Eminem Breaks His Silence
April 2002, Access Hollywood

Eminem successfully sold 8 million CDs his last time out,
earning the relentless rapper more labels than anyone can add up. But count on this,
with a new CD and a whole new career on the horizon, nothing can suppress Eminem.
Shock value certainly plays into the appeal of the rapper,
but he maintains that much is misunderstood,
which is why he's been steering clear of interviews.
You'll recall that it was unlikely ally Elton John who quieted much of the
criticism by joining the star for a duet. Eminem came up with the idea, but only as a joke,
to Interscope record chief Jimmy Iovine. When this year's Best Picture Oscar® winner
Brian Grazer saw just a few seconds of an Eminem video, Brian immediately met
with him to discuss a project. The producer cast Eminem opposite Kim Basinger in the
semi-autobiographical film 8 Miles. Though the star himself may have reservations,
it would be a mistake to underestimate Eminem's ability to pull it off. Keep in mind,
Grazer is the guy who opened the door to movie stardom for another former rapper --
Mark Wahlberg. Eminem's controversial ways have far from ended. In his new video
"Without Me," due out next month, Eminem dresses up like Osama Bin Laden.
For the first time since his controversial Grammys duet with Elton over a year ago,
Eminem goes on the record with Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brien.

Question:
Let's talk about your new CD. Where are you going on this one?

Eminem:
This one is probably the most personal that I've gotten so far.
The first single is comical. It's got some funny stuff or whatever.
There are probably less songs on this CD that are funny... more of them are to the
point and represent a period in time when I was going through difficult
things in my life or whatever. There are points of it that are dark and points
of it that are upbeat. I wanted to go more personal with this one.
The direction that I went wasn't necessarily what I was planning on doing.
But as I was writing songs, each song got more personal and more personal.
It just came out that way .

Question:
Is it easier to do it that way because you don't do many interviews?
Is it easier to put it on CD?

Eminem:
I so wish that I could do that.
I really just wish that I could put the music on and let it speak for itself --
just sit back and not do anything.

Question:
In the past two years it's been a little tumultuous for you.
You've sort of stayed in the background.

Eminem:
Oh, yes. You know, we are very selective about things we do now.
For a minute there, everybody who wanted to do an interview with me wanted to attack me.
They just talk about, you know, homophobia and this and that.
It got to be such an issue that... it became not even about hip-hop anymore.
I just wanted to stay back for a minute.
I don't like to be backed into a corner or be doing an interview where I feel like
I'm being backed into a corner.

Question:
Let's talk about acting. Do you enjoy that process?

Eminem:
Let's not talk about acting. (laughs)

Question:
On our show, Brian Grazer said the first time he saw you he said,
'This kid's got it.' I don't know if he said kid,
but that's big when a guy like that can see something like that.

Eminem:
My chest is big or it's big that Brian Grazer said that? (laughs)
I like acting and I have fun with it.
It's one of those things that I don't know if I can do it well or not.
Sometimes I can be funny with it and sometimes I crack myself up with it.
I mean, with my music, I feel like I have a certain level of confidence,
but with the acting thing it's a little weird for me.
It's one of those things where you have to sit back and see what everybody else thinks.
I believe myself in every scene, but you don't know how everybody else is going to be.

Pat O'Briens Comment after the interview with Eminem
In contrast to the McCartney experience, a few days later I sat down with Eminem,
who gave us his first interview in a year and a half. But is it really different?
Marshall Mathers has become his generation's Lennon/McCartney,
letting us in on the feelings of the new millennium.
We were privileged to witness his new music video where Em and Dr. Dre set out to
save young people from buying Eminem CD's. It is pretty funny.
It's called "Without Me" and much of it takes place in a Lamborghini -- a $350,000 one.
And the tune just might be catchier than "Slim Shady." Eminem has changed.
He has become more comfortable in his own skin. He has privately removed the edge,
is approachable and well, when you look at him, he's no different than any brilliant artist.
But more than a lot of people, he likes to have fun with his image.
For example the entire homophobic episode was a joke that, in reality, got out of hand.
Hanging out with Em on his set, there couldn't be a nicer guy, really or a
busier one... new CD, movie projects, videos and living his life.
It's a true experience to be part of his inner circle for an afternoon
because it's really no different from what everybody else does. He works hard.
He breaks for lunch, hangs out with his friends and goes home at night.
The next morning, he comes back to work. Now, granted, his work pays a little better.
He has catered food. He gets whomever he wants to stop by, but he
approaches it all now as more of an occupation instead of a crusade.
Having said that, don't think the edge is gone or the music has gone sappy.
To quote another Eminem fan, "It's getting better all the time."

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