Eminem - - We Made You |best|

's "We Made You" served as the high-energy, celebrity-skewering lead single for his 2009 album, Relapse. While it followed his established formula for "fun" lead singles, it stands out due to its unique production backstory and its role in Eminem's creative transition after a five-year hiatus. Production & "Poaching" the Beat

The song’s origins are quite unusual compared to his other hits:

Original Intent: The beat, produced by Doc Ish, was originally written for

(a member of D12). Eminem heard Bizarre’s version and liked it so much that he took it for his own album.

Charmagne Tripp's Vocals: Tripp provided the chorus vocals on the original demo. Eminem and Dr. Dre initially considered replacing her with Amy Winehouse

to match the song’s celebrity themes, but Winehouse declined due to illness. They ultimately kept Tripp’s vocals but modernized the production.

Instrumentation: Billboard noted the track's "carnival feel," created by a mix of piano, drums, and tubas atop Dr. Dre’s signature marching beat. The Music Video & Pop Culture Satire

Directed by Joseph Kahn, the music video won Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. It features a wide array of celebrity parodies and cameos:

Targeted Celebrities: The video famously mocks figures of the era, including Jessica Simpson , Kim Kardashian , Amy Winehouse , Ellen DeGeneres , and Sarah Palin . Famous Cameos: It includes appearances by , , pornographic actress (playing Sarah Palin), and a then-unknown Trisha Paytas .

The "Rain Man" Motif: Several scenes, including those in a casino, directly reference the film Rain Man, with Eminem and wearing matching gray suits. Critical & Fan Reception The song remains one of Eminem's more divisive tracks:

Commercial Success: Despite mixed reviews, it was a massive hit, debuting at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one in Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

The "Relapse Accent": Much of the criticism focused on Eminem’s use of a thick, Middle Eastern-inspired accent. Critics at The Guardian felt the song didn't showcase Eminem's best work, and even Eminem himself later admitted to "cringing" at the accents from this era.

"Time Capsule" Status: Rolling Stone praised it as a "pop-cultural time capsule," capturing the specific celebrity obsessions of 2009.

For a deeper look into the creative process, producer Doc Ish discusses the true story behind the song's creation:

to address his role as a byproduct of a consumerist society. Complicity in Consumerism eminem - we made you

: Critics note that the track illustrates Eminem as a "Gothic Adam," a monster created by the American public's obsession with scandal and tabloid media. Media Targets

: The song aggressively parodies major figures of the era, including Britney Spears Lindsay Lohan Jessica Simpson

. In the case of Simpson, the music video specifically satirizes media-driven body image issues by featuring a curvier model to ridicule the intense public scrutiny she faced at the time. Production and Sonic Identity

Musically, the track is defined by its bright, upbeat production, which stands in contrast to the darker themes found elsewhere on the The Sample : The song is built around a sample of "Hot Summer Nights"

by Walter Egan, giving it a catchy, pop-centric foundation produced by , Doc Ish, and Eminem himself. Technical Skill : Despite the playful tone, Eminem maintains his signature multisyllabic rhyming schemes

, where multiple parts of words or syllables rhyme together to create a dense, rhythmic flow. Historical and Cultural Context

While the song was a commercial success, reaching the top 50 in various global charts, its legacy is often viewed through the lens of its specific timeframe. A "Time Capsule" of 2009

: Critics have argued that the song felt dated shortly after its release because it focused on "tired old punching bags" like Sarah Palin and the Kardashians, who were already shifting in relevance by the time the video hit the "YouTube screen". Nostalgia Factor

: For modern listeners, however, "We Made You" has transitioned into a nostalgic throwback

that captures the "bold expressions" and unique visual style of the 2000s MTV era. album or provide a line-by-line lyrical analysis of specific celebrity roasts in the song? Eminem: We Made You (Music Video 2009) - Trivia - IMDb

Produced by Dr. Dre and co-produced by Doc Ish and Eminem himself, the song samples "Hot Summer Nights" by Walter Egan. Eminem's We Made You Is Way Behind the Times

"We Made You," the lead single from Eminem’s 2009 album Relapse, remains one of the most polarizing tracks in his discography. While it successfully followed his established formula for goofy, celebrity-mocking lead singles, many critics and fans felt it lacked the sharp wit of its predecessors. Critical Reception

Critics generally viewed the song as a "safe" return for Eminem after his five-year hiatus, though opinions on its quality varied wildly:

Rolling Stone gave it a positive review, calling it a "solid pop cultural time capsule" and praising Eminem for "goofing around again" after his personal struggles.

