“Habits” is the second song from Eminem’s long-awaited album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coupe de Grâce), which outlines Em’s personal struggle with addiction. Eminem, in this track, faces himself with his inner self and tells that Slim Shady influences him. The track features vocals from Eminem’s past collaborator, “White Gold.“
[Intro: Eminem]
Been waitin’ a long time for this shit (Ah)
Long time no see (Ah)
Thought you got rid of my ass, huh? (Let me go, you sick fuck)
Alright, here’s what we’re gonna do (Piece of shit)
You take this (No)
Or I put a bullet between your fucking eyes (I don’t wanna)
Here (Fuck no)
Then we’ll split it (No)
Comeback and Confrontation: Eminem sets the tone with a dramatic confrontation, suggesting he's been out of the spotlight and is now back with a vengeance. The dialogue implies a struggle with his inner demons or critics who thought they had silenced him.
[Verse 1: Eminem]
Half an Ativan, I’m drivin’ straight at a van
In a black Sedan, fast as I can
In Pakistan gettin’ chased by a pack of Stans
You know how I roll, bitch (What?), I’m an avalanche
This my shit, I’m gonna spit it how I wanna spit it
Whoever gets offended, suck a dick and fuck a critic
‘Bout to get retarded on this motherfuckin’ shidit
“You can’t say retarded,” shut up, midget (The fuck?)
And we’ve been tryna break the habit of sayin’ any R words (Yeah)
But I’m still an addict, so it’s getting hardеr (Ah)
Been callin’ bitches “hoes” since a kindеrgartner
This is Jimmy Carter, now I’m kitty-cornered (What?)
Sittin’ in PC court with a shitty lawyer (Shit), like damn
Controversy and Rebellion: Eminem references taking Ativan, indicating a struggle with anxiety or stress. The mention of "Stans" hints at obsessive fans, a nod to his song "Stan." He confronts critics and societal norms head-on, rejecting political correctness with his characteristic rebelliousness.
References: Mentions Jimmy Carter, hinting at feeling trapped or in a difficult situation ("kitty-cornered"). The line about "PC court" reflects the modern culture of political correctness and censorship.
[Chorus: White Gold & Eminem]
You got an addiction, man (Ah)
I know you can’t get rid of me forever
‘Cause you know that I’m prescription, man
Goddamn, I miss you, Slim (Woo)
You got an addiction, man
I know you can’t get rid of me forever
‘Cause you know that I’m prescription, man
Next time, I’ll be in your vein (Yeah)
Addiction and Identity: The chorus, sung by White Gold and Eminem, portrays Slim Shady (Eminem's alter ego) as an addiction, something he can't escape. It emphasizes his inseparability from his controversial and provocative persona.
[Verse 2: Eminem]
Was just a kid from Detroit who knew how to destroy the booth
And had a point to prove (Yeah), and I’m missin’ (What?)
Venomous, still I poison youth, sentences (Yeah)
I’m pennin’ are just to toy with you
Which is a joy to do, Slim is just (What?)
A lyricist here to voice his true sentiments (Yeah)
Got the women pissed and it seems like men are just (What?) off growing a huge clitoris (Pussies)
Yeah, I probably annoyed a few feminists
I reminisce on them blowing a fuse over my points of views
Still I’m devoid of two shits to give (Yeah)
My thinkin’ is primitive
But when it comes to givin’ it to anybody, boy, is Bruce generous (Marshall)
And I’m ’bout as much of boy as Bruce Jenner is (Damn)
‘Cause I’m not a boy, I’m a man, bitch, man-bitch (Haha)
My speech is free as his choice to choose gender is (Man)
This shit is like opioid abuse, isn’t it? (Yup)
Origins and Impact: Eminem reflects on his journey from Detroit, his influence on youth, and his joy in creating provocative lyrics. He acknowledges his controversial views, particularly on gender and feminism, but remains unapologetic.
References and Wordplay: Bruce Jenner (Caitlyn Jenner) is mentioned in the context of gender identity. Eminem uses wordplay to challenge critics and affirm his stance on free speech.
[Bridge: Eminem]
There’s times when I lay down to sleep I argue with myself
Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird? Do I need help?
Just a little bit, no, a lot of it, I really, really gotta quit
Something’s wrong with me, my God, old habits die hard
Inner Struggle: Eminem reveals his internal conflicts and the difficulty of breaking old habits. This introspection adds depth to his otherwise defiant persona.
[Interlude: Mr. Reality]
Look at you
What’s the matter with you people?
You’re sad that people are mean?
Well, I’m sorry, the world isn’t one big liberal arts college campus
**** you, you’re all pricks
Societal Critique: This interlude, delivered by Mr. Reality, criticizes modern sensitivities and suggests that the world is harsh and unforgiving, a sentiment echoed in Eminem's verses.
[Verse 3: Eminem]
Mom shaming, dad shaming (Ah), yeah
Fat-shaming (What?), man-splaining, blah (Pfft)
Crybabies attack Shady, wah
Mad ’cause they can’t tame me (Get it)
Here come the censors (Look out), like the Avengers
And they assemble like Prince and then turn
A word like “ginger” into the N-word
All these pronouns (Ah) I can’t remember (Damn)
They or them, theirs? (Who?) His or him, hers? (Ah)
Into them girls who bought tits to get attention
Then get hit on by ugly men who are (Creep)
Not in your league, so you pretend you’re a victim
And me-too ’em (Ah), outraged, how fake? (What?)
