Without Me (Eminem song)

"Without Me" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album The Eminem Show (2002). "Without Me" was released on May 13, 2002 as the lead single from the album, and re-released on his greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number one in fifteen countries. The song is included in the soundtrack for the 2016 film Suicide Squad.[3]

"Without Me"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Eminem Show
B-side	"The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson) "Say What You Say" (featuring Dr. Dre)
Released	May 13, 2002[1]
Recorded	2001
Genre	Comedy hip hop
Length	4:50 (album version) 4:23 (radio edit)
Label	Shady Aftermath Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Marshall Mathers Jeffrey Bass Kevin Bell[2] Anne Dudley Malcolm McLaren Trevor Horn
Producer(s)	Eminem Jeff Bass (co.) DJ Head (add.)
Eminem singles chronology
"Hellbound" (2002) "Without Me" (2002) "Cleanin' Out My Closet" (2002)
Music video
"Without Me" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Without Me" file help

Content

The song was Eminem's return after the successful The Marshall Mathers LP, intended as a sequel to "The Real Slim Shady" and essentially saying that he is back to save the world. It also refers to Eminem's role in the music industry and his effect on culture.

The song mocks a number of Eminem's critics, including then-Vice-President Dick Cheney (including his recurring heart problems) and his wife Lynne, the FCC, Chris Kirkpatrick (of NSYNC), Limp Bizkit and Moby,[4][5] as well as parodying Prince's decision to change his name to a symbol. It also lampoons comparisons of him to Elvis Presley as a white man succeeding commercially in a predominantly black art form. A line also attacks his mother Debbie Mathers for the lawsuit she filed for the lyrics of his debut single "My Name Is".

The opening lyric "Two trailer park girls go round the outside" is based on the country rap single "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren.[6] The introduction—"Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks"—is sampled from Obie Trice's own track "Rap Name".

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine marked it as one of the best tracks on The Eminem Show.[7] David Browne was positive: "'I've created a monster, 'cuz no one wants to hear Marshall no more,' he (Eminem) whines, partly in jest, in the beat-crazy single 'Without Me'."[8] HipHopDX noted that the blazing single "Without Me" is one of the only light-hearted songs on the album.[9] NME magazine noted that this song is "tackling disco."[10] RapReviews wrote: "His (Eminem's) fearlessness continues on the lead single "Without Me" when he lambasts everyone from Dick Cheney's wife to the leading electronic artists of the day."[11] Kris Ex exclaims: ""Without Me"—like his "The Real Slim Shady," the leadoff single from 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP—is a fun-loving, barb-laden romp on which he flits from one topic to the next like a bumblebee with ADD."[12]

Chart performances and awards

"Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles. The song reached the number one position in the charts in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand for 7 weeks. In the United States, the song reached a peak of number two on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "Hot in Herre" by Nelly, although it reached number one on both the Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts.

"Without Me" was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 2003 (losing to Norah Jones's song "Don't Know Why"), being Eminem's first song to receive a Grammy nomination in a major category. It also received a nomination for Best Male Rap Solo Performance but lost that award as well to the song "Hot in Herre" by rapper Nelly.

In 2009, the song was honored by Pitchfork Media as the 251st-greatest song of the 2000s.

The song was the 69th-best-selling single of the 2000s in the United Kingdom.[13]

Year	Organization	Award	Result
2002	MTV Video Music Awards	Video of the Year	Won
		Best Male Video	Won
		Best Rap Video	Won
		Best Direction	Won
		Best Editing	Nominated
		Viewer's Choice Award	Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Video	Nominated
2003	Grammy Awards	Record of the Year	Nominated
		Best Male Rap Solo Performance	Nominated
		Best Music Video	Won
	Detroit Music Awards	Outstanding National Single	Nominated
	MTV Video Music Awards Japan	Video of the Year	Nominated
		Best Male Video	Nominated
		Best Hip-Hop Video	Nominated
	MTV Asia Awards	Favorite Video	Nominated
	Mnet Music Video Festival	Best International Artist	Won

