The Eminem Blog

12:35 a.m.: Shady Super Bowl Party, State Theatre, Woodward Avenue:
One of the big questions leading into Super Bowl week was whether Eminem would perform at his own party.
The rapper was not listed on the bill, which included several less-familiar names from his Shady Records label, including Bobby Clearwater and Stat Quo. Throw in those whispers about a career change for the multiplatinum rapper, his recent marriage to ex-wife Kim Mathers, and the usual zipped lips from the Shady camp … and no one really knew what to expect.
Well, you can’t accuse the hometown hero of not coming through. In front of a crowd about 3,000 people, including rocker Tommy Lee, Eminem peppered a few performances through the evening, essentially as support for label mates or other friends.
At about 10 p.m., he joined longtime Detroit rapper Trick Trick on “Welcome 2 Detroit,” a song the pair collaborated on for Trick’s Trick’s recently released album on Motown Records. About an hour later, he was back on stage with protégé Obie Trice, whose new Shady Records single hits stores this month. At about 12:30 a.m., he and D12 dropped the Em tune “When the Music Stops.”
Not long after that, Eminem left with his wife, who had watched the show from the first balcony.
By Brian McCollum, Free Press pop music writer

What is happening with Eminem? He looks so much tired and seems to have gained a lot of weight… I just hope that he ain’t sick…

Brilliance grew up in Southfield, Michigan as the child of divorced parents. Soon his father would introduce him into black music. Brilliance started focusing on rap music since high school.
Brilliance has collaborated with many Detroit emcees, including Royce 5.9. Brilliance remixed Royce’s Wet My Whistle from hi Independent’s Day album.
On his official website, you will be able to appreciate Brilliance’s skills with the song Stronger that has been produced by BR Gunna.
The song is introduced by some nice beats and keyboard sounds and shows some good lyrical offensiveness. Brilliance has the qualities that make a good emcee. His good flow delivery make this song very enjoyable for the listener.
Brilliance also offers you the possibility to check some other songs like the Wet My Whistle remix, Dream Freestyle 2003, Let’s Ride etc…
Brilliance loves to play with words and he makes you feel the passion through his words and instruments.
Get Cha In Tha Mood is a very well written track with a Spanish sounding background. Again, the young emcee is likely to impress his listeners with his stormy and speedy flow.
The talented and creative emcee also exposes a softer side on his my space account with Chante’ song, a song that is dedicated to his girlfriend.
I also recommend you Live By The Gun, a well written song that probably won’t leave you indifferent.
What was this young man’s name again? Oh yea…Brilliance. Take some time and let this young Michigan talent show you some of his brilliant work on his different websites.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Brilliance…he’s from Michigan, he has worked with great Detroit emcees like Royce da 5.9 and has some good music to offer to his audience. I’ll keep you updated:)

When we work towards precise goals, some of our projects seem to work straight away, without experiencing any kind of trouble. However, it isn’t always the case. Sometimes we spend hours of work and sacrifice, but we cannot prevent obstacles to occur. We might suddenly feel we are standing in front of a locked door.
Does a symbolically « locked door » mean we should abandon and focus on something else? Not necessarily. God might want to test our degree of faith the same way he did it with Abraham centuries ago.
So how can we know if we chose the right way? Keep quiet, pray and ask for directions.
Keep doing your thing and if the door doesn’t open after multiple efforts, this is definitely a sign that you didn’t take the right way.
It looks that you have no other choice but U-turn. Ok. Is that to be interpreted in a negative way? Not at all. It often means that God has a better plan for you.
The door is locked and you feel frustrated, because your immense efforts did not pay off. Be grateful for this locked door. It is just a way of preventing you from a catastrophe.
The locked door can lead you to a bigger blessing, because it offers you loads of new opportunities. Forget about the direction you wanted to take and open your eyes widely : you will be astonished at the many new pads that are open for you.
When the door is locked, don’t ignore the many windows that are wide open in front of you.
May those thoughts open your mind to the infinite possibilities that lie in front of you. A wondrous world of new possibilities awaits you.
Be so courageous and exploit them. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy b’day to Eminem’s little brother who is turning 20 today:)
Would be great if we heard some of his raps soon…

