Without Me

Album: The Eminem Show (2002)
Charted: 1 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was Eminem's first single since his Marshall Mathers LP. He explains in the song that everything was boring and empty with him away, but he was now here to give people something to talk about. He takes shots at The FCC, Limp Bizkit, Moby and Chris Kirkpatrick.
  • The video shows Eminem and Dr. Dre as Batman and Robin-type heroes sent to save the world. This would earn director Joseph Kahn his first Grammy Award for Best Music Video. He would also direct clips for Eminem's "We Made You," "Love the Way You Lie" and "Space Bound."
  • Eminem's friend and fellow rapper Obie Trice intros the song with, "Obie Trice, real name no gimmicks." Eminem produced Trice's first album in 2003 and gave him a role in the movie 8 Mile. In early 2006, Trice was shot in the head while driving his SUV, but was treated and released.
  • The opening lines, "Two trailer park girls go round the outside" came from a traditional Appalachian square dance song called "Buffalo Gals." Malcolm McLaren, who is best known for managing The Sex Pistols and Bow Wow Wow, released a rap version of "Buffalo Gals" in 1983 that brought a lot of attention to the song.
  • As part of Eminem's critique of Moby in this song, he exclaims, "Nobody listens to Techno." This line became a popular sample in the Techno community and was made into a song produced by Deep Dish and Danny Howells under the alias Size DDD (Deep Dish Danny). >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR, for all above
  • Ms. Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, is mentioned in the lyrics. She once referred to Eminem's music as "Despicable. It is horrible. This is dreadful. This is shameful. This is awful." Apparently, Eminem found her remarks offensive.
  • Eminem compares himself to Elvis Presley in this song, noting that both excelled in music styles dominated by black musicians. Eminem points out that many of those who criticize him were fans of Elvis, who did the same thing. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2
  • Speaking during a Reddit AMA, Moby said that he likes this song despite being dissed on it, as, "he gave me some amazing free publicity."

    Moby added that he does not hate Eminem for abasing him in song. "I think apart from his misogyny and homophobia he's an amazingly talented rapper," he wrote. "And it's amazing to me that he's had such a long and successful career. So kudos to him."

Comments: 15

  • Jon Bryan from Nw FlOh the parody in all this. So Eminem produces this song video comparing himself to Elvis. And then, just a few years later, he himself balloons to 230 lbs and gets addicted to RX drugs just like in the movies (his music video to be precise). That's KARMA at work. He also poked fun at Michael Jackson before for which he later apologized. Dude it's time to own up and grow up with some balls. But with all the video views that's going to be too hard to do isn't it? Which makes you a POS until you fess up. Till then, Karma is still lurking each and every time U hit the s--tters. Just research NIH on how common it is to die there.
  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesI keep listening to this song When I was little bitch on MTV in DVD haha, My favorite part is

    "IT FEELS SO EMPTY WITHOUT ME" and The video live with fat bitches
    is just funny I always remember ' Food ' that time lol PORK
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlI love that he's basically giving eveybody the finger. Love this song and the video! Nice tights:)
  • Sean from Denver, CoTell you the truth its tune is the same tune of "Drunkenmunkey"s Song "E" (Dont believe me? look it up yourself ;P)
  • Rahul from Chennai, Indiathis song kicks some serious ass......i love the way he lashes back at the ppl who criricized him...... one of his best ever...
  • Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomPossibly the only decent white rapper around. I love this song.
  • Zakk from Ponoka, AbI love this song because eminem is one of my heros and love the music video to the song(it's funny)
  • Bill from Iceland, Icelandpeople always say " guess whos back" like wen someone they h8 goes on holiday wen they cm bak they say "guess whos back" but singing it.lol
  • Heather from Pittsburg, PaLove this song..lol Its hilarious! Eminem is so AWESOME!!
  • Michael from Brooklyn, NyThe song from 8 mile is "Lose Yourself", and is actually one of his greatest songs. I personally like this song, too, and when I was really young, like 6 or 7, I had the "guess who's back" part in my head all the time, except that I never knew the name of the song it was from. I still love the "guess who's back" part.
  • Kyle from Jefferson, MdEminem sucks. except for this song and that one from 8 mile.
  • Joel from Columbia, ScWhile I am not a major rap fan I have seen this video and it is funny.
  • Ben from This One Place, OhI love this song and it is so funny! so is the music video!
  • Sarah Floyd from Bloomingdale, Ilok i love this song and him because its saying have fun do whatever so better do it while you have the time. i guess anyways. love eminem always
  • Sarah Floyd from Bloomingdale, Ili like this song because nothing is fun with out him so they need controversy cause its its empty without him!!
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