "Recovery" versus "Relapse." Let that marinate. We'll come back to it.

Let's back up. Eminem has always had strong musical talents. His lyrics are witty and suggest cognitive strengths with verbal expression and comprehension. His word play is sophisticated and humorous suggesting high levels of creative intelligence. The strong beats of his songs are due to strong industry partnerships (i.e. rap staple Dr. Dre), which point to equally strong social intelligence. All of these abilities round-out a generally elite musical presence.

And yet his musical career has fluctuated. His recent hiatus and the underwhelming "Relapse" proved head-scratching, especially in light of "Recovery's" boomeranging success. His musical talents have never wavered. He's always been the same, musically speaking. So, what's with the fluctuation? I believe the underlying explanatory factor is something within him that actually does fluctuate - his mental health.

The Mental Health Yo-Yo

Eminem has long battled internal demons. Raised as an only child by an impoverished mother, within a broken household (paternal abandonment), his early life was one big tumultuous experience. Nomadic home life, the successful suicide of a close Uncle and failing grades propelled Eminem toward becoming a disconnected, embittered high school drop-out.

As with many people, early external chaos can become internalized. In his adult life, he's been addicted to a pharmacy of drugs, and he's struggled with depression and anger. Such internal chaos tends to initiate vicious cycles of dysfunction. Predictably, Eminem's later life has been littered with conflict and controversy. He's married his high school sweetheart, Kim, twice. She's attempted suicide. They've divorced. He's been jailed for assault. Hell, he's been sued by his mother. That last one should say it all.
His life is a narrative of chaos continued. And the maladaptive mental processes fostered by his experiences and personality traits have been reflected in his music.
A prime example are the patterned misogyny and homophobia exhibited in his lyrics. I know what you're thinking - what rap song doesn't exhibit such qualities? It's become almost a pre-requisite for rap songs. As a counter-point I would simply suggest that communal complicity doesn't make something healthy and, furthermore, Eminem's relationship to these unhealthy processes seems more personal than most. One senses that Eminem is not "performing" as much as he's "getting it out."

And, the examples of misogyny and homophobia are really best discussed and understood in the context of mental health and illness - and should not be confused as issues pertaining to freedom of speech, personal opinion or political stance. Eminem, as far as I know, never suffered significant and negative experiences with homosexuals (i.e. assault). So, what he's doing is channeling a ton of effort in order to exude intense vitriol toward a group of minorities with whom he's never really engaged. This sort of action is the result of disintegrated parts of self and immature defenses. Meaning, what explains all the effort and emotion that Eminem pours into his unprovoked attack on people who have done nothing to him are issues he has with himself. Unresolved sexual feelings and discomfort with his sense of self are things that continue to operate below his awareness as he denies and displaces.

So, that's the mentally unhealthy Eminem. And sometimes, as with "Relapse," this part of the famed rapper wins out. Mental illness overwhelms, the result of which are all of its unattractive and unappealing features - passivity, unregulated negative emotions, dishonest self-presentation, and interpersonal conflicts. This is the Eminem that grows defensive and embittered, whines about archaic slights, spills anger without a clear, coherent target, and aimlessly reflects on a now-stagnant life story.

We sense this and we are turned off.

But there's a mentally healthy Eminem. This Eminem is alive and kicking, occasionally winning a round or two in his eternal and internal boxing match. This Eminem, I would argue, is what keeps him separated from so many other successful but fleeting artists of our time. This healthy Eminem has buffered him from the paralyzing dysfunction of his problematic predispositions and upbringing, constantly fed a loyal following, and kept him attached to the limelight.

Let us not forget that Eminem is an artist who has raked in Grammy's and Academy Awards. He's gone triple platinum (that sounds pretty impressive), and in 2001 his Marshall Mathers LP broke records for the fastest selling album and single of all-time.

