Kim

Album: Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
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Songfacts®:

  • Eminem raps in this song about his wife, Kimberly, who is also the mother of his daughter Hallie. They had a very volatile relationship and divorced in 2001, but reconciled and got back together in 2006 before splitting up again a short time later.
  • The song is a prequel to Eminem's 1999 track "'97 Bonnie & Clyde," where he raps about throwing Kim's body in the trunk and dumping it in a lake. "Kim" depicts what led to this point, how they got into an argument and he killed her.

    It's pretty shocking stuff, especially since Eminem used the real names of his wife and daughter in the song. And while no rational person believes he wanted to kill her in real life, their relationship was fraught with turmoil. The buffer here is Eminem's character Slim Shady, who expresses his base impulses. Much of Em's early work depicts a battle between his true self (Marshall Mathers), and the volatile Shady, who he can't always control. His fans got it, but many listeners didn't and found the song misogynist and offensive. The ensuing controversy got him in the news even more, especially when he and Kim divorced, and helped sell a lot more albums.
  • Eminem says he was tripping on the drug Ecstasy when he wrote this song. "Ecstasy amplifies whatever mood you're in - love or hatred," he told Q magazine. "I've wanted to kill people on Ecstasy. And then I've had times when I've been telling people I don't know, 'I love you man!'"
  • The song "The Kids" replaces this on the edited version of the album. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Paul - North Palm Beach, FL

Comments: 35

  • Gto-saucie from NunyaDamn, I love Em but goddamn, this is messed. up. Feels like something Hopsin or NF would write about, christ no more sleep for me lol
  • Keenneth from Borås, SwedenIt is actually Eminem who is imitating Kims voice.
  • Nataliah from San Antonio, WiI love Eminem cuz he's crazy as HELL.
  • Karra from Memphis, MoThis is really how he felt at this particular time in his life. If he wants to express it musically then so be it. It's healthier to to it that way than to actually hurt someone.And if anyone says that they haven't had a thought about hurting another human being at some piont in their lives, they are flat out lying.
  • Saltine from Htown, TxA little crazy but if he has to say it, and he felt that sometimes. I respect that.
  • Homer from Springfield, KyMy friend and I were talking about rap and how pointless it is. He said "Have you ever heard of that Eminem song Kim?" And I said "No". So he said "It's not even a song. It's basically him yelling at his wife." And I thought "Gee that's pointless" And it sure is.
  • Rick from Slidell, LaPut her out in front of the whole world, lol good. U think she regrets doin it now?? lol!
  • Tyfa from North, United Kingdomoh, and it's a great song
  • Tyfa from North, United Kingdomi think there's a common thing goin on here....with the comments anyway....very few people actually take the time to do research on an artist or whoever...i also why alot of people want artists to be real, genuine and not hiding behind some facade..but when that happens, and the artists reveal their true selves, nobody likes it
  • Lola from Norwich, United Kingdom"There's a 4 year old little boy with a slit throat inside your living room"

    This refers to the son of the man Kim was supposedly having an affair with.
  • Kassidy from Mustang, Okwoww...
    this song is amazing!
    if everyone actually understood the song and the story behind it you would get it and say... hey slim never wanted it like this.. but this is how its all going down.
    slim really never wanted his life exactly like this, though this is what he got. :/

