Not Afraid

The Evolution of Eminem

By: Anthony Bozza

Narrated by: Peter Vellios

THE SEQUEL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WHATEVER YOU SAY I AM, CHRONICLING THE PAST TWENTY YEARS OF RAPPER EMINEM'S LIFE, BASED ON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH THE ARTIST, HIS FRIENDS, AND ASSOCIATES

"A passionate look at the Detroit rapper's music . . . an expert and thoughtful assessment." - Booklist

In 1999, a former dishwasher from Detroit named Marshall Bruce Mathers III became the most controversial and polarizing musical artist in the world. He was an outlier, a white artist creating viable art in a black medium, telling stories with such verbal dexterity, nimble wit, and shocking honesty that his music and persona resonated universally. In short, Eminem changed the landscape of pop culture as we knew it.

In 2006, at the height of his fame and one of the biggest-selling artists in music history, Eminem all but disappeared. Beset by nonstop controversy, bewildering international fame, a debilitating drug problem, and personal tragedy, he became reclusive, withdrawing to his Detroit-area compound. He struggled with weight gain and an addiction to prescription pills that nearly took his life. Over the next five years, Eminem got sober, relapsed, then finally got and stayed clean with the help of his unlikely friend and supporter, Elton John. He then triumphantly returned to a very different landscape, yet continued his streak of number one albums and multiplatinum singles.

Not Afraid picks up where rock journalist Anthony Bozza's bestselling Whatever You Say I Am left off. Capturing Eminem's toughest years in his own words, as well the insights of his closest friends and creative collaborators, this book chronicles the musical, personal, and spiritual growth of one of hip-hop's most enduring and enigmatic figures.

Critic reviews

"A passionate look at the Detroit rapper's music... an expert and thoughtful assessment."—Booklist

Repetitive

I feel like there’s too much political talk about racism then there is about Eminem. And that carries over into the second book. I appreciate that I use the same writer for both of them, but it didn’t give me much of a glimpse into the understanding of his life or where he came from in actuality.

for any fan of hip hop

This is supposed to be a follow up to later parts of Eminem's life from the same author that wrote Whatever You Say I Am. WYSIA was way more interesting because the author actually talked with Em for it. In this book he interviewed some people close to him so it wasn't the same. They did say some interesting things that I hadn't heard before so it's worth reading for any fan. Also, the author went into great detail about individual songs of his in the second half of his career. That was great. You can definitely tell what a big fan of rap overall the author is. He's knowledgeable. He kind of gives a history of rap overall and tells about many different songs and groups through the years. I would say even someone who isn't a huge Em fan but is a huge hip-hop fan would really enjoy this book.

insightful

very good book covering Em's history and inspiration along with who he has inspired.

great book if your a fan. detailed and depth.

love it and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of eminem.

Boring

Was all over the place and contradictions was a put together Dollar grab. Not at one time did you feel connected