I would link his success to his sporadically prominent mental health. He may express homophobic ideas but he has also done things like "the hug heard around the world," when he embraced Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards. He has exhibited a concern for a better world, as with his anti-war track "Mosh." And, many of his songs demonstrate healthy values in-line with being a good father and loyal friend. Indeed, "Recovery" represents a recovery of mental health in which a generally active, thoughtful and confident stance permeates most of his songs. Here, Eminem is taking ownership over his life. He accurately reflects on personality flaws (an inconsistent father figure), confesses professional hiccups (insults his previous album), and describes an orientation toward others and his life that is characterized by renewed vigor and honesty. In short, his introspection is insightful, and the world he is reconstructing for himself (for others to see and model) hints at a healthier lifestyle.

We like this music because it can, in a sneaky, circuitous sort of way, reflect an inspired and intelligent approach to life that, in turn, breeds the happiness, success and well-being we all seek. As a result, Eminem has become an individual whose success has defied expectation. He should not be nearly as successful as he has been, as he's had to fight through traumatic experiences and pathological tendencies to succeed within a profession that renders him low man on the totem pole of power.

In my opinion, Eminem harbors a mesmerizing internal life in which extreme gifts of mental health constantly spar with equally profound elements of mental illness. Within his songs we subconsciously watch and wait. We root for his healthy side to win out against a formidable foe. The dizzying back and forth has maintained his popularity and albums like "Recovery" represent the most recent round of psychological fighting, in this case, a mean right hook that has dropped the psychological villain to his knees.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Eminem to Collaborate with Wu-Tang Legend Raekwon

Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon – whose real name is Corey Woods – has recently revealed that he and fellow rapper Eminem have been what he calls “Scheming and plotting” recently, and hope to collaborate on a new track in the very near future.

As reported at contactmusic.com, Raekwon spoke to XXL Magazine about the Eminem collaboration recently, and said: “I respect him as being one of the top elites in the game and I respect him as being a man too. We scheming and plotting.”

If the two rappers do end up laying down a track together, Raekwon won’t exactly be the first star to have collaborated with the “Lose It” and “We Made You” hitmaker. Eminem had female singer Dido, feature on his worldwide hit “Stan” in 2000.

He then worked alongside Pink and Rihanna, stating that they were the only artists who could “pull off” tracks for his new album.

Eminem & Rihanna Take On B.o.B For UK Number One

As Shady’s album goes back to the top spot…


B.o.B is competing with Eminem to claim the Official Singles Chart number one this weekend.

Em’s duet with Rihanna Love The Way You Lie is currently a few thousand copies behind B.o.B’s own duet with Paramore’s Hayley Williams Airplanes.
Mark Ronson’s Bang Bang Bang and Professor Green and Lily Allen’s Just Be Good To Green look set to hit the Top 10.
Love the Way You Lie has not yet got a music video but is also already number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Slim Shady does however look certain to recapture the album chart top spot with Recovery, after headlining T In The Park Festival last week.
New albums from M.I.A and Bombay Bicycle Club look set to crash the Top 20 while Eliza Doolittle will score a Top five hit with her self-titled debut.

Source:MTV UK

Eminem, Lady Gaga, Dr Dre, Jackson 5 Confirmed For DJ Hero 2

Songs by Lady Gaga and Eminem will feature on the forthcoming video game DJ Hero 2, developer Activision has announced.

More than 100 artists are due to appear in total including Rihanna, Dr Dre, Jackson 5, B.o.B and Jay-Z.

DJ Hero 2 will feature a host of new multiplayer modes including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay.

Vocalists will also be able to take part in on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes.

Dan Neil, Music Director, FreeStyleGames said the game would be “the ultimate party experience of 2010”.

DJ Hero 2 is due to be released in the autumn on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo.

