Eminem is a genius in his field, and his daughter recognizes it.
The rapper has a way with words that many journalists can only aspire to, and his lyrics often pack a punch – a reality Hailie Jade Smith is well aware of.
In a recent episode of her podcast, his 28-year-old daughter discussed her reaction to her father’s latest music video for the song ‘Somebody Save Me’, featured on his The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) album.
On the Just A Little Shady podcast, Smith revealed to her audience that she finds it difficult to watch the entire video again because it is so emotionally intense for her.
The video starts with Eminem conversing with his 31-year-old daughter Alaina, depicted as a young girl asking her father for food.
He then begins to rap about his three children and how he prioritized his addiction to drugs over them.
The lyrics are challenging to listen to for anyone, especially his daughter.
He raps: “Another pill as I start to spiral, message to my daughters, I don’t even deserve the father title.
“Hailie, I’m so sorry, I know I wasn’t there for your first guitar recital, didn’t walk you down the aisle, missed the birth of your first child.
“Your first podcast. Looking down, sweetie, I’m so proud of how you turned out. Sorry that I chose drugs and put ’em above you, sorry that I didn’t love you enough to, give ’em up, how the f*** do, I not love you more than a pill.”
Though the rap continues, the message is clear.
On Smith’s podcast, she shared: “I definitely cry every time I hear it at all.
“Between that and ‘Temporary’… I audibly sobbed I think for both songs but especially ‘Temporary’.”
She further elaborated on her father’s struggles with addiction: “But I will say, watching the video back, and listening to the songs, I feel like my parents did such a good job growing up where I didn’t realize how bad things were.
“But, now like, as an adult in hindsight, it’s so scary to think about. And I think that’s why I get emotional so much, like just thinking that could have happened.”
Smith added: “Obviously that’s the point of the song, but if you’ve ever lost an addict or loved one, I feel for you.”
It’s not just ‘Temporary’ and ‘Somebody Save Me’ that bring her to tears; ‘Mockingbird’ has a similar effect.
She confessed: “I can’t even listen to it anymore without crying.
“The older I get, the less I can listen to any of the songs.”