- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; First Edition First Printing edition (1 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593051882
- ISBN-13: 978-0593051887
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 4.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 613,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Eminem's rise to stardom was far from easy. After being born in Kansas City and travelling back and forth between KC and the Detroit metropolitan area, Eminem and his mother moved into the Eastside of Detroit when he was 12. Switching schools every two to three months made it difficult to make friends, graduate and to stay out of trouble. Rap, however, became Eminem's solace. Battling schoolmates in the lunchroom brought joy to what was otherwise a painful existence. Although he would later drop out of school and land several minimum-wage-paying, full-time jobs, his musical focus remained constant. Eminem released his debut album, "Infinite", in 1996, but after being thoroughly disappointed and hurt by the response it received, Eminem began working on what would later become the "Slim Shady" EP - a project he made for himself. Featuring several scathing lines about local music industry personalities as well as devious rants about life in general, the set quickly caught the ear of hip-hop's difficult-to-please underground. By presenting himself as himself, Eminem and his career took off. Soon after giving the Rap Coalition's Wendy Day a copy of the "Infinite" album at a chance meeting, she helped the aspiring lyrical gymnast secure a spot at the Coalition's 1997 Rap Olympics in Los Angeles, where he won second place in the freestyle competition. During the trip, Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, gave a few people from Interscope Records his demo and he made his major radio debut on the world famous "Wake Up Show" with Sway and Tech. Realizing that this was the opportunity of his lifetime, Eminem delivered a furious medley of lyrics that wowed his hosts and radio audience alike.
From the Back Cover
Eminem is currently the world's biggest and most controversial music star. He has been blasted for what many of his critics regard as overtly homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, and resented both for his record-breaking commercial success and as a white man in a black genre. George Bush called him 'the most dangerous threat to American children since polio'. But Eminem's sheer talent has transcended such criticisms and established him as the most important figure to come out of popular music since Kurt Cobain.
WHATEVER YOU SAY I AM - featuring dozens of previously unpublished photographs and based on exclusive interviews with key figures in the music business, members of Eminem's family, sociologists and critics - is the first book to get to the heart of the man behind the controversy. Most crucially, Anthony Bozza has had an unprecedented level of access to Eminem himself and has found himself uniquely qualified to answer the big question - why does Eminem matter?
WHATEVER YOU SAY I AM - featuring dozens of previously unpublished photographs and based on exclusive interviews with key figures in the music business, members of Eminem's family, sociologists and critics - is the first book to get to the heart of the man behind the controversy. Most crucially, Anthony Bozza has had an unprecedented level of access to Eminem himself and has found himself uniquely qualified to answer the big question - why does Eminem matter?
The answer is found in Eminem's unlikely life story, in his extraordinary ascent to superstardom and in an analysis of his music and lyrics. WHATEVER YOU SAY I AM is riveting reading for Eminem's legions of fans, and a revelation for anyone who wants to know why he has so many of them.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Basically, it’s about a journalist who spends some time with Eminem during his rise to fame. All in all, I found it painfully boring, and frustrating to read. I would say about 25% is about Eminem personally, and the other 75% is about the political, economical, and social effects of Eminem’s influence on the American society, intertwined with an overly detailed history of hip-hop. The pieces on Eminem are by far the most interesting, and are cleverly spread throughout the book, obliging you to read on. The most interesting point that the author makes, for me, is the fact that Eminem has made it practically impossible for any white rapper to follow in his footsteps with the same degree of success. What I also enjoyed was the author’s opinion that hip-hop needs a female Eminem to burst onto the scene to level out the influence Eminem has on society, specifically with regards to his purported misogyny.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book starts off @ the begin of emeinem when my name is was released. It follows the story of eminem and about how emienms career exploded and how he saw a change in eminem as he got bigger and bigger. The book also looks at eminems past. There are alot of references to other rap artists as well as other artists from detroit. If you want a book soley on eminem then this isnt the book for you. If you want an insight into his life and the music that he grew up with then get this book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Don't be fooled by the cover as I was, I think the actual content about Eminem could fill about 50 pages, the rest is about race in hip-hop and the history of detriot.
There are some interesting quotes but not enough.
There are some interesting quotes but not enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Goes Beyond the Trivial to the Heart of the Matter
I enjoyed this book very much. If you want to read the gossip about Eminem then this isn't the book to start with. Try something more basic first. Read more
Published on 24 May 2009 by K. Duffy
It was an average read, certainly not a must-read, but good to...
I am surprizingly disappointed with The Life and Times of Eminem. It seems Anthony Bozza has not concentrated on Eminem himself, but instead has written about the political and... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2008 by Josh
what ever you say i am
this book gives u a real insite into his life and is a good read it give u graphic views into what he thinks and is well worth buying if u r a eminem fan it was for me i do... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2005
Confusion reigns
While the writer is obviously highly knowledgable of his subject; I found the book very difficult to read; to such an extent that I gave up before I was half way through. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2005 by bookworm
Dull Dull Dull
What a shame. I expected this book give to give all the juicy gossip on Eminem's life, an account of the trailer trash park childhood, missing father, drugs, sex, rock&roll - and... Read more
Published on 17 May 2005
OK
If I could I would have given this three and a half stars, but sadly I cant. This book is quite good, the first few chapters are exellent. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2005 by BM
Anthony Bozza, a legend?
I bought this book the day it came out and im still reading it, its a fantastic evaluation of eminems life which realy makes you feel as if you are now part of him. Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2004 by M. A. Mepham
OLD SKOOL RAP FAN, NOW A NEW SKOOL RAP FAN!
As a massive fan of what is now near enough old skool rap, I used to live and breath to the likes of Public Enemy,Ice-T,NWA and BDP so I fully enjoyed and understood what the... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2004 by "jl2302"
Without Me?
I bought this book thinking that it would be fulfilled with a many a story of Marshall Mathers life and although there are some of this there, there is clearly not enough of his... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2004 by "mash_swansea"
really exciting understandable book
when i read the book i found it really amazing.All the stuff about his teen years and about detroit. Read more
Published on 11 May 2004 by vizbomb
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