During Shade 45’s 20th-anniversary special, Eminem gave fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at his writing process. Speaking with DJ Whoo Kid and Paul Rosenberg, the rap legend explained how he crafts his intricate rhymes and keeps track of his ideas using stacks of notebooks.
Eminem on His Evolving Writing Process
Eminem admitted that coming up with original punchlines is harder than ever because “every set of wordplay—anything—has already been done.” When he hears new rappers using a punchline similar to one he had in mind, he crosses it out from his own book of ideas.
He also shared that he now keeps multiple notebooks filled with rhymes, a habit inspired by a story Alchemist once told him about hip-hop legend KRS-One.
“Twenty years ago, Alchemist told me KRS-One had stacks of books filled with raps. Back then, I used to just grab any piece of paper, write on it, and stuff it in my pocket. Now, I have bags full of books, just like KRS-One probably has twice as many,” Eminem said.
Although his notebooks appear messy, Eminem insists they serve a purpose. “It’s just me writing thoughts down as soon as I get them, so I don’t forget. But to anyone else, it looks like scribble scrabble.”
How Eminem Finds Old Rhymes in His Notebooks
Despite the chaos, Eminem has an incredible ability to remember where he wrote certain lyrics, even years later.
“I can’t memorize everything, but I’ll remember if something was in a notebook from six books ago. I’ll know what side of the page it was on. Sometimes, I’ll spend half a day flipping through old books trying to find a rhyme scheme I thought of years ago.”
Regrets About Sharing His Lyrics
Paul Rosenberg compared Eminem’s notebooks to A Beautiful Mind, calling them “works of art.” However, Eminem admitted he regrets sharing handwritten lyric pages in his book The Way I Am.
“I don’t know why I did that. I should have never done that,” he said. But Rosenberg disagreed, saying it gave fans a fascinating glimpse into his creative genius.
Eminem’s relentless dedication to his craft proves why he remains one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists. His meticulous approach to writing and storing rhymes showcases his commitment to always pushing the limits of his artistry.
