Eminem

Headlights

2013 · Interscope · Detroit, Michigan

Artist
Eminem
Title
Headlights
Release
Headlights
Year
2013
Label
Interscope
Format
Digital · Single
Language
English
Country
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Genre
Hip Hop · Hip Hop · Hardcore Hip Hop · Conscious Hip Hop · Pop Rock
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

"Headlights" Hip hop "I went in headfirst, never thinkin' about who what I said hurt / In what verse, my mom probably got it the worst / The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are, did I take it too far? / "Cleanin' Out My Closet" and all them other songs / But regardless, I don't hate you ‘cause, Ma / You're still beautiful to me, ‘cause you're my mom / Though far be it from you to be calm / Our house was Vietnam, Desert Storm / And both of us put together could form an atomic bomb / Equivalent to chemical warfare / And forever we could drag this on and on"

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Rap / Hip Hop Songs

Influential Hip Hop artist, associated with Hardcore Hip Hop and Conscious Hip Hop genres, said to have helped popularized the genre with Middle America in the late 1990s / 2000s, and contributed towards crossing over racial barriers. (1) Born on 17 October 1972, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He played himself in the film 8 Mile, set in Detroit. Eminem frequently used Vietnam as a reference point for city and community violence, including "Bad Meets Evil" (1999) (with Royce da 5'9"), "Under the Influence" (2000) (with D12), "Crack a Bottle" (2009) (with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent), "On Fire" (2010), "Headlights" (2014), and "Stepdad".The song "Headlights" (featuring Pop Rock artist Nate Ruess) used Vietnam, as well as the First Gulf War, and the atomic bomb to describe a violent / confrontational situation, in this case a domestic, home setting: "our house was Vietnam, Desert Storm, and both of us put together could form an atomic bomb".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Influential Hip Hop artist, associated with Hardcore Hip Hop and Conscious Hip Hop genres, said to have helped popularized the genre with Middle America in the late 1990s / 2000s, and contributed towards crossing over racial barriers. (1) Born on 17 October 1972, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He played himself in the film 8 Mile, set in Detroit. Eminem frequen.

Themes

Violence Metaphor · First Gulf War · Atomic · Vietnam Analogy

In collections

Rap / Hip Hop Songs