Music video

The music video of the song features a number of scenarios built around its context, including Eminem and Dr. Dre as parodies of comics in general, specifically Batman, Robin (Rapboy), and Blade trying to save a child who bought a copy of The Eminem Show that has a Parental Advisory sticker. Eminem and his band of heroes rush to the rescue before the child puts the CD in his CD player and when they arrive Rap boy (Eminem) snatches it away from him, showing that his CD has explicit lyrics that is not suitable for him to listen to. The kid cries and is upset after Rap Boy (Eminem) and Blade (Dr Dre) take the Eminem Show album away from the kid. The video was shot from April 12–13 at Barwick Studios.[14] The comic panel contains the rabbit from You're a Superstar. Early on, Eminem appears throughout some of the video where he is on a hospital bed being pushed through a ward (a reference to ER, which here is called ƎM drawing from the rapper's stage name). Porn star Jenna Jameson and fitness model Kiana Tom appear in bed with Eminem at the beginning of the video. Eminem also dressed up in various costumes as Osama bin Laden as he is chased by D12 on channel ƎNN, a spoof of the news channel CNN, a TV-ad salesman shocking a look alike of then-Vice-President Dick Cheney, his mother Debbie Mathers being flipped off, Elvis Presley dancing in his bathroom, eating a sandwich out of the toilet and defecating in it, a Survivor contestant competing in a challenge against Jenna Lewis (of Survivor: Borneo and later Survivor: All-Stars) and Lindsey Richter (of Survivor: Africa) on a log later revealed to be a turd in the Elvis's toilet, and Moby getting body-slammed by Obie Trice. Nate Samara, Eminem's brother, D12, and Xzibit also appear in the talk show scene. The video also features a Lamborghini Murcielago (referred to as the "Rapmobile", parodying the Batmobile). Also the video leaves in words like 'ass', 'bitch', and 'bastard' while on the clean album they were censored.

This video received MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, and Best Direction (for Joseph Kahn), as well as gaining nominations for Best Editing and Viewer's Choice. It also won Best Short Form Music Video at the Grammy Awards of 2003.

Clips of the video for "Without Me" can also be seen playing in a number of other music videos, including 50 Cent's "In da Club", Tony Yayo's "I Know You Don't Love Me" and Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor".

On June 16, 2009, upon the release of Vevo, the music video was uploaded to Eminem's YouTube channel. As of February 2021, the video has over 1.1 billion views.

Track listing

European CD single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Without Me"	Marshall Mathers Jeffrey Bass Kevin Bell Anne Dudley Malcolm McLaren Trevor Horn	Eminem Jeff Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
2.	"The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)	Mathers	Eminem	4:59
3.	"Without Me" (acapella)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
4.	"Without Me" (instrumental)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
Total length:				19:38

UK CD single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Without Me"	Marshall Mathers Jeffrey Bass Kevin Bell Anne Dudley Malcolm McLaren Trevor Horn	Eminem Jeff Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
2.	"The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)	Mathers	Eminem	4:59
3.	"Without Me" (instrumental)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
Total length:				14:45

Australian CD single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Without Me"	Marshall Mathers Jeffrey Bass Kevin Bell Anne Dudley Malcolm McLaren Trevor Horn	Eminem Jeff Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
2.	"The Way I Am" (Danny Lohner remix) (featuring Marilyn Manson)	Mathers	Eminem	4:59
3.	"Without Me" (acapella)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
4.	"Without Me" (instrumental)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
5.	"Say What You Say" (featuring Dr. Dre)	Mathers Andre Young Theron Feemster Mike Elizondo	Dr. Dre	5:09
6.	"Without Me" (video)	Mathers Bass Bell Dudley McLaren Horn	Eminem Bass^[a] DJ Head^[b]	4:53
Total length:				29:40

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-Record producer.
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[15] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 1 Brazil (Hot 100 Airplay) 6 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 4 Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 1 Europe (European Hot 100) 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 2 France (SNEP)[22] 3 Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 1 Greece (IFPI)[24] 6 Hungary (Mahasz)[25] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 1 Italy (FIMI)[27] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[31] 1 Poland (LP3)[32] 16 Scotland (OCC)[33] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 2 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[39] 15 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[40] 13 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[41] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[43] 1 Chart (2016) Peak position Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[44] 72

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Australia (ARIA Charts)[45] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[46] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[47] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[48] 8 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[49] 11 French Singles Chart[50] 15 Germany (Official German Charts)[51] 4 Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[52] 7 Italy (FIMI)[53] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[54] 18 Netherlands (Mega Top 100)[55] 10 New Zealand Singles Chart[56] 4 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[57] 6 Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[58] 3 UK Singles Chart[59] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[60] 21 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[61] 79 Decade-end charts (2000–2009) Position Australia (ARIA)[62] 16 German Singles Chart[63] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64]	3× Platinum	210,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[65]	Platinum	30,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[66]	Platinum	50,000^*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[67]	Platinum	90,000
France (SNEP)[68]	Gold	250,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[69]	Platinum	500,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[70]	Platinum	50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[71]	4× Platinum	40,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[72]	2× Platinum
Sweden (GLF)[73]	Platinum	30,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[74]	Platinum	40,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[75]	2× Platinum	1,200,000[76]
United States (RIAA)[77]	4× Platinum	4,000,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

