Phenomenal

Album: Southpaw (2015)
Charted: 57 47
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Songfacts®:

  • This DJ Khalil produced song was recorded by Eminem for the boxing movie Southpaw. The rapper's label Shady Records produced the OST for the film. Originally Eminem was earmarked to star in the movie when it was announced in December 2010 but he later dropped out and was replaced by actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
  • The song was previewed in a Beats By Dre advert, which features Eminem's fellow Michigan native Draymond Green, a forward for the Golden State Warriors.
  • Filmed in Tokyo, the 7-minute video features Eminem as a person with superhuman abilities. The clip starts off with the Detroit rapper waking up in a hospital then breaking out as he wishes to find out his true identity. We then see Eminem encounter a stranger played by John Malkovich with whom he has a conversation, before getting chased across the city where the stunts include Slim Shady riding a flaming motorbike and jumping out of an exploding helicopter. Eventually Em lands on stage at a massive gig with Dr Dre.
  • Asked during a Twitter Q&A how he approached this song as the title track, given the success of the 8 Mile theme tune "Lose Yourself," Eminem replied: "'Phenomenal' is different from 'Lose Yourself.' Its just grit and determination. 'Lose Yourself' was more of a theme for the film."

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