Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem

Why did you choose to write this book?

I’m lucky to have met Eminem at the cross road of his life. I was on staff at Rolling Stone and had started following him well before he got signed, then when he did, I was given the opportunity to write what became the most in-depth story of his upbringing, just as his record was released and he became nationally known. I remained close to his camp as his star rose so when he became a full blown phenomenon I felt that I had something significant to say about him that no one else could say. He is incredibly gifted as a rapper and a communicator of stories and emotions, and to me, he is as iconic as Kurt Cobain, Tupac and Biggie Smalls, all of whom are the voices of a generation. It says so much about Eminem because he’s the only one of that group who is still alive. Once anyone dies, whatever they’ve done is always lent greater importance whether it’s worthy or not. Eminem is as important now as he ever was. His skill and his story are enough reason to write a book, but beyond that, as someone who watched his rise and knew him during the incredibly rapid period of time in which he went from nothing to something, I felt like I could explore the whys and hows of it all to a greater degree, with more first-hand knowledge than others. There was a moment in America where Eminem symbolized everything. His story, his success, his talent - all of it spoke about our country as much as it spoke to our country. That is also why I wrote the book.

Are there similarities between the film 8 Mile and your book?

If 8 Mile is the Hollywood rendition of Eminem’s life story, then my book is the PBS documentary. It walks the line between biography and cultural analysis and puts 8 Mile in perspective. Where 8 Mile raised some questions about which details of his life were true and which were fictionalized, my book sheds as much light as possible on the reality. For those who discovered Eminem through 8 Mile, the book is the primer they need to really grasp where he came from, who he is, and how and why he justifiably became an overnight sensation. 8 Mile, to its credit, is incredibly true to the time period, from every rap song playing in the background at any point in the film down to the stickers you see in passing on the wall of a supporting character’s room. My book is equally precise and inclusive in capturing the rise and significance of Eminem’s early career, which culminated with the enormous praise surrounding 8 Mile. That moment signified an important confluence of trends in American culture. Eminem went from being despised by mainstream culture as a misogynist and homophobe to becoming the golden boy of hip hop. The speed with which this happened in the media was fascinating to track, all the more so because he is a white artist in a genre created and universally dominated by African-Americans.

Can you tell us something intimate about Eminem that isn't in the book?

What has always impressed me about Marshall Mathers from the first time I met him through to the last time I spoke with him is that, even when he seems to be joking or not to care, he’s incredibly aware. He pays attention and he takes everything in, whether he’s in a room full of people or in a one-on-one conversation. He’s very attuned to language and to people’s speaking voices and gestures and uses all of it to craft his unique take on the world. Well beyond what you hear on record, he is an incredible mimic. He’s also curious about life in general and not above asking many questions about subjects he knows nothing about. Even with all he’s achieved, he’s not ruled by ego.