Eminem - Yellow Brick Road

[00:04.08] "What we have to do is deal with it when these individuals are young [00:05.27] enough, if you will, to be saved, not in a religious sense, [00:08.74] but not to constitute what this country [00:10.57] at times calls their throwaway children." [00:14.57] "We seem to be approaching an age of the gross." {burp} [00:21.08] "We all have this idea that we should move up a little bit from our [00:22.73] parents' nation and each generation should do a little bit better." [00:25.23] Alright, come on, let's cut the bullshit, enough [00:29.88] Let's get it started, [00:31.36] let's start addressin' this issue, and open it up [00:32.62] Let's take this shit back to the basement [00:35.37] And we can discuss statements that's made on this tape and [00:37.72] Its whole origin of the music that we all know and love [00:39.96] The music that we all enjoy [00:41.20] The music you accuse me of tryin' to destroy [00:42.67] Let's rewind it to '89 when I was a boy [00:45.03] On the east side of Detroit, crossin' 8 Mile into Warren [00:50.06] Into hick territory; I'd like to share a story [00:53.06] This is my story, and can't nobody tell it for me [00:56.11] You have well informed me, I am well-aware [00:59.19] That I don't belong here: you've made that perfectly clear [01:01.93] I get my ass kicked damn near everywhere [01:04.72] From Bel-Aire shopping center just for stopping in there [01:07.77] From the black side all the way to the white side [01:10.42] Okay, there's a bright side, a day that I might slide [01:13.23] You may call it a pass, I call it haulin' my ass [01:16.25] Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks [01:18.83] Oh, them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks [01:20.99] Them good old notorious so well known tracks [01:24.29] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [01:25.39] As we go on another episode [01:26.76] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [01:31.66] That I once used to call home sweet home [01:35.03] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [01:41.74] As we go on another episode [01:43.84] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [01:45.62] That I once used to call home sweet home [01:47.57] I'd roam the streets so much they'd call me a drifter [01:50.18] Sometimes I'd stick up a thumb just to hitchhike [01:52.10] Just to get picked up to get me a lift to [01:54.74] 8 Mile and Van Dyke and steal a goddamn bike [01:58.70] From somebody's backyard, and drop it off at the park [02:01.47] That was the halfway mark, to meet Kim, had to walk [02:04.36] Back to her mama's on Chalmers after dark [02:07.17] To sneak me in the house when I'm kicked out my Mom's [02:10.07] That's about the time I first met Proof [02:12.53] With Goofy Gary on the steps [02:15.00] At Osbourne, handin' out some flyers [02:16.94] He was doin' some talent shows at Center Line High [02:18.80] I had told him to stop by and check this out sometime [02:22.12] He looked at me like I'm out my mind [02:24.03] Shook his head, like, "White boys don't know how to rhyme." [02:26.84] I spit out a line and rhymed "birthday" with "first place" [02:29.84] And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike [02:33.41] We was on the same shit, that Big Daddy Kane shit [02:36.97] With compound syllables sound combined [02:39.19] From that day we was down to ride [02:41.86] Somehow we knew we'd meet again somewhere down the line [02:44.29] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [02:47.27] As we go on another episode [02:49.65] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [02:52.58] That I once used to call home sweet home [02:55.14] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [02:58.02] As we go on another episode [03:01.12] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [03:04.28] That I once used to call home sweet home [03:06.97] My first year in 9th grade, can't forget that day at school [03:10.34] It was cool 'til your man MC Shan came through [03:12.86] He said that Puma's the brand 'cause the Klan makes Troops [03:16.05] It was rumors, but man, goddamn, they flew [03:18.64] Musta been true, because man, we done banned they shoes [03:20.80] I had the new ones, the Cool J, Ice Lamb, suede too [03:23.86] But we just threw 'em in the trash like they yesterday's news [03:26.91] Guess who came through next? [03:28.77] X Clan debuted, Professor X (vanglorious) [03:30.33] Exists in a state of red, black and green, with a key, sissies! [03:34.28] Now with this being a new trend, we don't fit in [03:37.91] Crackas is out with Cactus albums, blackness is in [03:40.24] African symbols and medallions represent Black Power [03:44.42] And we ain't know what it meant, me and my man Howard [03:47.51] And Butta would go to the mall [03:49.36] With 'em all over our necks like we're showin 'em off [03:51.96] Not knowin' at all we was being laughed at [03:54.55] "You ain't even half black! [03:56.21] You ain't 'posed to have that, homie, let me grab that! [03:59.07] And that Flavor Flav clock, we gon' have to snatch that!" [04:01.72] All I remember is meeting back at Manix's basement [04:05.19] Sayin' how we hate this [04:06.93] How racist but dope the X Clan's tape is [04:09.62] Which reminds me, back in '89, me [04:12.07] And Kim broke up for the first time; she was tryna two-time me [04:15.29] And there was this black girl at our school [04:17.30] Who thought I was cool [04:19.51] 'Cause I rapped, so she was kinda eyein' me [04:21.12] And oh the irony, guess what her name was? [04:23.72] Ain't even goin' say it, plus, the same color hair as hers [04:27.10] Was and blue contacts and a pair of jugs [04:29.99] The bombest goddamn girl in our whole school [04:33.17] If I could pull her, not only would I become more popular [04:36.06] But I would be able to piss Kim off at the [04:38.14] Same time; but it backfired [04:40.02] I was supposed to dump her but she dumped me for this black guy [04:43.67] And that's the last I ever seen or heard [04:46.61] Or spoke to the "Oh Foolish Pride" girl [04:48.72] But I've heard people say they heard the tape and it ain't that bad [04:51.94] But it was: I singled out a whole race [04:54.04] And for that I apologize, I was wrong [04:57.12] 'Cause no matter what color a girl is, she's still a ho [05:00.85] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [05:03.38] As we go on another episode [05:05.53] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [05:08.66] That I once used to call home sweet home [05:11.05] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road [05:14.89] As we go on another episode [05:17.32] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place [05:21.46] That I once used to call home sweet home [05:24.47]