In the opening track of “The Death of Slim Shady” – “Renaissance” – Eminem mentions Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Joyner Lucas, Wu-Tang Clan and even Picasso, meaning the cruel attitude and fans’ critics towards the artist’s work.
We’ve collected the most interesting Genius reviews about this track for you.
[Intro]
*Spitting*
The track begins with a reference to the virus video “Hawk Tuah Girl”. Eminem spits on the Slim Shady’s grave, its gravestone says, “It feels so empty without him”.
With balls in his durag, he sags, fearin’ no man
Shady emphatically restates that he’s still in his rebellious antics, alluring with hip pop stereotype of defiance expressed in one’s dressing in durag, sagging still, and fearing no one.
It could also be a reference to Sing For The Moment’s rebellious kid,
“His thoughts are whacked, he’s mad so he’s talking back,
Talking black, brainwashed from rock and rap
He sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap”
Anyone who knows about him knows about his shindig
Shenanigans, and all his wacky antics in the papers
Eminem’s career has been the subject of mass controversy, namely during his earlier years, in the early 2000s. In 2001, a gathering protested against Eminem’s harsh lyrics.
On top of that, Eminem’s lyrics are known for their biting at Pop culture, poking fun at whatever celebrity happens to be relevant at the time. This playfulness with the media and the subsequent discourse is a vital element to the ‘Slim Shady’ persona, which Eminem is killing off metaphorically (and somewhat literally, as it’s his final record).
You wanna know how I do it? I can’t explain this shit
Mechanic’s brain with a pinch of Big Daddy Kane in it
Eminem is often praised for his rap skills and creative process. Here, he’s acknowledging that his talent is difficult to articulate or break down into a simple explanation. He then proceeds to make an analogy to how his mind works like that of a mechanic – precise, technical, and adept at constructing complex systems. Just as a mechanic expertly handles machines, Eminem expertly handles words, rhythms, and flows.
Big Daddy Kane is a legendary rapper known for his smooth flow, intricate wordplay, and charismatic delivery. By saying he has a pinch of Big Daddy Kane in his style, Eminem is paying homage to one of his influences and suggesting that his own rap style incorporates elements of Big Daddy Kane’s techniques and legacy.
Eminem has already expressed how Big Daddy Kane had a big influence on him in his 2004 track “Yellow Brick Road,”
I spit out a line and rhymed “birthday” with “first place”
And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike
We was on the same shit, that Big Daddy Kane shit
Where compound syllables sound combined
Now let’s travel inside the mind of a hater
‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers
“Kendrick’s album was cool, but it didn’t have any bangers
Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer
Joyner’s album was corny, Shady’s new shit is way worse
Everything is either too tame or there’s too much anger
Eminem highlights the harsh attitudes of people who label themselves as fans and their tendency to often criticize artists they claim to be fans of. He lists common criticisms “fans” have of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Joyner Lucas, and himself.
For example, Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated 2022 album, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”, was a more gentle, introspective album. It highlighted problems in today’s society in Lamar’s unique fashion and initially received critical reviews because of fan expectations, wanting another aggressive Kendrick Lamar hip-hop album like his previous projects.
In early 2024, Kanye West surprise released a collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign titled “VULTURES 1”, the first of potientally three collaborative albums within the “VULTURES” trilogy. This album still is overall perceived in a negative light, and some feel as if it is Kanye’s worst album to date.
Lil Wayne’s most recent project is 2023’s collaboration album with 2 Chainz, Welcome 2 Collegrove. As the album received mixed reviews, it is likely that Em is clowning people for criticizing this Wayne’s album .
Massachusetts native Joyner Lucas is a rapper who, like Kendrick, focuses on the several problems wrong with society in a more lyrical, bold and blunt manner. His rise to fame started with his remixes to popular songs such as Gucci Gang by Lil Pump and Bank Account by 21 Savage, then releasing his career-jumpstarting controversial hit single, “I’m Not Racist”, which highlighted America’s racial injustices and the very still real and active problem with discrimination.
I didn’t like the beat, so I hated Might Delete Later”
Might Delete Later is a 2024 mixtape by rap superstar J. Cole.
The tape received mixed reviews, particularly after Cole apologized and removed his Kendrick Lamar diss track “7 Minute Drill” from the project 48 hours after release.
Eminem clowns reviewers for criticizing the tape based on the beat selection. Em may allude to the fact that people should focus on Cole’s lyrics over the beat, which are typically praised for their introspectiveness and consciousness. Em may feel that this is where the true substance lies, not just in a hot beat.
You nerdy pricks would find somethin’ wrong with 36 Chambers
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut album by the Wu-Tang Clan. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone’s 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
It’s what they do to the greats
Eminem mentions the artists from the previous examples as “greats”, showing them respect for their music and appreciation.
This isn’t the first time Eminem has given his props to those artists.
Eminem gave his props to J. Cole on multiple occasions. For instance, in his song “Doomsday Pt. 2”, which was released earlier this year, Eminem raps:
And that’s why (What?) I’m back with Cole Bennett
And I been at the level J. Cole been at
In an interview on “People”, Eminem said that J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Joyner Lucas and Big Sean are the greatest of this era:
What I hyper-focus on is people like Kendrick Lamar, Joyner Lucas, J. Cole and Big Sean, and watching them and how the f— they’re doing their s—. Because they’re also focused on being the best rappers.
Eminem gave his props to Ye in an interview where he was asked about The Grammys.
I’m fine if I lose Kayne or someone that I’m like okay I respect that. I know who that is and Kanye has a huge following and he’s made a massive impact on music. I’m good with that
In an interview to Apple Music, Eminem gave his props to Lil Wayne as well as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Joyner Lucas:
I rap to be the best rapper, but I’m not the only rapper who raps to be the best rapper. Lil Wayne, [J.] Cole, Kendrick [Lamar], Joyner Lucas. They rap to be the best rapper, and I feel like when you push yourself like that, that’s what I feel like inspires greatness
In 2021, Eminem wrote on Twitter:
Bro Wayne just said ‘got a bunch of zeros like a bag of new funyuns!!’ F*CK why didn’t I think of that????
Pick apart a Picasso and make excuses to hate
Pablo Picasso was famous for his cubism art. In cubism, the artist paints abstract fragments. Certain details are emphasized, much like the haters who nitpick.
So you can wait for your flowers until you’re blue in the face
Stupid, you ain’t gonna get ’em until your funeral, wait (Hm)
To give someone their flowers means to recognize or honor them for their accomplishments. Em points out that many artists are not fully appreciated until after they die and that some artists are remembered more fondly than they were received when they were alive. The only way he’ll escape criticism is by dying.
There’s also a double meaning because people get flowers at their funeral when they can no longer appreciate them.
