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Eminem Pays Homage To His 'Beautiful' City

Posted Fri 3 Jul 2009 9:05AM NZST by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Eminem puts his controversial antics on the back-burner for the fourth single from his "Relapse" album which has already sold more than 1 million copies since its May 19 release.

The video for his new record "Beautiful" spotlights his hometown of Detroit. It opens with a historical statement about the Michigan's national ranking during an economic peak.

"In 1950, Michigan was 1 of 8 states in America that collectively produced 36% of the world's GNP," the text read.

On a second screen the message continued, "Detroit was the greatest manufacturing city in the world."

The 4-minute clip shows Eminem walking through various Michigan landmarks that once thrived but are now impoverished--Beaux-Arts train station (Michigan Central Station), the original Tiger Stadium, and the former Packard Motor Car Company plant. Each of the now dilapidated structures were built prior to 1914.

Ironically, the song lyrics are not about Detroit, but Eminem's battles with depression during his bout with an addiction for which he sought rehabilitation. He raps, "I don't know how or why or when, I ended up in this position I'm in."

In a statement released via his label, Eminem said that after overcoming his trials, he realized that the song could also be used as a metaphor.

"Tiger Stadium is being torn down, and the train station is supposed to be demolished too," Eminem said. "This video is one of the last times anybody outside of Detroit is going to see them."

Eminem added, "['Beautiful'] is a reminder to keep your head up, and to see who you really are despite what you may be going through. Now that I've gotten through the toughest part, I see how the song relates to Detroit, and it feels even more powerful."


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1335 Comments

1. -
I HAVE NOT WORDS TO DEFINE THE VIDEO!

2. Izzy -
This Video means alot to me just listen to the words I think it's one of the best songs he has ever made

3. Jen -
Totlly awesome, I love Eminem, he is the epitomy of self help and courage way to pay respect to this screwed up city!!! Now..lets get rid of Monica Conyers and the rest of the joke of a city council,and that would be a start!!

4. Yahoo! Music User -
This is the best cd eminems getting better and better damn what i would give to meet Eminem!

Philip Summers

5. 313-469-7540 $10 a Hr Recording -
Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. Kwok -
Awesome video..thats all I can say. Its sad they cut out the last verse, its the best verse in my opinion

7. CaramelAngel -
OMG, see this is just one example of why I love this man's music... Dang, I have no words left to describe it... Dang.

8. Tim -
Put your hands up for DETROIT!!!....a lovely city!!!

God Bless Detroit!!

Another AWESOME video by Eminem!!!

9. Stephanie -
It is awesome and what's cool about it part of that video was recorded around where my sister goes to school!!!!

10. Colin -
agreed. That really is a great video. Too bad it reminds me of a To by Kieth video.

11. ChrisQ -
Great Video, By Far Best song on the Album

12. nosoma -
Em is the king of Brooding Artists ! Then he turns on his tears of a clown act and I just crack up

13. Tanya -
My son is in Iraq and put this song on his myspace page and so did I. He turned me on to Eminem a long time ago and this is my fav song of this album and We Made You is my second fav and its awesome to see the video.

14. Monica -
As soon as i heard beautiful on Eminems new cd i fell in love with it, i was hoping he would make a music video and he has it's AMAZING some of his best work. I would love to see him in concert

15. jonathan -
Eminem is bad ass! Go ahead white boy!

16. Austin -
Yo i love eminem ive been listenen to him ever since i was 3!! I have every one of his cd's, i can't wait for relapse 2 to come out, can't wait to hear it. Hell Relapse was awesome, I wonder if relapse 2 will be, probably will i have no doubts on that but I loved the video.

17. Sarah -
Love the video, I've always been a huge fan, too bad it has to be censored.

18. Samantha -
I love this as it shows the truth

19. Tom -
All I can say is wow........

20. Yahoo! Music User -
Michigan needs to get its act together and stop crying and feeling bad for itself.

Eminem is still the best though.
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