    -kassidy cheyanne(:
  • Mikayla from Tampa, Fleminem went through alot.
    1.Can someone please explain the part when he says "theres a four year old boy laying dead with a slit throat"
    um is his inner child, and eminem is talkign about kim killed his dreams and cheated on him and broke the family with her "habits".
    2.Hasn't Eminem heard that murder is a crime? Why in the heck does he really want to murder and rape his wife? Maybe he should have this quote in mind --- "If You Can't do the time, Don't do the crime!"
    u sound really stupid. he would never actually f*cken murder kim, theyve been together since they were teens, she just ruined tht family by cheating and stuff.
    eminem will be a legend, hes not hollywood sh*t. hes real, my fave movie is 8 mile. i hope he rises back up and kicks lil wayne out of the way.
  • Amy from Nunyabiz, Alwow. violent. i like.
  • Doug from Flushing, NyCan someone please explain the part when he says "theres a four year old boy laying dead with a slit throat"
  • Kristen from Omaha, TxEminem rocks.... i love this song! it's sweet in a psycho killer way. lol
  • Brian from Vancouver, CanadaI think eminems a genius. If you take the time to listen to his songs youll see theyre perfectly literal. so when people go to such lengths in order to protest or whatever its stupid. I think a lot of people listen to eminem and get offended and take it way too personally about their own life for some reason... like our friend keith who has taken the time to accuse eminem of being gay on every song recorded here.
  • Michael from Brooklyn, NyHeh, sorry to inform you all, but he divorced her (again) the same year they got married (again). 2006, in December, I believe. Looks like it'll never work out for them. Poor Em.
  • Jessica from Bishopville, MdI like the song! The video is violent but I'm alright with that. I think Eminem is going through a lot! I hope nobody takes this song literally!
  • Nina Hikari from Nowhere, MoAnd now, they've remarried. Wow, things can change pretty quick!
  • Mit from New York, NyThis is an eminem classic. It shows the pain hes gone through while dealing with the violent divorce from his wife and on the way to further stardom.
  • Kevin from Indepence, Mouuuummmm. I do know that John Davis of Korn wrote a similar song about his wife. If i am right, kim wanted him to write a song about her. and since she cheated on him so many times, and always managed to hurt him in some way, the song "Kim" was made.
  • Pilar from Cordoba, ArgentinaSorry, it seems the messagge doesn't show the way awrote it... "When it comes to what my thoughts are about the song, it's just a song written by a singer, it's a personal story. Therefor, u don't have to agree with what it says... From my point of view, Eminem doen's tell you or invite you to do anything, actually, he only shows his feeling, he always talks in "the first person", is that how u say it? so... he's noone's babysitter, isn't he?,let's not make a big deal out of this. Have any of you ever contacted him? how? I'd like that... I'm from Argentina and hi's never been here. Well, thank's for reading... Bye, Pilar CedrÃ?n Cabral (CÃ?rdoba, Argentina, South AmÃ?rica)
  • Pilar from Cordoba, ArgentinaSorry about my ignorance...i don't know mucht about Marshal's personal life, therefor, i still don't understand a few things. Who's that boy Kim song talks about?("There's a 4 year old little boy with a slit throat inside your living room"). When it comes to what my thoughts are about the song. Therefor, u don't have to agree with what is sais... From my point of view, Eminem doen's tell you or invite you to do anything, actually, he only expres his feeling, he always talks in "first person", is that how u say it? so... let's not make a big deal out of this.
    Have any of you ever contacted him? how? I'd like that... I'm from Argentina and hi's never been here.
    Well, thank's for reading... Bye, Pilar CedrÃ?n Cabral (CÃ?rdoba, Argentina, South AmÃ?rica)
  • Sarah from Cambridge, Englandabbes yes it is em making the crying sounds and also he makes th evoice of kim aswell. im glad to see that people who were dissing em have found something else to complain about coz its pathetic when people come on to sites like this to complain. however to the song i think this is a very pationate song and i feel that it is taken in the wrong way. for exapmle i was listening to it in my room and my mate walked in and started listening, after she said that it was out of order as were the things that were said on it towards kim. so we sat down and although she didnt want to i made her listen to it again and read the words then after it had finished, i asked her what she thought of it, she replied that she thought it was stiil agreessive but she saw a few lines that explained what he had been through with kim, therefore i think people need to look at ems past before judging him. hes just missunderstood.he will always go on as being my idol and indeed hero. RESPECT TO MARSHAL!!!!
  • Matt from Millbrae, CaHe didn't actually kill someone. He wrote this to get out the frustration that he had. I'm not a rap fan, but even I have to stick up for Em on this one.
  • Cookie from Auckland, New ZealandI think its great that Marshall can express how he feels. Its healthy and it must help to release the hurt that has built up inside him for so long. Good on you Marshall. Its that honesty and openess that enables you to touch people and help them realise theres always a tomorrow and always hope. Great work. Beautiful songs and touching lyrics. F*** those who criticize. They are entittled to their opinion. Bet they have never been where you have. Dare them to cast the first stone, seeing they are so free of sin. Keep it up. My kids and I think you are great!
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrHasn't Eminem heard that murder is a crime? Why in the heck does he really want to murder and rape his wife? Maybe he should have this quote in mind --- "If You Can't do the time, Don't do the crime!"
  • Jade from Liverpool, Cti think eminem is great and it is up to him what songs he brings out no matter what people thinik of him, whether it is about killing his wife! eminem is the best ever n always will be! he cares about her cause she is the mother of his child who he loves so much. no matter what peple say about him he always holds his head high so there is no point writing bad things about him cause he wont care! from a big eminem fan.
  • A.j. from Chicago, IlDamn. This guy is screwed up. Something like "Sit down, b--ch!!! You move again and I'll beat the s--t outta you!!" It's really powerful and disturbing, but no where as disturbing as "Down With the Sickness" by Disturbed where some guy's pretending he's 14 and yelling out his mother; calling her an abusive whore and not to hit him with a belt or something. I bought 2 of this Marshall guy's CDs and I can't listen to him anymore.
  • Josie from Colchester, EnglandI think that this song is really powerful! I think that this song just shows us his fans how much he is hurtting by wot kim did!
  • Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, Canadathis song's funny,made me laugh when i first heard it.
  • Tyler from Tallahassee, FlKim was orginally a song called "B*tch so wrong,
    And was realsed on his earlyer albums.
    After reviewing Marshall Mathers LP since he seiad it was a dark CD as it was he decscided to fix up some of the lyrics and recorded a clearer and louder verison of it.

    Whean Eminem saw a movie that reminded of him and Kims problems he just started thinking a song based on it in his head and just wrong some notes for it on a piece of paper as thier relanship began to go more downhill he went to see the movie again and fineally wrote it.

    Eminem orginally had the words "Theirs a 4 year old little boy with a slit throat inside your liveing room" but Interscope seiad that was "to extreme" and just bleped the one part out of the song.
  • Abbes from Windsor, CanadaMy favourite song from him, brilliant. Btw is that him making the crying sounds :P
  • Chris from Monticello, KyThis is a very powerful song with a lot of emotion to it. Passion isn't always romantic. A lot of the problem was this song was taken to literally.
  • Esther from Liverpool, EnglandAmazing song..powerful...he doesn't want to kill his wife really, he just has a lot of passion where she's concerned, they've both hurt each other.
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