Whatever You Say I Am, Anthony Bozza
Whatever You Say I Am, Anthony Bozza
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Whatever You Say I Am
The Life and Times of Eminem

Author: Anthony Bozza

Narrator: Josh Hamilton

Abridged: 5 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/21/2003


Synopsis

does eminem matter?

On assignment for his first cover story for Rolling Stone, the very first national cover story on Eminem, Anthony Bozza met a young blond kid, a rapper who would soon take the country by storm. But back in 1999, Eminem was just beginning to make waves among suburban white teenagers as his first single, “My Name Is,” went into heavy rotation on MTV.

Who could have predicted that in a mere two years, Eminem would become the most reviled and controversial hip-hop figure ever? Or that twelve months after that, Eminem would sit firmly at the pinnacle of American celebrity, a Grammy winner many times over and the recipient of an Oscar.

did eminem change or did america finally figure him out?

Whatever You Say I Am attempts to answer this question and many more. Since their first meeting, Bozza has been given a level of access to Eminem that no other journalist has enjoyed. In Whatever You Say I Am, original, never-before-published text from Bozza’s interviews with Eminem are combined with the insight of numerous hip-hop figures, music critics, journalists, and members of the Eminem camp to look behind the mask of this enigmatic celebrity. With an eye toward Eminem’s place in American popular culture, Bozza creates a thoughtful portrait of one of the most successful artists of our time. This is so much more than a biography of a thoroughly well-documented life. It is a close-up look at a conflicted figure who has somehow spoken to the heart of America.

About The Author

Anthony Bozza worked as a writer and editor at Rolling Stone from 1995 to 2002, where he wrote several major stories on Eminem as well as cover stories on a range of artists, from Jennifer Lopez to Nine Inch Nails. His writing has appeared in Maxim, Paper, Elle, Allure, Arena (UK), and The Face (UK). This is his first book. He lives in New York City.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sam

There is way too much in this book that is not about Eminem. Plainly and simply, you can tell that Anthony Bozza wrote for Rolling Stone. This book has that high-brow rock journalism trying to be more than it needs to be air about it. Bozza includes copius amounts of information on the history of De......more

Goodreads review by Cav

"Art is many things, but when it is true, anyone, from anywhere, at any time, can see it and feel it and understand the emotion beneath it, even if they don’t speak the language. If the feeling is pure, art can lead the whole world down the artist’s rabbit hole, at least for a minute. If that art is......more

Goodreads review by Dony

A close up examination of the rise of Marshall Bruce Mathers III; the author delves into the underlying circumstances of what made him into a formidable rapper - relentless, unforgiving, barrage of verbal assaults coupled with the ability to weave narratives and a unique rhyme and musical style. The......more

Goodreads review by Bill

I have only managed to see Eminem live once, at the Reading Festival, I think around 2003 or thereabouts. I was expecting something really great but I was a little disappointed. But I have remained a fan I have had this book for quite a while and finally got around to reading it. It's an excellent vi......more

I love Eminem so this was so fascinating. Eminem in the modern era is so private, but when this book was written, the author actually got to hang with him multiple times in varied locations and interview him. It's majorly interesting.......more


Quotes

“While most scribes, with eyes closed, have long been pushing pens in hot pursuit of international rap phenom Eminem, Anthony Bozza has wisely devoted his time to exploring the trials and tribulations of Detroit native Marshall Mathers III. And he who understands Mathers understands the fabric of American society—beautiful stitches, stains, rips, and all.”—Sacha Jenkins, former Vibe magazine music editor, writer at large for Spin magazine, and coauthor of Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism! and Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists

“Anthony Bozza was granted an access to Eminem that no journalist is likely to see again soon—and so Whatever You Say I Am offers the most intimate glimpses yet of the most towering, complicated figure of our culture.”
—Alan Light, former editor in chief of Vibe and Spin magazines, and editor of The Vibe History of Hip-Hop.