In popular culture

• The song is included in the soundtrack for the 2016 film Suicide Squad.[3]
• The song is also featured in the dance rhythm game, Just Dance 2021.
• The teaser and trailer for the 2020 mockumentary/comedy Borat Subsequent Moviefilm produced by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen features a brief Kazakh iteration of the song.

References

1. https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Eminem&titel=Without+Me&cat=s
2. "Without Me – Eminem". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
3. Kaufman, Gil (June 17, 2016). "'Suicide Squad' Soundtrack: Skrillex & Rick Ross, Panic! at the Disco Cover 'Bohemian Rhapsody' & More". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
4. "Eminem Explains His Disses Of Moby & Chris Kirkpatrick In 'Without Me'". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
5. "Eminem Goes After Moby, Limp Bizkit On 'Without Me'". MTV News. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
6. "59 Hay-Ya! Moments in Rap and Country's Uncomfortable History". Spin Magazine. March 7, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
7. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Eminem Show – Eminem – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
8. "The Eminem Show - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
9. "Eminem – The Eminem Show (Advanced Copy) | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews | HipHop DX". Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
10. "NME Reviews - Eminem : The Eminem Show - NME.COM". NME.COM. September 12, 2005. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
11. "RapReviews.com Feature for May 28, 2002 – Eminem's "The Eminem Show"". Retrieved April 25, 2015.
12. "Eminem The Eminem Show Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
13. Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on Tuesday December 29, 2009
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2AyzCE7Ygc
15. "Australian-charts.com – Eminem – Without Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Eminem – Without Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
17. "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Without Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
18. "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Without Me" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
19. "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
20. "Danishcharts.com – Eminem – Without Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
21. "Eminem: Without Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
22. "Lescharts.com – Eminem – Without Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eminem – Without Me". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
24. Ελληνικό Chart. Archived from the original on August 8, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége". Mahasz.hu. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Without Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
27. "Italiancharts.com – Eminem – Without Me". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2018-07-05.
29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eminem – Without Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
30. "Charts.nz – Eminem – Without Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
31. "Norwegiancharts.com – Eminem – Without Me". VG-lista. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
32. "Notowanie nr 1066" (in Polish). July 5, 2002. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
34. "Spanishcharts.com – Eminem – Without Me" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
35. "Swedishcharts.com – Eminem – Without Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
36. "Swisscharts.com – Eminem – Without Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
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39. "Eminem Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
40. "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
41. "Eminem Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
42. "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
43. "Eminem Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
44. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201638 into search. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
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49. The first is the list of the best-selling domestic singles of 2002 in Finland, the second is that of the foreign singles:
    • "Myydyimmät kotimaiset singlet vuonna 2002" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
    • "Myydyimmät ulkomaiset singlet vuonna 2002" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
50. "2002 French Singles Chart" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
51. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
52. "Best of 2002" Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
53. "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
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55. "JAAROVERZICHTEN - SINGLE 2002" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
56. "2002 New Zealand Singles Chart". Rianz. Archived from the original on May 6, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
57. "Årslista Singlar – År 2002" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
58. "SWISS YEAR-END CHARTS 2002" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
59. "2002 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
60. "Top 100 Hits for 2002". Retrieved September 11, 2014.
61. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
62. "ARIA End of Decade Singles" (PDF). ARIA. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
63. "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
64. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.
65. "Austrian single certifications – Eminem – Without Me" (in German). IFPI Austria.
66. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
67. "Danish single certifications – Eminem – Without Me". IFPI Denmark.
68. "French single certifications – Eminem – Without Me" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
69. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eminem; 'Without Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
70. "Italian single certifications – Eminem – Without Me" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Without Me" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
71. "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – Without Me". Recorded Music NZ.
72. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
73. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
74. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Eminem; 'Without Me')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
75. "British single certifications – Eminem – Without Me". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Without Me in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
76. Rhian, Jones (May 8, 2012). "Will Young's Evergreen named best selling single of the 21st century". Music Week. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
77. "American single certifications – Eminem – Without Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• "Without Me" Official music video on YouTube
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics