With success comes criticism — that’s just a fact. And with the astronomical amount Eminem has witnessed throughout the course of his illustrious career, he has an entire army of people who love to see him fail.
Take Brand Nubian’s Lord Jamar, for example. For the past few years, whenever he sat on VladTV’s couch, there was bound to be some insults hurled in Shady’s direction — whether it was calling him a “bitch ass” or claiming his music was “trailer park shit.” His favorite argument revolved around his theory nobody listened to Eminem anymore, especially “in the hood.” But Marshall Mathers’ album sales, YouTube views, Spotify monthly listeners and whatever other analytics you want to toss in there prove they’re at least listening to him outside of the hood.
Simply put, Eminem destroyed the “no one listens to Eminem” debate during all of 2020. Beginning with the January release of Music To Be Murdered By, Eminem once again proved his staunch supporters will always show up to back his music.
Dedicated to Eminem’s late bodyguard CeeAaqil Barnes and Juice WRLD, who appears on the track “Godzilla,” the 20-track project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with roughly 279,000 total album-equivalent units sold in its first week. As a result, Shady became the first artist ever to have 10 consecutive albums debut in Billboard’s coveted spot.
In February, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic would bring the music industry to its knees, Shady was asked to perform “Lose Yourself” at the 92nd Academy Awards — albeit 17 years late. The 8 Mile track initially won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2003, but Shady skipped the ceremony. During an exclusive interview with Variety, he explained why he finally decided to show up.
“I kinda figured maybe since I didn’t get a chance to do it at the time, maybe it would be cool,” he said. “Back then, I never even thought that I had a chance to win, and we had just performed ‘Lose Yourself’ on the Grammys with the Roots a couple of weeks before the Oscars, so we didn’t think it was a good idea.
“And also, back at that time, the younger me didn’t really feel like a show like that would understand me. But then when I found out I won, ‘That’s crazy!’ That to me shows how authentic and real that award is — when you don’t show up and you still win. That makes it very real to me.”
Exactly one month after the performance, Shady unleashed a Cole Bennett-directed video for “Godzilla” featuring Dr. Dre and famed boxer Mike Tyson in supporting roles. Employing the 24-year-old’s videographer’s talents also illustrated that despite being 47 years old, he’s still keeping his finger on the pulse of what the younger generation is up to. The visual has since racked up nearly 300 million YouTube views since its release, showing (once again) there was no shortage of Eminem thirst and fans were definitely drinking the Lyrical Lemonade.
Two days later, Music To Be Murdered By was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), meaning he sold over 500,000 total album-equivalent units in less than two months. As Shady stayed busy in the studio, Kid Cudi announced they were teaming up for a new collaboration called “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady.” While it only peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, the YouTube video has been viewed over 22 million times.
Shady scored another high profile look when President Elect Joe Biden opted to pluck “Lose Yourself” for a campaign video, which arrived the day before the November 3, 2020 election. The black-and-white clip showed shots of every day Americans with masks lined up to vote as Eminem raps, “Look, if you had one shot/Or one opportunity/To seize everything you ever wanted/In one moment/Would you capture it/Or just let it slip?” The video, which currently has over one million YouTube, was even credited for helping Biden win Shady’s home state of Michigan on Twitter.
Eminem wrapped up his productive year on December 17 with the release of Music To Be Murdered By: Side B (Deluxe Edition) much to the delight of Stans worldwide. Rumors of the project started to heat up days before its release after Em was spotted shooting a music video in front of a green screen. The whispers only intensified after producer and Dr. Dre affiliate Dem Jointz posted an Instagram photo of all the albums he worked on in 2020, inadvertently revealing the Side B cover art.
Shady madness ensued the following day when the 36-track project (20 original songs plus 16 new ones) surfaced. And while the project technically ended his Billboard record, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, it still sold over 94,000 total album-equivalent units in its opening week.
As the album made the rounds, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) evidently gravitated toward the song “Higher” and snatched it up to promote the upcoming rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. Shady tweeted ESPN’s trailer for the event on December 29 featuring clips of McGregor and Poirier’s first fight flashing across the screen as Em raps, “Where am I supposed to go from here?/Really I have no idea/All I know is every time I think I hit my ceiling/I go higher than I’ve ever fuckin’ been.”
Lord Jamar Calls Eminem 'Bitch Ass' & 'Trailer Park Shit' Over 'Music To Be Murdered By' Diss
Let’s not forget about his Spotify Wrapped numbers either. Eminem has been in the Top Streamed Artist list ever year since 2017, the only one from his age bracket. In 2020, he landed at No. 11 on a list that included Bad Bunny, Drake, Travis Scott and Juice WRLD with 4.1 billion (yes, BILLION) streams, 321.9 million hours and 139.8 million listeners in 92 countries.
