The Way I Am by Eminem

The Way I Am is Eminem’s highly visual and intensely personal autobiography, offering an extraordinary look behind the public persona of one of the most influential and controversial recording artists of his generation. Published in 2008, this large-format illustrated hardcover combines Eminem’s own recollections with photographs, handwritten material, artwork, memorabilia and reproductions of original lyric sheets.

Born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, Eminem recounts his difficult childhood, his early years in Detroit, his determination to break into the rap scene and the extraordinary rise that transformed him into an internationally recognised artist. Rather than presenting a conventional chronological biography, The Way I Am has the character of a personal archive, filled with visual material that brings the reader unusually close to Eminem’s creative process and private world.

Particularly fascinating are the reproduced handwritten lyrics, notes, drawings, photographs and other pieces of personal ephemera. The Way I Am explores his songwriting and recording process, his collaborations with figures such as Dr. Dre, his experiences on the road and the development of songs that became defining works of early twenty-first-century hip-hop.

The Way I Am is especially collectible because it retains the striking translucent red dust jacket, designed to overlay the photographic boards beneath, as well as the original accompanying DVD. The disc is clear/translucent as manufactured and is housed inside the book.

An excellent addition to a collection devoted to Eminem, hip-hop and rap history, popular music, music photography or modern celebrity autobiography.

Condition – Very Good

Pages are exceptionally clean and near perfect. Original DVD included and clean. Translucent red dust jacket shows surface scratching, scuffing and some damage/splitting to the lower edge. Hardcover boards present very well.