Global rating of the Playbook mixtape 2005: 3.75 stars
Rapper EkS offers anybody of you the chance to download his Playbook mixtape 2005 on his my space account.
Just give him a beat and EkS will surprise you with his rapid flow and skills. Open your ears and be ready for some intense moments of a man’s rhyming’s passion. Get addicted and he’ll give you the medicine…listen to him spit with enthusiasm.
After a nice noisy introduction with some good instrumentals, Prep Talk, EkS guides you, step after step, into his world.
Here He Is starts on a gentle and soft note. Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, ready to bless the mic with his skills.
Envious Eyes featuring Mind Benda is all about jealousy inside of the rap game. Everywhere snakes waiting in the dark, ready to bite people they are jealous of. The track is very rhythmic and the little soul note gives a particular note to the song thanks to Mind Benda’s sensual voice.
Another wonderful track is Chasing Dreams featuring Sienna. The keyboard sounds, instrumentals and beats are well handled. Again, Eks shows some good lyrical skills. The whole song is based on the story of someone who struggles hard to achieve his goals.
Like an astute cook who manages to make his meal taste delicious and unique at the same time, EkS mixes up different elements and spices up his rap songs with a real good sound and some dope ass beats.
I particularly recommend you Prep Talk, Here He Is, Envious Eyes and Chasing Dreams.
The Playbook mixtape 2005 is definitely worth your interest. Wanna download the music? Go to EkS’ my space account.

He’s from Niagara Falls, Ontario. His name? EkS…I will try to review his mixtape in a near future…stay tuned:)