Nowadays, some gals, they (What?) just clout-chase (Yeah)
Look at me with sour grapes and your brow raised
Bitch, you ain’t about head (What?), about face (Woo)
Little white, middle-age, upper-middle-class
With a glass of wine and your cigarette
Bitch, get off the internet (Yeah)
You ain’t even fed your kids dinner yet (Haha, still)
Parental discretion, mental aggression, my head’s a Smith & Wesson
You’re messin’ with a lethal weapon, like an evil stepdad
I got an infrared like the ginger stepkid who pissed the bed (Ginger)
I do this shit in jest and it’s just a messin’ up with your head
And if men wanna wear lipstick and women’s underwear
Who cares? Their shit is their business, now bear witness
Beware, bitches, the Blair Witch on you scared bitches
I’m surreptitious (What?) on square business
Just attacked my therapist with a pair of scissors like “Merry Christmas”
Dressed as a Hare Krishna, terrorist with a hair trigger (Woo)
But with these buttons I’m always pushing (Yeah), pain I’m always inflicting (What?)
Protestors outside the Shady offices livid (Yeah)
It’ll make you think that you had the game on lock ’til they pick it (Trick it)
Only way for me to explain it is I’m conflicted (What?)
Walkin’ on eggshells, like if I take it too far, is this it? (Yeah)
Part of me gets it and wants to say I’m sorry and fix it (I’m so—)
So all my statements are basically contradictive (What?)
Like using the F-word for gay is wrong and offensive (What?)
And insensitive as if me sayin’ the R-word isn’t (Wait)
Wait a minute, which R-word? Rape or retarded, midget? (Not cool, guys)
Would this rhyme be okay if South Park had did it? (Okay, screw you guys)
Would it make you less angry if Cartman spit it? (Goddammit)
And as far as what I just stated, regarding midgets
You’ll probably think I’ll just say that I’m playin’, I’m not, I meant it (Yeah)
Swear to God I see one of them little fuckers come at me
I’ll pick it up by its legs and drop it and kick it
“Marshall, you’re wicked, face it, you are addicted” (I know)
But they gon’ do me the same as DaBaby with all of this shit (Why?)
Chappelle and Colin, they’re callin’ Shady misogynistic (Yeah)
While raisin’ three daughters, two graduated from college with honors
Summa cum laude, my sense of humor is probably twisted
It’s painfully obvious that
Social Commentary and Criticism: Eminem tackles various societal issues, including shaming and censorship. He mocks the oversensitivity to certain terms and criticizes clout-chasing behaviors. He addresses his own contradictions and the backlash he faces, likening it to the controversies surrounding DaBaby, Dave Chappelle, and Colin Kaepernick.
References and Disses: Eminem references popular culture, including "The Avengers," Prince, and "South Park." His lines about DaBaby and Chappelle highlight how public figures are scrutinized for their statements.
[Chorus: White Gold & Eminem]
You got an addiction, man
I know you can’t get rid of me forever
‘Cause you know that I’m prescription, man
Goddamn, I miss you, Slim (Woo, hey)
You got an addiction, man
I know you can’t get rid of me forever
‘Cause you know that I’m prescription, man
Next time, I’ll be in your veins (Haha)
Reiteration of Addiction Theme: The chorus reiterates the theme of addiction, suggesting that Eminem's presence and influence are akin to a drug that listeners can't quit.
[Outro: Eminem]
I’m just playin’, little people, you know I love you
Playful Conclusion: Eminem ends with a playful note, addressing "little people" to soften the harshness of his previous lines, reminding listeners of his satirical and provocative style.
In the first verse, Eminem alludes to taking Ativan, a drug used to fight anxiety and make a dent in dealing with the chaos of fame. He holds an accusing finger up at his critics and thumbs his nose at political correctness as easily as he has in times past—that is, he doesn’t care about being silenced or censored in any form. These lines are lines that jam in both clever wordplay and references—he mentions his song “Stan” and the modern culture of Political Correctness.
The chorus, which White Gold and Eminem sing repeatedly, provides solidarity with the theme of addiction. Eminem’s alter ego Slim Shady is an inseparable part of him—an addiction he cannot get rid of, no matter how hard he tries. This double personality shows his inner self in conflict and the persona that defines and haunts him.
In the second verse, Eminem expresses his thoughts over origin and effect, telling of a journey that began in Detroit and went further to affect the youth. He addresses gender and feminism as per usual, like he always does: very provokingly. He subscribes to all his controversial views quite unapologetically. His wordplay and cultural references further drudge up new shades of meaning onto his stand on free speech that dare silence him.
This bridge is sort of like an opening into Eminem’s inner self, where he details his hi-jacking by the old habits and self-doubt. He spills depth into the character in this very introspective moment within this otherwise bluff rebel persona.
An interlude by Mr. Reality instills a jab at modern sensitivities, quite in resonance with Eminem’s feelings regarding how cruel the world is. The final verse keeps treading on this path; among the things covered are shaming, censorship, and social hypocrisy. Eminem makes fun of over-sensitization and clout chasers who speak of his contradictions and the backlash faced by him.
It ends rather playfully on tone, reminding the audience of Eminem’s satirical and provocative style. “Habits” is like a raw Eminem at his most remorseless self—fighting demons within himself and societal norms with an persona who empowers but intoxicate him.