Gretchen Whitmer is proud to call Eminem the Detroit ambassador. Marshall stayed with the city through difficult times and through recovery, she says, after quickly guessing his song in a music quiz.
It’s Track Star’s usual setup – a famous person throws on headphones, listens to a song and tries to guess it. If there is a story that comes out together with the memory, even better. The channel host does not try to trip a gust, but rather to inspire a conversation. The governor came prepared, though; a failure was not an option. She listed some Detroit music icons right off the bat, foreshadowing much of the music that would later come into play. And of course, Eminem was on that list.
Detroit’s Ambassador
When Em’s turn came, Whitmer did not have to go two bars into the song to recognise “Lose Yourself”. As good a song as it is, it is also a direct link to 8 Mile, a movie that put Detroit firmly on the map and introduced it to audiences worldwide. It captured the time and pinned it to the place, offering a unique but recognisable portrait of Detroit.
“I love Eminem, and I love his music. He is such a great ambassador for the city of Detroit”, the governor said. What sets him apart, she notices, is that his music is not enclosed in a bubble. “He crosses so many different and interesting intersections. Everyone at the Lions game always looks for Eminem. He’s produced so many great things. Of course, he is a very talented performer, but he also produces some incredible things in the city of Detroit”, Gretchen Whitmer added.
She was not talking about producing music in the studio but about producing large-scale events that draw more attention to the city and bring more joy to its inhabitants. The governor talks about the Michigan Central Station opening: “We just redid the big train station in downtown Detroit, and Eminem produced all of the talent around the big unveiling. It was just this incredible show. He performed as well. Diana Ross came and performed. It was an exciting moment of pride in a city that was on hard times for a long time”.
Story of Recovery
These hard times are depicted perfectly in the movie that brought Eminem an Oscar for “Lose Yourself”. A lot has changed since then. “8 Mile, his movie and his story, is really growing up in a city where there’d been a lot of disinvestment, frankly. I think it was 2009, maybe, that Time magazine did this horrible article, “The Tragedy of Detroit”. And then, in 2022, Detroit, Michigan, was listed as one of the best cities in the world. We’ve come a long way. Eminem’s 8 Mile is kind of about the hard times, but now he’s got a big hand in a lot of the great things that are happening in the city. So, it’s really an interesting story to tell through his experience”.
Tell Me Who’s Your Friend
Of course, the governor interacted with Marshall in her line of work. Still, it seems that she would not mind adding a little bit more warmth to their relationship. Answering the question whether she is friends with Eminem, her voice drops to a whisper: “I’ve met him. I would love to be friends with him. Marshall, I love you”.
However, we all know that it is not easy. The close circle of friends Marshall leaves in is just that, closed, and Gretchen Whitmer has noticed that. She also noticed the sharp contrast between his personality and public persona: “He’s very reserved. I think he’s kind of shy, which is so interesting when you see the talent he displays on stage and the way he interacts with people”.
But shy or not, Marshall stands up for Detroit, and his fellow denizens see that. So, the governor speaks on behalf of other Michiganders as well when she says, “I think a lot of folks in Michigan are really proud that he’s a great ambassador for us all”.
A Present We Are Still Grateful For
Marshall’s name came up again when the governor talked about Jack White. She mentioned that he often comes to the Lions and Tigers games and recently performed at the Thanksgiving Halftime show, which Eminem produced. Their unexpected collab that day was a real present to Detroit.