The whole truth
The following quotes are from MC Hush and have been used with the artist’s permission
Most of you probably think that an underground artists who manages to get signed at a major label is unstoppable on his way to fame. Little did you know if you think he has made it in any case by signing with a major label.
After years of hard work, having earned a lot of underground credibility in his hometown, Detroit, Dan Carlisle aka Mc Hush signed with Geffen Records in 2004.
When his solo album Bulletproof was released, he should have expected to blow up as Detroit’s new rasing star…
Enter Geffen Records with the eyes of an insider and let’s see how valuable artists are treated there.
Because Detroit rap is very much unknown, it is often despised. MC Hush didn’t really feel respect from this label’s side.
« The real is this. They don’t respect Detroit at all. I have a $200,000 video that just SITS there. »
In fact, since the release of Hush Is Coming and despite the participation of major hip hop artists like Eminem, Nate Dogg, Obie Trice and Swifty of D12, the video gets zero promotion.
Geffen’s lame excuse? MTV rejected the video!
« Their excuse for it not being played is because MTV rejected it. Hmmmmm, not that it was created this way but let’s see, PRODUCED BY MARSHALL MATHERS, FEATURING NATE DOGG, Cameos by Obie Trice and Swifty, and MTV rejected it? »
If MTV rejected the video, let’s ask a second question: how much do music channels like MTV support REAL hip hop? Since when did we have the chance to watch some real good new talents?
I don’t respect MTV’s musical tastes as far as I am concerned, since they seem to promote mostly bling bling hip hop and, thus, spread a stereotyped image of rap music.
Also, it looks like the channel that was supposed to promote Eminem with features such as EmTV is not even interested in Eminem’s valuable collaborations with his fellow rap artists. Sincerely, how far do they push hypocrisy:
« Hmmmmm, not that it was created this way but let’s see, PRODUCED BY MARSHALL MATHERS, FEATURING NATE DOGG, Cameos by Obie Trice and Swifty, and MTV rejected it? That channel at one point could have been called EMTV. Here is something you don’t know. We filmed this video in L.A. It was directed by Flyy Kai (Akon “Locked Up”, Pitbull “MIAMI”, David Banner, etc…). 3 days later we flew to Miami to edit it. The editor was Katt Brown. This dude has directed damn near EVERY Hype Williams or Puffy video you have ever seen. I asked Marshall to be in the video since he produced the track he said cool, even at one point in the video he took the line “remember you heard that from me”, pretty much a stamp of approval. I mean who wouldn’t listen to that dude in the business after he said that? Paul Rosenberg asked me could he put Obie & Swifty in it. I said sure since Swifty and I go back a long time and Obie I’m supportive of all the way. I’ll get back to Paul Rosenberg in a minute. My director took a favor from the editor so we didn’t have to pay his “normal” fee. But we still paid $200,000. In Miami are Snik, me, and my product manager from Geffen. The editing took 2 days and we saw the 1st draft with a couple changes to be made later but pretty much the finished product anyway. My product manager WENT NUTS!!! She went crazy, “oh this is hot! This is what MTV is missing, etc… »
It also looks like Geffen made up a lie about Eminem’s featuring in Hush Is Coming, making him believe that Paul Rosenberg didn’t want Eminem to be featured in Hush Is Coming:
« Snik and I were basically like this was a good look for Detroit. It goes up on the web for Geffen to see and they call me up and say the most outrageous thing EVER, “The video is great but Marshall is in it to much and we promised Paul Rosenberg we wouldn’t have him in the video alot because he said it wasn’t okay”.  »
« Now besides that Em is my boy and he jumped in it for support, wouldn’t you think Geffen would be jumping up and down because they have a tool to use to create a buzz for their artist like a “stamp of approval” from 1 of the Top Artists of our lifetime? Geffen says well Marshall is in it 42 times (remember these are fast action clips so it’s = to 42 seconds altogether) in a 4:30 minute song and that we have to cut him out of the video altogether.»
Hush wanted to make it sure, so he called Paul Rosenberg and this is what Eminem’s manager told him:
«  So me being me, we called Paul Rosenberg. You know what he says? “I never said that, I don’t give a fuck, put him in there as many times as you want. Why are you bothering me with this, I wouldn’t even have had Marshall there if that was the case.. »
Lies. Only lies. Geffen is playing a dirty game with Hush. This is a shame.
Hush, who is a perfectionist, did anything possible to improve his video:
« Hmmmmmm, I smell a rat. So to make things better, I re-edit the video with him in it 11 times. Still is a good video whether Marshall is in it or not. In this game on the industry side it’s politics, and from a political aspect I had EVERYTHING in place to make the politics right for MTV. Here are the credentials.
1. Track Produced by Eminem along with cameo.
2. Hook and cameo from Nate Dogg
3. Directed by Flyy Kai (just nominated for Moonman 2005 VMA’s)
4. Edited by Katt Brown (every Puffy video you can think of including my favorite “Victory”)
5. Cameos from Swifty & Obie »
Those of you who have seen Hush Is Coming would probably barely deny the quality of the video and the emcee’s lyrical effort as well.
There is -obviously- something wrong with MTV and Geffen’s attitude, also considering the huge amount of money that has been invested in the video:
« So the video is “rejected” all of a sudden from MTV? Hmmm, something’s not right. You spend $200,000 and you allow that? By the way, that’s not what new artists get anyways. My deal was not your average deal. »
Another evidence of Geffen’s hypocrisy: the label signed him because they knew he had a band. Then they refused the band to be featured in the video:
« So let’s move on…
A lot of stuff in between goes on between the label and I that I could go on for days about. They knew I had a band, that’s why they signed me and REFUSED to allow them to be seen with me. No photos, not even on my website. They “casted” a fake band for the video. Imagine having to explain to your band why they aren’t being used. I was seen by 10 million viewers the night of the Contender Finale and Geffen doesn’t even have a single out on me. “Bulletproof” was finished and turned in FALL OF 2004!!!»
Mc Hush hasn’t been inactive, that’s the least we can say…let’s have a look at some of his accomplishments:
« The Contender finale was in May. Everything I’ve accomplished so far has been my own doing.
1. The Contender
2. XXX-2 Soundtrack
3. Anger Management 3 Promo Tour
4. Snoop Overseas Tour
5. Annapolis Trailer
6. The Contender 2
etc. etc. »
Mc Hush’s long term friend Eminem called him to open the AMT 3 in Detroit and everybody was very enthusiastic about the upcoming single.
