Without Me (Eminem song)

"Without Me" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album The Eminem Show (2002). "Without Me" was released on May 15, 2002, as the lead single from the album, and re-released on his greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number one in fifteen countries.

"Without Me"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Eminem Show
B-side
ReleasedMay 15, 2002[1]
Recorded2001[2]
GenreComedy hip hop
Length4:51 (album version)
4:23 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Hellbound"
(2002)		 "Without Me"
(2002)		 "Cleanin' Out My Closet"
(2002)
Music video
"Without Me" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Without Me"
  • file
  • help

Content

The song was Eminem's return after the successful Marshall Mathers LP, intended as a sequel to "The Real Slim Shady" and essentially says that he is back to save the world. It also refers to Eminem's role in the music industry and his effect on culture.

The song mocks a number of Eminem's critics, including Vice President Dick Cheney (including his recurring heart problems) and his wife Lynne, the FCC, Chris Kirkpatrick (of NSYNC), Limp Bizkit and Moby,[4][5] as well as parodying Prince's decision to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol. It also lampoons comparisons of him to Elvis Presley as a white man succeeding commercially in a predominantly black art form. A line also attacks his mother Debbie Mathers for the lawsuit she filed for the lyrics of his breakthrough hit "My Name Is".

The opening lyric "Two trailer park girls go round the outside" is based on the country rap single "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren.[6] The introduction—"Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks"—is sampled from Obie Trice's own track "Rap Name".

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine marked it as one of the best tracks on The Eminem Show.[7] David Browne was positive: "'I've created a monster, 'cuz no one wants to hear Marshall no more,' he (Eminem) whines, partly in jest, in the beat-crazy single 'Without Me'."[8] HipHopDX noted that the blazing single "Without Me" is one of the only light-hearted songs on the album.[9] NME magazine noted that this song is "tackling disco."[10] RapReviews wrote: "His fearlessness continues on the lead single "Without Me" when he lambasts everyone from Dick Cheney's wife to the leading electronic artists of the day."[11] Kris Ex exclaims: ""Without Me"—like his "The Real Slim Shady", the leadoff single from 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP—is a fun-loving, barb-laden romp on which he flits from one topic to the next like a bumblebee with ADD."[12]

Chart performances and awards

"Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles. The song reached the number one position in the charts in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand for 7 weeks. In the United States, the song reached a peak of number two on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "Hot in Herre" by Nelly, although it reached number one on both the Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts.

"Without Me" was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 2003 (losing to Norah Jones's song "Don't Know Why"), being Eminem's first song to receive a Grammy nomination in a major category. It also received a nomination for Best Male Rap Solo Performance but lost that award as well to the song "Hot in Herre" by rapper Nelly.

In 2009, the song was honored by Pitchfork Media as the 251st-greatest song of the 2000s.

The song was the 69th-best-selling single of the 2000s in the United Kingdom.[13]

Year Organization Award Result
2002 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Won
Best Male Video Won
Best Rap Video Won
Best Direction Won
Best Editing Nominated
Viewer's Choice Award Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Video Nominated
2003 Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Best Male Rap Solo Performance Nominated
Best Music Video Won
Detroit Music Awards Outstanding National Single Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Video of the Year Nominated
Best Male Video Nominated
Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated
MTV Asia Awards Favorite Video Nominated
Mnet Music Video Festival Best International Artist Won

Music video

The song's music video features a number of scenarios built around its context, including Eminem and Dr. Dre as parodies of comics in general, specifically Batman, Robin (Rap Boy), and Blade trying to save a child who bought a copy of The Eminem Show that has a Parental Advisory sticker. Eminem and his band of heroes rush to the rescue before the child puts the CD in his CD player and when they arrive Rap Boy snatches it away from him, showing that his CD has explicit lyrics that are not suitable for him to listen to. The kid cries and is upset after Rap Boy and Blade (Dr. Dre) confiscate the album away from him. The video was shot from April 12–13 at Barwick Studios.[14] The comic and the scene with Moby feature a rabbit costume, a possible reference to the one featured in two Love Inc. music videos. As of July 2023, the music video has over 1.7 billion views, only a third-highest in his YouTube channel behind Not Afraid, and Love the Way You Lie.

This video received MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, and Best Direction (for Joseph Kahn), as well as gaining nominations for Best Editing and Viewer's Choice. It also won Best Short Form Music Video at the Grammy Awards of 2003.

Track listing
European CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Without Me"
4:53
2."The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)MathersEminem4:59
3."Without Me" (acapella)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
4."Without Me" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
Total length:19:38
UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Without Me"
4:53
2."The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)MathersEminem4:59
3."Without Me" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
Total length:14:45
Australian CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Without Me"
4:53
2."The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)MathersEminem4:59
3."Without Me" (acapella)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
4."Without Me" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
5."Say What You Say" (featuring Dr. Dre)
Dr. Dre5:09
6."Without Me" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • Bell
  • Dudley
  • McLaren
  • Horn
4:53
Total length:29:40
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies a co-Record producer.
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer.

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications and sales for Without Me
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[83] 12× Platinum 840,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[84] 3× Platinum 90,000*
Belgium (BEA)[85] Platinum 50,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[86] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
Finland — 4,874[87]
France (SNEP)[88] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[89] Platinum 500,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[90]
sales since 2009 		2× Platinum 140,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[91] Gold 100,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[92] 5× Platinum 150,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[93] 2× Platinum  
Portugal (AFP)[94] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[95] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[96] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[97] 4× Platinum 2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[98] 7× Platinum 7,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[99] Gold 1,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
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