Shady might not be 25 anymore, but he routinely illustrates he’s just as passionate about Hip Hop as he was when he battled Juice at Scribble Jam in 1997. It’s evident when ’90s-era Hip Hop becomes a topic of discussion during nearly every interview he does. Most recently, he spoke to Apple Music host Zane Lowe and rattled off several MCs who’ve influenced him throughout his career, including Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap.
Lord Jamar may believe otherwise, but Eminem fans both young and not so young still rally around one of music’s biggest artists of all time whenever he puts something out — no matter if people are listening to him “in the hood” or not.
People need to stop making up these false topics.
What’s false about Em killing the argument that “no one listens to him”? This article proved those delusional people wrong.
There are Stans and there are haters. I doubt there is anything between…sir I believe that you are a hater. Also he shows facts that were taken of a official website…hmmmm seems fake.
“And while the project technically ended his Billboard record, debuting at No. 3·
As a music Magazine you should know what’s a deluxe version
And about pure sales!
best way to beat snoop. drop a whole album with nothing but dre beats
Great job on this article. It was written quite well.
Fuck lord jamar
i think with royces help jamar and eminem squashed their beef
Eminem is world best all time. Anybody can say anything but the can not change our mind, Eminem is one of the world greatest, take it or squeeze it.
Nah
I’m more of a hip hop fan than just Em, but u can’t deny the fact that the man writing abilities are nice and entertaining. There are few songs that I kind dislike from MTBMB, but overall it’s a solid project with cool lyrics and flow patterns. Kendrick, Wayne, Em, J cole, dababy, pop smoke, lil baby, and few more…I can listen to these cats music all day every day.
Nah nah nah. No one black person doesn’t sort out in hop hop music as Eminem sort out it. What we can say about you? Stop to spittin’ shit. He’s biggest geek in hip hop history.
This guy is a bum..
Dear author, could you please email this article to Jamar and Benzino bitchasses and remind them to eat a fat dick on my behalf? Kindest Regards
??? Eminem is the greatest, nobody listen to Lord Jamar and all that bitch ass enviouses, fuck em. Dude still fuckin industry with most pure sales while fake ass streaming rules by it.
Jay-Z is the GOAT. Eminem is the biggest hip-hop artist in the history of hip-hop globally. Drake is the present biggest artist.
Drake runs the charts and Eminem the stadiums and Jay-Z hip-hop.
Sorry whitey…2Pac
2pac is probably the most impactful. Also, you were right about my skin color ( 🙂 ), which real had´nt anything to do with my subjective view around the world.
2pac is probably the most impactful/legendary. Also, you were right about my skin color ( 🙂 ), which real had´nt anything to do with my subjective view about hip-hop from a global perspective.
Jay isn’t the GOAT. I’m not even sure he’s top 5 anymore. Nas or Em is the GOAT hands down. They’re still making dope albums and staying relevant. The end.
Y’all gay on someone’s payroll ??
What I don’t get is why some people get so mad whenever someone says Eminem isn’t that good or isn’t that relevant. People who like his music should just enjoy it, no need to get mad like if they are insulting your momma’s
People would just enjoy it, if people who hate it just hate it and not feel like they need to voice their opinion.
Technically? No it Did Not Because That Album Was A DELUXE.
Could you imagine if a Black Country singer ended up being a phenomenon and half of country music fans refused to give him his props? Double standard yet again
Incorrect article. The “no one listens to Eminem” debate was about what people listen to in the streets, or what you hear people playing.Everyone knows he’s a consistent selling artist. The fans and the haters sound like idiots.
So no one listens to eminem in the streets? But so many people still listen to Eminem … got it! Thanks for reiterating exactly what the article said. Jackass
so a white girl who never lived in the hood or within a certain demographic can have a say in.this? uhhh no. hip hops original demographic and non whites aren’t listening to eminem past the eminem show. this is all facts. the ep with royce is the only thing post 8 mile that certain demographic willingly listens to. lets not sit here and act like eminems sales are driven by blacks and latinos
Hate to break it to you but hip-hop/rap hasn’t been primarily funded by “hip hops original demographic and non-whites” for decades. Rap/Hip-hop is POP, has been for a loooooooooog time. Let’s not sit here and act like ANYBODY’S sales are driven primarily by black and latinos. How else do you think any artist sells millions of albums and streams? As long as he isn’t completely selling out or pandering to a base that’s against rap/hip-hop, who cares?