To make it look even better and to make an impact, they decided to get Nate Dogg featured on the single:
« Now let’s jump ahead to the Anger Management 3 Tour. Marshall calls me on the NY stop and says “Paul suggested you open up in Detroit” GREAT!!! So what do we do. WE HUSTLE! We know we have to do it right and make an impact. How do we do that? We need Nate Dogg there to do the single. »
Guess what? Geffen did not invest any penny in Hush‘s promotion:
« Did Geffen pay for it? ABSOLUTELY NOT. My business manager does. Now this guy has been putting out dough even still after I got my deal cuz Geffen won’t do it. And they are just normal things any artist needs to make the job easier. A promo van w/wrap (PAID FOR), 5 extra dates on AM3 tour (PAID FOR), Nate Dogg at Comerica Park (PAID FOR). Now check this out, the only way we could get Nate is if we paid for his Birthday party in Detroit the night before, so what did we do? PAID FOR IT. All of this with no help from Geffen. $40,000 at least for Nate Dogg here. Fee, limo, security, party, rooms, etc… ALL DESERVIING. And besides all that Nate and I have a really cool relationship. And his manager is even cooler. So let’s get to my record release. I’m the one who worked my record not them. Let’s run down the 2 things that I did that ARTISTS don’t do anymore (according to retail & independent).
All along the AM3 tour…
RETAIL WALK-THRUS (Every stop on this tour we went into record stores, mom & pops, and chains like Tower).
Every retail store couldn’t believe I was doing this. They said the only artist who does that now is 50. No artist does that. I was the only other person besides 50 to do this. AND I MEAN EVERY RETAIL STORE SAID THIS.
My team (Greg, Snik, Paul, David, Josh, Leah, and others) all pitched me to Best Buy. I walked in and met with the district manager and maybe 20 Best Buy stores and NAILED IT. Best Buy was behind me. The day of, Best Buy employees were wearing HUSH shirts, and pushing an artist FOR THE 1ST TIME IN BEST BUYS HISTORY. What does Geffen do?
Announce they are only shipping 20,000 units.  »
Scandalous? Yes.
Back to the record release party…
Offer, demand and expenses…and absolutely NO SUPPORT from Geffen!
« Let’s go to my record release party. I am very excited as any artist onthis site would be. I have come a long way from Da Ruckus, to the Wired Frog, to almost committing suicide. Now my dream is here. I have an album coming out nationally and tonight is my party. What did we have to do because Geffen wouldn’t? PAY FOR NATE DOGG AGAIN. Geffen offered us a $5,000 budget and that’s it. My fucking banner cost 5 g’s. Hell a bar tab for that night cost 5 g’s. But here’s the slap in the face. NOONE from Geffen called me to wish me good luck, congratulations, NOTHING. I know a lot of you are saying what did you expect, but I’ll tell you what I expected. I expected to sign with a label that saw my team and I’s work ethic and efforts and respected it. I expected to sign with a label that would gladly match my business managers paper if he put it up (of which they said NO. They “know what they are doing”, and here’s a good one “Hush is going to be a star in 2 years”). I expected someone to appreciate that I’m excited to be a part of the label, and it changed my life. They didn’t give a fuck. NO PHONE CALL or PRESCENCE. Except the local reps, who are always awesome and KNOW the hard work we put in.
So my record is released on Tuesday August 23rd to a great response in Detroit. I land #6 my first week sales here. But guess what? In other areas of the US I’m selling out. FAST. Vegas (SOLD OUT), Tampa (SOLD OUT), Virgina (SOLD OUT), you get the picture. Now remember when I told you they announced they were only shipping 20,000 units? Guess what? 2nd week, my CD is on FUCKING BACKORDER!!! You can’t buy it across the US cuz I sold out. So now Geffen scrambles to have the pressing plant re-press. FUCKING IDIOTS! So the 3rd week nothing, 4th week TONY YAYO & KANYE are released and I’m fucked. »
The worst in this story? The Discovery Times channel wanted to use Hush’s music on one of its documentary about the D town. Again,Hush ahd to face Geffen’s indifference and MTV’s rejection. Rather humiliating for a valuable emcee such as Hush:
« The Discovery Times channel comes to Detroit to do a documentary. They follow me and some other artists around to find about our views on the scene and the city. Cool. They want to use my music for the piece. Geffen won’t return their calls. My record has been out 3 months and noone will return the calls. So they send an email saying basically, “we’re going to use his music, you’ll just have to sue us”. The next day 2 lawyers call and approve the music. But here’s the icing on the cake. They ask to air the video and Geffen says NO. WOW!!! MTV rejects it, and an off-shoot of the Discovery channel ASKS for it and they say NO????? I went off. I do some research and find out Geffen told the Discovery Times channel that a “3rd party” won’t allow it to be shown. I do some more research and find out this 3rd party……….is Paul Rosenberg. So now they are back to using this guy as their scapegoat. The kicker, in the show are film excerpts from “8 Mile”. I have a pretty good feeling that if we call up Paul Rosenberg he’ll say he never said that. »
Enough is enough. Hush wants to leave Geffen, because they won’t promote his music the way it deserves to be promoted:
« So I’ve un-officially asked the label to let me go. I have a team, a fan base in Detroit that sells out 1200 seaters, and a financial backer that believes in what we do and WILL land another deal somewhere else even if it is Independent. They have cause too much heartache and confusion and tension between myself and my group, that we have all bumped heads at some point because of the frustration of being on a label that has no clue where they are going let alone pushing an artist. Look at this list of artists who have left since I’ve been there.
1. Talib Kweli
2. Mos Def (of which Geffen has a Black Star album in the closet and has never been used)
3. Common
4. The Roots
5. Snoop (one of the biggest stars on that label period)
Well now they can add me. I have accomplished, worked, and have seen a lot. I WORK. I am a labels dream. Now imagine this.
I have a business manager that financially backed everything. Now imagine you are the artist on this site with…
1. NO PRODUCT (bad album, not even an album that was “Album Of The Month” in Maxim)
2. NO MANAGER
3. NO BUSINESS MANAGER
4. NO FINANCIAL BACKING
5. NO PROMO VAN
6. NO PROMOTION
7. NO RADIO PLAY
8. NO VIDEO PLAY
9. NO BUZZ »
Dear rap listeners and hip hop lovers, today MC Hush deserves your support more than ever.
If you feel this situation like a big injustice that has been done to MC Hush, please sign the following petition in order to show your full support to the talented emcee.
Don’t let real hip hop die.

