Structured to feel more like a documentary about a love triangle than a traditional music video, "The River" stars Eminem at his most candid and personal life, even if he consistently remains one post-modern twist ahead of the viewer.
If a room full of rappers banged away randomly at typewriters for an infinite amount of time, would they write something as good as Eminem's "Stan"? Probably not, but this videos let's us into Em's creative process, as we see him metaphorically deal with with living up to his stature and navigating the sometimes icy waters of inspiration.
An apcalyptic and surreal journey through The Weeknd's recent video iconography, augmented by the GoPro spherical VR system that works in most browsers and mobile players. Go ahead and explore, because The Weeknd is surrounded by so much mayhem that you probably won't mind the brief runtime.
You knew Eminem's history with both Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre meant he would show up in the Apple Music launch, but did you expect his contribution to be a music video that casts him as an ass-kicking Neo-style action-adventure star? Or, for John Malkovich to have a cameo as a mysterious purveyor of noodles and wisdom? The nearly 8-minute big-budget opus starts in a hospital and ends with a helicopter leap to a rendezvous with Dr Dre — plus, instead of the usual Beats product placements, we get an integrated storyline with an Apple Watch.
Eminem, Royce da 5'9", Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf, Trick Trick // Detroit Vs. Everybody
Watch the video here: youtu.be/CaQ--nkusNQ
Record Label: Interscope/Shady Records
Production: Simian Design Group & Third Wheel Entertainment
Post Production: Simian Design Group
Director Representation: Morgan Lane & LARK Content
Director: Kyle Cogan
Producer: Megan St. John
Director of Photography: Tom Kinstle
Animation/VFX: Yusuf McCoy, Kyle Cogan, Marty Kane, and Jess Weber.
Detroit Vs. Everybody seems like more than a rallying cry and more than just the latest collabo track from local legend Eminem and crew. And, indeed, it's also an apparel brand that's blowing up out of motor city thanks to high profile looks like this clip.
In which our fighter learns that he can't summon his full power until he's pushed back against the wall... Eminem returns with this inspirational look back at overcoming his own odds while the video shows a similar story with a boxer.
PS: You weren't expecting the notoriously camerashy Sia to appear in this video, did you? Her wig is donned here by the distinctive model Chantelle Brown-Young aka Winnie Harlow, who has the skin condition vitiligo.
If you were hoping for malice, or even some snark, in this video collaboration between Eminem and director Spike Lee: Tough shit. If anything, this apology to Mom for past lyrical assaults is as earnest and literal as the countryiest country video — even when the POV shots make you think you might launch into "Smack My Bitch Up" land.