You sound dumb and hateful. Eminem is almost 50 and still embarrassing these newage clowns and teaching others how to actually write and appreciate lyricism.
Go listen to Migos and 6ix9ine, BITCH!
shout out to all the real ones that are being mocked by your so called “real talk”. I dig convos like these cuz there will always be the ones that yell go listen to such and such mainstream rapper they dislike just cuz I speak facts about eminem. I can listen to migos there’s occasions for migos too. but Ive been trying to put ppl on to Royce since build and destroy days, ghostface, Blu, black thought, lupe, Nas, you know… rappers who are just as good as eminem, so im the one with the real talk. Its easy to compare eminem to a pill pop drill hop rapper. but I’m not. and yeah, eminem is 50 and still embarrassing himself with trash content of an incel. hot rhyme schemes wont save unbumpable music. great lyricist, sucks at making music with high replay value.
Apple Music replay showed otherwise 🙂 190hrs of Eminem
Original demographic? Son you stupid. this isn’t 1980 and it damn sure ain’t the bronx. You from the bronx? if not, you’re not part of the original hip hop demographic either. Oh yeah. Only simpletons bring up race while discussing hip hop. And unbumbable music??? have you even heard any Em albums of the last decade?? you a hater lmaooooo
I don’t give a shit what you think. Eminem is top 5 of all time like it or not. If you don’t agree then your opinion is not valid. #FACTS
You can’t say an opinion is not valid when it is an opinion… Not everyone hugs Eminem’s nuts, sorry to disappoint you.
Literally no one I know listens to Eminem. Do people listen to Eminem? Yeah. 45 year old white guys are indeed demographic
I know teenagers that listen to Em. #fakenews. stamp that 69 on your face like yo idol lmaooooo
What’s so cool about the hood anyway?
If the hood don’t care about Eminem what’s the big deal anyway… We can discuss all day. This white guy still wins. Even Jay Z respect his art form who are you to judge.?
Eminem is the GOAT
Good piece Kyle
His Album sales cuz you got bitch as trash white boys listening to trash guy talking about killing his mum, raping his mum and taking drugs. Is 2021 stop giving Em headline, the guy music is garbage.
And? there’s also black boys listening to trash like takashi and every mumble rapper out. talking about doing drugs now…which is what you said about Em lmaoooooo
Em is a hip hop legend with a strong fan base that also has the money and resources to collab with anyone in the music industry. When you can get a feature (Godzilla) from the hottest person in the industry at the time, and you are already a dope lyricist, you’re going to do very well. He’s just marketed as this crazy genius who raps too intellectual for hip hop fans and that brings disdain. But hey! Every rapper has their flaw.
ok, let’s admit it… Nobody in the hood listen Eminem, so what …??? This white guy is worldwide…. Is the hood’ opinion more important ???
u can hate Eminem or find him corny as fuck but u cant deny his impact & legacy in hip-Hop’ history…
lets be ojective…
Hip hop is worldwide. Eminem is a world artist one of the few in hip hop. He’s pushing the genre further than any “hood” rapper ever will. Thanks to Eminem people might listen to other rappers or even other types of hip hop in different parts of the world. Opens the world of opportunities for the hood rappers and hip hop as a whole. Hate it or love it. But you gotta respect it.
Facts
So what if the world stops listening to hip-hop and everything is kept in the hood for just black people with it crop of black artists old and new how are they gonna survive financially and who is gonna get the top spot hahaha I bet they gonna kill themselves literally for best rapper every year lol
If they keep on saying hip-hop is for black people why don’t they restrain white people from buyin and listening too. Black America smh
As we saw from the Capitol riot a couple of days ago, there is a gabillion insecure, angry white men in the world who will always listen to this trash.
That said, he just got outsold by Machine Gun Kelly’s latest effort. So pardon me while I throw away these 1,000 similes forever.
You’re dumb, that was a deluxe on an album that sold 279k on the first week (more than double of what MGK sold on his first week) and went platinum even before side B came out.
You’re one of the simpletons I talked about in my comment. You listen to punk rock Kelly over Em? turn in your hip hop card asap lmaooooo
these comments though lmaoooo!! ignorance is everywhere these days. These the same people saying Em is irrelevant but he’s still the most talked about rapper. Shit, sites like these drop Em articles just to get more views. People on Youtube making money doing Em reaction videos. “ain’t nobody fucking with Em in the hood”. So what? fuck the hood and most of that trash yall bump anyway.
Eminem is one of the GOATS. Nobody can take that from him. Nobody can diminish what he’s done for the game or the culture. SImple minded dumbasses would rather hear WAP instead of GNAT because they don’t know what the fuck he’s talking about. Simpletons lmaooooo