Eminem and his wife Kim haven’t been lucky with their families. Relationships have always been complicated between family members on both sides.
In 1997, Kim’s stepfather did everything he could for Marshall not to see Hailie when the couple separated, threatening him with a gun and shouting at him:

You are no good. I don’t wanna see you again or I’ll kill you.

All of a sudden, Marshall’s fame has changed some people’s attitude towards the talented rapper, particularly inside of Marshall and Kim’s family. People who despised him suddenly came up with some friendly manners while some others became real enemies, trying to get each dollar he earned a very hard way.
Maybe the sarcasm contained in the following line from the Marshall Mathers song has to do with Kim’s stepfather’s attitude:
« Now everybody’s so happy and proud
I’m finally allowed to step foot in my girlfriend’s house… »
When Marshall married Kim for the first time, his mom and his granny were present, while Kim’s family was absent:
« The first time Kim and Marshall married, none of Kim’s family were here. So Kim’s mother was very angry. And so, this time, none of our family were there. »
It looks like things were reversed at Marshall’s second wedding ceremony: Debbie Mathers and Betty Kresin were not invited while Kim’s family was allowed to participate to the ceremony- with an exception for Dawn, Kim’s twin sister who, for any reason, could not attend the ceremony.
Matter of fact: Betty Kresin isn’t really happy with her grandson Marshall’s decision to remarry Kim. She doesn’t grant his marriage many chances of survival:
« I’m giving the marriage only a 10 percent chance – 18 months, top. »
She bases her statement on Kim’s « wicked » personality and thinks that her grandson is just repeating her own past mistakes:
« I know Marshall loves Kim and he will give this marriage 100 percent.
But I fear Kim, who’s very selfish and who I doubt has changed her self-absorbed personality and will only give it 10 percent.
Marshall is just following in my footsteps and I fear he’s doomed to the same results.
I remarried my ex-husband – and that didn’t last either.
It’ll be a miracle if Kim and Marshall’s marriage survives. »
Did Betty state all this out of bitterness or is there something true in her statements?
We cannot claim to have an objective answer to this question, since we don’t know Marshall nor Kim personally. Anyway, Marshall wanted to give his marriage a second chance. Regarding marriages, nobody can prophecy the future…if this marriage is meant to last, only time will tell. Also, the couple has certainly matured: Marshall and Kim have probably learnt from their former mistakes.
Betty Kresin should definitely let her grandson decide about his life choices in ANY case. He is the person who will share his daily life with Kim, not Betty. Marshall decided to give his marriage with Kim a second chance and to reunite his family, which honors him.
At least, Betty, let him try instead of criticizing him!
Betty also found Eminem’s decision not to invite his mom at his wedding ceremony very cruel:
« That was very cruel.
I doubt Debbie has six months to live but no matter how sick she is, she would have gone to the wedding if she’d been invited. And she should have been. »
Regarding the situation, knowing that his mom is gravely ill, I think that Marshall should envision reconciliation with her as a solution.
Of course, he has been deeply hurt by his mom’s behavior, but forgiveness might help him to move on with his deep inside wounds and to get rid of those demons of the past that keep haunting him.
Maybe he should also grant his daughter the chance to see her grandmother.
Talking about my own life, I have spent years of arguing with my parents, years of misunderstandings etc…all I can say is that time is flying away…now they are old and fragile and I don’t think that their past mistakes matter that much to me.
Marshall is the only one to decide, but giving his mom a second chance would certainly be a blessing in his life.