The Second Coming of Marshall Mathers

Tweet

emailprint

Mark Seliger

MAYBE IT'S THE HAIR. You can’t really see it under the plain black military scout’s cap he’s wearing this afternoon, but for the first time in half a decade or so, Eminem has reclaimed the Slim Shady platinum-blond look that he cast aside after beating a near-fatal pill addiction. Post-rehab, his emotional dial seemed slightly stuck on “grim determination,” but now, despite looming, beyond-final deadlines for his eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, he’s in a disarmingly playful mood. In the course of a long conversation, he breaks into a Yoda impression, raps part of “My Name Is,” laughs, smiles, makes fun of himself – all stuff that people assumed was behind him. K He’s taking a break from mixing the album in his warehouselike studio complex in a Detroit suburb, where old-school video games line one wall (Mortal Kombat is the only one that actually seems to be in operation), TMZ and Judge Judy play on the front-lounge TV, and compilations of current Marvel comic books are supplied for in-bathroom reading. K Eminem sprawls on an ergonomic chair in manager Paul Rosenberg’s office, with a bottle of water and a can of diet Red Bull at his feet. He’s wearing a crisp white T-shirt, below-the-knee cargo shorts, and blue-and-white low-top Nike Air Max 1s with tags still on them. There’s a silver chain around his neck. He’s crazily fit, with huge biceps that almost don’t match his thin, still-unlined face – he’s 41, but doesn’t look it. On the wall above his head is a huge print of the Paul’s Boutique album cover; a life-size, giant-tongued bust of the head of Venom, the Spider-Man villain, has a place of honor at Rosenberg’s desk. K After a couple of hours, Rosenberg comes in with six different mixes of the new song “Rap God” for Eminem to choose among. A look of genuine agitation crosses his face – he thought he was almost done for the day. Then Eminem throws his hands up in mock exasperation and bolts from his chair. “That’s it,” he says, offering an evil smile. “I’m going back on drugs!”

This is an extract. To read the full story, pick up a copy of Rolling Stone Middle East

Tweet

emailprint