In a rare insight into the mind of a lyrical prodigy, Eminem revealed his writing habits during a recent interview, describing them as nothing short of “organized chaos.” During Shade 45’s 20th-anniversary special, Eminem opened up about his complex creative process, shedding light on the deep-rooted passion and meticulous effort that define his work.
Known for his laser-focus on detail, Eminem shared how his approach to crafting bars has evolved over time, driven by inspiration and a mountain of notebooks filled with ideas. He explained:
“Every punchline, every bar, every wordplay—anything you can think of—has already been done. When I hear a new rapper, especially the rising stars, spit something that’s similar to what I’ve written, I’m like, ‘Alright, that one’s scratched out.’”
Marshall confessed that he now keeps multiple notebooks to capture his ideas, a habit he picked up from a story hip hop legend Alchemist once shared about KRS-One.
“Twenty years ago, he told me this: ‘Yo, you should’ve seen KRS-One—he was picking up a book and just spitting his raps straight off the page!’ I was like, how does he have so many books? Now, I’ve got just as many. I used to not keep anything; I’d scribble a line on whatever paper was handy and stuff it in my pocket. Now, I keep them all in books—bags full of books. Like KRS-One, I bet he’s got double what I’ve got now, ’cause he had twice as many back then. No one will ever fully get what’s in these books—it’s just scribbled mess, no rhyme or reason. I just jot down whatever comes to me so I don’t forget it.”
Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s long-time collaborator, affirmed the chaotic yet purposeful nature of Em’s writing, likening it to the organized chaos in the movie A Beautiful Mind. “Those pages are like works of art,” Rosenberg said, referencing the lyrics featured in Eminem’s book The Way I Am.
Eminem admitted that he regrets sharing those pages. “I don’t know why I did that. I shouldn’t have,” he confessed. But Rosenberg disagreed, calling them valuable glimpses into Eminem’s creative brilliance.
Despite the seemingly disordered nature of his notebooks, Eminem revealed that he possesses an extraordinary ability to locate specific rhymes or ideas, even years later:
“I can’t memorize everything, but I remember where it was on the page. Even if it was six books ago, I’ll recall the exact spot where I had that rhyme scheme. Sometimes I’ll think, ‘I’ll never use this,’ but then a couple years later, I’ll be like, ‘Oh shit, I remember that line!’ So I’ll go back and dig through five books, which takes hours, but I’ll find it and think, ‘I can use that!’ It’s hard to track down, but it’s always worth it.”
Eminem’s unwavering dedication to his craft and his relentless drive for perfection continue to set him apart, offering fans a rare peek behind the curtain into the mind of one of the greatest lyricists in hip hop.