The artists involved include:
2Pac
50 Cent
Adamski
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
Armand Van Helden
A-Trak
B.o.B.
Basement Jaxx
BlakRoc
Bobby Womack
Bruno Mars
Busta Rhymes
Calvin Harris
Chamillionaire
Chic
Chris Willis
Clinton Sparks
Colby O’Donis
Daft Punk
Damian Marley
David Guetta
Deadmau5
Dee-Lite
Dillinja
Diplo
Dizzee Rascal
DJ Shadow
Donna Summer
Dr. Dre
Drake
Edwin Starr
Eminem
Estelle
Flo Rida
Gorillaz
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Harold Faltermeyer
House Of Pain
Iyaz
Jackson 5
Janet Jackson
Justice
Kanye West
Kaskade
Kelis
Keri Hilson
Kid Cudi
Kool & The Gang
Lady Gaga
Lil Jon
Lil Wayne
LL Cool J
M.I.A.
M|A|R|R|S
Major Lazer
Malcolm McLaren
Mase
Melle Mel & Duke Bootee
Metallica
Missy Elliott
Mos Def
MSTRKRFT
N.O.R.E.
Nas
Nate Dogg
Naughty By Nature
Nelly
New Boyz
New Order
Newcleus
Nightcrawlers
Orbital
Pharoahe Monch
Pirate Soundsystem
Pitbull
Puff Daddy
Pussycat Dolls
Rihanna
Robin S.
RZA
Salt N Pepa
Sam Cooke
Sam Sparro
Sean Paul
Skibadee
Sneaky Sound System
Snoop Dogg
Snow
Soulja Boy Tell Em
Sparfunk & D-Code
Static Major
Stevie Wonder
Talib Kweli
The Chemical Brothers
The Crystal Method
The Egg
The Notorious B.I.G.
The Prodigy
Tiësto
Tiga
Timbaland
Tweet
Walter Murphy
Warren G
Wayne Smith
Will.I.Am
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Young Jeezy

Eminem’s “Recovery” Stays Put At No. 1 For Third Week

For a third week in a row, Eminem’s new album,Recovery, sits at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the set pulled in another 229,000 copies.

Having already crossed the platinum mark in its second week of release, Recovery’s new tally is just under 1.3 million copies.

Recovery also continues to embarrass new releases hoping to steal its spot. The closest anyone gets this week is No. 3. That spot is held by Big Boi, one half of rap duo Outkast, with his first solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty, bringing in 62,000 copies to start.

Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias failed to deliver hot numbers as his album, Euphoria, comes in at No. 10, selling 27,000 copies.

Source:Neon Limelight

Monday, July 12, 2010

Eminem Shouts Out Lil Wayne During Scotland Gig

'Free Lil Wayne!' Em shouted before launching into 'No Love' at T in the Park festival.

He took the stage nearly 45 minutes late — allegedly due to "laser pen fears" — but Eminem more than made up for the delay with a fiery headlining performance on Saturday at the T in the Park festival in Scotland.

Em's made just a handful of live appearances over the past year (his last U.S. gig was a headlining slot at the Voodoo Fest in New Orleans back in October), yet he didn't show any signs of rust at T, ripping through a 29-song set that spanned his entire career.

Backed by a live band, he opened with "Won't Back Down," his collaboration with Pink off his comeback Recovery album, then worked through tracks including "3 a.m." (from last year's Relapse), "Kill You" (off The Marshall Mathers LP) and his breakout "My Name Is" (from 1999's Slim Shady LP).

Em shouted "Free Lil Wayne!" before launching into "No Love," the Haddaway-sampling song that features both rappers (obviously, Weezy couldn't make it to the show). He dedicated "Love the Way You Lie" to "everyone who's been in a f---ed up relationship" and paid tribute to his late friend (and former D12 member) Proof, telling the Scottish crowd about the time the two had devoured "weed brownies" in Amsterdam and "started speaking in tongues."

The remaining members of D12 joined Em for a run of their hits, including "Purple Pills," "Fight Music" and "My Band."

He also acknowledged the rainy weather that had dogged the fest throughout the weekend ("I know it's muddy and sloppy and sh--, but this is fun," he laughed), and then, just before wrapping his set with an anthemic take on "Lose Yourself," he thanked the crowd — and his fans worldwide — for sticking with him through the years.

"Everybody who's an Eminem fan, I just wanna say thank you so much for the support you've shown over the years, for not giving up on me," he said. "I hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did tonight. Peace."

Source:MTV News

Eminem stays tops of the NME Chart for third week with 'Not Afraid'

Eminem has topped the NME Chart today (July 12) for the third week running with his latest single 'Not Afraid'.

