The Marshall Mathers LP

The Way I Am

Eminem

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

236

Internal

Multi

376

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Intro]

Man, whatever^✦

Dre, just let it run

Ayo, turn the beat up a little bit

Ayo

This song is for anyone^✦

Fuck it, just shut up and listen^✦

Ayo

[Verse 1]

I sit back with this pack of Zig-Zags and this bag of this weed

It gives^✦ me the shit needed^✦ to be the most meanest MC on this—

On this Earth, and since birth, I've been cursed^✦ with this curse to just curse

And just blurt this berserk and bizarre shit that works

And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve

All this tension,^✦ dispensin' these sentences

Gettin'^✦ this stress that's been eatin'^✦ me recently

Off of this chest, and I rest again^✦ peacefully

But at least have the decency in you

To leave me alone,^✦ when you freaks see me out

In the streets when I'm eatin'^✦ or feedin'^✦ my daughter

Do not come and speak to me

I don't know you, and, no, I don't owe you a motherfuckin' thing

I'm not Mr. *NSYNC, I'm not what your friends think

I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick

If you tempt me, my tank is on empty^✦

No patience^✦ is in me, and if you offend me

I'm liftin'^✦ you ten feet in the air

I don't care who was there and who saw me, just jaw you

Go call you a lawyer,^✦ file you a lawsuit

I'll smile in the courtroom,^✦ and buy you a wardrobe

I'm tired^✦ of all you

I don't mean to be mean

But that's all I can be, it's just me

[Chorus]

And I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

(Ha) Radio^✦ won't even^✦ play my jam

'Cause I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

(Ha) I don't know, that's just the way I am

[Verse 2]

Sometimes I just feel like my father,^✦ I hate to be bothered

With all of this nonsense, it's constant

And, "Oh, it's his lyrical content

The song "Guilty^✦ Conscience"^✦ has gotten^✦ such rotten^✦ responses"

And all of this controversy circles me

And it seems like the media^✦ immediately points a finger^✦ at me

So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie

Or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up

When you don't give a fuck, when you won't just put up

With the bullshit they pull, 'cause they full of shit too

When a dude's^✦ gettin'^✦ bullied and shoots up his school

And they blame it on Marilyn and the heroin^✦

Where were the parents at?

And look where it's at

Middle America, now it's a tragedy

Now it's so sad to see

An upper-class city^✦ havin'^✦ this happenin'

Then attack^✦ Eminem 'cause I rap this way, but I'm glad

'Cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire to burn

And it's burnin',^✦ and I have returned

[Chorus]

And I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

Radio^✦ won't even^✦ play my jam

'Cause I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

(Ha) I don't know, that's just the way I am

[Verse 3]

I'm so sick and tired^✦ of bein' admired that I wish that I would just die or get fired^✦

And dropped from my label,^✦ let's stop with the fables^✦

I'm not gonna^✦ be able to top a "My Name Is"

And pigeon-holed into^✦ some poppy^✦ sensation^✦

To cop me rotation^✦ at rock 'n' roll stations^✦

And I just do not got the patience^✦

To deal with these cocky^✦ Caucasians who think

I'm some wigga^✦ who just tries to be black

'Cause I talk with an accent and grab on my balls

So they always keep askin'^✦ the same fuckin'^✦ questions^✦

What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in

The why, the who, what, when, the where, and the how

'Til I'm grabbin' my hair and I'm tearin'^✦ it out (Argh)

'Cause they drivin'^✦ me crazy,^✦ I can't take it

I'm racin',^✦ I'm pacin',^✦ I stand, and I sit

And I'm thankful for every^✦ fan that I get

But I can't take a shit in the bathroom^✦ without someone standin' by it

No, I won't sign your autograph

You can call me an asshole, I'm glad

[Chorus]

'Cause I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

Radio^✦ won't even^✦ play my jam

'Cause I am whatever^✦ you say I am

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper,^✦ the news, everyday^✦ I am

(Ha) I don't know, that's just the way I am

[Produced by Eminem]Eminem

Technical Breakdown

7.6

Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.64

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse relies on dense internal rhyme structures and hyper-articulated cadence to maintain a sense of manic aggression, balancing technical complexity with a raw, confrontational persona.

B+

7.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Internal rhyme stackingMultisyllabic assonance chainsPhonetic repetition of 'curs/berserk/bizarre'Aggressive prosody shifts

Rhyme Architecture: Dense, polysyllabic internal rhyme scheme focused on the /er/ sound, transitioning into rapid-fire triplets and syncopated rhythmic bursts.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"cursed with this curse to just curse"

① The literal, mythological or fated burden of being an outcast.② The technical necessity of using profanity as a stylistic choice to maintain his brand identity.

"I'm not Mr. *NSYNC"

① A direct comparison to the pop group *NSYNC, establishing his opposition to manufactured pop stardom.② A phonetic pun functioning as a rebuttal to his perceived 'sync' or alignment with mainstream media expectations.

Exceptional rhythmic control and pocket management

High density of internal rhyming

Compelling and authentic delivery of the persona

Strong structural coherence despite the rapid delivery

Moderate vocabulary variety

Lacks the high-level metaphor layering seen in later works

Some internal rhymes are filler-heavy to sustain the flow

User Scores

Notes

Iconic and introspective, exploring identity and public perception.