Pitchfork was much harsher, describing it as a "boring, anachronistic formula" that felt like a "TRL junkie's hapless shot at relevance".

The Guardian noted that while the song has "generally positive" reviews, it is far from Eminem "doing what he does best".

IGN found the song "mildly enjoyable" but criticized the music video for being "too obvious" and "too silly". Fan Perspective 's "We Made You" served as the high-energy,

Fans often debate the song's place within the context of the darker, horrorcore themes found on the rest of the Relapse album.

Formulaic Style: Many noted it serves as the successor to "My Name Is," "The Real Slim Shady," and "Without Me," though some felt the law of diminishing returns had begun to set in.

The Accent: Like much of Relapse, Eminem uses a thick, controversial Middle Eastern/Southern accent throughout the track, which some find "spectacular" and others find "tolerable" at best.

The Beat & Hook: Dr. Dre's "carnival-style" marching beat and the catchy chorus sung by Charmagne Tripp are frequently cited as the song's strongest points. Pop Culture Context

The song is famous for its extensive list of celebrity targets, including: Jessica Simpson and Kim Kardashian. Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, and Sarah Palin.

Britney Spears, whom critics felt Eminem was "preoccupied" with at the time.

Eminem’s “We Made You”: The High-Water Mark of Celebrity Satire

When Marshall Mathers returned from a five-year hiatus in 2009, the hip-hop landscape had shifted. The gritty, introspective weight of The Eminem Show had given way to a world obsessed with Perez Hilton, reality TV stars, and the frantic tabloid culture of the late 2000s. In response, Eminem did what he does best: he picked up a chainsaw and started swinging at everyone in sight.

“We Made You,” the second single from the Relapse album, remains one of the most polarizing and fascinating entries in Eminem’s discography. It serves as a time capsule of 2009 pop culture, a showcase of technical flow, and a reminder of Slim Shady’s unique role as the industry’s resident jester. The Sound: Dr. Dre Meets Carnival Chaos

Produced by Dr. Dre, Doc Ish, and Eminem himself, the track is built on a vibrant, almost circus-like beat. It samples the 1980 track "Hot Summer Nights" by Walter Egan, giving it a nostalgic yet frenetic energy.

Unlike the dark, horrorcore themes found elsewhere on Relapse, “We Made You” is sonically bright. It features the infamous "accent"—a stylistic choice Eminem used throughout the album to manipulate rhyme schemes—which adds a layer of cartoonish absurdity to his delivery. Charmagne Tripp provides the soulful, catchy hook that balances Eminem’s manic verses, making the song an undeniable radio earworm. The Targets: No One Was Safe

The core of "We Made You" is its relentless barrage of celebrity roasts. Eminem positioned himself as the creator and destroyer of the very stars the public idolized. Key targets included:

Jessica Simpson: Poking fun at her highly publicized weight fluctuations at the time.

Kim Kardashian: Long before she was a household mogul, Eminem took aim at her rising reality TV fame.

Sarah Palin: The song and video famously lampooned the former Vice Presidential candidate, heightening the track's political irreverence.

Amy Winehouse & Lindsay Lohan: Eminem didn't shy away from the tabloid struggles of the era’s biggest "it-girls."

By claiming "we made you," Eminem was speaking both for himself and the audience. He highlighted the parasitic relationship between the celebrities who crave the spotlight and the public (and rappers) who build them up only to tear them down. The Music Video: A Cinematic Parody Release & Context

You cannot discuss “We Made You” without its music video. Directed by Joseph Kahn, it is a masterpiece of parody. Eminem dons various costumes, portraying everyone from a "Rain Man" style gambler to Bret Michaels from Rock of Love.

The video’s high production value and relentless visual gags helped it win Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. It captured the "YouTube era" aesthetic perfectly—fast-paced, referential, and intentionally over-the-top. Legacy and Impact

While Relapse received mixed reviews upon release, “We Made You” was a commercial success, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Over time, fans have grown to appreciate the technical complexity of the song; despite the silly subject matter, the internal rhyme schemes and rhythmic pockets Eminem finds are world-class.

Today, the song stands as the last "traditional" Slim Shady lead single—the kind that aimed to offend every demographic while simultaneously topping the charts. It was a colorful, chaotic goodbye to the celebrity culture of the 2000s, delivered by the only man brave (or crazy) enough to mock it all.

