If I were only allowed to listen to one CD for the rest of my life, it would be “The Eminem Show” by Eminem.
I love the hard rhymes, diverse subject matter and personal introspection Eminem delivers throughout the 20-track LP released in May 2002.
Back then I didn’t have much money and my mom refused to buy me any CDs that sported a parental advisory sticker on the cover, so I had to go over to my big brother’s house if I wanted to listen to it.
My brother’s sound system was ahead of its time. I remember sitting in his truck, bass pounding while I listened to “White America” seven or eight times in a row.
“See the problem is I speak to suburban kids/Who otherwise would never knew these words exist/ Who’s moms never would of gave two squirts of this/Until I created so much mother loving turbulence.”
I eventually got past the first track and fell in love with songs like “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” “Till I Collapse” and “Sing for the Moment,” which contains a sample from “Dream On” by Aerosmith.
“They say music can alter moods and talk to you/But can it load up a gun up for you and cock it to? Well if it can and the next time you assault a dude/Just tell the judge it was my fault and I’ll get sued.”
I ultimately acquired the CD and I listened to it until I memorized every word. My friends used to tell me they’d see me walking around Dayton and honk at me to ask if I wanted a ride, but I never noticed them because I was always lost in my headphones.
Odds are I was listening to “The Eminem Show.”
I still don’t have a car because I’m trying to save money for college, but when I get one, I definitely know the first CD that will be played inside of it.