Bombay Bicycle Club also scored a new entry at Number Nine with 'Ivy & Gold' while Florence And The Machine has shot up to Five with'Cosmic Love' and Wiley is in at 10 with 'Electric Booglaloo (Find A Way)'.

The NME Chart Top Ten this week is:

1. Eminem - 'Not Afraid'
2. Big Boi - 'Shutterbugg'
3. Robyn - 'Dancing On My Own'
4. Muse - 'Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)'
5. Florence And The Machine - 'Cosmic Love'
6. Professor Green Ft Ed Drewett - 'I Need You Tonight'
7. Kele - 'Tenderoni'
8. Pendulum - 'Watercolour'
9. Bombay Bicycle Club - 'Ivy & Gold'
10. Wiley featuring Jodie Connor and J2K - 'Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way)'


Source:NME.COM

Friday, July 9, 2010

Eminem Goes Platinum

Eminem’s album Recovery has gone platinum in the US in less than two weeks selling over 1 million copies.

The record is at number one on the Billboard chart having sold a further 300,000 units over the last seven days.
He comfortably beat his nearest challenger- Drake’s Thank Me Later album, which made it to two.
Source:MTV UK

Eminem Will Perform This Weekend

Eminem will perform at T in the Park this weekend despite internet rumours he is planning to snub the gig. The rapper is due to headline the festival in Balado, Scotland, but rumours circulated that he was planning not to attend.

Geoff Ellis, the festival's boss, said to UK newspaper Daily Record: "I'm talking to Eminem's people and we are sorting out the details for the TV coverage.

"Everything is fine. Eminem is definitely going ahead and highlights from his show will be seen in the TV coverage. With some of the American artists, things take a little longer to sort out because of the time difference."
Source:Peace FM Online

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Eminem 'Finally Did Justice' To Late D12 Member Proof With 'You're Never Over'

Rapper said he couldn't get tribute right before recording song from Recovery LP.



Eminem tried, and in his eyes failed, to pay tribute to his late friend and D12 partner Proof in the past. Though the subject of Proof's death in 2006 weighed heavily on his mind, Em couldn't quite figure out how to put it into words.

But on the "Road to Recovery" special on Sirius' Shade 45 channel last week, the rapper explained that on "You're Never Over," from his new Recovery album, he finally put the right bars together. Produced by Just Blaze, the song grinds along on fuzzed-out guitars and a spare beat as Em rhymes, "The days are cold livin' without you/ The nights are long, I'm growing older/ I miss the days of old, thinkin' about you/ You may be gone, but you're never over ... If Proof could see me now, I know he'd be proud/ Somewhere in me deep down, there's something in me he found/ That made him believe in me, no one can beat me now."

"For me, this is the most important song off the record," Em said of the tune in which he credits his "guardian angel" Proof (born DeShaun Holton) for inspiring him to keep going and not fall victim to his darker tendencies. "It's a dedication to Proof. It is one of those records that I tried ... I had several attempts at making. Every attempt just wasn't good enough. It was one of those things, I tried a bunch of records and it just didn't work. Like, 'This is not good enough, the rhyme's not crazy enough, the beat's not crazy enough.' When I finally got it, I felt like, 'Thank you, thank you, God for just giving me the strength to be able to write this record and make it feel like it does.' "

In an uncharacteristically gentle voice on the chorus, in which he sings, "I just miss you," Slim Shady does his best to croon out the dedication, though he was the first to admit that he's not a world-class singer.

"I guess as long as the emotion is there ... But it was one of those moments on the record where I feel like, 'OK, I finally did Proof some kind of justice by being able to put that together and dump my heart on the record,' " he said. "It was one of those things that when it got towards the end of the record, I really didn't even care about making the rhyme crazy, I just wanted it to say it."


Source:MTV

Friday, July 2, 2010

Eminem Road To Recovery Interview

Eminem regained control of Shade 45 this evening for his “Road To Recovery” special. With Mr. Porter, Alchemist, and Paul Rosenberg in the studio, Em gives Reef a breakdown of his new album, Recovery. Listen up.