Released on April 7, 2009, "We Made You" served as the second single from Eminem's sixth studio album, . Produced by

, the track marked Eminem's high-energy return to the "Slim Shady" persona after a five-year hiatus from solo studio albums. Song Meaning and Themes

The song is a satirical "love/hate letter" to pop culture. Through the hook—performed by Charmagne Tripp

—Eminem suggests that the public and fans are the ones who "made" celebrities, effectively giving him license to lampoon them for their flaws. www.eminem.net Celebrity Bashing: Following the tradition of his previous lead singles like "The Real Slim Shady" "Without Me" , the lyrics target numerous public figures including: Kim Kardashian Lindsay Lohan Jessica Simpson (who is also playfully credited in the intro). Political figures like Sarah Palin Other musicians such as Amy Winehouse Britney Spears www.eminem.com Absence of Profanity:

Notably, it is one of the few Eminem singles that contains no profanity, despite its heavy use of sexual references and insults. The Music Video Directed by Joseph Kahn and filmed in , the music video is a dense collection of parodies. It won Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards . Key parodies include: Television: Rock of Love American Idol Homages to (filmed at The Palms) and Alfred Hitchcock's A sequence mimicking the Guitar Hero interface. Self-Parody:

Eminem spoofs a well-known pre-fame photo of himself wearing an ALF T-shirt and holding a cake. Commercial and Critical Reception Eminem: We Made You (Music Video 2009) - IMDb

Release & Context

• Released: April 7, 2009 (single)
• Context: Lead single from Eminem’s comeback album Relapse following a multi-year hiatus and struggles with addiction; marked a return to pop-culture–heavy satire and comedic character-driven persona.

The Music Video: A $2 Million Celebrity Spoof

Directed by Joseph Kahn (who also directed "Without Me" and "Love the Way You Lie"), the music video for "We Made You" is a spectacle of impersonations and low-brow humor. With a reported budget of over $2 million, it features Eminem dressing up as several celebrities:

• Dr. Dre (complete with a G-funk wig and glasses)
• Britney Spears (a chubby, bald-headed Britney at a gas station)
• Amy Winehouse (with the beehive hairdo and eyeliner)
• Jessica Simpson (as Daisy Duke, eating a sandwich)
• Elvis Presley (the Las Vegas jumpsuit era)
• Rain Man (Dustin Hoffman’s character, next to a pile of toothpicks)

The video also includes a surreal cameo from Tracy Morgan (as a pimp) and Dr. Dre (playing a therapist). The climax of the video involves Eminem blowing up a wedding chapel with Sarah Palin and John McCain inside, demonstrating that in 2009, nothing was off-limits.

The visual aesthetic is intentionally cheap and gaudy—a nod to the lowbrow celebrity gossip magazines of the era like Star and The Enquirer. It’s less a music video and more a 4-minute MADtv sketch.

Impact and Reception

Upon its release, "We Made You" received significant attention due to its controversial lyrics and Eminem's return to form after a hiatus. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Critics had mixed reactions; some praised the track's catchy production and Eminem's lyrical dexterity, while others criticized the song's graphic content.

Lyrical Breakdown: The Art of the Celebrity Roast

Lyrically, Eminem - We Made You is a time capsule of late-2000s tabloid culture. Eminem fires a shotgun blast of jokes aimed at nearly every major celebrity of the era. In an age before Twitter beefs became the norm, Em was the ultimate troll.

Here is a look at the key targets:

• Jessica Simpson & Tony Romo: The song opens with a tabloid staple. Em raps about Simpson’s weight fluctuations and her relationship with the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. "When you see me on the block with two Glocks, screamin' 'F--- the police' / No, Jessica Simpson, sing the chorus, 'I'm a genius'."
• Sarah Palin: Riding the wave of the 2008 election, Eminem mocks the former Vice Presidential candidate and her infamous $150,000 wardrobe. He even does his signature "I can't hear you" joke, implying her famous inability to answer questions directly ("Tina Fey, you get a 'D' for 'dumb' / Sarah Palin, you get an 'A' for 'effort'").
• Kim Kardashian: Long before she became a billionaire mogul, Eminem eviscerated the then-sex-tape star. The punchline is crude but effective: "I'm the reason why you're still single / Ever since I said, 'I ain't Kim's type' / Now she's dating a guy named Kanye West, who's a bisexual / And I'm like, 'Hey, man, that's fine'."
• Britney Spears & Kevin Federline: Em imagines a bizarre love triangle involving the pop star and her infamous ex, K-Fed.

The chorus, sung by the uncredited Dina Rae, is both mocking and sweet: "When you walk through the door, it's plain to see / That nobody does it like me / Yeah, they stop and stare, they wanna be / Nobody does it like me."

Eminem positions himself not as a hero, but as the ridiculous puppet master of pop culture. The entire premise of Eminem - We Made You is that the public created him (Slim Shady), just as the public created the fame of the very stars he is mocking.