Hip-Hop Classic #14: Eminem - Role Model (Chosen by Lucas Brooks)

'Role Model' is the second single from Eminem's sophmore album, The Slim Shady LP, which was released in 1999 on Aftermath Entertainment/Web Records. The track is produced by Dr. Dre & Mel-Man, and Eminem claims it is essentially about suicide, which is believed to be him mocking his own experiences in 1996. Throughout the song he also mocks unsuitable role models, who people will mimic regardless of the things they do. The single was only a minor hit in the US charts, but the album was met with huge critical and commercial success, debuting at #2 on the US Billboard 200, selling 283,000 copies in its opening week. The album has gone on to be quadruple-platinum; it has sold over five million units in the US and over nine million units worldwide. And, well as they say, the rest is history...

Lucas Brooks: "I think Em's delivery and content are flawless on this. He doesn't waste a single bar. For me, in '99, it took something special to challenge Slick Rick as the best emcee in the game but I honestly cannot think of a combination of memorable production and rhyming skill that I enjoy this much. Classic beat. Classic album. Classic Hip-Hop."